After many years working with both fellow Norwegian jazzer Jan Garbarek and such stateside talent as Sheila Jordan, Don Cherry, Sam Rivers, and George Russell, bassist Arild Andersen marked the mid-'70s with the first of several ECM sessions to be cut over the following two decades. Featuring regular collaborators like drummer Paal Thowsen, saxophonist Juhani Aaltonen, and pianist Lars Jansson, Andersons's solo outings not only reflected the airy sound ECM and Garbarek espoused, but the loose and tasteful experimentation of Miles Davis''60s work as well. For Sagn, Andersen incorporates Norwegian folk songs into the mix with the help of singer Kristen Braten Berg, percussionist Nana Vasconcelos, and a combo of guitar, keyboards, and saxophone. Alternating between sung parts and instrumental segments, the commissioned piece is divided into three sections and finds the group ranging through buoyant swingers and meditative stretches. While a few of the instrumentals get weighed down in guitarist Frode Alneas' rock-tinged contributions, the album mostly comes off quite nicely. - Stephen Cook
Tracks
01. Sagn
02. Gardsjenta
03. Eisemo
04. Toll
05. Draum
06. Laudagskveld
07. Tjovane
08. Sorgmild
09. Svarn
10. Gamlestev
11. Reven
12. Nystev
13. Lussi
14. Rysen
15. Belare
16. Sagn
ARILD ANDERSEN bass
KIRSTEN BRATEN BERG vocals
BENDIK HOFSETH tenor and soprano saxophones
FRODE ALNAES guitar
BUGGE WESSELTOFT keyboards
NANA VASCONCELOS percussion, vocals
Music composed and arranged by Aril Andersen
Recorded at Rainbow Studio, Oslo, August 1990
ECM 1435
02. Gardsjenta
03. Eisemo
04. Toll
05. Draum
06. Laudagskveld
07. Tjovane
08. Sorgmild
09. Svarn
10. Gamlestev
11. Reven
12. Nystev
13. Lussi
14. Rysen
15. Belare
16. Sagn
ARILD ANDERSEN bass
KIRSTEN BRATEN BERG vocals
BENDIK HOFSETH tenor and soprano saxophones
FRODE ALNAES guitar
BUGGE WESSELTOFT keyboards
NANA VASCONCELOS percussion, vocals
Music composed and arranged by Aril Andersen
Recorded at Rainbow Studio, Oslo, August 1990
ECM 1435
http://www.ecmrecords.com/Startseite/startseite.php