Jaga Jazzist "Pyramid"

Country: Norway
Genre(s): Instrumental Fusion, Electronica
Label: Brainfeeder - BFCD099
Format: CD, vinyl, digital
Release date: August 7, 2020
Tracklist: 
1. Tomita (13:46)
2. Spiral Era (8:08)
3. The Shrine (9:06)
4. Apex (8:08)

Total Time 39:08

Line-up: 
Lars Horntveth: Guitars, pedal steel guitar, clarinets, saxophones, keyboards, synthesizers, vibraphone, piano and programming
Marcus Forsgren: Electric guitar and vocals
Even Ormestad: Bass guitar
Line Horntveth: Tuba, alto horn, euphonium, flute and vocals
Erik Johannessen: Trombone and vocals
Martin Horntveth: Drums, percussion and programming
Øystein Moen: Synthesizers, clavinet and Hammond organ
Andreas Mjøs: Vibraphone and chef
   With
David Wallumrød: Pro Soloist (1)

Description/Reviews: 

Pyramid is an exciting new entry in Jaga Jazzist's discography – relentless in its exploration of a variety of styles that seem rooted in jazz but are not limited to the genre. It evokes a certain vibe that can certainly come off as retro-leaning, but at the same time, this is a band unafraid of innovation and forward-thinking.

Read the full review by Chris Ingalls at popmatters.com

Media/Samples 
Bandcamp

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Jaga Jazzist "Starfire"

Country: Norway
Genre(s): Electronica
Label: Ninja Tune
Format: CD, vinyl, digital
Release date: June 1, 2015
Tracklist: 

1. Starfire - 8:47
2. Big City Music - 14:07
3. Shinkansen - 7:42
4. Oban - 12:41
5. Prungen - 6:35

Line-up: 
Marcus Forsgren: Electric guitar and fx
Andreas Mjøs: Vibraphone, guitar, Korg MS10 and percussion
Martin Horntveth: Drums
Lars Horntveth : Guitars, clarinets, saxophones, keys and lap steel guitar
Line Horntveth : Tuba, flute, percussion, glockenspiel and vocals
Even Ormestad: Bass and keyboards
Erik Johannessen: Trombone, percussion and vocals
Øystein Moen: Synthesizers and piano
  With
Leon Dewan - Swarmatron on "Shinkansen"

Description/Reviews: 

After the more heavily scored work of One Armed Bandit and Live with the Britten Sinfonia, Starfire moves to a more experimental studio-led approach - "The idea was that we thought about the songs as both the original song and a remix in one" - morphing each song into a variety of sonic directions. With an increase in the use of electronics and the guitar work of Marcus Forsgren given new prominence, it’s probably the least straightforwardly “jazz” of their records. Instead, all the elements which have made them such an important band—the way their technical chops combine with the kind of mutual sympathy which comes from growing up together—are here melded into an utterly unique sound on what could turn out to be the group’s crowning achievement.
Add in a guest like Leon Dewan, who plays his own Swarmatron on "Shinkansen" and Lars’ increasing use of a Pocket Piano synth as a tool for composition and you get the basis of a more hard-edged, electronic sound, perfectly melded with live musicianship.
Starfire is a beautiful, visceral, utterly exhilarating piece of work that keeps spiralling up and away, structurally complex, musically rigorous, but without ever losing touch with a certain earthy sensuality and human sympathy. 

Media/Samples 
Starfire/Oban

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