Chroma

Avant Jazz / Free Improvisation / Avant-Garde
premiera polska: 20.11.2014
kontynent: Europa
kraj: Dania
opakowanie: kartonowe etui
opis:
multikultiproject.blogspot.com; 2014-11:
"Nie bez przyczyny mówi się o duńskim perkusiście, Kasperze Tomie Christiansenie, jako o jednym z najlepszych skandynawskich kompozytorów. Jego kompozycje, z gruntu nowoczesne, nasycone są dużą dozą melancholii i zachwycają niepowtarzalnym wyczuciem melodii. Ten młody muzyk (rocznik 1981) należy jednak do pokolenia, które nie zamyka się tylko w świecie jazzowej tradycji - bardzo wiele czerpie z muzyki współczesnej, tak komponowanej jak i improwizowanej, ale również z rocka, czy szeroko pojętej kultury popularnej.

Te inspiracje, ale i jego klasę - tak jako kompozytora, jak i instrumentalisty - znakomicie potwierdza najnowszy jego album - wydana w duecie z pianistą Jacobem Anderskovem płyta "Chroma". Już to, że Anderskov pojawia się na tej płycie tylko w charakterze instrumentalisty świadczy najlepiej o klasie lidera, ale także o uznaniu i - jak słusznie zauważa w swej recenzji pan Adam Baruch - zaufaniu jakim Kaspar Tom cieszy się wśród swoich partnerów. Mistrzostwo słychać w pastelowo-lirycznych, oszczędnych i delikatnych frazach "Black/Yellow", "Rouge" czy "Gron". Niepokojąco wybrzmiewa dialog fortepianu i perkusji w "Na Tagboksa". W "Lilac" Tom gra początkowo tylko na drobnych metalowych przedmiotach czym nadaje melancholijnej kompozycji zupełnie nowego wymiaru.

Ale piękno tej płyty to także fortepian. Anderskov wydaje się być dla Christiansena partnerem idealnym - bardziej ceniony jako band lider (ma na swoim koncie ponad 20 albumów w których lideruje lub współlideruje rozmaitym formacjom) niż wirtuoz swego instrumentu potrafi w znakomity sposób ocenić klarowność i spójność muzycznej wizji duńskiego perkusisty. I nie stara się jej złamać, nie zasypuje partnera kaskadą dźwięków, pozwala by perkusja współistniała na równych prawach z fortepianem; by była równocześnie instrumentem rytmicznym, harmonicznym i melodycznym. By prowadziła całość muzycznej narracji.

Podobnie na Kaspar Tom, Anderskov nie chce udowadniać swojej wielkości, nie musi. Wystarczy mu muzyka. A ta naprawdę zachwyca…"
autor: Józef Paprocki

Editor's info:
Over the past few years, Kasper Tom has made his name on the European improv- and advantgarde-scene. Kasper's compositions draw inspiration from modern composition, but is also imbued with a great deal of melancholy and a unique sense of melody.

Jacob Anderskov has released close to 20 albums as a leader and co-leader since his debut in 2001. He has received numerous awards and has been acclaimed by the international press as a great voice in contemporary music. His work ranges from improvised works in small groups to fully composed pieces for larger ensembles. Most recently, he released the two albums Agnostic Revelations and Granular Alchemy with the musicians Chris Speed, Michael Formanek and Gerald Cleaver.

All About Jazz:
”Danish drummer Kasper Tom Christiansen is one of the most interesting composers in the vibrant Danish jazz scene. As many other like-minded composers in this scene, he does not bind himself to the jazz legacy. His distinct musical personality references elements of contemporary music and free improvisation. His compositions often bend catchy melodies into complex structures, while playing with seriousness. He challenges with odd segments and constantly attempts to push the boundaries without forgetting formative legacies. Impressive performances of demanding and challenging compositions.”

adambaruch.com:
This is an album by a duo of Danish Jazz musicians: drummer / composer Kasper Tom Christiansen and pianist / composer Jacob Anderskov, both representatives of the new wave of Danish Jazz music, which has been experiencing a significant resurgence since the turn of the Millennium. Anderskov, who is commonly recognized as one of the leaders of the local Danish scene, is a prolific performer, composer and recording artists with a sizeable legacy of over twenty releases as a leader since his debut in 2001 and many more as a sideman. He won the Danish Jazz Composer of the Year award in 2013 and is definitely an Artist worth following. Christiansen, who started to record in 2007, participated in more than ten releases since, with a steady progress towards excellence. This album includes eight original compositions, seven of which are by Christiansen, and the opening track is a piece credited to both participants.

The fact that Anderskov takes part in this album almost exclusively as a pianist is a tremendous vote of confidence in Christiansen´s talent as a composer. But more importantly, for anybody listening to this music, it becomes pretty obvious that Christiansen is a brilliant music weaver. His intrinsic melancholy, lyricism and feel for freedom of expression are his pillars, and then it´s up to the performers to translate these principles into actual soundscapes.

Anderskov was an ideal choice to turn this music into what it finally becomes: a dreamy soundtrack of an imaginary voyage through space and time, delicate and fragile, illusive and mystical. The gentle piano strokes and the muffled drum parts work hand in hand towards a common goal of caressing the listener´s soul via his ears. This music can be absorbed on many different levels, from highly cerebral to completely emotional, all with an equally satisfactory aesthetic effect.

This is a very intimate piece of music, humble in a way, somewhat minimalistic, and yet it contains more music and artistic expression that most other, much more flamboyant recordings. For me this is one of the most profound pieces of music I´ve had the pleasure to hear this year. As usual in such occasions, I simply raise my imaginary hat, thanking the Artists for sharing.
by adam baruch

muzycy:
Kasper Tom: drums & composition
Jacob Anderskov: piano

utwory:
1. Black/Yellow
2. Blå
3. Rouge
4. Na Tagboksa
5. Grøn
6. Chord
7. Lilac
8. Hvid

wydano: October 27th 2014
more info: www.barefoot-records.com
more info2: kaspertom.com