JONO EL GRANDE

With four studio albums, this project born from the twisted mind of Jon Andreas Håtun gives us the chance to enjoy of long instrumental sequences that mix some Zappa and The Muffins inffluences with different genres, from some very heavy sections to prog rock sequences and some atmospheric and delightful sequences. Everything is crossed by Jono's guitar solos that sometimes looks extremely long breaking the original sense of the songs, but generally they contribute to gives more power to the music helping to reach constant climax and epical moments.

It's very sad to see that not much people here on PA enjoy this project, but here's a chance to met some awsome "classical" RIO album with some inspired songs such as Utopian Semi Waltz (dark and hard RIO), La Dolce Vidda (complex melodies entwined with proggy harmonies), Phantom Stimulance (full of "classic" RIO impros), Pongery In Evention (maybe the most "Zappa" song of the album), the jazzy Beggar To Beggar and at last, the dark and atmospherical Negation / Penetration in which we can also find some surprising zeuhl elements...

If you add the references to the legendary Scandinavian RIO bands, you have in your hand (and into your ears) and amazing example of waht id RIO nowadays...

A hefty gas bill, some bird droppings hitting my head on my way to the shop, this album from Jono El Grande and a nice Lotto win. Life is full of surprises.

I am not going to disguise that I did not take Jono El Grande seriously before I by accident purchased this album (long story.... you don't want to know). This due to his association with a member of the Norwegian royal family which have been lambasted in the media. I therefore got a big surprise when I first listened to this album and when I did the interview with Jono El Grande. I humbly suggest that I have been wrong all the way.

Just to humiliate myself even more: There is no doubts that Jono El Grande is one of the best progressive rock associated artists from Norway at the moment.

The title of this album says everything about what it contains. Dada'istic music. In this case, a collage of cabaret music, Canterbury Scene, jazz, Zeuhl and avant-garde. When it comes to musical references, Frank Zappa springs to mind. So does Flairck, Gong, Henry Cow and Aranis too. In short; Neo-Dada.

The music on this album is very playful, full of ironic humour and life. The music is also very warm. The main instruments are violins, guitars, bass and woodwinds. There are even some vocals here. Most of the music is based on violins and woodwinds though. Which associates the music very closely to the chamber orchestra scene. Jono El Grande and his band is essentially a chamber orchestra and in the same patch of land as the likes of Aranis.

The quality is great throughout. In particular a song like Three Variations on a Mainstream Neurosis which is an excellent workout. In short, this album is a revelation and one of the better albums from Norway I have heard during the last year.

A new album is scheduled for 2011 and I am eagerly awaiting that album. In the meantime, don't miss out on this album.

4 stars

Because it's weird. And when I'm saying this, I'm aware that this is also part of the whole business of being dadaistic. Recently, we were discussing some dada poems in literature lessons and we made some real interesting conclusions which can be applied here too. First, this is "what-they-feel-is-straight-played-here", secondly - there are many hidden meanings in it. And third, it's not so easily accessible.

3(+), I'm quite satisfied, even I don't seek this kind of music often. Still, there's nothing bad except it's dada (=not for everyone, major flaw). It's really strange and the question is, whether it's progressive, or not. Or even whether it's good, or not, it always leaves me confused.

I do love the album myself too, its a top album from Norway, one of the best from 2009 so far... My only regret was saving the money to go to the release concert to have money to buy two copies, one to my dad, and one to me. Not often you find new music with this high quality.

Highly recomended.

Øystein

10 musicians on this album, conducted by Jono El Grande, also known as Jon Andreas Håtun; an impressive lineup of musicians and instruments, including xylophone, vibraphone, glockenspiel, harp, synthesizer, programmingm trumpet, flute, saxophone and double bass.

This instrumental album released on Rune Grammofon by Jono El Grande is a very entertaining piece, with a Miriodor-ian influence and a use of a wide array of instruments adds livelihood to the music. The sound of the album, dominated by the saxes, flute and trumpet is light and bright, clear and rich. Not only that, but the style played is, like said above, influenced by avant-rock bands like Miriodor with an added jazziness, groove-ness and humor. At times the music veers into circus or carnival like, such as in Chá! or takes a different tone or form such as in Rumba for a Slightly Excited Ape. In these latter instances, the level of cheerfulness decreases and turns somewhat more serious but never too stern. There are also some clever setups such as in Ante's Inferno, which have a good use of the xylophone as the pace maker. Overall, however, there is uniformity, a connecting thread that goes throughout the album; a RIO-esque, bumpy, witty and upbeat mood that is contagious. The melodies are well crafted, the musicianship very good and the sound lucid.

All in all, this is quite an accessible album that can serve as a good entry point for those who don't know the avant-rock scene too well. Along with Panzerpappa who are not too far away in terms of sound and style, this is a good entry point but not only that. In itself it is a good a solid release and fun to listen to.

Not an essential album, but a very enjoyable one; I find myself coming back to it for more listens. Recommended to fans of the Miriodor-school of avant-rock.