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(Art of Life AL1041-2)Digital Downloads | About the Music | Selected Quotations
Digital Downloads {top}
Art of Life Records offers two options for purchasing digital downloads of our recordings via our web site.
You can purchase WAV or FLAC digital download audio files encoded at 44.1kHz/16-bit (CD Quality). WAV or FLAC Digital Download $9.99About the Music {top}Art of Life Records is pleased to present alto/soprano saxophonist and composer Håkan Broström's recording debut for Art of Life Records. Joining Håkan on "Refraction" are
pianist Joey Calderazzo (Branford Marsalis), drummer Daniel Fredriksson and acoustic bassist Martin Sjöstedt. The album features a version of the song "Nothing Personal"
written by pianist Don Grolnick which originally appeared on saxophonist Michael Brecker's self-titled recording debut in addition to a version of the song "See Saw" written by pianist Richie Beirach.
Pianist Joey Calderazzo contributes two original compositions, "Catwalk" and "The Oracle", in addition to two songs from bassist Martin Sjöstedt and three songs from
saxophonist Håkan Broström. "Refraction" was recorded and mixed by Göran Stegborn on February 27, 2008 at Sami Studios in Stockholm, Sweden. 24-bit digital mastering by Paul G.
Kohler at Art of Life Studios in Ridgeland, South Carolina in May 2010. Selected Quotations {top}Straight-ahead mainstream modern Jazz by a European saxophonist who can take the stand with anyone. Brostrom is deservedly a prominent player in his native Sweden,
and his fellow countrymen, drummer Fredriksson and bassist Sjostedt, both bring extensive high-level experience to the occasion. But the member of his quartet best known to
American audiences is pianist Calderazzo, who joined Michael Brecker's band in 1987 and has been earning a stellar reputation ever since, most recently with Branford Marsalis.
They offer three original tunes by the leader, two by the bassist, two by the pianist, and one each by Richie Beirach and Don Grolnick, the latters Nothing Personal having appeared on a
Michael Brecker album shortly before Calderazzo joined his band. Calderazzo's two charts, Catwalk and The Oracle, one a medium groove Hard Bop track, and the other a triple-meter
modal tune, both demonstrate Brostrom's and the pianist's impressive Post-Bop chops, including Joey's mastery of modal improvising.. By contrast, Beirach's exquisite See Saw features
warm, tuneful solos by both men. If Mr. Brent was expecting a Blues in Sjostedt's Blues for Mr. Brent, he had to be disappointed because it isn't one (to these ears, at least), although
it does swing mightily. On the other hand, Brostrom's Blues for McCoy more than does justice to the venerable 12-bar form.
On the up-tunes, the rhythm section puts the beat in just the right spot for the soloists to lock securely into an irresistible swing. On his sixth outing as a leader, Swedish alto/soprano saxophonist Håkan Broström joins countrymen Daniel Fredriksson on drums and Martin Sjöstedt on acoustic bass,
along with longtime Branford Marsalis Quartet pianist Joey Calderazzo. The band lays down a relaxed shuffle-swing groove on Calderazzos Catwalk, then wails on a rendition of
Don Grolnicks Nothing Personal. Broström contributes the lilting jazz waltz Do I Know You? and the all-out burner Blues for McCoy, the latter showcasing Calderazzos formidable
chops. Bassist Sjöstedt offers the lovely ballad Intervals and he walks authoritatively on his laidback Blues for Mr. Brent. A potent soloist, Broström turns in several heated
improvisations here, while the stellar rhythm tandem of Fredriksson and Sjöstedt keeps the momentum going throughout this superbly swinging affair. | ||
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