TERJE RYPDAL - MIROSLAV VITOUS - JACK DEJOHNETTE

I'm not sure how these three guys got hooked up but i'm sure glad they did. Terje Rypdal is from Norway and is a classically trained guitarist, he also plays guitar-synths and organ. Miroslav Vitous is from the Czeck Republic and is also classically trained. He of course played bass on WEATHER REPORT's first three albums. Interesting that he plays a lot of bowed bass on this record as well as some electric piano. Lastly American Jack DeJohnette plays drums and is well known for his time with Miles Davis from 1969 to 1972 including playing on "Bitches Brew". He's played with so many greats over the years though. Interesting that they recorded his cymbals with mics above and below them so we can hear what the drummer hears when he plays them. The music here is very much about creating soundscapes that are often melancholic yet to me uplifting.The colours used to paint here are similar to the sky on the album's cover, and it's not that melodic, yet there is something very special and unique about this recording.This is as different as the countries from where these three guys came from, yet when brought together their common love of music shines through. Some have said this is Jack DeJohnette's greatest performance, he certainly is prominant and intricate throughout.

The first two compositions were written by Rypdal. "Sunrise" opens with intricate drums and cymbals as bowed bass and guitar-synths come in. The guitar takes the lead around 2 1/2 minutes as bass joins in. The guitar is crying out 5 1/2 minutes in. Jack has not stopped and won't until the 8 1/2 minutes of this song are over. Check out the guitar 7 minutes in. "Den Forste Sne" which means "The First Snow " opens with guitar that seems to echo, then deep bass lines follow. Intricate drums and cymbals before 2 minutes. Bowed bass comes in and it sounds so sad as organ and cymbals support. This is pretty slow going. Guitar and drums after 4 1/2 minutes liven things up though.

The next two compositions are from Vitous and coincidently they are my two favourites. "Will" opens with electric piano as cymbals, guitar then bass come in. So much going on but it is at a fairly slow pace. It just sounds so good. Some bowed bass before 3 minutes, and the guitar cries out before 5 minutes as piano, bass and drums continue to play on. It settles down late. "Believer" is spacey to start with synth-guitar before piano and bass come in. It gets louder with the guitar crying out 1 1/2 minutes in. Nice bass here too.The drumwork 4 1/2 minutes to the end is excellent.

The final two tracks were composed by all three members."Flight" is an impressive track as drums and bowed bass take the lead early then guitar comes in 2 1/2 minutes in ripping it up. A top 3 tune for sure. "Seasons" features lots of synth-guitar as drums impress early. Bowed bass after 2 1/2 minutes with organ. Check out the bass 4 minutes in. Guitar takes the lead a minute later although bass continues. Synth-guitar 6 minutes in as it calms down, then bowed bass returns.

Anything i've heard from Terje Rypdal usually is not an easy listen, and this is not the exception.