A long time in a galaxy far, far away…
There was a jazz label called Blue Note that truly put out “The Finest in Jazz Since 1939.” Every release was a 40 minute treat of some of the most heavenly music God ever allowed on the planet. Casual and yet exciting , the music was simple, sincere and swinging. Unfortunately, through the years, the Dark Forces took it over, causing it to surrender until the Princess Norah came and brought it back to life. It still exists, but under a different Prince with the Empire having returned to make it release material that includes hip hop and ….COUNTRY!!
Once in awhile, members of the True Force return to remind people of the halcyon days of jazz, and knights Sigurdur Flosason/as and Kjeld Lauritsen/B3 are emissaries of the world of light through the healing powers of Storyville Records. Here, they team up with Jacob Fischer/g and Kristian Leth/dr to run through a deliciously intimate, swinging, bluesy and personal collection of standards. No frills, no gimmicks, no angst, no “edginess”…just straight music that you can listen to at any stage of your life and have it make you a better person for it. Flossason’s alto has that Paul Desmond airy lilt to it, Lauritsen is John Patton silky smooth, Fischer’s strings are tasty and succinct, and Leth is subtle and supportive. Smoky treatments of “These Foolish Things” and “Angel Eyes” create sonic moods of oozing clouds hovering through the hills, with Flosason’s alto glistening through like a morning sun. A duet with alto and guitar on “Skylark” have you not wanting it to end, and the only let-down is when the band gently joins in Flosason’s solo intro to “Young at Heart” at just the point where you hope that it’s totally him and him alone the entire journey. If you want to know how far jazz has strayed from its zenith, listen to this and hope for the return of the Jedi.
Storyville Records