Sun trio, In the Dreamworld, CamJazz

First published in 2014. Last heard from, Olavi Luohivuori was appearing with prog-jazzers Oddarrang. Now here with his brother, trumpeter Jorma Kalevi Luohivouri, who opens on ‘Waves’ in the style of Nils Petter Molvær altering dramatically to a …

Published: 7 Dec 2019. Updated: 3 years.

First published in 2014. Last heard from, Olavi Luohivuori was appearing with prog-jazzers Oddarrang. Now here with his brother, trumpeter Jorma Kalevi Luohivouri, who opens on ‘Waves’ in the style of Nils Petter Molvær altering dramatically to a more mainstream style on ‘Dark Forest’, and with bassist Antti Lötjonen, the drummer is playing to a different beat and adopting a different, less prominent role.

Nearly all the tunes on this studio album, where lovingly harvested electronics mingle with acoustic sounds that were all recorded in February seven years on from the first of the trio’s albums for Camjazz, are the trumpet-playing Luohivuori’s. And while not exactly gripping it’s all perfectly listenable to, the freebop stop/start oddity ‘Old Devil’s Boogie’ maybe the pick. However, the trio have their work cut out to match Oddarrang’s ideas and sheer imagination. SG

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Notes on a varitone

On a James Brown-like mission to please and ticking that box for generations to come, Lou Donaldson brandishing the varitone alto saxophone; Blue Mitchell, trumpet; the mighty burner Charles Earland, organ; Jimmy Ponder, guitar; and Leo Morris [eg …

Published: 7 Dec 2019. Updated: 3 years.

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On a James Brown-like mission to please and ticking that box for generations to come, Lou Donaldson brandishing the varitone alto saxophone; Blue Mitchell, trumpet; the mighty burner Charles Earland, organ; Jimmy Ponder, guitar; and Leo Morris [eg Idris Muhammad as he became much better known after he converted to Islam] drums. The record was released in 1969.

Varitone sax, a gift from God or an aberration? Donaldson had earlier got lucky with ‘Alligator Boogaloo’ which paved the way for the likes of ‘Snake Bone.’ According to Soul Jazz: Jazz in the Black Community, 1945-1975 by Bob Porter published in 2005, the varitone or electric sax was invented in 1966 by the venerable Selmer company. It had its own amplifier and its effects facilities allowed plenty of wriggle room for instance even playing in octaves.

According to Porter, Donaldson liked it because: “It allowed him to cut through a loud band without straining his embouchure.” 'Snake Bone' still sounds amazing 50 years on. Just hearing a few bars lifts your mood through the ceiling sky high.