Andersen, Arild (bass) - Electra
"Once spoken of along with Garbarek, Rypdal and Christensen as one of the "Big Four" of Scandinavian jazz, recent developments in the indigenous jazz of this fertile region have produced many new challengers to Andersen's crown. ... Electra amply fulfils the brief for a modern, fluid, and spacious sound-scape. Vocalists join the mix more as a choral texture than for any lyric purpose, leaving Henriksen's plaintive trumpet as the de facto lead vocalist. ... The longest and boldest piece on the disc, it exemplifies the seamless fusion of ancient and cutting edge materials. Andersen's talents as a composer have rarely been so much in the spotlight... His precise, warmly resonant bass-lines sound as good as ever, and although Electra may be a long way from Afric Pepperbird, Andersen should be a vital cornerstone of any new Big Four for the 21st Century. Strongly recommended."
(Jazzreview)
"There's a feeling of wonder, to much of the enterprise: whispers glitter like frosty breath over Andersen's rapidly ascending bass and percussion sparkles like unexpected snow. The two stars here are the leader whose authoritative, sympathetic playing is located at the heart of proceedings and Arve Henriksen whose breadth of expression on trumpet is astonishing. The success of the project may be attributed to the sympathy between the narrative's tragic focus and the sense of mournful fatefulness found in much Norwegian music. Ultimately, the marriage of contemporary sounds and rhythms and Greek chorus, which lays its laments like a whisper upon the contemporary arrangements, is both thrilling and haunting."
(Jazzwise)
Arve Henriksen, trumpet
Eivind Aarset, guitars
Paolo Vinaccia, drums, percussion
Patrice Héral, drums, percussion, voice
Nils Petter Molvær, drum programming
Savina Yannatou, vocal
Chrysanthi Douzi, vocal
Elly-Marina Casdas, chorus vocal
Fotini-Niki Grammenou, chorus vocal
Arild Andersen, double bass, drum programming
Recorded 2002 and 2003