Not out before tracks here featuring the compositions of Norwegian bassist Terje Gewelt plus a few well chosen standards in the company of some very starry guests that span 1998-2022 stir the imagination.
Originals, ‘Peace’ and ‘Both Sides Now’
The originals are sprinkled in with classics like Horace Silver’s ‘Peace’ and Joni Mitchell’s ‘Both Sides Now.’
The version of the 1967 Joni classic sung by the great Norwegian singer Karin Krog is quite superb and is by a long way the achievement on a record that willl appeal to anyone who likes world class bass, subtlety and poise.
Another Terje the electronica maven Terje Evensen is on opener ‘The Duldrums,’ a piece that the duo co-wrote.
Previously unreleased tracks
Gewelt, 64, hails from Oslo and grew up in Larvik near the Skaggerak coast. He studied under the Garbarekian Afric Pepperbird (1971) legend Arild Andersen and then in the States attended the Bass Institute of Technology and Berklee.
Gewelt’s bands include Forward Motion that Scottish jazz sax icon Tommy Smith participated in.
Sco legend Adam Nussbaum crops up like the deus ex machina that he is and provides a winning magnetism at the kit wigging out on ‘Schultzes Gate Blues’ while the distinguished French pianist Christian Jacob joined Gewelt on the bassist’s tune, ‘August.’
On ‘Both Sides Now’ which has a particular ache and tristesse to it that is remarkable even when you know lots of fine versions of the classic there is sterling work from Gothenburg born Swede guitarist Staffan William-Olsson and fabulously jaunty but surprisingly apt in context accordion playing from Alfred Janson.
Go find Azure
The beautiful Azure (2010) connection – that a decade and a half ago – involved Gewelt with Krog, William-Olsson and Janson is worth travelling back to prompted by hearing this track for further listening.
The sonics are velvety and immersive
Beantown tenor icon George Garzone is on the Horace Silver cover.
English pianist Jason Rebello known for his work with Sting and Jeff Beck contributes wonderfully on ‘Butternut Road,’ a gathering of luminaries that has Billy Cobham on drums. It’s also one of the best tracks. Gewelt worked extensively with the Mahavishnu Orchestra drummer down the years.
Karin Krog’s husband English reeds icon John Surman plays bass clarinet on Gewelt tune ‘Sleepwalking’ that also works more than well.
The whole album is completed by Gewelt’s ‘Initiation’ that has bass and timpani overdubbed in the blend.
The sonics are velvety and immersive so if an audiophile head the listening cave will already be throbbing with anticipation to get its mitts on this.
More from marlbank
