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Musicians |
Ken
Vandermark — reeds
Jeb Bishop — trombone
Kjell Nordeson — vibraphone
Ingebrigt Håker-Flaten — bass
Paal Nilssen-Love — drums
|
Cover
and Artwork |
Cover photo: Joel Wanek
Graphic design: Louise E. Molnar
|
Songs |
1. Another Double (Vandermark/ASCAP) [for Håvard Wiik] (8:26)
2. Off the Top (Vandermark/ASCAP) [for Larry Young] (9:39)
3. What About (Vandermark/ASCAP) [for Bobby Hutcherson] (9:17)
4. Shift (Vandermark/ASCAP) [for Miles Davis] (11:54)
5. Octopus (Bishop/BMI) (8:00)
6. Loose Blues (Bill Evans/Folkways/BMI) (8:13)
7. Elephantasy (Don Cherry/Eternal Music/BMI) (7:22)
Total Time: 62:50 |
Recording
Info |
Produced by: School Days
Executive producer: Bruno Johnson
Recorded: live in performance at Blå in Oslo, Norway
on November 24th–26th, 2001
Mixed: on February 10th, 2002 by Thomas Hukkelberg |
Acknowledgments |
Thanks to Martin Revheim and staff at Blå. |
Reviews |
Modern jazz for the millennium -- what else
can you term it? Hard-hitting, filled with joy, and yet somehow
unpretentious, School Days produces sounds splendidly and even
magnificently. Vandermark and Bishop are both in top form for this
concert recorded live in Norway. Has School Days ever recorded
anything less than exciting? By the time of this recording, the
group was so tight, so well-prepared, and so immersed in a
tradition of free jazz that all the pieces sound logically
self-evident — which of course none really are. Jeb Bishop’s
trombone is more upfront and in-your-face than on previous
recordings by the group, and he shows a more confident and
aggressive side than is customary: He growls and cajoles, his
exposed (though clearly well-practiced) sound rough and raw. His
raunchy punches transcend the moment with a secretive view toward
the future, while Vandermark (who is also in tiptop shape) appears
relieved to share the responsibilities of leadership. The real
sleeper is vibraphonist Kjell Nordeson, who infuses his instrument
with invigorating structures. At its heart, School Days is about
melody and its ability to stretch and bend, which it does here with
uncanny regularity. The roots go back to Ornette Coleman — an
obvious influence — but School Days takes them to another
dimension with a more varied palette and a more diverse
instrumentation, not to mention some extraordinary writing and
soloing. For those who enjoy Jeb Bishop’s talking trombone or Ken
Vandermark’s offbeat saxes, this one just can’t be beat. Even among
the remarkable discography of School Days and of Ken Vandermark, it
stands out as a prime release.
— Steven Loewy, All Music Guide |
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