Published reviews and notable albums, 1st quarter, 2020

These are strange and worrying times, and even though we cannot go out and experience live music for the time being (that said, I quite enjoyed a fair share of sreamed "quarantine gig"), there is still a lot of great recorded music around. Below is a round-up of the music I've covered from January through March, as well as a list of 15 album favorites of the year so far. Stay safe, all, and wash your hands!

• Large Unit Fendika: Ethiobraz (PNL Records) Reviewed for Musikkmagasinet/Klassekampen, Jan. 13., 2020
  

• Keïta – Brönnimann – Niggli: Kalan Teban (Intakt Records) Reviewed for Musikkmagasinet/Klassekampen, Jan. 20., 2020

• JUNO: Young Star (Jazzland Recordings) Reviewed for Musikkmagasinet/Klassekampen, Jan. 27., 2020

• Jeff Parker: Suite For Max Brown (International Anthem) Reviewed for Musikkmagasinet/Klassekampen, Feb. 10., 2020

• Gard Nilssen Supersonic Orchestra: If You Listen Carefully the Music Is Yours (Odin Records/Grappa) Reviewed for Musikkmagasinet/Klassekampen, Feb. 10., 2020

• Sigurd Hole: Lys / Mørke (Elvesang/Musikkoperatøren) Reviewed for Musikkmagasinet/Klassekampen, Feb 24., 2020

• Lisa Mezzacappa Six: Cosmicomics Queen Bee Records) Reviewed for Musikkmagasinet/Klassekamepn, Feb. 24., 2020

• Andreas Røysum Ensemble: Andreas Røysum Ensemble (Motvind Records) Reviewed for Musikkmagasinet/Klasssekampen, March 9., 2020

• Shabaka and The Ancestors: We Are Sent Here By History (Impulse! Record) Reviewed for Musikkmagasinet/Klassekampen, March 16., 2020

• Irreversible Entanglements: Who Sent You? (International Anthem) Reviewed for Musikkmagasinet/Klassekampen, March 23., 2020 (Available online here. In Norwegian only)

• Stein Urheim: Downhill Uplift (Hubro) Reviewed for Jazznytt #254

15 notable recordings of the year so far:

Heavy rotation

• Gard Nilssen Supersonic Orchestra: If You Listen Carefully the Music Is Yours (Odin Records/Grappa)  
• Aly Keita, Jan Galega Brönnimann, Lucas Niggli: Kalan Teban (Intakt Records)
• Irreversible Entanglements: Who Sent You? (International Anthem)
• Superposition: Superposition (We Jazz Records)
• Andreas Røysum Ensemble: Andreas Røysum Ensemble (Motvind Records)

Thoroughly enjoying

• Lisa Mezzacappa Six: Cosmicomics (Queen Bee Records)
• Sigurd Hole: Lys/Mørke (Elvesang)
• Waxahatchee: Saint Cloud (Merge)
• Torbjörn Zetterberg & Den Stora Frågan: Are You Happy? (Moserobie Recordings)
• Shabaka and the Ancestors: We Are Sent Here By History (Impulse!)
• Horse Lords: The Common Task (Northen Spy) 
• Wako: Wako (Øra Fonogram)
• Jim Black Trio: Reckon (Intakt)
• Shopping: All or Nothing (Fatcat Records)
• Stein Urheim: Downhill Uplift (Hubro)