19 Comments

Lovely piece. Am I allowed to say I like Jazz Sabbath?

https://youtu.be/096Cqsucoy0

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Thanks for the endorsement, which led to several hours of enjoyable listening. So far. The music is beautiful and the recording quality is jaw-dropping clear.

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Nov 19, 2022·edited Nov 19, 2022

there is no time zone for jazz nowadays - nuff said.

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I'm still not quite a convert (preferring Bad plus and even medeski etc.) but find plenty of other Europeans [& other continents, like Indonesian kid Joey Alexander!] adding interest to the once-stultifying american jazz scene....

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I’m not sure I’m a convert either, based on the trio. But I started listening to the solo record. At first I thought, this is ok noodling. But I couldn’t stop. It builds. Haunting.

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There are, and were, a lot of great Euro jazz bands. IMO EST started a certain commercial approach that caught on, but no one I knew considered them worth paying all that much attention to. They had a sound...but I guess I'd prefer the Bad Plus. And Ted, to say that ACT was on the cutting edge of euro jazz is...strange. They put out my 2 Free Country records when EST was at its ascendancy. I knew their catalogue, and most of it was tepid. And still is. In my estimation the one example of a truly ground-breaking euro jazz artist from ACT is Nguyen Le. He is at least as responsible as EST for putting ACT on the map long-term, and is a phenomenal artist. The truth is the Europeans hardly need us anymore. Some of their artists are more compelling than ours by a long shot. None of what I am saying should be construed to demean Esbjorn. I recognize he was a fine artist and his death was tragic as he had way more music in him. I literally owe ACT my European career. I have a deep respect for their longevity and dedication. But I don't listen to their catalogue.

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I loved E.S.T. but I never got to see them live. So I went to see Rymden a couple of weeks ago who are the rhythm section from E.S.T. with a new pianist. I expected to enjoy it, but I didn't expect to be so moved that I wept. Check them out live, so much better than their recordings. Amazing bass and drums.

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Great article, Ted. You ever listen to the Norwegian trio Moskus, or anything on the Hubro label out of Norway?

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Again, thanks. I remember being introduced to Dodge the Dodo in a trio called Bright Size Life led by guitarist Richard Page with Iain Hunter on drums. So loved being able to play arco in a new context. Don’t think I added anything to Bergman’s work but it was so refreshing.

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Reminds me of John Kramer

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I wonder how much of Home.s is improvised? It sounds like ideas sketched out previously then spontaneous colors added in the moment.

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Among the excellent recordings released by ACT, I particularly love Swiss vocalist Andreas Schärer with his bands Hildegard Lernt Fliegen and A Novel of Anomaly.

Aside: I think you meant Montenegro instead of Montevideo?

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Nov 20, 2022·edited Nov 20, 2022

To be precise, ES didn't die in a "swimming accident", it was rather a *diving* accident.

Somehow it sounds more dignifying.

Jazz from the east (and north east) is phenomenally good:

- Marcin Wasilewski

- Tomasz Stanko

- Ulf Wakenius

...

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Will definitely check this out. I've been a fan of Klaus Doldinger and his Euro-fusion group Passport since the mid-'70s.

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I’ve been following ACT for a while now (you were probably the impetus?), and really appreciate this look to the earlier years. Thanks! More Qobuz playlists from you would be most welcome....

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Beautiful.

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Thanks for this. A new group to explore. First listens back up your strong endorsement.

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