Eyolf Dale - Commuter Report '2018

Tracks list

Double Norwegian Grammy nominee, Eyolf Dale (a name that can be translated to
'Wolf Valley') is an exceptionally gifted pianist and composer. He has toured
and performed in countries such as the US, China, Japan and extensively in
Europe. He is also associate professor in jazz at the Norwegian Academy of
Music. On this utterly charming CD, a commissioned work, he has written for and
fronts the professional Scheen Jazz Orchestra based in his hometown of Skien,
Norway. Like many of us, Eyolf commutes to work. During the composition of the
album, he became increasingly aware that the music he had written at his studio
the day before was now open to fresh insights. In that the music was written in
a short and intensive period, many compositional solutions were found during the
commuting process. Clearly, the journeys from studio to home and back again were
giving him the space and time he needed to digest and develop the music. Every
morning when I sat down with my work - I sort of delivered a report on what had
happened with the music - a commuter report. The music on this album is a
'grower'. As it becomes more and more familiar, it becomes more and more
gratifying and enjoyable to hear. The pieces are cleverly and creatively
constructed with twists and turns drawn from a seemingly never-ending supply of
artistic resource. Eyolf's playing is joyous. His pianistic touch is
first-class, and his feel for the instrument is intuitive and refined; he makes
the piano sing. On first hearing, I wondered about the seemingly abstract time
signatures of some of the pieces. As a performer, I'm fascinated by odd
meters...as a composer though, I'm not focused on meter at all. It's all about
images, melody and phrases - certain ideas just are in 9/8 time. But that's
often discovered at a later point - not at the moment of creation.

Tracklist:
01. Eyolf Dale; Scheen Jazzorkester - Empty Crowds (5:29)
02. Eyolf Dale; Scheen Jazzorkester - A Certain Kind of Basement Disco (5:02)
03. Eyolf Dale; Scheen Jazzorkester - Overture (5:48)
04. Eyolf Dale; Scheen Jazzorkester - Rhône (5:52)
05. Eyolf Dale; Scheen Jazzorkester - Commuter Interlude (2:00)
06. Eyolf Dale; Scheen Jazzorkester - Commuter Report (5:14)
07. Eyolf Dale; Scheen Jazzorkester - Infinite (4:52)
08. Eyolf Dale; Scheen Jazzorkester - South Drive (5:12)
09. Eyolf Dale; Scheen Jazzorkester - Wonderific (4:40)

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