Teje Rypdal - guitar
Palle Mikkelborg - trumpet
Iver Kleive - organ
Aschild Stubo Gundersen - soprano
Bergen Chamber Ensemble
Kjell Seim - conductor
Recorded live at Molde Jazzfestival
Domkirke, July 19, 2000
1. 1st Movement Luminous Galaxy
2. 2nd Movement Fjelldapen
3. 3rd Movement Escalator
4. 4th Movement Toccata
5. 5th Movement Lux Aeterna
This is a most unusual disc. It is an amalgam
of styles and could so easily fall into one of many categories. Perhaps
the easiest way to describe it is as a meeting of rock influenced
contemporary jazz with highly orchestrated modern classical music.
The terms that come to mind to illustrate the character of the music
contained herein are ethereal and impressionistic whilst at the same
time being highly evocative, even at times romantic.
The mix is such that the frontline instruments
are always understated and that the orchestral parts are allowed equal
prominence. Rypdal is obviously a highly gifted composer and arranger,
to say nothing of his instrumental ability. The pieces were commissioned
by the Molde Jazz Festival to celebrate the newly installed organ
in Molde church, hence the use of this instrument throughout the suite.
The blend of the organ, soloists and orchestra is quite superb. There
is a prevailing feeling of peace and tranquillity throughout most
of this recording. The fourth movement is an organ solo in the great
tradition of the instrument using a wide range of sounds and dynamics
and giving a real sense of the dramatic.
As a whole the Suite is very moving and the use
of the soprano voice on the last movement instils a feeling of resolution
and leads beautifully into the trumpet passages replete with post
– Miles effects. The subsequent use of the voice and orchestra leads
quite naturally to the guitar passages. Indeed, the moving of one
section to another is really quite seamless. This is a recording that
has universal appeal , whether the listeners ears are attuned to jazz
or classical music.
Dick Stafford
CD Reviews
ECM 1818 017 070-2
