Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Jazz Kamikaze: Mission 1

224

Jazz Kamikaze: Mission 1

By

Sign in to view read count
Jazz Kamikaze: Mission 1
Jazz Kamikaze, yet another progressive group from Scandinavia, won the Young Nordic Jazz Comets award in 2005 and wasted no time at all in recording this memorable first album.

The group's very name, coupled with the cartoon-depiction of the musicians on the album's cover, implies perhaps an eccentricity and certain irreverence towards the jazz tradition, but this is only true in part. While their music shares some of the thumping energy and intensity of the English band Acoustic Ladyland or the Danish band Ibrahim Electric, Jazz Kamikaze is more steeped in the roots of jazz, as heard on the straight-ahead numbers "Sea Bridge and "Village Blues.

The lion's share of the compositions are penned by pianist Morten Schantz, but there is songwriting talent in depth in this band; the opening track by drummer Anton Eger, Vill Du Bli Munk? ("Do You Want To Be A Monk? ) is a song that once heard is difficult to forget, and allows tenor saxophonist Marius Neset to really show his chops, taking to the tune like a dog to a juicy bone.

The formidable electric guitar playing of Daniel Helov Davidsen steers the band into other dimensions, as on the most esoteric tune of the collection, Morten Schantz's "Well of Echoes. This number starts off with a slow piano funk riff, before quickly turning weirdly experimental and free-form, building to a heavy rock workout courtesy of some impressively unrestrained Davidsen soloing. And when Davidsen, and Neset on sax, really let go in unison, it is not so much kamikaze as controlled exhibition flying, and most exhilarating it is too.

The quality of the tunes, all of which have a memorable hook, is as impressive as the virtuoso musicianship. The songs have a very natural ebb and flow of intensity, heard perhaps to best effect on another Neset composition, "Snowscape. Slower numbers, like Schantz's wonderful "Under a Spell, show that this band is just as comfortable when cruising as when thundering at full throttle.

Another tune, "The Siege, made me think (in cartoon mode) that even the great twelfth century Arab leader, and nemesis of the Christian Crusaders, Salahuaddin, would never have broken down Jazz Kamikaze's defense. More likely, they would come screaming and kicking out of their fortress and leave their besiegers eating dust.

With a followup album due for release in a few months, it will be fascinating to see how this group's music has evolved. Were they however simply to serve up more of the same, it would be no bad thing at all.

Track Listing

Vill Du Bli Munk?; Rastapopoulos; Sea Bridge; Snowscape; Well of Echoes; Under a Spell; The Siege; Village Blues; Gina; Clowns of Doom Are Back in Town.

Personnel

Marius Neset: Tenor saxophone; Daniel Helov Davidsen: Electric guitar; Morten Schantz: piano; Kristor Brodsgaard: double bass; Anton Eger: drums.

Album information

Title: Mission 1 | Year Released: 2006 | Record Label: Stunt Records/Sundance Music

Comments

Tags


For the Love of Jazz
Get the Jazz Near You newsletter All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who create it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

You Can Help
To expand our coverage even further and develop new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for a modest $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination will vastly improve your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.

More

Love Is Passing Thru
Roberto Magris
Sensual
Rachel Z
Over and Over
Tony Monaco Trio

Popular

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.