Step And A Half

Knut Haugsoen | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 6, 2000)
• Original Release Date: October 6, 2000
• Number of Discs: 1
• ASIN: B0000520Z0
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,188,560 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Win Win

2. Speak Low

3. Step And A Half

4. Play of Light

5. Out of This World

6. D'Accord

7. Lagoon

8. Don't Blame Me

9. Lipsync

10. Trinidad

11. Summerfool

Editorial Reviews

The music on the CD is a collection of originals with a few standards. The title track ‘Step and a Half' was written just prior to the recording. Some of the other originals have been a steady part of our repertoire but captured on the CD for the first time. The open-endedness of the title track leaves great opportunities for interpretation. We wanted to create a record which made the best possible use of the talented musicians, presenting challenging musical material with rhythmic, harmonic and melodic statements that can stand on their own. Whenever standard tunes appear, we inhabited the tunes to give them a unique version based on special arrangements which often involved harmonization.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Memorable compositions & some of Canada's top jazz musicians, February 11, 2006

By 

Triniman "Triniman" (Winnipeg, MB) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Step And A Half (Audio CD)

Knut Haugsoen - Step And A Half
Ram Records 0070
www.vikrama.com

Nominated for the Juno for Best Contemporary Jazz Album - Instrumental in 2001, Knut Haugsoen's Step And A Half is another superbly satisfying from the Winnipeg-based composer, band leader and pianist. And, it features some of the most exciting and active players in the Canadian scene.

The opening track, Win Win, starts off with lush percusion, courtesy of Rick Lazar, recalling Latin America to some extent, punctuated with the deft playing of Mike Murley on sax. Just when you think the tune has decided to settle into its comfortable groove, about halfway through, the pace suddenly changes on a dime. Guitarist Geoff Young, bassist Jim Vivian, and drummer Ted Warren take off at that point in a deliciously faster direction which eventually meets back with the original groove.

I especially enjoyed Knut and Ingrid's respective soloing on the third track, Step And A Half. Stefan Bauer, producer of the album, also lends his absolutely gorgeous vibraphone playing and really shines on Play Of Light. When the vibes kick in, you will get a smile on your face, guranteed.

There are three tracks not composed by Knut Haugsoen, Kurt Weill's (1900 - 1950) "Speak Low," Harold Arlen (1905 - 1986) and Johnny Marcer's (1909- 1976) ballad "Out Of This World," and J. McHugh and D. Fields' Don't Blame Me.

What stand out most for me on this recording is that the tracks are memorable. They are distinctive and beg to be covered by others, either live or on record. One of my favorite tracks of Knut's is Gridlock, from the brilliant Vikrama album, Hands On. That track has been covered the Roy/Lerner group on their debut recording, Quarter To Three. Indeed, Knut covers himself here, with the track Trinidad, also from Hands On. One of the easiest tracks to recall is "D'Accord." It's mid-paced and revists it's basic hooks often enough for them to stick in your head.

Knut Haugsoen - piano, Fender Rhodes
Ingrid Jensen - trumpet, fluegelhorn
Mike Murley - tenor and soprano sax
Geoff Young - guitar
Jim Vivian - bass
Ted Warren - drums
Rick Lazar - percusion
Stefan Bauer - vibraphone

Overall, Step And A Half is a world-class contemporary jazz album and a showcase of some of the best players that Canada has to offer. The album is never harsh or icy cool, so while it's contemporary jazz, it's also fairly mainstream as opposed to more cutting edge. Listen to the samples on the Vikrama website and take a chance on this CD!