CD Review: Klokkeblomst – Romantiker

Anders Banke (Tenor); Peter Danstrup (Acoustic bass guitar); Ander Provis (Drums).

(Review by Steve H.)

This is the Danish trio’s second offering and has so many tracks featuring climatic references that one could be forgiven for thinking that Weather Report would have been a more appropriate title.

Gently the Wind Kisses begins with a fairly sombre saxophone solo from  Banke and the track progresses in fairly minimalist fashion as drums and bass supplement the melancholy tenor. A delicate bass solo leads off By the Gloom of the Blue Lantern and then some very intricate play from the trio provides an almost eastern buzz for the rest of the piece. Where Are You Going Now is altogether more lively with a  bright tenor featuring throughout and relatively lively drum and bass accompaniment.  Come Rain, Comes... has an almost Roland Kirkesque feel to it albeit with a Scandinavian twist. For Now I Am Bright And Breezy begins as its title suggests with a very catchy tenor riff although the mid section Bass solo is anything but. The title track Romanticist is a rather interesting gentle ballad. The penultimate track is one of longest named I have come across The Dane Stands Proud and Firm (Protected From Storm and Rain) which has a tango like military  style rhythm. The album concludes with Tiny Little Soren a fittingly thoughtful finale.

This album is an interesting and enjoyable listen in a typical Nordic jazz kind of way.

Available via Discovery/ILK Records.

Steve H.