In the fifties, the jazz saxophonists competed in playing fastest
and loudest and called it a Tenor Battle.
In Håkon Kornstad's new ensemble the expression takes on a totally
different meaning, when he mixes his newfound tenor voice with his unique tenor
saxophone playing.The
Guardian concluded: «It could have been a virtuosic circus act, but in
Kornstad's hands was a musical tour de force.»
And the sound? Caruso meets Coltrane? Garbarek meets
Björling? On the albumTenor
Battle, opera arias by Massenet, Gluck and Bizet, as well as German
lieder and Neapolitan songs are mixed seamlessly with Scandinavian Jazz.
Håkon Kornstad sings in Italian, French and German, bringing back memories of
old world salon music. And then he plays the saxophone, with his distinct warm
sound. Sigbjørn Apeland's harmonium sounds like a blend between strings
and wind instruments, and drummer Øyvind Skarbø plays nuanced on
arias that were never intended for drums. Harpsichordist Lars Henrik
Johansen fits in naturally with his baroque instrument on romantic pieces,
while double bassist Per Zanussi also plays the singing saw, without
it ever turning circus-like.
The sincerity and beauty of the arias is retained, but the
ensemble adds something that has been lacking in
classical
music interpretation for quite some time now: The freedom to improvise.
The musicians in Kornstad's ensemble have their backgrounds
in jazz, folk and classical music. They have worked intensively together
on these arrangements, be it instrumental numbers or classical
arias?respectfully and playfully at the same time. Five years have passed since
they first met as a group, and their intention has been to let the group sound
find its way organically over time, through rehearsals and concerts throughout
Norway. The message is starting to come across, and the album received fantastic
reviews in the Norwegian press.
Now it's your turn to discover this beautiful music!