In 2016 the Norwegian pianist and composer Espen Berg was commissioned to write for the Trondheim Jazz Orchestra. He picked out 13 of his favourite Scandinavian musicians and wrote specifically to their strengths, recognising that the orchestra is outstanding both as an ensemble and as a collective of soloists.
The music that resulted was premiered at the Molde Jazz Festival in 2017 and is Espen Berg’s first ambitious, large-scale project, its title a combination of the 1999 blockbuster film title (think Keanu Reeves) and the scientific measurement of results. Berg wanted to explore music where strong melodies are paired with complex rhythmical concepts to enable listening on many different levels: Similarly, the listener can decide which reality to listen to, getting carried away by the melodies and music as a whole, or engaging with the mechanical and conceptual elements.
And this music certainly is engaging and exciting, hitting the ground running with the ebullient Artemix + Cadae, driven along by Kirsti Huke’s wordless vocals and a strong trumpet solo from, I assume, Haden Powell before the leader takes over with a fluent, joyful solo. Here, as elsewhere, solos pass easily from one musician to the next, the ensemble providing the necessary texture behind and between them.
XIII is lighter in sound, floating along on Rob Waring’s percussive vibes and orchestral handclaps before the orchestra and Adrien Waade’s evocative violin make their entrance. Likewise, Bølge, a quiet, melancholy dirge led by Hildegunn Øiseth’s goat horn (I hope I heard that right!) that gradually develops a surging, soaring theme.
The idea of metrics comes out best on the rhythmically complex Zipline, where the different instruments interlock in interesting juxtaposition, while the title track is almost pastoral in feel before it too erupts into polyrhythmic fun. Climbing ends proceedings in lyrical then triumphant fashion, a swansong to the energetic performance of previous tracks.
Since its debut, this music has lived on in the work of Berg’s trio, and laid the framework for last year’s Water Fabric (Odin CD9588). But it also deserves to live on for its musical strengths, and in places, for its sheer adventurous, beauty.
Discography
LP1: Artemix + Cadae (21.34) – XIII; Bølge (22.26)
LP2: Zipline; Maetrix (20.49) – Climbing (5.54)
Berg (p); Eirik Hegdal (ss, bar); Hanna Paulsberg (ts); Sissel Vera Pettersen (as, v); Hayden Powell (t); Hildegunn Øiseth (t, goat horn); Daniel Herskedal (tb, bass t); Adrien Waade (vn); Marianne Baudouin Lie (clo); Rob Waring (vib); Ole Marten Vågan (b); Tomas Jåmyr, Hans Hulbækmo (d); Kirsti Huke (v). Oslo, May 2021.
Odin LP9595
