DJ Martian - original article

CD REVIEW
In The Country: This Was The Pace Of My Heartbeat
By DJ MARTIAN


As well as being a writing partner in Susanna and The Magical Orchestra, a writer and arranger for Norwegian jazz singer Solveig Slettahjell, founding member of Shining and a corner stone of Jaga Jazzist, Morten Qvenild also finds time to be part of Scandinavian chart-topping pop/rock combo The National Bank. Yet ANOTHER quality Norwegian export, 26 year old Morten Qvenild has somehow found room in his bulging diary to record a solo record, 'This Was The Pace of My Heartbeat', for Runne Grammofon. Imbued with a smoky after-hours atmosphere, 'This Was The Pace...' takes cues from John Convertino's recent release in its sparsely populated but richly layered Piano arrangements. Including an intriguing cover of Ryan Adam's 'In My Time Of Need', Qvenild is very much a man of the piano and brush drums, allowing all the compositions time to unfurl in a natural and unhurried fashion. More Kreuzspiel than Don Redman, 'This Was The Pace..." is nonetheless jazz through and through and will appeal to anyone with an interest in the less frenetic alcoves of the genre. A gorgeous release from a fabulous label....
 

Published : 15.05.2005