Purcor

ノルウェーのサックス奏者、トリグヴェ・セイムの2010年オリジナル・リリースのECM6作目となるデュオ作品が再発。

"Songs for saxophone and piano"サクソフォンとピアノのための歌」という控えめなサブタイトルのこの録音は、ミサ曲の一部の新しい音楽設定、民謡、劇音楽、即興、そしてセイムの柔らかい呼吸の曲「Bhavana」(「Different Rivers」で初演)の新ヴァージョンなど、多くのレパートリーを静かに網羅。1990年代半ば、ノルウェーの教会都市ミッション財団で活動していたピアニスト、作曲家のアンドレアス・ウトネムが、サクソフォン奏者のセイムを教会の礼拝に招き、詩篇の変奏を中心に即興演奏を行い、彼の曲とトリグヴェの曲をいくつか演奏したのをきっかけに14年間共演してきた2人による初の録音作品。オスロの旧市街にある教会、Toyen Kirkeで録音。

【パーソネル】Trygve Seim (ts,ss) Andreas Utnem (p,harmonium)

The 2010 ECM album Purcor - Songs for Saxophone and Piano features tenor/soprano saxophonist Trygve Seim and pianist Andreas Utnem dueting on various original and traditional compositions. Although this is the first time the two musicians have recorded together, their partnership extends back to the mid-'90s when Utnem, working with Norway's Church City Mission foundation, invited Seim to perform with him at several church services. Choosing from a mix of liturgical compositions for mass and some original pieces, Utnem then played in his own classical- and jazz-based style while Seim improvised around him. The result, as heard on this album, is a kind of hybrid of classical, jazz, and folk styles fits nicely into the softly introspective, and cerebral ECM approach. While this album is not jazz in the strict, swinging, improvisational sense, Seim's fluid approach does flirt with avant-garde contemporary improvisation here, and the overall sense is one of intimate, searching discovery even during the album's most meditative and hymn-like moments. Recorded at an Oslo church in 2008, the album seems to be loosely inspired by Catholic mass with songs like Seim's "Responsorium," Utnem's "Credo," and the duo's bright and rambling "Gloria, Improvisation" directly referencing such Catholic traditions as ceremonial readings of holy scripture and the "Apostle's Creed." Elsewhere, they explore several folk tunes including the Norwegian song "Solrenning" with Utnem playing the harmonium. There is also a reworking of Seim's "Bhavana" from his 2001 ECM debut Different Rivers. These performances, from the opening "Kyrie" onward, are beautifully rendered, softly melodic, and ruminative ones that find Seim and Utnem perfectly attuned to each other. ~ Matt Collar