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)

Listening Booth: Music releases (and other stuff) covered July through November, 2018

As I've been listening back on some of the year's notable releases with the deadline for the Francis Davis run Jazz Critics Poll coming up this weekend, it seemed an apt opportunity to post a rundown of the music I've covered during the second half of 2018. I've got no time to add translated excerpts or listening notes this time around, so this post lists artists and releases, plus my original grading where applicable, in addition to where and when they were published.

For Musikkmagasinet (Klassekampen's weekly music supplement):

• Mia Dyberg Trio: Ticket (Clean Feed) - Reviewed Aug. 6th, 2018. Original grade: 5/6

•  Daniel Carter, William Parker, Matthew Shipp: Seraphic Light (AUM Fidelity) - Reviewed Aug. 13th, 2018. Original grade: 5,5/6

•  Moskus: Mirakler (Hubro) - Reviewed Aug. 20th, 2018. Original grade: 5/6

•  Wayne Shorter: Emanon (Blue Note) -Reviewed Aug. 27th, 2018. Original grade: 4/6

•  Ken Vandermark / Klaus Kugel / Mark Tokar: No-Exit Corner (Not Two Records) - Reviewed Sept. 3rd, 2018. Original grade: 5,5/6 

• Lassen: Eventyrer (Jazzland) - Reviewed Sept. 17th, 2018. Original grade: 4,5/6

•  Tord Gustavsen Trio: The Other Side (ECM) - Reviewed Oct. 1st, 2018. Original grade: 5/6

• The Necks: Body (Fish of Milk/Northern Spy) - Reviewed Oct. 1st, 2018. Original grade: 5,5/6

•  Fay Victor’s SoundNoiseFUNK: Wet Robots (ESP-disk) - Reviewed Oct. 8th, 2018. Original grade: 5/6

• Hanna Paulsberg Concept + Magnus Bro: Daughter of the Sun (Odin) - Reviewed Oct. 15th, 2018. Original grade: 5,5/6

• Jonathan Finlayson: 3 Times Round (Pi Recordings) - Reviewed Oct. 22nd, 2018. Original grade: 4/6

•  Trondheim Jazz Orchestra & Ole Morten Våga: Happy Endlings (Odin) - Reviewed Oct. 29th, 2018. Original grade: 5,5/6

•  Charles Mingus: Live In Detroit / Strata Concert Gallery / 46 Selden (BBE) - Reviewed Nov. 5th, 2018. Not graded.

• Atomic: Pet Variations (Odin) - Reviewed Nov. 12th, 2018. Original grade: 4,5/6

• Myra Melford’s Snowy Egret: The Other Side of Air (Firehouse 12) - Reviewed Nov. 19th, 2018. Original grade: 5/6

• Eric Dolphy: Musical Prophet: The Expanded 1963 New York Studio Sessions (Resonance Records) - Reviewed Nov. 26th, 2018. Not graded.

Live reviews:

• Sons of Kemet, Oslo Jazzfestival, Nasjonal Jazscene August 12. Published Aug., 20th, 2018

For Jazznytt:

• Steve Coleman and Five Elements: Live at the Village Vanguard, Vol. 1 (The Embedded Sets) (Pi Recordings) - Reviewed in Jazznytt #248, fall 2018. No grade.

• Der Lange Schatten: Concurrances (Trouble In The East Records) - Reviewed in Jaznnytt #248, fall 2018. No grade.

• Friends & Neighbors: What’s Next? (Clean Feed) - Reviewed in Jaznnytt #249, winter 2018. No grade.

• Mette Rasmussen Chris Corsano: A View of The Moon (from the Sun) (Clean Feed) - Reviewed in Jaznnytt #249, winter 2018. No grade.