Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Mette Henriette Martedatter R?lv?g: Mette Henriette
Mette Henriette Martedatter R?lv?g: Mette Henriette
Bugge Wesseltoft
pianob.1964
The young composer—only in her mid-twenties—has already worked with
Tim Berne
saxophone, altob.1954
Jim Black
drums
Michael Formanek
bass, acousticb.1958
Tom Rainey
drumsb.1957
Sidsel Endresen
vocals
Christian Wallumrod
pianob.1971
There are thirty-five mostly compact compositions between the two discs with all but three (those written by Lindvall) being credited to R?lv?g. Much of the trio disc is intricately structured and conveys a sense of vulnerability. The three opening pieces "So," ."oOo."and "The Taboo" are quite minimal and is not before Schi?tt's extended cello technique on "But Careful" that we are nudged to closer attention. R?lv?g does not push her own playing to the forefront, leaving much of that role to Lindvall. If fact, it is not until Linvall's composition "3-4-5" (nine tracks along) that R?lv?g takes center stage. When she does, it is soulful and inspiring. The trio takes on some lightly experimental soundscapes, especially on "A Void" and "In Circle" but here too, the music is appealing and accessible.
The second disc gives little impression of a larger ensemble at the outset. "Passé" again with Lindvall on piano and features he and R?lv?g in a beautiful melancholy creation. The strings almost inperceptively work their way in as the piece develops. Again, R?lv?g pulls back to give the strings "Pearl Rafter" and "Veils Ever After." L?nning's trumpet and Henrik N?rsteb?'s trombone shine on the regal "Unfold," albeit, for all of its forty seconds. "Wildheart"—true to the name—erupts with R?lv?g's growling sax and a brass improvisation all in contrast to the largely meditative tone of the album.
About twenty tracks in we get a sense of that R?lv?g has been working toward building from disparate themes and segments. The edginess of "Late à la carte" gives way to a classically inspired "So It Is" and that, in turn to a very experimental "?." By the time we get to the beautiful "But We Did" it becomes clear how R?lv?g is integrating her many ideas onto broader palettes. The longest track on Mette Henriette, "I," begins in tranquility, explodes in improvisation and then returns to quiet. Many of the tracks on the album are brief splashes of tonal color not to develop fully but to provide flavor. Five tracks are less than a minute in length and few go beyond five minutes. The lack of a drummer in the trio formation gives the music a quality of lightness even while the overall atmosphere skews dark.
The compositions rendered by the two formations are perfectly compatible with each other and there is a natural flow from trio to ensemble. R?lv?g's compositions are geared toward the musicianship of the overall group rather than providing a showcase for her own considerable skills as a musician and there is little to suggest that the composer is heavily influence by outside forces. Mette Henriette is original and unique and should generate much anticipation around R?lv?g's future projects.
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Track Listing
Disc 1: So; .oOo.; The Taboo; All Ears; But Careful; Beneath You; Once; We Were To; 3-4-5; Hi Dive; A Void; The Lost One; In Circles; I Do; O. Disc 2: Passé; Pearl Rafter; Veils Ever After; Unfold; Wildheart; Strangers By Midday; Late à la carte; So It Is; ?; True; This Will Pass Too; But We Did; I; Breathe; Off The Beat; Wind On Rocks; Bare Blacker Rum; & The Silver Fox; Behold; Better Unheard [Yet To Be Hold].
Personnel
Mette Henriette
saxophone, tenorMette Henriette Martedatter R?lv?g: saxophone; Eivind L?nning: trumpet; Henrik N?rsteb?: trombone; Andreas Rokseth: bandoneon; Johan Lindvall: piano; Sara ?vinge: violin; Karin Hellqvist: violin; Odd Hannisdal: violin; Bendik Bj?rnstad Foss: viola; Ingvild Nesdal Sandnes: violoncello; Katrine Schi?tt: violoncello; Per Zanussi: double bass; Per Oddvar Johansen: drums, saw.
Album information
Title: Mette Henriette | Year Released: 2015 | Record Label: ECM Records
Tags
Mette Henriette Martedatter R?lv?g
CD/LP/Track Review
Mette Henriette
Karl Ackermann
ECM Records
Bugge Wesseltoft
Manfred Eicher
Tim Berne
Jim Black
Michael Formanek
Tom Rainey
Sidsel Endresen
Christian Wallumr?d
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