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June. Monday night. Inside the New Morning, the atmosphere is special: the faithful are here — all connoisseurs — and you can feel it. As soon as Manu Katché launches into his concert — with the snap of a snare, a rumble on the toms — you can sense this is going to be some journey and he’s not holding back. His bass-drum thuds with authority, punctuated by flashing cymbals, and his sticks fly into the air before they drop softly: right from the start, they express the elegant dynamics which have come to characterize his style. They’re his signature now. Beneath his beige cap, a broad grin lights up his immense desire to play. There’s something in the air: an exceptional moment is coming.
The quartet present on stage played some 130 concerts last year, which gives it impressive cohesion; the sound is superbly solid, sweeping all before it. Braced by layers of Hammond organ from the subtle Jim Watson, trumpeter Luca Aquino — now standing in for the excellent Nils Petter Molvaer — takes flight. Inside his percussive tone threads the same, velvet lyricism dispensed by Paolo Fresu, one of his former teachers. The twin voices of Tore Brunborg, tenor and soprano saxophones close to Jan Garbarek, conduct a perfect dialogue with the elegant arabesques from the trumpet. Jim Watson, whose heavy responsibility is to provide all the bass parts with his Hammond B3, shows himself to be just as inspired as when behind a grand piano. His rare solos are compact, stripped to the essentials, and far from any hollow virtuosity: they bring welcome breathing-space.
The skilled mix of discreet, electronic contributions with a dominant, acoustic sound constitutes one of this group’s major strengths. Listening carefully, you notice that these musicians cleverly mix an extreme rigour into their creative liberties in order that everything will remain possible. It’s obvious that they listen to each other attentively: they show respect for each other, never seeking to assert themselves, even less gain the upper hand…
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Artists prize certain recording studios as much as they do producers or players. The room that adequately captures sound and provides optimal conditions for musicians working at the highest creative level is much in demand, and in some instances it is the location that can be something of a game changer. A studio in an unusual place with a unique ambience or history can greatly affect the act of making music.
Ocean Sound Recordings is a case in point. Built on the Norwegian island of Giske, it wears its name well, offering those who come to blow horns, strike keys or beat drums a grandiose view of the Atlantic.
It was here that Marius Neset, the 29 year-old Norwegian saxophone prodigy who has made major waves on the European jazz scene in the past three years following the release of the lavishly acclaimed albums, 2011’s Golden Explosion, 2013’s Birds and 2014’s Lion, a collaboration with the Trondheim Jazz Orchestra, spent five days with his band in the spring of 2014. The experience has hardly ebbed from his mind. “The studio is in a big house, and the musicians who use it, get to live on the second floor,” Neset explains. “It’s the most amazing feeling to be in this space where you’re surrounded by nature. We all worked from early morning until late night but you’re aware of this unique environment all the time. I mean it’s just two minutes walk from the studio to the beach, so it was a very special place to make music.”
I post some comments only when I see that Roon’s Metadata Program shows no or not satisfactory information.
I want to read about the musicians, their background etc.
When listening to a LP I have the cover information and the whole “listening experience” includes also that information.
I dont want to miss that part.
I basically look for information for myself. Just thought it might be usefull when recommending music to others.
This live album is mind-blowingly good!!!
Dafnis Prieto’s Sí o Sí Quartet is a thrillingly multi-faceted and “modern” ensemble. Breathtaking energy. Jaw-dropping rhythmic complexity. Orchestral richness of sound. This record is so much fun!!!
Peter Apfelbaum - saxophone
Manuel Valera - piano/keyboards
Johannes Weidenmueller - bass
Dafnis Prieto - drums
Call me a mad impetuous fool, but I love swapping between these and listening to both versions. What I really want is for them to do it in duet, unplugged.
Slash with the menace 
on guitar 
Appreciated.
