Tord Gustavsen coming to the US

[GA Russell]

As I recall, Tord Gustavsen's album The Ground was very popular here, so I thought that some of you in New York and San Francisco would like to know that he will be coming to America the end of March to promote his new album Restored, Returned.

March 28 - San Francisco Jazz Festival

March 31 - Merkin Concert Hall, NYC

[neveronfriday]

Don't want to ruin it for anybody, but I loved those three first Gustavsen CDs and HATE the new one. Make sure to check out that new release before you plunk down your hard-earned cash for concert promoting it. It's a very different animal.

[GA Russell]

LOL Tonight I was going through my box of factory-sealed CDs which are still for sale, and I came upon The Ground, which I had forgotten that I owned.

So I opened it up and put it on. Pretty good! But as usual for ECMs (at least for me), you have to be in the right mood.

[GA Russell]

The new album Restored, Returned can be heard at lala here:

http://www.lala.com/#album/432627039264015019/Tord_Gustavsen_Ensemble/Restored,_Returned

[GA Russell]

I've been listening to both The Ground and Restored, Returned, and I find that I like the new album better. They are quite different, and there is no reason to expect someone to be a big fan of both.

I find The Ground to be a failrly standard ECM piano trio date. I wouldn't really classify Restored, Returned as jazz. It reminds me of some of the things Virgin Records put out in the 70s. Specifically, there are a couple of songs that remind me of what Robert Wyatt did shortly after his accident. And the female vocalist might call to mind Slapp Happy.

Word to the warning - The vocalist (Kristin Asbjornsen) has a mildly scratchy voice, somewhat like Mike Hugg, but not as much as Kim Carnes. So that will put you off if you don't like that sort of thing.