When Count Basie was asked to define swing he replied "Four beats to the bar and no cheating" which, all these years later, is exactly what we get here in this lovely album from Denmark. Totally different to the usual Scandinavian concept of jazz, it really does swing which is in no small part due to the drumming of the leader, his compositions and the Ben Websterish sound (without the rough edges) of American tenor player Riley.
Riley has history dating back to when he was 17 and playing in the bands of Ray Charles and Harry Connick Jr. He progressed to the Wynton Marsalis band, worked with Norah Jones as well as recording under his own name. The other tenor player, Jan Harbeck, I think only shows on one track - the sleeve notes are somewhat vague - but his bigger, more contemporary approach makes it easy to differentiate between the two - twins they ain't, not even brothers!
Hjorth slots into the role of Count as to the manor born albeit playing a few more notes than his noble predecessor did whilst Fjeldsted proves to be a worthy page and leader Kirk keeps it all swinging.
The album hits the street, or cyberspace, according to preference, in various forms on July 2 via Stunt Records who are distributed in the UK by Cadiz Music. There's only 34 minutes of music but it's a very satisfying 34 minutes... Lance
Right on time: Streamline; Going Up; Dive; Bright and Early; Highway Scene; Call to Prayer; Blues Arabesque; The Grind.
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