Angles 9

Martin Kuchen’s nonet returns for more avant-jazz to dance to, confirming once again that creative music with political conscience can be festive, even considering the seriousness of the subject of this record.

The title is an expression given to people who are taken away and put into solitary confinement, with its relatives knowing anything about the prisoners whereabouts. That’s what is happening usually in the Middle East, from Egypt to occupied Palestine. The melodies introduced by the compositions are very simple and very suggestive, leaving to the improvisations all the complexity and also the essential of the fireworks. And that’s what is the most important in “Disappeared Behind the Sun”, just like it was in the previous albums of Angles 9 and Angles 6.

The refrains played by the large horn frontline with its African and Swedish folk connotations and the lively pulsation maintained by the rhythmic section have the power to seduce every sensible ear, and the connection to the most “difficult” parts follow in a natural way. It’s impossible not to like this challenging, energized and puzzling successor of three big bands, mixing it in a highly intelligent project: Chris McGregor’s Brotherhood of Breath, Carla Bley’s Jazz Composers Orchestra and Charlie Haden’s Liberation Music Orchestra are very much alive in this exciting new record of the best jazz played in Europe today.

PERSONNEL:

ALEXANDER ZETHSON, piano
MATTIAS STAHL, vibes
MAGNUS BROO, trumpet
GORAN KAJFES, cornet
MATS ALEKLINT, trombone
EIRIK HEGDAL, baritone sax
JOHAN BERTHLING, double bass
ANDREAS WERLIINM drums
MARTIN KÜCHEN, alto & tenor sax

Sickla, Stockholm, 30th May 2016.

SIDE A:

01. Equality & death (Mothers, Fathers, Where Are Ye?)
02. Ådror
03. Pacemaker

SIDE B:

01. Disappeared Behind The Sun
02. Love, Flee Thy House (In Breslau)