Prim

by Joel Palsson

Overview

While 26 years old at the time of this recording, Joel Palsson proves himself an impressive talent in possession of a fully developed sound and conception on the saxophone; strong, versatile writing skills; and a leader's knack for surrounding himself with musical partners that complement his playing and writing. Recorded in Reykjavik, Iceland, in 1998, Prim features Iceland's top contemporary jazz players, exploring nine of the leader's originals and one number based on an Icelandic folk song. Among the fine collaborators heard with Palsson, guitarist Hilmar Jensson is a standout. His Ed Bickert-meets-John Abercrombie style ranges effectively from dry, single-note lines to nuanced feedback, volume swells, and bowed tones. Palsson's most appealing work is in a relatively straight-ahead, quietly adventurous, contemporary post-bop vein, such as the kinetic, pulsing "Snug," where the interplay between Palsson and pianist Eythor Gunnarsson recalls dialogues Dewey Redman held with Keith Jarrett in Jarrett's bands of the 1970s. Palsson also writes engaging, atmospheric works in a sort of ECM style that avoids the tendency of some of that label's releases to go soft in the middle. One such track, "Second Thoughts," features the bass clarinet of Sigurdur Flosason, whose gentle, swooping sound borrows effectively from Bennie Maupin's work with Herbie Hancock. Less interesting are the two tracks that double up on drummers, with Matthias Hemstock taking up residence in the right speaker and regular drummer Einar Scheving the left. While a similar setup has worked well for the Allman Brothers and the Grateful Dead, for Palsson's music the twin traps' wall of wallop is used at the expense of subtlety and suppleness. Of course, a 26-year-old has every right to occasional moments of funky exuberance, but the fact is that Palsson's gifts are better served without an overbearing backbeat. ~ Jim Todd

Product Details

Release Date:	01/25/2000
Label:	NAXOS
UPC:	0747313604920

Tracks

1. Urgur (Grump)
2. Hagar-Sund (Bus)
3. Flis Vio Rass (Snug)
4. Lagmarks Vesen
5. 7undi Himinn (7th Heaven)
6. Hland Fyrir Hjartad (Matter of Heart)
7. Gisp! (Gasp!)
8. Skripland a Skotum (Slippery Slope)
9. Bacbankar
10. Pao Maelti Min Modir (Mother Says)

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Joel Palsson   Primary Artist,Sax (Tenor),Sax (Soprano)
Matthias Hemstock   Drums,Percussion
Gulli Gudmundsson   Bass
Hilmar Jensson   Guitar
Sigurdjur Flosason   Sax (Alto),Clarinet (Bass)
Eythor Gunnarsson   Piano
Einar Scheving   Drums

Technical Credits

Ari Danielsson   Engineer
Joel Palsson   Composer,Producer
Peter Stone   Cover Painting
Petur Gretarsson   Liner Notes