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JAGA JAZZIST, "WHAT WE MUST"
Having spent the better part of the past ten years successfully fusinglarge ensemble jazz with electronic-based music(s) for a fresh andinteresting take, Norwegian collective, Jaga Jazzist, have refinedtheir chops and compositions for their fourth official release, What We Must.Ninja Tune / Smalltown Supersound
Noticeably absent is their triple digit BPM tempos and quirky, eclecticcompositions which relied on the "programmer" element as an integralpart. Instead, the group have crafted seven stunning pieces that followa more straight-ahead instrumental rock feel, ridden with catchy hooks,radiant progressions, beautiful melodies and plenty of air-drummingfodder for those that choose to partake (myself included). From thefirst four bars of opener "All I Know is Tonight," the heroic rockelement falls perfectly into place, nicely embroidered with slidinghorns and snappy breaks that stop on a dime, leaving a twinklingxylophone to finish off melodic phrases. As with most great rockalbums, the first cut is the set-up 1-2 punch for track two; in thiscase, the over-the-top "Stardust Hotel." Power chords that would maketheir death metal countrymen proud are banged out on tremolo guitarmatched with snappy and polyrhythmic drumming kick the tune along as anoverly-distorted trumpet runs the melody. Not to balls-to-the-wall itfor the entire six minutes, a refreshing yet not so out-of-place turnwith a more orchestral taste tapers the tune off nicely. Seeing thegroup on their brief North American tour last summer, a then new andunfamiliar track which stood out in performance has become the trackthat warrants repeat listens in succession. Keyboard player AndreasHessen Schei's "Swedenborgske Rom" is a grandiose performance drawingheavily on the movements and arrangements of classical music scoring,all beautifully orchestrated. The full band's choir performance midwaythrough is evocative and very touching, bordering on celestial. Themusical chops of Jaga Jazzist's members quickly became apparent onprevious releases amidst their unique compositions and inspiringperformances. What We Must showcases the group's maturity ascomposers, arrangers and orchestrators, proving, once again, that thesum is greater than the individual parts.
Noticeably absent is their triple digit BPM tempos and quirky, eclecticcompositions which relied on the "programmer" element as an integralpart. Instead, the group have crafted seven stunning pieces that followa more straight-ahead instrumental rock feel, ridden with catchy hooks,radiant progressions, beautiful melodies and plenty of air-drummingfodder for those that choose to partake (myself included). From thefirst four bars of opener "All I Know is Tonight," the heroic rockelement falls perfectly into place, nicely embroidered with slidinghorns and snappy breaks that stop on a dime, leaving a twinklingxylophone to finish off melodic phrases. As with most great rockalbums, the first cut is the set-up 1-2 punch for track two; in thiscase, the over-the-top "Stardust Hotel." Power chords that would maketheir death metal countrymen proud are banged out on tremolo guitarmatched with snappy and polyrhythmic drumming kick the tune along as anoverly-distorted trumpet runs the melody. Not to balls-to-the-wall itfor the entire six minutes, a refreshing yet not so out-of-place turnwith a more orchestral taste tapers the tune off nicely. Seeing thegroup on their brief North American tour last summer, a then new andunfamiliar track which stood out in performance has become the trackthat warrants repeat listens in succession. Keyboard player AndreasHessen Schei's "Swedenborgske Rom" is a grandiose performance drawingheavily on the movements and arrangements of classical music scoring,all beautifully orchestrated. The full band's choir performance midwaythrough is evocative and very touching, bordering on celestial. Themusical chops of Jaga Jazzist's members quickly became apparent onprevious releases amidst their unique compositions and inspiringperformances. What We Must showcases the group's maturity ascomposers, arrangers and orchestrators, proving, once again, that thesum is greater than the individual parts.samples:
