Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Steinar Raknes: Stillhouse

Steinar Raknes: Stillhouse

By Eyal Hareuveni
October 13, 2012
View read count

Steinar Raknes is a man of many tastes. A founding member of the fiery modern jazz quartet

The Core

" data-original-title="" title="">The Core, a collaborator with lyrical jazz violinist

Ola Kvernberg

violin
b.1981

" data-original-title="" title="">Ola Kvernberg, co-leader of the

" data-original-title="" title="">Vaggelis Paraskevaidis duo with yoik vocalist Inga Juuso, and leader of his own quartet that covers tango and bossa-nova classics, on Stillhouse, this Norwegian double bassist features his abilities as a vocalist and interpreter of eclectic, iconic American songs from the past few decades, as well as a few originals.

Raknes' acoustic arrangements are straightforward. His vocals are warm but his delivery direct and reserved, largely reciting the lyrics as matter-of-fact reporting, and never attempting to compete with memorable, existing vocal versions. His confident and powerful finger-picked playing strips the melodic content of these songs to their basic skeletal lines, his humble and intimate attitude stressing their emotional impact.

Raknes hosts Nashville harmonicist Mickey Raphael and several Norwegian vocalists on a few songs.

Solveig Slettahjell

vocals

" data-original-title="" title="">Solveig Slettahjell brilliantly adds her warm voice to Raknes' on "Killing the Blues." Raphael is a perfect partner on the arresting, melancholic cover of Gillian Welch's "Tear My Stillhouse Down." Gently, with vocalist Unni Wilhelmsen, Raknes adds touching emotional insight to

The Band

band / ensemble / orchestra
b.1967

" data-original-title="" title="">The Band's "Twilight."

Raknes couples Prince's "Kiss" with Bruce Springsteen's "I'm on Fire," transforming the originals' explicit, seductive and reckless desire with the experience of mature and patient passion. This kind of peace-making with his own past serves Raknes beautifully on his original, "Time to Go" while a cover of

Joni Mitchell

vocals
b.1943

" data-original-title="" title="">Joni Mitchell's "Woodstock" adds a distant and skeptical view of the historic event.

Raknes' best cover is John Prine's classic "Speed of the Sound of Loneliness," where his modest and sober approach fits perfectly with the words. He concludes this set with two originals, the bluesy "Down the Drain" and optimistic farewell "Walkin.'"

Surprising, beautiful and highly rewarding.

Learn more about our star rating system

Track Listing

Killing the Blues; Corrina, Corrina; Tear My Stillhouse Down; Memories of Her; Twilight; Kiss; I'm on Fire; Sitting on Top of the World; Time to Go; Woodstock; Speed of the Sound of Loneliness; Morning Song for Sally; Down the Drain; Walkin'

Personnel

Steinar Raknes

bass

Steinar Raknes: double bass, vocals; Mickey Raphael: harmonica (1, 3, 6, 8, 10, 13) Solveig Slettahjell: vocals (1); Unni Wilhelmsen: vocals (5); Kaja Bremnes: vocals (12); Paolo Vinaccia: snare drum (8); Andrew Utnem: harmonium (9, 14).

Album information

Title: Stillhouse | Year Released: 2012 | Record Label: Self Produced

PREVIOUS / NEXT

Respect, Vol.1
< Previous

Fitz & The Tantrums: Huntington, NY,...
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.