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Ape Club: Ape Club

By Eyal Hareuveni
May 8, 2013
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Ape Club

" data-original-title="" title="">Ape Club is a new Norwegian quartet that has been operating since 2009 and plays jazz at the crossroads of be-bop and early free jazz of the late fifties and early sixties. Its debut album blends inspirations of such great composers as

Thelonious Monk

piano
1917 - 1982

" data-original-title="" title="">Thelonious Monk,

Ornette Coleman

saxophone, alto
1930 - 2015

" data-original-title="" title="">Ornette Coleman and

Charles Mingus

bass, acoustic
1922 - 1979

" data-original-title="" title="">Charles Mingus, spiced with modern pop song structures, folksy melodies and modern manners of improvisations.

The quartet leader, bassist Julius Lind, wrapped the band tunes within catchy, melodic and energetic envelopes that emphasizes the strong personalities of his colleagues, their perceptive knowledge of jazz legacy and joyful spirit. Other members of the quartet are experienced musicians from the fertile Norwegian jazz scene. Trombonist ?yvind Br?kke is known for his collaboration with

Trondheim Jazz Orchestra

band / ensemble / orchestra
b.2000

" data-original-title="" title="">Trondheim Jazz Orchestra, who performed his remarkable Migrations (MNJ, 2011), and with

The Source

" data-original-title="" title="">The Source. Drummer Erik Nylander leads his own Orkester, member of the groups Kobert, who also collaborated with the Trondheim Jazz Orchestra (MNJ, 2009), and Magic Pocket and frequent collaborator with violinist

Ola Kvernberg

violin
b.1981

" data-original-title="" title="">Ola Kvernberg. Saxophonist Kasper V?rnes leads his own quartet and quintet.

Lind and Nylander form a massive, propulsive rhythm section that keeps pushing the powerful melodic articulations of V?rnes and Br?kke. This tight combination offers varied approaches— from the sophisticated chord progression and unison parts �� la

John Coltrane

saxophone
1926 - 1967

" data-original-title="" title="">John Coltrane's "Giant Steps" in "Death of Bass," the adoption of Coleman harmolodics system on "Calvados," "Underground" and "Circus," including a concious tribute to

John Zorn

saxophone, alto
b.1953

" data-original-title="" title="">John Zorn's klezmer-tinged

Masada

" data-original-title="" title="">Masada quartet that also followed Coleman legacy, the Mingus-like "The Stranger" with its sudden shifts of rhythms and themes and the Monk-ish ballad "Monkey Business."

The music of Ape Club is rooted in one of the glorious eras of jazz, but it has a modern, open and personal sound signature. The members of this quartet do not attempt to follow in the footprints of jazz formative composers to suggest their independent and perceptive perspectives of jazz as a vivid and vital art.

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Track Listing

Black Smoke; Death of a Bass; Calvados; Woods; The Stranger; Underground; Monkey Business; Circus.

Personnel

Ape Club

Kasper V?rnes: saxophone; ?yvind Br?kke: trombone; Julius Lind: double bass; Erik Nylander: drums.

Album information

Title: Ape Club | Year Released: 2013 | Record Label: Recorda Records

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