ti-an-guis is an international and versatile group playing folk music from all over the world in their own interpretations.They are perfect blend of young talented musicians from all over the world.

Mexico( Pepe Garcia-drums & Carlos H.J. Anderson – guitar),

Croatia ( Lovorka Holjeval – vocal ),

Portugal (Francisco Medina – guitar) and Brazil ( Noa Stroeter – bass ).

Multi-kulti background brings new and fresh qualities into the music which band members had chosen to play. And inspirations are vast, not only covering squad origins, but also some tunes from countries like Senegal, Guinea, Cape Verde or Romania. Plenty of surprises to be find here.

I wouldn’t call myself a layman when it comes to the ethnic music. I am listening to a lot of world music of different kind , recognise artist from Africa, Latino – America and many European countries.I am familiar with Turkish, Bulgarian ,Croatian, Polish, Russian, Portuguese, Spanish, French, German and Italian music.I know when I am listening to African music from Mali, Senegal, Egypt, Maroco, Nigeria or Ethiopia and can recognise many styles. Sometimes even a particular area from which artists, styles or songs originate. But I only came across one track on this record which I am familiar with – Ederlezi.

Let me start from that one then. It became massive hit after being used as a theme for Bregovic’s cult Underground movie. Those who copy the words will find Lovorka’s version closer to original and more emotionally engaging in the subject’s context. Following So te kerau, belonging to the same tradition sounds more funky as such is a text holding half of the rhythm together with simple percussion accompaniment. Lovorka’s lead is here followed by the rest of the band in choir, but specific sound of Portuguese guitar bringing often associates to Greek Music by the way it’s played.

Senegali E musasa lovely blends a fragile African harmony with some repetitive vocal arrangements known to me from South American music which seems to be obvious here. Two following Mexican tracks are possibly as close to originals as one can guess easy when they came from. Still however posses original band’s signature coming from the creative mix of personalities.

Ljubav se ne trži sounds to me like one this typical Balkan songs which women used to sing during fiestas or when working together. Crazy, cowbell like rhythm is giving different drive and vitality to the song which I believe was possibly sung originally in much slower tempo.This is very adventurous material and full of fun, authenticity, honesty and wonderful discoveries. Land of sounds never being heard before and a natural joy of playing music together. It is always worth to remember where the folk music came from and this had been prevented here.

No point to analyse it deeper as it really is a novelty in every aspect and everyone will find there as much as he is capable to recognize intellectually or emphatically. It has my highest recommendation from the first to the last note played. Additionally it is worth to mention that the Label offers their catalogue for download only, in all resolutions the listener might wish himself to buy. As my review files arrived as a studio master I can only say that the recording quality is nothing but a sensation ! Put it on some good glowing set amp and connect to the horns and you are going to put the kettle on to make a cup of tea for those chaps.

I am following Porter’s recordings with true adoration since I heard his début Water long play.

Then an excellent Be Good followed and now we have got another début here: Liquid Spirit is the latest one and it is as well Gregory’s enter into renowned Blue Note label. Once you are there you became a part of the Jazz History and life is not the same again. On the other hand Blue Note has now in their Stables both greatest male singers of our times: Kurt Elling and Gregory Porter.

His voice has always had massive volume. This is something which was obvious to Greg’s pianist and arranger Chip Crowford. Those Two are a real match in heavens and as a tandem which understands each others needs intuitively and supplying an excellent output. Gregory’s musicians remains the same ,which is good as they truly worked out together a unique style and changing that would affect this fragile balance.

This album contains 14 beautiful compositions which are all built on the same well trusted formula. With Chip’s interaction with Greg’s vocal being a core on which Yosuke Sato builds his own deeply lyrical phrases and trustworthy section is always there when it is needed . We also got here fantastic brass arrangements which adds to the blend some special flavour. The whole album gains more vigorous nature due to that. But Greg’s previous couldn’t be called slow either. There were always a massive deposits of energy which had been waiting culminated just to erupt. But this is a vocal début of the year for God’s Sake – so the real power comes with the lyrics ,and here as always ,they do not disappoint.

No Love Dying set up the mood perfectly, as the waltz on Be Good previously did. Here , Under The Bridges and Hey Lora are two ballads which build a core for this set up. Then the tittle hit Liquid Spirit ,next Musical Genocide and Free turn into the driving force of the project. They are all set on vivid piano bit and sparkling bass dribbling with energetic fingering. They all have a great chance to become the same great hits as 1960 What ? from the Water, which still remains one of my favourites.

They all have this something which makes you want to listen to them all over and over again. Wolfcry , Blue Grass and When Love was King , similarly like I am feeling Good on Water , on which I heard Greg’s wonderful and deep baritone for the very first time, are those songs which are presenting his voice in its purest form , with Chip’s piano accompaniment building around to make harmonies just perfect. Listening to this is a real pleasure. This is when Greg and Chip come at its best and are showing the class for their own.

It is most contemporary achievement where they makes you aware who’s paths they are following, but showing you in the same time that there is still an unknown path to step on in the front of them. You can hear there Cole Porter ,Marvin Gaye, Tony Bennet, Jimmy Scott to just name a few .You can also hear frequently reminiscent of Elling’s phrasing, even if his scatting and vocals are not quite up to that level yet, they posses full tone and richness which heralds that New King is Born. For the rest we have to wait.

This is simply excellent album and a milestone in today’s male vocals. Those careful listeners who pay full attention will be rewarded greatly ,as every next listening to this brings more and more to the table. And as it is always the  true with Porter – the driving force lays in his originals.

These are lyrics that make a singer great . They always were.

LIQUID SPIRIT  BLUE NOTE PR

Gamak is saxophonist’s second long play for ACT ,but when watched carefully it comes as a fact that this is his thirteenth album as leader or co-leader. On the same occasion it re-unites him with his old band mates – bass-man François Moutin and drummer Dan Weiss, the rhythm section from his long-running quartet he’s been recording his Codebook album for PI in 2006.

On the top of that appears David Fiuczynsky – legendary American guitarist and a master of micro tonal style , whose eclectic virtuosity and undefined psycho rock inclinations bring a whole new world to explore for Rudresh – restless spirit himself and undaunted innovator. His hindu American background makes him unique figure on music firmament, not even exclusively appropriated by jazz, but also by Indian traditional, American Rock and even Chinese scales and Balian gamelan reminiscences .

All music on the recording are Rudresh’s originals. Really hard to find more influential individual on today’s sax firmament and Mahanthappa really is one of a leading figures of his generation. Knowing his Kinsmen and Sandhi projects I had really a chance to get used to that whatever you believe you can expect to happen – you are wrong . And here they didn’t disappoint either.

Opening alto solo on Waiting is Forbidden with all its power and intensity reminds me Wadada Leo Smith trumpet playing. There is not many things you can compare this to, even less one would like to stay purely in the music department. If Coltrane was born in Karnatic India or by the chance got anywhere close to there – it would be close to imagine which form he could adopt to express his religious passion.

Following Abhogi changes the face radically. It is more like a cross of Country tune with Hawaiian flavour trying to charm the Raga. I told you. Step further is Stay I .It shows phrasing which is more melodic and is full of rich thrills. But just behind the corner there are completely different notes waiting for a listener. Blend of Indian harmonies riding on psychedelic rock section and constantly exchanging views with Fiuczynski’s guitar are both surprising and overwhelming.

Both soloist’s creativity and contemporary talk makes it happen and it really is BIG !You can find an echoes of Oren Bloedow’s The Whistling Hangmen there ,as well as some similarities to John Lurie’s early trips. Somehow it takes a lot from John Zorn’s Naked City projects as well as from Knighting Factory aesthetic which is good, but Rudresh’s Indian spirit definitely makes it different and very individual. Despite all connotations the home work had been well done they definitely posses their own voice. More of that it is the one well worth to listen to.

Recording quality is rather special too, what helps enjoying complicated structures of the compositions even more. It is a must for every modern Jazz fan.

Once I heard Neil’s Cowley trio live they got me immediately and I kept digging back to the band’s beginnings with rapid fire speed. First 2 albums show the potential and leader’s charisma straight on, but remember I went there through the kitchen door ,starting from the latest Mountain View and later on its Live Montreux version CD. But I live it now for the next issue , they are both fresh and can wait a little ,when the real brain breaker is their 2011 Radio Silence recording.

This is where it all started. From this LP the band offers constant end established sound with recognisable sound . Cowley’s lead is obvious here ,but like with EST his domination comes from the power of his piano and it doesn’t limit his rhythm section in any meaning , leaving them all freedom and creativity they only would like to sparkle to make it even more rich and consistent. Neal’s lines are clear and melodic , repetitive motives are served alternately with slow lyrical breaks or interludes, like in Monoface and Stereoface – two pieces with extremely different dynamics , but similar sense of humour building the core of both.

First reminiscences EST’s from the Gagarin’s Points of View with its unstoppable galloping progression. Similar feelings come with Gerard – wonderfully twisted theme, full of changes, music jokes and joy. Watching them playing that on the stage made me understanding the whole concept of this great joy of making music together. Perfectly shared from the watching audience.

This is something they got in common with EST – something that The Bad Plus for example doesn’t posses at all to the point opposite. Neil’s fingering is brilliant and rich – going much further than many of the jazz pianist are capable to offer. He is equally capable to play heavy percussive wall of sound as to go quiet and spell delicate charm around the listener’s minds. He also posses this kind of creativity which employs equally to the game both – his sense of humour together with intellectual part of his nature.

Massive passages like from great piano concertos are weave with burlesque tissue, like in A French Lesson. Other crazy titled tune Vice Skating is wonderfully rich waltz with changing tempos and incredible under-skin drive – coming from brilliant section collaboration, when seemingly on the surface not that much seems to go. Desert to Rabat is another piece of music which is like an open book .All trio contributes to build it up and you can see how it grows all the time . And you also have the sense of direction into which it could be taken every moment if they only liked to .

They make it look so easy like a snooker final in the hands of professionals, when we all know that it is not easy to cue the ball right. Hug the Greyhound is another example with such a workshop like appearance to the listener. Carefully written with brilliantly given space for everyone to show its bests it makes you believe it is pleasurable slide down ,without showing the real level of difficulties behind the score.

Closing Portal starts as a calm ballad ,but it soon turns into the wavy kind of saying good bye. At it is exactly the essence of their style. They are vivid, clever and unpredictable. Pure joy to listen as it always was an issue with an Esbjörn Svensson Trio. This Trio is a gate to the heavens for those who are adventurous enough to step in .

One might ask for the reason of reviewing the last recording of the sorely missed Esbjörn, which is now almost 5 years old since he left us. The reason always comes from an inspiration. There are some trios around which are trying to take things further from the place where he left them .

Some of them more some less successful. Another thing is that success is a measurable thing and some might find that the EST legacy is laying on a different plot that one might expect it. For many EST was an example to follow from the beginning , like for an American band The Bad Plus , probably the most recognisable successor of original Svensson’s ideas. Other came across later ,from a different background , but what they do now is showing a clear connection to me and it really makes me happy.

Esbjörn doesn’t need this review any longer but if there is the single person who never heard this LP – it makes it worth to write about anyway. But I rather liked to use it as a platform to comment some of my observations about what happened after Leucocyte.

It is not easy recording – it departs even further from usual EST rock-jazz-techno-electronica mix to a completely new language. I am scared trying to imagine where it would go if he could make it further.

Svensson’s musical personality is all there but it reached somehow a esoteric level , like a spirit which is free from the body and doesn’t need it any longer. Paradoxically what most were predicting never happened. There was no pianist to come and grab an excellent orphaned section to build up on it. None of the musicians from the EST brotherhood were either able to keep going after their leader died. The bonds of friendship were too strong to go over it and sorrow was too deep. The whole 2 years were needed to leave trauma and get back to making music again.

In the mean time Esbjörn’s absence made kind of stagnation. No one pushed things further . The Bad Plus made another 3 albums which are great fun to listen to, but they didn’t bring anything new to the table. Same old stuff. Again it was the EST section who brought his ideas back. For some people listening to Dan Berglund and Magnus Öström’s latest formations it might not look straight on. Many people claim there is nothing left and they are not listening to this music any longer.

God ,how wrong they are! Respect Gentleman – those Two are independent music personalities. If one expects them to play like EST again – then he doesn’t understand music at all. Sorry ,but it is that simple. Latest Magnus Öström CD had just been launched so I promise to get back to that point once I have it with me.

But for now let’s jump to my reason – the man who grown into Esbjörn heritage, employed his ideas into his own vision ,blended it all together with his very own and unique personality. Having a lot of new and fresh ideas to offer ,but holding Esbjörn’s spirit in his fingers. That’s how it all came to Neil Cowley Trio. The King is Dead – Long Life to New King ? Not at all . Here it is not about the blood at all and thanks God as genes can be ugly like break pads.

Live to Love is my first meeting with Jacqui Dankworth music and further checking up showing me clearly that I missed her 2011 It Happens Quietly which won her Award and brought critical acclaim from around the World. When mentioned one was a rework of the classic standards, the latest one offers a selection of jazz ,soul and blues inspired originals as well as a few covers of songs by Wayne Shorter, Johnny Mercer and Donny Hathaway.

I wouldn’t call her a jazz singer in a pure meaning of this word. There is many influences possible to point in her style and it is already a blend of everything ,from classic American Songbook , through the Blues to modern Soul .

For example Manala, track which brings back memory of early Sade recordings, but Wood’s rhodes playing puts accents on a different spot. Similarly Shorter’s Palladium ,which sits somewhere between Soul and Bossa and has lovely rhythmic drive. Her phrasing here reminds me Basia Trzetrzelewska . Same applies to It’s Tomorrows World.  Title Live to Love, same as We Do Need Love are both wonderfully sung ballads with fabulously written lyrics , showing her maturity. The non banal words proving clearly that she knows a bit about life already and the message is honest and mind opening.

All Is Quiet deserves special attention and to me is a culmination. First, excellent lyrics ( co –worked with her bassist Geof Gascoyne). Secondly wonderful arrangement with strings flying gently over is  giving an additional deeper meaning to the words. Finally the way it is sung. Like Kurt Weill’s songs, with almost theatrical intonation. Pure poetry in its best.

The Brodsky Quartet appearance on few other tunes makes it more fulfilled and it’s giving a complexity to the overall concept. Building drama into the song that didn’t come from no-where. As I found she is a frequent collaborator with Royal Shakespeare Company , National Theatre and even appears on West End stage. All of this for sure makes her vocal more complex and a personal style somehow unique. Singing actors are a class of their own.

Donny Hathaway’s Someday We’ll All Be Free had been sung in such a light way that it almost had no gravity. Reducing band just to the quartet on this occasion gave Jacqui more space and gave her an opportunity to expand her vocal abilities even more, which she took full advantage of.

Mercer’s Something’s Gotta Give went even further to reach the pure Bass and Voice template . Here she won again bringing this simple formula to the very top like Sheila Jordan used to do with Harvie Swartz or Nancy King on her recordings with Glen Moore. All together very well done and I am really pleased I came across her Art. I will be happy to stay in tune waiting for next recordings to come.

Male vocal league had been a subject of few important make ups over last few years. Since early 90-ties Harry Cornick’s Jr. many things changed. Guys like Peter Cincotti, and Michael Buble brought further attention to the discipline, but the real game changer was Kurt Elling.

After years of interregnum the crown which Frank left had been finally put on another head. But now when we got an outstanding Gregory Potter competition really became tough. In Britain only Jamie Cullum proved his strength against American mainstream. So British really needs more talents that Simon can deliver if they want to stay in the game. Hopefully it is all about quality ,not quantity and such a person is here. Let’s talk about Anthony then and his début album recorded for French Naive label.

We are finding here samples from core repertoire which belongs to famous songbooks like Berlin’s, Porter’s ,Gershwin’s, a few more modest like Stevie Wonder for example and a bunch of his own originals. Classics are giving us a chance to compare to above mentioned gentlemen, as they all had recorded them.

Anthony’s approach lays closer to Corrnick- Cincotti, than to the others but surely he is a voice of his own. Opening Porter’s Too Darn Hot classic shows immediately his originality and attention paid. Arrange is sparkling and changes in tempos are glittering. His self piano accompaniment is brilliant ,brass arrangements fits spot on into quasi commercial arrangement, which in fact just pretends to be like that , to make it more dancing and far for original’s smoothness. Scat outro shows clearly that he made his lessons great .

Following Change my Ways, his original shows again how much he gained from other masters and with full respect blended to its own. With funny lyrics and semi spoken lyrics it brings me memory of Elling’s Oh my God especially when close watching phrasing and way he is dealing with up tempos.

Luck be a Lady after brings really more attention to his piano skills, which are excellence of its own with perfect controlled dynamics and pin point precision in articulation. Without getting into further details I would only say that this men is going to be a STRONG contender to the tittle for the other top class players. He is talented, original and vibrant. Posses an elegant style and both, his piano playing and vocal, are well matured and already mastered on the beginning on his way.

From that point we can only expect more and better. Compositions on this recording clearly show his full control of artistic process and deep understanding of emotional qualities. Here it is hard to me to avoid one last comparison. My Foolish Heart is one of my favourites. I love deep and emotional Elling’s version . Anthony’s one defines his style exactly to me. He is not going that far. His interpretation is more relaxed, but well attached to the lyrics. He knows very well where he is the best. It suits better his bright tenor, and blends greatly with the rest of repertoire, which stretches widely between sparkling rubatos and careful and precisely written orchestral arrangements.

These are kind of choices which make a master. It’s simply TOO DARN HOT to omit. To me this is a début of the year so far.  Highest possible recommendation and a must for true vocal fans.

The Korean singer Youn Sun Nah has already been presented here before. Those who read these pages know very well how I respect her artistic qualities. Lento is her most recent release, just launched in May, so truly hot and as fresh as it only can be. Three years passed since latest and reviewed here Same Girl recording. Lento is her 3^rd in the Act catalogue and is also recorded with the same accompanying musicians. Her regular partner she also performs duo with – Ulf Wakenius on guitars , wonderful Lars Danielsson on bass & cello and Vincent Peirani on accordion & accordina with Xavier Desandre-Navarre on percussion.

The repertoire here, as a lot had been set up more like on her label’s debut Voyage recording, than being rather an extraordinary songs extravaganza as the previous recording mentioned. As always with her projects careful match of collaborating personalities brings a final quality to the mix. These are not just scores which would be the same if other musicians had been hired to full fill requests. And she knows it very well – she used to lead other squads, other days, back in France and her motherland too.

I mentioned Voyage here not accidentally as when it comes to the order of the songs are presented with you can see the whole concept she got in mind and perfect control over the mood.

Opening Scriabin’s Lento with her own lyrics take us to the land of reflection with relaxing Ulf’s accompaniment, their well proven over the years formula. Her own Lament after stays in the mood ,but with decisively spoken lyrics it posses an intensity of the protest song. Trent Reznor’s Hurt slows things down and changes perspective nicely. It is hard to forget Johny Cash’s singing the same tune in the end of his days,  even if one is not a fan of him – it is deeply heart touching confession song finally ending as reconciliation with human fate. Her approach deals with his statement gently setting the focus on the importance of the things in life rather than on their absolute.

Two other scores credited to Peirani are exploring in a beautiful way the harmonies between Youn’s voice and his accordion , which he is playing like no one else, in a very individual way. Wakenius’ Momento Magico ,full skat show off with guitar bravado is their famous stage hit. It fits between two above perfectly in the case of building drama. Same can be said about Jones’ Ghost Riders In The Sky in which she takes a chance to drag out all of her complex vocal artillery to win the battle again. No doubt then the following Waiting from Cecile Norby’s repertoire will fit the bill perfectly to set the mood back up. Personally I love Cecile’s version the most, at least Lars had written it with her voice in mind, but Youn’s version posses its own charm of course.

We have got here one traditional Korean song as well, which she is always putting in between a lot. It is so nice to hear that, as harmony on those scales are so different from anything we are used to in Europe. The last piece, on this all together excellent recording , called New Down is another of her own and its Medieval harmony reminds me a lot of John Downlads’ composition. It is a very kind and charming way to say goodbye.

On the top of good things about this record I can add that the ACT label is offering it as the 180gr high fidelity pressing in premium packaging with the CD inside as a bonus for 20 Euro to us. We couldn’t ask for more really, could we ?

Terence Blanchard is back in Blue Note. Home Sweet home as he pointed from the stage when I first heard this project. The Record arrived after and it is worth to mention for the reason I will come back later. Over the years he became an institution . His latest Quintet sports just a young line of lions. Bass player, 21 year old Josh Crumbly had just been graduated at Julliards . The Band reminds me of Miles 2^nd quintet and the way Terence run it makes it even more similar. Like Miles with Bird and Dizz he became the leader himself after his formative years under Art. Blakey’s care in Jazz Messengers. And one day another shift will come.

Blanchard’s trumpet , again like Miles’, is immediately recognisable , however here he plays using gentle harmonizer effect on the top. What looked overdone on the stage, from CD came perfectly balanced and sounded just wonderful, something worth to be aware of. His legacy covers 20 formal tittles lead, as well as hundreds of tunes written for the movies , and even Jazz Opera called Champion , which I am so looking forward to be recorded and issued at some point as so unique project.

Funny thing is that many people might not know his name, but there is no chance that they never heard his music. But Blanchard is here himself as always. With beautiful tone and not too much notes played he constitutes his style perfectly. Same as with speaking he is playing just what is absolutely necessary and nothing else. Something what Miles himself used to do and pass to his pupils. Getting to youngsters it is a pianist ,whom I was listening with the ears wide opened.

Fabian Almazan roots are in Cuba and careful listener will hear that Sol soul background there.

His composition titled Pet Step Sitter’s Theme Song is a masterpiece itself and to my ears the best piece on all of the recording. But his inspirations came from whole piano universe, not jazz only. His fascination with Jarret is obvious and his ecstatic way of self expressing brings his great idol bests moments back to memory. No wonder one day he will reach the same position , and this seems to be the not so far future. He is wise and vivid. Using his imagination in very own original way. There is no simple following. It is all a result of careful studding and deep understanding. The dynamic he plays with is just striking. Tone varies from keyboard foundation to classical romantic forms. All again is used for purpose and when needed – with absolutely no feeling of show off. The same vitality defines the rhythm section. Bassist might look quiet if compared with drummer’s sparkling vitality ,but it is just an illusion. In fact he posses same brilliant technique, just keeps it on hold and expresses himself in time discipline instead. It doesn’t help to shine in the same way as pointing rhythm with hats , but take it off and one will understand straight on what’s going on. Another pillar of the band with highly visible driving force is a saxophonist Brice Winston. His duets with leader as well as solos shows maturity and highest class skills. Specially Hallucinations shows it with its dazzled lines and varied tempos not easy to follow. Starting from piano introduction Comet is another of my favourite on this recording. It shows Fabian’s brilliant technique from more romantic perspective. Central Focus contains some of the best piano – drums conversations I ever came across, when Another Step – composition set up on funky rhythm reminding me Bitches Brew days offers some nicest brass spectrum on all CD.

Magnetic is a truly magnificent recording and its attractive force is impossible to avoid and about recording quality I could write another couple of pages ,so you better don’t ask – just listen to.

RECORDING QUALITY:

MAGNETIC BLUE NOTE PR

Swedish Jazz might not be vastly known a lot here in the UK but true connoisseurs know that we are talking about TOP quality here, and those artists who’s output reached these levels are simply superior. Here it comes to Two Swedish Ladies Sofia Jernberg and Cecilia Persson, who co- lead an Excellent Septet of Young Lions called simply – PAAVO { means peacock ; } As per title this is their 3^rd recording and unlike previous two made with big brass squad ,this one is reduced to simple trio formula. The only reed on this occasion belongs to famous Swedish sax player Fredrick Ljungkvist, artist highly regarded by both talented ladies.

Setting it up as a trio changes the focus. Usually, with Paavo, we talking septet or nonet. Arranges are dense and complex, and very demanding from collaborating artist. Rhythmic discipline is next to absolute perfection. It is a must ,otherwise it would all fall down. It is difficult to describe that to those who never had a chance to listen to this music either live or from recordings { I had the great pleasure to experience both }. But scores posses the same level of complication as let me say symphonic music – all have to be under permanent control during performance to get maximum quality output. Concentration and devotional focus on the subject are the key here.

Going trio doesn’t simplify things at all . Whole warehouse of pleasure is still there. It just shows inner core of the composition better, where previously attention had been spread between different voices blended together. Music on this volume includes 8 tracks. Except 2 compositions taken from Swedish pianist Per Henrik Wallin, which had been re-arranged by Sofia, the rest came from themselves. Two are credited to Cecilia , the rest to Sofia. She also had written all the lyrics which are truly exceptional quality poetry.

Without going to particular titles I would describe all the music as an outstanding theatre of wonders. On the bottom there is Cecilia’s piano background. Very impressionistic and illustrative bringing to mind many associations with almost everything what happened in music since XIX century till today. It is clever, elegant, creative and sensitive. Sometimes figurative, other times more repetitive, depends on composition demand. Never overdone and completely free of any show off.

On this texture there are two voices flying – Sofia’s and Fredrick’s sax or clarinet, based on which matching particular harmony is better. She is the bird. She flies high and low over the scales with an ease hard to imagine. The only two ladies which are any close to that would be Laureen Newton and Meredith Monk.

Ljungkvist’s sax is playing here the way it matches her vocalises which are almost impossible to describe. It is an organic connection between them, they simply blend into one perfect harmony. All dialogues, walking through the scales , phrasing and dynamic passages leave the listener speechless. I am pretty sure I’ve never heard this kind of synergy before and believe me I have heard a lot.

Remembering previous Paavo compositions I am familiar with her voice flirting with eight reeds together to build up a particular phrase or just with selected sections to put an accent on a particular  part of a composition. But even if those were a class of their own, this here is just the sound from another world.

It is this one of this rare jewels which every reviewer always dreams to come across at least once in life. So I did and I am so happy because of that. Now the problem is that the words being not good enough to recommend her . Even if I am familiar with some of the most sophisticated ones to give them a go I can simply find none to be good enough to pay tribute to this ART.