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Helge Sunde with the Norske Store Orkeste

Denada

ACT SACD 9805-2

A member of Geir Lysne's Listening Ensemble, trombonist/composer Helge Sunde invites comparison with his more celebrated compatriot, largely because they both eschew the brash, hard-swinging big-band tradition in favour of a more texturally subtle, multifaceted approach; put crudely (and somewhat imprecisely) their music is more Maria Schneider than Maynard Ferguson.

Sunde's great forte is writing and arranging for horns; his core ten members all play reeds and horns, and are here supplemented by the guest rhythm section of bassist Per Mathisen and drummer Rune Arnesen, plus percussionist Marilyn Mazur (who contributes a gripping piece, 'Small Landscape'), pianist Olga Konkova and guitarist Jens Thoresen.

Sunde's material is extraordinarily varied, rhythmically, texturally and dynamically: his horns whisper almost like strings at times, but are also capable of producing lush, delicate, crooning chorales or punchy ensembles, and the Orkester contains enough original and compelling soloists (the urgent-toned altoist Petter Wettre, the powerful tenorist Atle Nymo, the simultaneously fruity and grainy baritonist B–rge Are Halvorsen etc.) to explore thoroughly all the many musical avenues opened up by Sunde's versatile writing.

In short, a rich album that should fascinate those interested in the hinterland between contemporary classical music and jazz.