As noted in my May 2022 review of Nyberg’s Anniverse the sui generis Swedish singer has long shone as an exploratory performer, embracing “spoken word” and full-on vocalese as well as having an enigmatic and captivating way with a lyric. As that review further noted, this accomplished composer for jazz ensemble with string quartet, big band and orchestra has won a Swedish Grammy, is a recipient of the Lars Gullin Prize and has been awarded the Swedish Royal Academy of Music Jazz Prize.
So I was expecting quite an experience when Nyberg’s latest venture, commissioned by and recorded with Sweden’s much-rated Bohuslän Big Band, came for review. And I was not disappointed. Apart from Nyberg’s sparely cast and intriguing vocals (she absents herself on the introductory Prelude) the music is distinguished by many a striking moment, passage and groove.
Delicious shifts in voicings, dynamics and tempi elicit spot-on playing all round: sample the 12-minute A Walk In The Park. While the piece features soloists Linus Linblom (ts), Alberto Pinton (bar), Ingrid Utne (btb) and Fredrik Norén (t) the overall attention to shape-shifting and nuanced orchestrated detail is throughout such as to compel and richly reward attention. Ditto, e.g., the following quirkily grooved, in part hand-clapped sprung The Royal Rumble – and don’t miss the spacious, brooding piano, bass and drums interplay which opens the protesting Enough, where Nyberg soars high over ominous, darkened figures.
In her sleeve note Nyberg explains that the suite that is the seven-part The World’s A Stage is based on the dramaturgy of a Broadway musical. (The concluding, choir-enhanced ballad that is Close, which Nyberg recorded with Esbjörn Svensson in 1993, offers a separate but cognate coda to the whole.) Each part is dedicated to musicians who have meant something special to Nyberg. These include Jan Johansson, Carmen McRae and Milton Nascimento – and British listeners will be pleased to see John Taylor and Norma Winstone thus honoured in the sensuously sprung The Dance. Terrific stuff.
Discography
(1) Prelude To A Dance; The Dance; A Walk In The Park; The Royal Rumble; I Apologise; Enough; A Wonderful Morning; (2) Close (55.19)
(1) Nyberg (v, comp, cond); Joakim Rolandsson (as, ss, f); Martin Bjurek Svanström (as, cl); Linus Lindblom (ts, cl); Mikael Karlsson (ts, f); Alberto Pinton (bar, bcl); Lennart Grahn, Fredrik Norén, Linnea Jonsson, Jan Eliasson (t, flh); Niclas Rydh, Christer Olofsson, Hanne Småvik (tb); Ingrid Utne (btb); Stefan Wingefors (p); Josef Kallerdahl (b); Göran Kroon (d). (2) as (1) plus Nyberg, Rolandsson, Kerstin Ljungström, Noa Svensson, Lucas Jonasson (choir). Vara Concert Hall, 2022.
Prophone Records PCD303
