VOSSABRYGG

4.5 stars. "Vossabrygg" is a live album commissioned by Vossa Jazz as a tribute to Miles Davis' "Bitches Brew". This album sounds different from most of Rypdal's albums mainly because he isn't the dominant force here.You certainly can't mistake his style and sound for anyone else but he's just not as prominant as usual. Probably because this is a tribute to Miles Davis I suppose but this sounds more like a band effort with two keyboardists, two drummers, a trumpet player, bass player and Terje's son on electronics, samples and turntables giving it quite the modern sound at times. So yeah it sounds a little different from the usual Rypdal offering, but different in a good way.

"Ghostdancing" is the 18 1/2 minute opener. What a way to start ! Organ, cymbals and other sounds come and go. Bass and a more jazzy vibe after 2 minutes. An outburst a minute later. It settles back with the trumpet and organ standing out. Things get intense 7 minutes in then settles back again. Contrasts continue. Guitar to the fore 10 1/2 minutes in. Nice. A calm with organ 13 minutes in. Piano after 15 minutes as it picks up. Nice drumwork too. It settles again as trumpet takes over. "Hidden Chapter" opens with voices and atmosphere. A beat comes in and guitar follows. It ends like it began. A very cool tune. "Waltz For Broken Hearts / Makes You Wonder" is the only song that i'm not that thrilled with. Well lets just say the beginning and ending don't do a lot for me the middle section is great.

"Incognito Traveller" is such a surprise wih the electronics and female vocals. It has to be heard to be believed. The guitar after 2 1/2 minutes is great. Trumpet lights it up too. Amazing tune. "Key Witness" is a short experimental piece with keys and other sounds. "That's More Like It" is jazzy with drums and bass. Piano joins in. An outburst before 4 minutes. It settles back then organ joins in. Guitar before 5 1/2 minutes. A powerful outburst with guitar after 7 minutes then it settles again. "De Slagferdige" opens with drums and atmosphere. A sample from the movie Pinnochio comes in too. "Jungeltelegrafen" opens with experimental sounds that build. Trumpet after a minute with a loud beat. "You're Making It Personal" opens with lazy trumpet melodies that turn passionate. A beat comes in. Nice bass. Guitar and a fuller sound around 4 minutes. The guitar is killer here. "Quiet World" is mellow with trumpet and piano outbursts to follow.

Very close to 5 stars. This is such a treat to listen to. Highly recommended to you Jazz fans out there.