Art Metal & Jonas Hellborg - The Jazz Raj (2014)

Artista: Art Metal

Álbum: The Jazz Raj
Año: 2014
Género: Jazz metal / Metal progresivo
Duración: 33:15
Nacionalidad: Suecia

Lista de Temas:
1. The Swami on Park Street.
2. Bacchic Frenzy.

Alineación:
- Jonas Hellborg / Bajo
- Mattias "IA" Eklundh
- Ranjit Barot / Batería

El Mago Alberto en otra de sus super-contribuciones, ahora con un discazo de tres músicos tremendos haciendo un jazz moderno y metalero que es de no creer. Pero me remito al comentario de nuestro amigazo Mago Alberto (ojo, amigazo a pesar de que se la pasa bardeándome):

Siguiendo con la trama del rock nórdico acá va el proyecto denominado Art Metal, de Jonas Hellborg, Mattias "IA" Eklundh y Ranjit Barot, un trabajo por demás innovador, sólo dos tracks con poliritmos, lentos y rápidos según les pinta, y todo el bagaje de estos grandes músicos, uno podrá preguntarse que dirección se le podría dar a solo dos extensísimos tracks, la respuesta te la dan en un paquete donde el bajo de Hellborg parece dialogar con la guitarra de "IA", todo en una estructura atemporal e intrincada, con un alto grado de improvisación y una soltura instrumental admirable.
El sonido tan caracteristico de Eklundh deambula en deformaciones asimétricas y va definiendo la estructura del primer track, en cambio el track dos comienza con un clima misterioso y experimental, lento, como anticipando lo que se viene, el resto es un festival de riffs y acordes con un buen gusto realmente admirable, un trabajo que te puede acompañar una tarde de laburo en la PC, un trabajo manual, algún cambio de cuerdas, ideal para tardes enteras practicando alpedismo, una mateada, etc. etc.
El señor Wiki nos define el género como metal/progresivo o jazz-fusion, ustedes sacarán sus propias conclusiones, particularmente no me gusta etiquetar, troquelar, rotular o encasillar la música, es un tema tan etéreo que los arquetipos muchas veces son absolutamente innecesarios. Es un tema mas vibracional que otra cosa. Pero bueno, es un tema de discusión y controversias absurdas. Esto es realmente muy buena música, realizada por músicos genuinos, viscerales, y una sensación muy agradable es en gran medida lo que te deja y queda flotando en el ambiente luego de oír este trabajo.
Una pincelada más para que de a poco se complete el panorama del rock nórdico, un párrafo aparte para Barot que van a disfrutar mucho en el track 2. Una recomendación que ojalá alguien le de pelota, empiecen a escuchar el disco por el track 2, el resto es de yapa.

Alberto

ABSOLUTELLY PHENOMENAL MUSICIANSHIP!
7 years after the killer ART METAL album,the Swedish bass maestro is back with another sensational release,together again with the guitar genius MATIAS IS EKLUNDH from FREAK KITCHEN ,and the unbelieveble Indian drummer RANJIT BAROT!For those who are not familiar with Barot,he is no other than the drummer on the latest John McLaughlin album,among others,and present on many jazz fusion and world music releases with top musicians of today!!Anyway,this is a fantastic line up and the final result is astonishing!2 monster compositions on the album,each of them of more than 30 minutes,plenty of space for improvisation and 3 out of this planet musicians which are unleashed and willing to deliver some of the best of their criminal musical skills!This second colaboration with EKLUNDH shows a serious improvement compared to the already spectacular ART METAL album,released 7 years ago-there's definitelly a true alchemy between the 2 Sweds here!!Great Indian music,Eastern oriental music ,loaded with jazz fusion metal and world music rhythms and overall,the fabulous virtuosity and the criminally technical and improvisional skills of this 3 musical genius!This is music for conaisseurs,not easily to be dig,not for people which are not familiar with eastern oriental music,it's music for opened minded persons and fans of the musicians!You have here amazing technical chops and great guitar interventions from Eklundh,unbelieveble virtuosic bass lines and one of the most spectacular drumming work I've ever listened!A monster release,absolutelly phenomenal under all aspects-by the way,the sound is astonishing,the album was recorded in a classical way with an old tape recorder ,and we can-definitelly- feel a special sound of the album!5 STARS for a historical release and another musical triumph for all this 3 magnificent musicians!

ovidiudumi

Back in December when I highlighted my favorite bass players, the first bassist I listed was Jonas Hellborg. And while I said ‘no order’, Hellborg was the first one who came to mind – he is a monster talent who never fails to surprise.
This week’s JAM is Jonas Hellborg ‘Jazz Raj’
Here is the press info:

The Jazz Raj is a Jonas Hellborg trio recording continuing his collaboration with guitarist Mattias ‘IA’ Eklundh and introducing drummer Ranjit Barot. The music is seamlessly bonding Western and Indian improvised music while avoiding the stylistic cliches that are so often the pitfalls of this type of music. The Jazz Raj continues the tradition of the bass/drums/guitar trios that Hellborg has been fronting for more than 2 decades featuring wonderful musicians such as Shawn Lane, Buckethead, Michael Shrieve and Jeff Sipe. The tracks on the record are two half hour extended compositions with sections interrelated thematically using western interpretation of Indian Ragas. It is a genre defying work, it is Jazz Metal and Indian music but primarily music for the pleasure of listening.

The interesting thing about this recording is how seamlessly it blends east and west – the songs are western interpretations of Indian Ragas. So you can hear the eastern structures underlying the music, but on top you get the ‘art metal’ of a genre-defying power trio.
Ranjit Barot is at once explosive and subtle, and a great composer whose 2011 album Bada Boom I loved, and is new to the trio. Guitarist Mattias “IA” Eklundh was part of Hellborg trio before, and played on the Art Metal collective Hellborg is also part of. Eklundh is equally adept at playing fusion, metal, rock, and pretty much anything where a driving guitar is required.
Together the trio brings back elements of the classic Lane-Hellborg-Sipe trio, but with a decidedly eastern flair. While you will never mistake this music for TRUE Indian Ragas, what we get is powerful, expansive, exploratory and just a total blast.

Running Around the Bend

The Jazz Raj is a Jonas Hellborg trio recording continuing his collaboration with guitarist Mattias "IA" Eklundh and introducing drummer Ranjit Barot. The music is seamlessly bonding Western and Indian improvised music while avoiding the stylistic clichés that are so often the pitfalls of this type of music. The Jazz Raj continues the tradition of the bass/drums/guitar trios that Hellborg has been fronting for more than 2 decades featuring wonderful musicians such as Shawn Lane, Buckethead, Michael Shrieve and Jeff Sipe. The tracks on the record are two half hour extended compositions with sections interrelated thematically using western interpretation of Indian Ragas.

Abstract Logix

En definitiva, un disco que no van a encontrar en ningún otro lado que no sea el blog cabezón, un disco de puta madre que ya me estoy bajando, y otra de las joyitas que van a tener para conocer en éste fin de semana largo. Imperdible!