Arve Henriksen: Solidification

by John Kelman
May 26, 2023

Constellations and the Something of Discovery Music as a chosen profession may suggest occupying the minds of its makers far beyond the 9-to-5 hours of your average job, but for some it goes further still. Transcending mere preoccupation, trumpeter Arve Henriksen seems to eat, drink, sleep and dream music, 24/7, 365 days a year. “I was sitting in my car recently, driving from Oslo to Gothenburg," Henriksen relates, “and I just started to sing and sing and sing. And I ...

Elephant9: Arrival Of The New Elders

by Chris May
January 29, 2021

Unlike jazz or rock, both of which originated in the US, jazz-rock was born simultaneously in the US and Europe, with a British band the first off the blocks. Soft Machine's eponymous debut was released in 1968. It was followed by drummer Tony Williams' Lifetime's Emergency! (Polydor) in 1969 and trumpeter Miles Davis' Bitches Brew (Columbia) in 1970. So, unlike European jazz musicians in the mother tradition, European jazz-rock musicians have never had to “catch up" with their American cousins. ...

Arve Henriksen: Solidification

by Henning Bolte
March 9, 2013

Arve Henriksen is one of today's most innovative, creative and busiest musicians in improvised music and jazz. He has his very own signature--first as a highly characteristic trumpeter/singer, but on other instruments and vocals, too. Those who only know him from his Cartography (ECM, 2008) or through his numerous sideman appearances, do not really know him--at least, not well enough.Solidification is a wonderful remedy, a worthwhile dig. This limited edition, seven-LP box set contains the music from his ...

Paolo Vinaccia: Very Much Alive

by AAJ Italy Staff
November 15, 2010

Paolo Vinaccia �� un batterista e compositore italiano che dal 1979 ha scelto la Norvegia come patria di adozione. Qui si �� costruito una reputazione che lo ha portato a incidere con i migliori musicisti della scena scandinava, a partecipare a oltre cento incisioni, ad essere uno dei batteristi pi�� richiesti, grazie alla grande duttilit�� che lo porta a suonare con naturalezza in contesti disparati. Vi �� un gruppo per�� con il quale Vinaccia negli ultimi anni si �� esibito ...

Very Much Alive

by John Kelman
September 30, 2010

[NOTE]: This review is being republished as a celebration of just one aspect of the life of drummer Paolo Vinaccia, who passed away after a lengthy battle with cancer on July 5, 2019. Best-known in Norway, where he emigrated from Italy in 1979, enjoying a busy career with artists including Arild Andersen, Terje Rypdal, Mike Mainieri, Bendik Hofseth, Bugge Wesseltoft and Palle Mikkelborg, amongst many others. Vinaccia's big heart and warm concern for others made him everybody's best friend, and ...

Mark O'Leary: St Fin Barre's

by AAJ Italy Staff
August 18, 2009

La maestosa cattedrale di Cork fa da perfetto fondale per questo album del chitarrista Mark O'Leary, un esponente un po' defilato dell'avanguardia musicale che trova spesso rifugio nelle produzioni della coraggiosa Leo Records. Per questa avventura, piuttosto difforme rispetto ai suoi album precedenti, O'Leary sceglie come compagni di viaggio gli scandinavi Stale Storlokken e Stein Inge Braekhus, rispettivamente all'organo e alla batteria. Il primo �� noto per la sua attivit�� nel gruppo norvegese Supersilent e nel trio di Terje Rypdal. ...

Mark O'Leary: St Fin Barre's

by Glenn Astarita
February 9, 2009

This trio outing, recorded live with no rehearsals at St. Fin Barre's Cathedral, Cork City, Ireland, would signify a new chapter in Irish guitarist Mark O'Leary's rapidly expanding discography. However, the session took place in 2002 featuring Norwegian keyboardist Stale Storlokken performing on church organ and drummer/percussionist Stein Inge Braekhus. On a side note, the session offers an absolute contrast to the guitarist's striking, free-jazz/fusion 2008 FMR release with Storlokken and drummer John Herndon, Ellipse.

The cathedral acts ...