Marius Neset - Pinball (2015)

After Marius Neset's ACT debut Lion, with the Trondheim Orchestra, the move back into a soloist spotlight on Pinball is a timely reminder of why the jazz world pricked up its ears when Neset emerged several years ago. His virtuosity, from the bedrock strength of tone to the torrents of phrasal ideas, extends a rich lineage of sax giants that runs from Chris Potter to Michael Brecker back to one of their key role models, Joe Henderson, but also references the more serene ways of Jan Garbarek. While Neset s improvising has lost none of its cascading verve his new compositions mark a considerable shift compared to previous material. Pinball is arguably the strongest artistic statement Marius Neset has made to date insofar as it acts as a dual showcase for his gifts as an improviser and composer. It also unveils an international band where the whole is greater than the sum of the not inconsiderable parts. The long-running creative relationship between the players has no doubt been a major contributory factor to this cohesion. Norwegian drummer Anton Eger, who also co-produced the album, is a long-term associate of Neset s, having worked with him on the acclaimed albums Golden Explosion and Birds. The two musicians previously lined up with the Swedish double bassist Petter Eldh in People Are Machines. Furthermore, Eger gigs regularly with pianist Ivo Neame in the highly successful trio Phronesis, so Neset s core rhythm section hardly comprises strangers washing up on an unknown musical shore. As for vibraphonist Jim Hart he has been playing with Neame for many years.

Tracklist:

1. World Song, Pt. 1 8:43
2. World Song, Pt. 2 6:24
3. Pinball 6:51
4. Odes of You 6:53
5. Police 6:09
6. Music for Cello and Saxophone 3:18
7. Theatre of Magic 6:26
8. Aberhonddu 3:33
9. Jaguar 2:53
10. Music for Drums and Saxophone 2:19
11. Summer Dance 5:59
12. Hymn from the World 1:44

Personnel:

Marius Neset - tenor and soprano saxophones
Ivo Neame - piano, Hammond B3 organ, CP 80, clavinet
Jim Hart - vibraphone and marimba, additional drums on track 4
Petter Eldh - double bass
Anton Eger - drums and percussion

Additional musicians:
Andreas Brantelid - cello on track 1, 2, 6 and 7
Rune Tonsgaard Sørensen - violin on track 1 and 11
Ingrid Neset - flute on track 1, 5 and 11
August Wanngren - tambourine on track 3
Pinball band - clapping on track 1, 2 & 7