Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » The Action 4S: The Action 4s

The Action 4S: The Action 4s

By Neil Duggan
May 16, 2025
View read count

This is the debut album from

The Action 4S

band / ensemble / orchestra

" data-original-title="" title="">The Action 4S, a quartet comprising Scandinavian and British musicians. Their music is a powerful combination of jazz, fusion and electronica built on a rock-solid rhythmic foundation.

The quartet is made up of acclaimed musicians, none more celebrated than multi-award-winning harmonica virtuoso

Mathias Heise

harmonica

" data-original-title="" title="">Mathias Heise. A true virtuoso of the chromatic harmonica, Heise became a world champion harmonica player when aged 20 and has since been expanding the confines of jazz improvisation on the instrument. He is joined by Danish pianist

Rasmus Sørensen

piano
b.1997

" data-original-title="" title="">Rasmus S?rensen, who gained recognition on the New York scene before relocating to Copenhagen. Their compelling interplay is built on the platform laid down by the exciting combination of bassist

Conor Chaplin

bass, acoustic

" data-original-title="" title="">Conor Chaplin and Norwegian-Swedish drummer

Anton Eger

drums
b.1980

" data-original-title="" title="">Anton Eger.

The group's self-titled album features nine tracks, beginning with "The Mikster," one of four compositions by Heise. Chaplin and Eger, who set up a driving, fast-paced groove, while Heise delivers an up-tempo and fluid solo with the track pulsing with spontaneity. "Smoothie," another Heise original, features Latin rhythms propelled by Eger, with Heise adding synthesiser textures to the exchange. The funk of "Searchlight Theory" has classy, soulful harmonica lines interweaving around bass and piano. The final Heise composition, "Eclectic Horizons," centers its improvisations around S?rensen's keyboard work.

There are two tracks reimagined from Eger's 2019 debut album AE (Edition Records). The funk of "Sugaruzd" has a synthesiser sound giving a 90s feel, while the synthesiser on "IOEDWLTO" neatly combines with the bass before the band moves into a brisk, spirited rhythm. The final of Eger's tunes is the driving "SXL," with Heise and S?rensen's soulful tones combining well.

S?rensen brings two compositions; Heise is at his lyrical best on the relaxed vibe and gentle melody of "Drommeland," while the mid-tempo "Rough Patch" twists and turns around its repeating motifs.

It is the group interplay that stands out in this high-energy session. Heise is superb throughout; his combinations with S?rensen build layers of sound that interweave with the foundation laid down by bass and drums that together build a balance of precision, fluidity and improvisation that radiates energy.

Learn more about our star rating system

Track Listing

The Mikster; Sugaruzd; Dr?mmeland; Smoothie; IOEDWLTO; Searchlight Theory; Rough Patch; SXL; Eclectic Horizons.

Personnel

The Action 4S

band / ensemble / orchestra

Mathias Heise

harmonica

Conor Chaplin

bass, acoustic

Anton Eger

drums

Rasmus S?rensen

piano

Additional Instrumentation

Mathias Heise: chromatic Harmonica (1-9), synthesiser (1-9); Rasmus S?rensen: grand piano, keyboards (1-9).

Album information

Title: The Action 4s | Year Released: 2025 | Record Label: April Records

PREVIOUS / NEXT

Funky Mama Show
< Previous

Herschel Evans and Chu Berry: the sh...
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.