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Gard Nilssen's Acoustic Unity: Firehouse
ByNilssen and Swedish bassist Petter Eldh form a compact rhythm section. On drums, the leader combines clout and precision, in the manner of his compatriot Paal Nilssen-Love, while Eldh proves muscular yet melodic. Much rests on the shoulders of saxophonist Andre Roligheten fronting the trio and he makes the most of the ample space afforded him. While remaining largely within the tonal tradition, he works rhythmic motifs hard. A fluttering melismatic tremolo forms one of his favorite gambits on tenor and soprano saxophones.
Although often perfunctory, the themes in the 37-minute set, drawn from each member, encompass a broad range, and go through numerous transformations. Staccato tenor and drums start the reedman's "When Pigs Fly" with a bang, before blooming into a fast walk. Both saxophone and drums call upon the jerky head at different points to invigorate proceedings. A short reflective passage for tenor and bass precedes a return to the recurring opening cadence. On the leader's "Roundtrip," Roligheten exchanges phrases in a call and response sequence with knotty bursts of drum and bass, increasingly overlapping before gradually deconstructing into burps and flickers. But then in another unexpected shift, a cantering Latin feel develops to inspire preaching saxophone.
By way of contrast at the extremes, "Salad Days" showcases breathy tenor and lyrical pizzicato as the trio switches into ballad mode, while "Mojo" is all violent churning turbulence and squalling saxophone skronk. Eldh's "The Resistance" features light airy folk-tinged soprano with a loping groove. Jointly credited to all three principals, "Life, Somewhere Before The Exit Signs" begins with tenor keypad pattering squawks and drone over an atmospheric shuffle, and closes with what could pass as a brief theme statement. Notice is served that these are three names to watch out for.
Track Listing
When Pigs Fly; Roundtrip; Adam's Ale; Salad Days; Mojo; The Resistance; Turtlehead; Life, Somewhere Before The Exit Signs.
Personnel
Gard Nilssen
drumsGard Nilssen: drums; Petter Eldh: double bass; André Roligheten: tenor and soprano saxophones.
Album information
Title: Firehouse | Year Released: 2015 | Record Label: Clean Feed Records
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