Praise Drumming

構成数 : 1枚
合計収録時間 : 00:44:31
Personnel: Bengt Berger (percussion); Anita Livstrand (vocals, xylophone, percussion); Tord Bengtsson (electric guitar, violin, percussion); Sigge Krantz (electric guitar, bass guitar, percussion); Matthias Hellden (cello, percussion); Bjorn Hellstrom (flute, bass clarinet, soprano saxophone, percussion); Thomas Gustafson (flute, soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone, percussion); Ulf Wallander (tenor saxophone, percussion); Bengt Ernryd (trumpet, flugelhorn, percussion); Tommy Adolfsson (trumpet, percussion); Thomas Huhn (bass guitar, percussion); Thomas Mera Gartz (drums, percussion); Lise-Lotte Norelius (percussion). Audio Mixer: Jan Erik Kongshaug. Recording information: Rainbow Studio, Oslo, Norway (03/25/1986/03/26/1986). Praise Drumming is the follow-up to Berger's superb ECM album, Bitter Funeral Beer, and covers much of the same ground, albeit somewhat less successfully and without the inspired playing of trumpeter Don Cherry, whose contributions to that first record were invaluable. Bengt Berger is a Swedish percussionist who, at this point in his career, had almost entirely devoted himself to reinterpretations of traditional West African music, particularly that of Ghana. Unlike countless similar half-hearted projects by condescending Western musicians, Berger managed to approach the music with respect and deference and the results are generally rewarding. The opening track actually departs from the "program," being based on Balinese themes, with a lovely, sultry wooden flute solo predominating. The remainder of the record draws inspiration from Ghana and if only a track or two (notably the outstanding "Two Ewe Songs" with clarion vocal work by Anita Livstrand) achieve the heights of success of the previous album, they nonetheless provide the listener with enjoyable themes, imaginative arrangements, and jazz-oriented improvisations within a West African structure. ~ Brian Olewnick