Quiet arpegiatting opens things tentatively on ‘Armoni’. Clashing dissonance is subtly introduced so it’s not so panglossian a view harmonically. “Armoni?” Harmony? This brief vignette is a Tassin composition. It sets the scene well.
A two-guitar album, some of the tunes are the Belgian’s but his fellow player the Finn Heikki Ruokangas chips in to pen ‘Stockholm’ a piece that sounds like a spiritual; ‘Hailuoto IV’ (named after an island in Finland – who knows? Grrr, best guess); ‘Tobacco Kiss’ and ‘Tyhjyys,’ snappy, huh? That word means something in Finnish like “Emptiness.”
As you might have guessed by mention of the last piece the mood darkens. Nevertheless there’s a certain listenability in the way the two players finish each other’s sentences musically, twanging and pitch bending away most of all on the splendid ‘Tobacco Kiss’. [See the video, top.] An interesting choice takes us back to the 1980s a little out of the blue and the virtuoso world of Portuguese guitarist Carlos Paredes whose work song ‘Canto de Trabalho’ is included.
Later in the album almost as an afterthought there’s room for the happy clappy traditional ‘He’s Got The Whole World In His Hands’ done inventively as a perky trot.
The song goes back to a god fearing, hellfire breathing Rev. F. W. McGee in the 1920s who specialised in “sermons with congregational singing and jazz band accompaniment” for an early recording. Its instant familiarity is not too distracting. Covered by many since, Bobby McFerrin put his stamp on the old faithful holly roller staple on his Spirityouall gem. As a general comment overall what’s here is perhaps more for fans of roots guitar. But it’s relatable for jazz listeners and pretty enjoyable at that. Tassin continues to be a must hear player and keeps great company here.
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