Scandinavia continues to be in the vanguard of creative musical adventure. A key player in that scene, the Trondheim Jazz Orchestra from Norway regularly invites composers and soloists to create new music and perform it in a variety of settings.
Triads and more is the latest chapter in this brilliantly conceived musical odyssey. In the documentary about this recording (found on the bonus DVD), the musicians, including guest saxophonist Joshua Redman, talk about the notion that this is truly a blend of approaches, colors and sounds. It’s a jazz orchestra, of course, and composer/saxophonist Eirik Hegdal says his major influence is Wayne Shorter, but the elements involve European classical music (Messiaen and Stravinsky to name but a few), country and folk musics and more and the sum total is something else again.
The recording opens with a kind of three-part suite that immediately displays influences as well as the different instruments and sections of the ensemble. There’s raucous dissonance but almost right away, in the second “movement”, there’s a delightfully nutty parade march that periodically slides back into the chaos, which moves back to the march and then into the third and longest section of the piece where Redman wails against, over and with some particularly quirky yet accessible bursts from the orchestra. And then the saxophonist takes a solo that starts abstractly over bass and drums and builds in a kind of ‘nu-jazz’ intensity. The orchestral bursts return but with increased density and, ultimately, a changed rhythmic shape. Suddenly the pace changes and Redman and guitarist Nils Olav Johansen engage in a dreamy out- of-time duet, which is again interrupted as the strings emerge playing what sounds like Celtic dance music. The orchestra joins in the dance and then splats of individual instruments fracture into an abrupt close. It’s quite a workout for everyone and it’s full of wonder.
The above is, perhaps, a longwinded description, but it’s meant to present the mixture of diverse elements that make up Hegdal’s writing and the playing of this magnificent ensemble. The colors abound, hints of bluegrass, hymns and the classical traditions with which these players are familiar.
The DVD has an extra treat – a Hegdal composition, “Space Is Still The Place”, performed live with Redman as the featured guest. It suggests the continuing importance of Sun Ra and informs us that this ensemble is taking the joy of Ra and moving it forward with individuality and great style.
