Customer Reviews

Rypdal/Vitous/Dejohnette

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I bought this album specifically to hear Jack Dejohnette. I had read that mics were placed above and below his cymbals. The detailed production alone was worth the cost of the album. I also noticed that the album was recorded in Oslo, and as an Alaskan I can say that it has the feeling of a cold winter. For jazz fans, Rypdal's guitar tone might be a little too rock-ish, but is more than compensated by Vitous and Dejohnette's playing.

It's hard to say that this is typical Rypdal, because he's covered so much ground musically. Nevertheless you'll find here Rypdal's distinctive violin-esque guitar in six serene, meditative pieces. These are not tunes to tap your toe to, although there is one tune, "Flight," that has some of the more headlong, flashy guitar work. What you generally get in place of a driving beat is striking musical imagery and color. At times, the way the instruments come together is like two glaciers flowing into one another or streaks of morning light streaming across the sky. This isn't my favorite of Rypdal's work, but it is very fine.