Jul 22 2016
Recommended: Blommor Inomhus – “Herbarium”
There’s an undeniable charisma to the music of Blommor Inomhus. The trio’s casual delivery gives the impression that their tunes are delivered off the cuff, and with just the tiniest concept of what they should be and where they’d take them. But, in fact, this trio of trombonist Gustav Davidsson, pianist Karl Magnús Andersson and the soprano sax and vocals of Karolina Almgren is meticulous both in the planning and conceptualization of their music. The trio’s excellent self-titled debut EP had them bring in a small orchestra of musicians for a recording session in the Gothenburg countryside, and the give-and-take between the trio and large ensemble passages led to all kinds of wonderful conflicts and synchronicities, and spoke to a grand design strategized before the first note was played. And now their newest, Herbarium, sees the trio building an album of songs around the images and names of flowers found in their herbarium. And this album, like their debut, has a charm and magnetism difficult not to fall for.
Almgren’s storybook lyricism on “Sakura,” twisting words, emphasizing notes, and changing directions in tone is like a series of switchbacks on a mountain pass leading to a fairytale castle. And things swing in the opposite direction on “Vild hyasint,” which beats with the heart of a ballad and flows with a motion cool and calm and comforting. But the trio is at its best when it infuses the music with varying degrees of dissonance, adding some tension to its laid-back nature. The frantic pulse of piano on “Anemon” marries nicely in contrast to the languorous sighs from trombone and sax. “Prästkrage” sees a similar approach from piano, but this time around the whole trio goes speeding along. There’s “Murgröna” with its staggered cadence and boozy melodicism and the way it shows the other side of the mirror to the focused intensity of “Begonia.”
Music that has its own distinct personality, to be sure. Don’t let this album slip past you.
Your album personnel: Karolina Almgren (voice, soprano sax), Gustav Davidsson (trombone) and Karl Magnús Andersson (piano).
Released on Havtorn Records.
Listen to more album tracks on the band’s Soundcloud page.
Jazz from the Malmö and Gothenburg, Sweden scenes.
*****
And be sure to check out Blommor Inomhus’s self-titled debut EP. I still listen to that album every so often despite my busy listening schedule. More notable, though, is that the album earned the #10 slot on the Best of 2012 list.
You can read about the album here (LINK).
And here’s that Best of 2012 list (LINK).
*****
It’s nice to see a new recording from the Swedish outfit 
Also, be sure to check out Brigaden’s debut album Om Alberto Och Nagra Andra Gubbar, which received the #30 slot on this site’s 
Accentuating the tiny beating heart that fuels the huge sound of Om Alberto Och Nagra Andra Gubbar, Swedish ensemble
Jan 15 2018
The Round-up: Falling becomes flying becomes light
Here is some very good new music.
Eric Revis – Sing Me Some Cry (Clean Feed Records)
Eric Revis has a way of setting fire to the blues that is pretty damn thrilling, and he also has a way of directing the flames to leave ashes that, also, sound a lot like the blues. In between, when the conflagration of Sing Me Some Cry is in full force, it’s all combustible fury burning bright, and it’s not so much about determining the nature of the sound as it is just appreciating the strength of the explosion. Tenor saxophonist Ken Vandermark, pianist Kris Davis and drummer Chad Taylor help the bassist with the dramatic transmutations. Music from NYC and L.A.
Artist site | Buy: Bandcamp – Amazon
Courtney Pine – Black Notes From the Deep (Freestyle Records)
Courtney Pine is a long time veteran of the jazz scene, so it really should come as no surprise that he’s able to deliver such a soulful album with such a laid-back sound. Some ballads and some blues and some solid vocal contributions from Omar Lye-Fook MBE is the equation that leads to the success of Black Notes From the Deep. This is an album you want playing while you’re sitting around with a drink in one hand and your broken heart in the other. If Omar’s name sounds familiar to readers of this site, it’s because of his powerful contribution to a track on Kairos 4tet’s excellent 2014 release Everything We Hold. Music from London.
Artist site | Listen | Buy: Bandcamp – Amazon
LUMI – A Love Drunk Poem (Havtorn Records)
There’s a structure to these tunes easy to follow, but each is delivered with a looseness that that makes them feel wide open and free to roam where they please. The LUMI quartet of drummer Pontus Häggblom, double bassist Alex Littorin, pianist Martin Jutéus and saxophonist Emil Nerstrand deliver strong takes on thick melodies, then go about stretching and twirling them around in any way that amuses them to do so… and often with a boisterousness that’s positively addictive. And, so, the title A Love Drunk Poem either dictated the album’s boozy lyricism or was the logical choice once everything was done and all that was left was the give the album its name. Either way, the result is bundles of fun. Music from Malmö, Sweden.
Artist site | Buy: Amazon
Lucas Brode – I Lick the Kerosene of Progress (Self-Produced)
This solo guitar set from Lucas Brode is simultaneously gripping and laid-back. It demands attention, but doesn’t necessarily require you to sit up at edge of your seat. The roll-out of melodies is the album’s transformative moment, time and again. Sometimes the melody appears like the dawn over the horizon, sometimes it’s stuttered out like a nervous tic, and other times it eschews form and structure for a pervasive cinematic ambiance. Very cool. Music from NYC.
Artist site | Listen | Buy: Bandcamp
Lena Bloch & Feathery – Heart Knows (Fresh Sound New Talent)
It’s an interesting transformation from Lena Bloch‘s debut to her sophomore release Heart Knows. The debut’s updated true-blue expressionism has morphed into something with thicker ambiance and an emotional amplification bordering on spiritual. Bloch still brings an adroit lyricism even in the moodier atmosphere, and, actually, that may be the contrasting element that makes this album resonate as strongly as it does. The tenor saxophonist brings a solid cast with pianist Russ Lossing, bassist Cameron Brown and drummer Billy Mintz. Music from Brooklyn.
Artist site | Listen | Buy: Amazon
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By davesumner • Jazz Recommendations, Jazz Recommendations - 2017 releases • 0 • Tags: Brooklyn (NY), Clean Feed Records, Courtney Pine, Eric Revis, Freestyle Records, Fresh Sound New Talent label, Havtorn Records, Lena Bloch, London, Lucas Brode, LUMI, Malmo (SE), New York City, Self-Produced, The Round-Up