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Ulf Wakenius: Momento Magico

By Bruce Lindsay
April 7, 2014
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Momento Magico is a solo outing from Swedish guitarist Ulf Wakenius, an exploration of three acoustic instruments—steel and nylon strung guitars and acoustic bass guitar. Wakenius undertakes this exploration across a mix of self-penned tunes and works by writers as varied as Erik Satie, Charles Trenet and Sixto Rodrigues.

Wakenius is an impressively adaptable player, who's resum�� includes work with

Ray Brown

bass, acoustic
1926 - 2002

" data-original-title="" title="">Ray Brown,

Youn Sun Nah

vocals

" data-original-title="" title="">Youn Sun Nah and, most famously,

Oscar Peterson

piano
1925 - 2007

" data-original-title="" title="">Oscar Peterson (The OP in "Notes For OP And Wes"). He's also the product of many diverse influences, which he acknowledges in his sleeve notes. Malian musicians such as

Vieux Farka Toure

guitar and vocals

" data-original-title="" title="">Vieux Farka Toure ("Mali On My Mind"), instruments such as the Chinese pipa ("The Dragon") and "the beauty of France" (Trenet's "La Mer") all receive due credit.

Like many acoustic guitarists, Wakenius has a distinct left-hand squeak when sliding his fingers across the fretboard and there are times, such as on the gentle "Requiem For A Lost Son," when this extraneous noise becomes overly intrusive. It's less of an issue when Wakenius overdubs instruments or performs harder-edged tunes such as "The Dragon" or "Esperanto."

Two of the slower tunes form the high points on Momento Magico. Satie's "Gnossienne" works brilliantly—Wakenius acknowledges the minimalism of the work and creates a slow, graceful, spacious interpretation (which he describes as a "semi-Bossa Nova"). Wakenius' interpretation of

Magnus Ostrom

drums
b.1965

" data-original-title="" title="">Magnus Ostrom's moving "Ballad For E," written in tribute to ?strom's friend and band mate

Esbjorn Svensson

piano
1964 - 2008

" data-original-title="" title="">Esbjorn Svensson, is sensitive to the original version and to Svensson's memory.

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Track Listing

Ballad For E.; Momento Magico; Liberetto; Hindustan Blues; Requiem For A Lost Son; Mail On My Mind; Gnossienne; The Dragon; Esperanto; Preludio; Notes For OP and Wes; Sugar Man; La Mer.

Personnel

Ulf Wakenius

guitar

Ulf Wakenius: steel string, nylon string, bass guitar.

Album information

Title: Momento Magico | Year Released: 2014 | Record Label: ACT Music

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