Stars Aligned

Stars Aligned - what a perfectly apt album title, as we have our 'stars'; four of them, Norway's exemplary guitarist Frode Kjekstad , renowned US tenor saxophonist Eric Alexander , England's organ and piano maestro Roy Powell , and Germany's drummer Frederik Villmow , whose many collaborations include saxophonists Chris Potter and Alan Skidmore. "All the elements that combine to produce a perfect jazz album are evident in 'Stars Aligned; concise, motivated themes ('head-solos-head' arrangements), intricate phrasing, freedom for soloists to improvise over (complex) chord progressions, interdisciplinary elegance, and symbiosis. Stars Aligned is truly an exemplary example of great jazz playing. "The jazzily-titled opener, 'The Phineas Trane', explodes with all the above-mentioned ingredients with powerful and punchy solos from all. Your perfect jazz album might well contain a joyous tune in 3/4 time, a jazz waltz - 'Open Ocean' is exactly that. If you like solid, walking-tempo Blues - check out 'Blues 4u'. Let's trade bars of Funk with bars of Swing and we have 'Bonebreaker'. We need a seductive, contemplative ballad. 'Moon Song' more than fits the bill. The eponymous 'Stars Aligned' is a fast-paced bluesy outing in a minor key - with major delivery. Latin overtones infuse 'Hammond Cheese' with its groovy head and heady solos. Back to a ballad, the exquisite 'Foggy Morning in the Woods' feels - exactly like that. 'Jingles', with it's call-and-response head is a minor key (non-melancholic!) intense, blistering excursion (underlined by the spontaneous, triumphant 'yeah' at the end). Connect virtuosity, immaculate timing, positivity with a soupcon of serendipity - and the stars align. A perfect jazz album." - David Fishel, 2025 Frode Kjekstad : guitar Eric Alexander : tenor saxophone Roy Powell : organ Frederik Villmow : drums Recorded January 26, 2025, by Havard Caspersen at Rud vgs, Sandvika, Norway.

Number of Discs: 1

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