VOSSABRYGG

If you like the Bitches Brew, this just might appeal to you. Not a redo, something new.

Recorded in April of 2003 at the Vossa Jazz Festival in Norway, Vossabrygg did not actually get released until three years later. It's actually a commissioned piece, but the liner notes don't reveal whether or not it's totally composed or is a combination of structure and improvisation as I suspect Davis' Bitches Brew was. I don't think you really can make music of this nature without improvisation, though.

As the liner notes say Vossabrygg was inspired the Brew but only the first track, Ghostdancing, has an actual musical quote from the Pharoah's Dance on it. The rest is original music very much in the style of Bitches Brew to the extent that you might mistake some of it for being lost material from those sessions. Rypdal, while sometimes seeming to channel 1970's John McLaughlin, for the most part still sounds distinctively Rypdal.

Terje Rypdal is known as Nordic guitar jazz and fusion original musician and innovator for some decades. He has ability to play cool and aerial music in very his own techniques and style. In fact, no weak album was released during this long time, but for some listeners he probably sounded a bit repetitious in moments. (If you know his works deeper, you will easy agree that it is not true).

But in new millennium Terje played and recorded few very different and unusual albums, "Vossabrygg" is most fresh in line between them. Vossabrygg means "Vossa Brew" and you from the very first sounds easy realize, that this work is tribute to great Miles Davis and his "Bitches Brew" album. But not too much here is taken from great Davis legacy - his work is more basis for inspiration to Terje Rypdal and team. Even if opening track "Ghostdancing" quotes directly from "Pharoah's Dance," by Miles Davis from the Bitches Brew .

All this album is monumental work, kind of "Bitches Brew" for nu.jazz era. Terje Rypdal supported there by his regular collaborator trumpeter Palle Mikkelborg and one of biggest name in world of nu.jazz - keyboardist Bugge Wesseltoft between others.

You can find all forms of jazz legacy besides its most modern trends - from almost be-bop sounds, through electric heavy guitar fusion to Nordic cool nu.jazz and electronic loops, with rare hip-hop and cool jazz inclusions. All these components are mixed in very colourful, but aerial, cool and Nordic-ascetic brew. Excellent music - new jazz for XXI century.

Very recommended for everyone with interest to best modern jazz fusion, as well as to just lovers of great instrumental music.

No way less than 4,5!

4.5 stars. "Vossabrygg" is a live album commissioned by Vossa Jazz as a tribute to Miles Davis' "Bitches Brew". This album sounds different from most of Rypdal's albums mainly because he isn't the dominant force here.You certainly can't mistake his style and sound for anyone else but he's just not as prominant as usual. Probably because this is a tribute to Miles Davis I suppose but this sounds more like a band effort with two keyboardists, two drummers, a trumpet player, bass player and Terje's son on electronics, samples and turntables giving it quite the modern sound at times. So yeah it sounds a little different from the usual Rypdal offering, but different in a good way.

"Ghostdancing" is the 18 1/2 minute opener. What a way to start ! Organ, cymbals and other sounds come and go. Bass and a more jazzy vibe after 2 minutes. An outburst a minute later. It settles back with the trumpet and organ standing out. Things get intense 7 minutes in then settles back again. Contrasts continue. Guitar to the fore 10 1/2 minutes in. Nice. A calm with organ 13 minutes in. Piano after 15 minutes as it picks up. Nice drumwork too. It settles again as trumpet takes over. "Hidden Chapter" opens with voices and atmosphere. A beat comes in and guitar follows. It ends like it began. A very cool tune. "Waltz For Broken Hearts / Makes You Wonder" is the only song that i'm not that thrilled with. Well lets just say the beginning and ending don't do a lot for me the middle section is great.

"Incognito Traveller" is such a surprise wih the electronics and female vocals. It has to be heard to be believed. The guitar after 2 1/2 minutes is great. Trumpet lights it up too. Amazing tune. "Key Witness" is a short experimental piece with keys and other sounds. "That's More Like It" is jazzy with drums and bass. Piano joins in. An outburst before 4 minutes. It settles back then organ joins in. Guitar before 5 1/2 minutes. A powerful outburst with guitar after 7 minutes then it settles again. "De Slagferdige" opens with drums and atmosphere. A sample from the movie Pinnochio comes in too. "Jungeltelegrafen" opens with experimental sounds that build. Trumpet after a minute with a loud beat. "You're Making It Personal" opens with lazy trumpet melodies that turn passionate. A beat comes in. Nice bass. Guitar and a fuller sound around 4 minutes. The guitar is killer here. "Quiet World" is mellow with trumpet and piano outbursts to follow.

Very close to 5 stars. This is such a treat to listen to. Highly recommended to you Jazz fans out there.