Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Per Mathisen: Sounds of 3 Edition 2

Per Mathisen: Sounds of 3 Edition 2

By Geno Thackara
October 13, 2019
View read count

The power of three indeed proved to be a magic charm for

Per Mathisen

bass

" data-original-title="" title="">Per Mathisen on the first Sounds of 3 (Losen, 2016), so it's probably only natural that he'd revisit the format sooner or later. What's more of a surprise, perhaps, is how things change. Where that recording was a loud and brash slice of jazz-rock, its colorful sequel slides more toward the jazzy side of that equation. This recording actually tones down the wattage just a little from the previous one, though it certainly doesn't lessen the importance of good chemistry and teamwork.

Mathisen being Mathisen, of course, he still provides plenty of the chops and energy that have earned him "Norwegian Bass Viking" for a nickname. His electric work remains fresh and dynamic as the neon montage on this record's cover. Still, from the time they kick off with a

B.B. King

guitar, electric
1925 - 2015

" data-original-title="" title="">B.B. King homage that's actually more funky than bluesy, he and his trio-mates show that it's always fun to give the obvious mold a little prod here and there.

The difference in this session also naturally comes from the change of bandmates.

Gary Husband

drums
b.1960

" data-original-title="" title="">Gary Husband brings an intricate rhythmic instinct well-honed from his extensive experience with

John McLaughlin

guitar
b.1942

" data-original-title="" title="">John McLaughlin and

Allan Holdsworth

guitar, electric
1948 - 2017

" data-original-title="" title="">Allan Holdsworth (among many others), largely staying away from the low-end drums and letting the leader do most of the hard hitting. For his part,

Ulf Wakenius

guitar
b.1958

" data-original-title="" title="">Ulf Wakenius plays with a wide spread of fuzz-guitar tones to match his slick fluency in modes and scales. The sonic palette is a perfectly versatile complement to Mathisen, who reinforces the numerical theme here by using three basses (acoustic upright, electric and fretless) on three tracks each.

It's again a largely upbeat affair; "Lines for Oscar" is a romp both precise and frisky, while "Invasion" and Husband's closer "Alphabet Soup" make spaces to let loose and shred. A wistful read on

Mike Stern

guitar
b.1953

" data-original-title="" title="">Mike Stern's "What Might Have Been" strays as close to "lite" jazz as they get here, though the stimulating interplay easily balances out any danger of excessive smoothness. Egalitarianism and surprising interplay are still Sounds of 3's defining qualities, and this installment certainly bodes well for the series whenever it may reach edition number three.

Learn more about our star rating system

Track Listing

The Blues Boy; One of a Kind; 16 Kn?deln; The Spin; Lines for Oscar; Wrapped Around Your Finger; Invasion; What Might Have Been; Alphabet Soup.

Personnel

Per Mathisen

bass

Per Mathisen: bass; Ulf Wakenius: guitar; Gary Husband: drums.

Album information

Title: Sounds of 3 Edition 2 | Year Released: 2019 | Record Label: Losen Records

PREVIOUS / NEXT

Munich 2016
< Previous

Paradox Trio - The Balkan Side of Do...
Next >

Support All About Jazz

All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who make it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

Go Ad Free!

To maintain our platform while developing new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity, we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for as little as $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination vastly improves your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.