NEW CONCEPTION OF JAZZ LIVE

If anyone is interested in what is going on in the Norwegian jazz scene, this is the one to check out. Tracks 1-5 were recorded live from 2000-2001. Track 6-7 recorded for the BBC. This could very well be the _Bitches Brew_ or _Soft Machine Third_ of the NuJazz scene. NuJazz, you ask? It's a fusion between '70s jazz rock fusion, funk and electronica. Most tracks have an electronic beat as a basis and the improvisation occurs over top. Electric piano, acoustic and dubbed instruments can be heard along with live drums and electronics. It's musicians improvising to the machine which is an interesting concept to these ears. Remember, the title of this CD is _New Conception Of Jazz_(Live) which best describes this genre. Fans of John Scofield will want to hear his contribution on "Live At Bla_ which is a 21 minute NuJazz tour-de-force best heard at high volume. If your body isn't moving to this piece - you've got no soul or sense of rhythm, brothers and sisters. It's like the Headhunters on overdrive. Many parts of this piece remind me of the experiments Herbie Hancock was breaking ground with on his oddball classics _Sextant_ and _Headhunters_.

As drummer Bill Bruford once said, if you want to know where rock music is going, listen to a King Crimson album. I say, if you want to know where jazz is going, listen to a Bugge Wesseltoft record(it used to be _listen to a Miles Davis record_ but he's in heaven with Dizzy and the Duke). 5 solid stars. A true masterpiece in NuJazz.