Jørgen Emborg: Swan Songs

Rating: ★★★

Record and Artist Details

Musicians:

Hans Ulrik (ts, ss)
Lars Jansson
Johan Dynnesen
Mathias Heise
Sinne Egg
Thomas Fonnesbaek
Morten Lund

Label:

Stunt Records

March/2021

Media Format:

2 CD, LP, DL

Catalogue Number:

STU 20051/52

RecordDate:

Recorded Jan/Feb 2020

The veteran Danish pianist-composer Jørgen Emborg is sadly unable to play anymore after his struggle with Parkinson's disease took a turn for the worse at the beginning of last year. His work is celebrated here by a Danish/Swedish sextet with guest vocalist Sinne Eeg singing the words of lyricist Lisa Freeman who has worked with Emborg since the 1970s. Led by the Swedish pianist Lars Jansson who's one of Emborg's peers, the band has a laid-back, feel-good vibe that might be passed over by those who like a bit of edge as well as originality to their jazz. But with its largely bossa, straight-ahead and MOR jazz fusion-lite influences, the ensemble bring an understated warmth to their interpretations of the pianist's breezily mellifluous themes, with the engagingly lyrical harmonica player Mathias Heise a dominant voice throughout. It's worth checking out the bonus reissue disc included here, Jørgen Emborg Greatest on which Emborg himself in various settings from the 1970s perhaps through to the 1990s (the lack of notes about the sessions on the CD package and elsewhere prevents more accurate info) that include Jørgen Emborg Kvartet, his ensemble Alpha Centurai, plus other Emborg agglomerations such as Frontline, Boel/Embord/Vinding/Riel and the Emborg/Larsen Quintet. It owes a lot more to the haunting atmospherics of the Nordic electric jazz that was making waves during that period.

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