Yes, yes, we know what you're thinking. It's a live album,
and when are those ever very exciting? But just remember that they really can
be, and trust us when we say that this one really, truly is. Like a modern day
Live at Leeds, like the benevolent, neon twin of Live Evil, Jaga Jazzist's
wondrous new record is just that; a brilliant album on its own terms. It's a
psychedelic Bond soundtrack twisting and turning from the stage, propelling the
listener forward on an epic emotional voyage. At times it seems to explode from
the speakers in pure, exuberant colour, making you wonder if you've recently
developed synesthesia. It moves with unrestrained ease from quiet reflection to
cinematic, widescreen thunder, from Sound of Music pastoral joy to pulsing jazz
chase sequences… and it makes you wonder why more of the music you hear isn't
quite so completely affecting.
Jaga Jazzist had long wanted to work with an orchestra, and
when the British radio DJ Fiona Talkington introduced them to the BrittenSinfonia, they leapt at the chance to collaborate. The Barbican's Chris Sharp
promised to stage the results, and the team set about writing the work from
scratch. Jaga wanted to make each musician feel like a central part of the
performance, and this philosophy paid off in full. The music is full of
exuberance and passion, each player becoming an equal part of a startlingly
purposeful hive-mind.
Jaga have always taken a rigorous approach to their art, and
they wanted to use the opportunity afforded by the album to push their own
creativity forward. As such, they broke new ground personally. "Mathias'
trumpet solo on Bananfluer Overalt is probably my favourite moment on the
album," says the group's writer and creative driving force Lars Horntveth.
"He really shines here and has the space and time to improvise in a way he
hasn't been able to do before with Jaga alone."
That says a
lot about this brilliant, unique record. It's not often that an album comes
along that offers so much. Its quieter moments could equal Shostakovich's
explorations of mortality, its full throttle thrusts match the visceral thrill
of any young guitar band. We'd suggest that you won't be disappointed in
a listen, and that it might just change your day for the better.
The often cinematic sounds of Jaga Jazzist, given an extra orchestral sweep – working beautifully well with the Britten Sinfonia chamber orchestra! It's a match made in jazzy, proggy, soundtracky heaven. Jaga Jazzist has a sprawling sound even at their core – with soul jazz, prog and contemporary club sounds delivered in a way that's brilliantly unique to the group – so surely stands to reason that they could adapt quite brilliantly in a grander concert environment. Well, it's even greater than you'd expect! The guitar, vibes, percussion, horns, synth and piano of Jaga Jazzist is complemented beautifully by Britten Sinfonia's strings, flutes, clarinets, bassoon and additional horns and percussion. Includes the slow-building, epic 15+ minute opener "One-Armed Bandit", plus sweet symphonic takes on "Kitty Wu", "Prungen", "For All You Happy People", "Toccata", "Bananfluer Overalt", "Music! Dance! Drama!" and "Oslo Skyline". Recorded at Rockefeller Music Hall in Oslo and at the Baribican in London in fall and summer 2012. © 1996-2013, Dusty Groove, Inc.
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