Eyolf Dale: Wolf Valley

Modern Jazz / Indie Jazz
premiera polska: 2016-07-01,
Wydawnicto Audiofilskie
kontynent: Europa
kraj: Norwegia
opakowanie: plastikowe etui
opis:
multikultiproject.blogspot.com * * * * 1/2
Dość dziwnie tak zaczynać opisywanie płyty, ale "Wolf Valley" to na prawdę płyta spektakularna.

Dziewięć z pomysłem skomponowanych przez lidera, kolorowo zaaranżowanych i doskonale zagranych jazzowych kompozycji, które z pewnością wejdą do żelaznego jazzowego repertuaru. Wszystko pozostaje tu pod całkowitą kontrolą. Z jednej strony polistylistyczna struktura muzyczna, z drugiej strony dyscyplina artystyczna, przynosząca muzykę, w której słychać wielką dbałość o najmniejszy nawet detal.
To wyjątkowy przykład muzyki, o olbrzymim ładunku ekspresji, a jednocześnie relaksującej i odprężającej. Jest tutaj miejsce na zadumę i kontemplację brzmienia. Instrumentaliści, a wśród nich doskonale znani fanom jazzu perkusista Gard Nilssen (świetna płyta Gard Nilssen's Acoustic Unity dla Clean Feed) i członek kilku kapitalnych skandynawskich bandów - Trespass Trio, Trinity, Circulasione Totale Orchestra, Wibutee, Crimetime Orchestra, MZN3 - basista Per Zanussi grają tak żarliwie, że przy refleksyjnym charakterze kompozycji, efekt zadziwia niespotykanym ładunkiem ekspresji.

Oktet norweskiego pianisty wydaje się być mocno wtopiony w historię jazzu (Maria Schneider Orchestra), jednocześnie jednak jest uderzająco współczesny, śmiało można powiedzieć nowoczesny. Ich aranżacyjna inwencja czerpie z dokonań najlepszych współczesnych europejskich jazzmanów, ale nie w mniejszym stopniu z dzisiejszej praktyki muzyki ludowej, ale oczywiście także improwizowanej.

Eyolf Dale, norweski pianista i kompozytor, pomimo młodego jeszcze wieku (rocznik 1985), na swoim koncie płyty wydane przez Curling Legs, Inner Ear czy Rune Grammofon. Najnowsza płyta ukazuje się w cenionym angielskim wydawnictwie Edition Records, w którym w 2015 roku, norweski tubista Daniel Herskedal wydał płytę "Slow Eastbound Train", z Eyolfem Dale'm w składzie. "Wolf Valley" jest kolejną znakomitą płytą, tego nad podziw szybko rozwijającego się wydawnictwa.
autor: Andrzej Majak
Editor's info:
Wolf Valley is the new album from Norwegian pianist and composer Eyolf Dale. Although this is his fifth album as a leader since he burst onto the Norwegian scene in 2008, it was with Daniel Herskedal, the innovative tuba player, that Eyolf developed an international profile. He played on Daniel’s Edition release Slow Eastbound Train (2015) and now with Wolf Valley Eyolf Dale has brought together eight of the finest musicians from the vibrant Norwegian jazz scene to create an album of subtle grooves, beautiful melodies and rhythmic interplay.

On Wolf Valley Eyolf perfectly blends musical colour, dynamics, melody and rhythm. Despite having an octet at his disposal, his compositions extend beyond the usual limitations of the eight players. He uses the palette of vibraphone, violin, saxophones and trumpet to create a vibrant, colourful and fresh perspective on the sound of the octet – the composer’s group par excellence – providing the range and colour of a big band with the dexterity and speed of thought of a quartet. Historical examples include the groups that Mingus, Miles and Gil Evans put together from the 1940s and 50s when they wrote the ground rules of modern jazz. The octet is the perfect instrument for Dale’s compositional skills – demonstrating beyond doubt that this exciting pianist is ready to become a significant figure in European jazz.

His previous solo albums have demonstrated a steep progression in skill and ambition and have reached a pinnacle in Wolf Valley. Eyolf has a strong classical technique allied to a large sonic soundscape, he’s equally at home with sweeping runs utilising the whole dynamic range of the piano as with introspective, spacious chords. His music is bold, inventive and always seems to take the listener just where he or she wants to go!


“This music is the most defining production of my own music at this point in my life. Wolf Valley is my name. In Norwegian, ‘Eyolf’ means ‘Wolf’ and ‘Dale’ means ‘Valley’”.
EYOLF DALE

All About Jazz * * * *
Thirty one year old pianist Eyolf Dale is a leading figure in contemporary jazz in his home country of Norway and an Associate Professor of applied piano at the Norwegian Academy of Music department of jazz studies. The album's title, Wolf Valley, is actually a play on his name as in Norwegian, Eyolf means wolf and Dale means valley. This is chamber jazz of sorts, but paradoxically packing a surprisingly satisfying punch too.

"Furet" initially evokes a feel of Birth Of The Coolbut soon transmutes into something else entirely with Eyolf Dales fluttering piano and a resounding ensemble resolution. The centrepiece of the elegant "Fernanda" is Adrian Loseth Waade's pensive violin solo whilst the ensemble passages are worthy of Carla Bley.

"Shostachoral" has a lugubrious feel punctuated by the rise and fall of the ensemble. It was originally an improvised organ chorale from Dale's solo album Hometown Interludes. Introduced by delicate vibraphone, "Ban Joe" has a touch of Michael Gibbs about it, particularly when the piano joins the vibes to play a repeated motif whilst the ensemble overlays a seductively slinky melody line.

Piano and vibes again join forces on the hypnotic "Sideways," Dale's left hand evincing a slightly menacing, percussive piano accompaniment followed by an exquisite trombone solo from Kristoffer Kompen. Courtesy of the infrequently-heard musical saw,Per Zanussi produces some feedback-like sounds on "Teglstein" which extend throughout this strange and ethereal piece. But by contrast, "The Creek" is very third stream, benefitting from a flowing cohesion whilst simultaneously exploring the possibilities of disparate groupings of instruments. This track surely evokes the essence of George Russell. "Silent Ways" (Dale's compositions are frequently afforded punning titles) perfectly demonstrates how the leader's piano is both restrained yet effective, whilst the finale, "The Walk" is a rousing vehicle for solos from UK-born Hayden Powell on trumpet and the American vibraphonist Rob Waring.
By ROGER FARBEY

muzycy:
Eyolf Dale: Piano
Per Zanussi: Bass
Gard Nilssen: Drums
André Roligheten: Sax/Clarinet
Hayden Powell: Trumpet
Kristoffer Kompen: Trombone
Rob Waring: Vibraphone
Adrian Loseth Waade: Violin

utwory:
1. Furet
2. Fernanda
3. Shostachoral
4. Ban Joe
5. Sideways
6. Teglstein
7. The Creek
8. Silent Ways
9. The Walk

total time - 51:28
wydano: 10th June 2016
more info: www.editionrecords.com
more info2: eyolfdale.wordpress.com