Search - Arild Andersen :: Rarum Xix (Dig)

Andersen's diversified landscapes

jean couture | Quebec city - Canada | 12/18/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Arild Andersen is one of the great artists in contemporary jazz and sits, arguably, among the top virtuoso bassists in history. I say `virtuoso' because his technique sustains comparison to other master players such as Ray Brown, Jaco Pastorius or Eberhard Weber. The music on these Selected recordings (ECM rarum series) might seem multifarious and even conflicting to the newcomer but it represents what it is : A tour of Andersen's music-making through the years. The album showcases Andersen's eclectic yet versatile presence either on a stage or in the studio, as well as his consistently imposing playing of the instrument. Typically, Andersen's bass is fluid and melodic but, on occasion, he manages to let loose in full-steam in a free jazz improvisation. His gifts for accuracy of tone, pacing and rhythmic precision are enormous, not to mention his genuinely creative solo parts. The content of this compilation CD reflects all of those qualities. As regards the sequence of events, Jazzitude promptly remarks "it's important to remember that we're sweeping back and forth across Andersen's recording catalog. There's no temporal continuity to the collection, but the musical continuity is remarkable."



His numerous appearances as a sideman include works with artists such as Jan Garbarek (as early as 1970 for the famous disc "Afric Pepperbird"...), Terje Rypdal, Bill Frisell, David Darling and Edward Vesala among others.



From the first atmospherically-tinged track, "Vanilje", to the fittingly closing "Sole", the disc explores diversified musical landcapes reminiscent of the various topographies met during that journey. Highlights include the irreplaceable "Sword Under His Wings", a powerful live act with sizzling yet subtle guitar solos by nobody else than Bill Frisell. The drumming, by Alphonse Mouzon, is equally impressive. One of Arild's best tracks, taken from the Molde Concert, it falls squarely in the cluster of `truly greats' and is perhaps the most underestimated piece in fusion jazz. Also included, from the remarkable concept album "Hyperborean", "The Island" : Half brooding, half floating contemporary track with distinctly northern sounding mysticism---a folkish delight in the vein of some stuff by Jan Garbarek ("Legend Of The Seven Dreams" comes to mind). "For All We Know" springs from a collaboration with Ralph Towner ; titled "If You Look Far Enough" the disc offers a somewhat `lighter side' of those artists, with sparse percussion, and with perfect music to relax by on a rainy September evening. The "Masqualero" phase is represented by three handsomely different tracks, each one excerpted from the albums "Bande A Part", "Aero" and "Re-Enter". The beautiful and delicate "She's Gone" comes from "Achirana", another album recorded in Norway in 1999. It's a Norwegian folksong arrangement made with his fruitful trio, consisting of Andersen with Vassilis Tsabropoulos and John Marshall. "Sole" brings back good old fusion jazz with a dose of dynamic, optimistic fervor ; it looks back to thirty years ago and concludes in earnest celebration to a most successful career.



Arild Andersen: Selected recordings; ECM/rarum (producer credits: Manfred Eicher, et al.); incl. liner notes by Arild Andersen. CD Released: 2004. Distribution: Universal Music"