STRANDBERG PROJECT — X (review)

STRANDBERG PROJECT — X album cover Album · 2020 · Fusion Buy this album from MMA partners
3.5/5 ·
Matti P
(Originally written in Finnish for colossus.fi in 2020.)

Jan-Olof Strandberg from Finland is a so called musicians' musician. For the big audience his name doesn't necessarily ring a bell, but within the scene of prog and fusion the bassist enjoys steady international respect. His excellent playing can be heard on the albums of prog act Paidarion, guitarist Ilkka Rantamäki, vocalist Timo Turpeinen and many others.

X is a logical successor to the preceding album Progressive Construction (2018) of the bassist's own unit Strandberg Project, recorded mostly by the same line-up. Whereas that album contained also one vocal track sung by Jukka Gustavson, X is entirely instrumental. The compositions are mainly by Strandberg and guitarist Sami Virtanen. The atmospheric opening track 'Anni', written by the latter, features the beatboxing master Felix Zenger, who Strandberg names in his forewords as one of the most interesting artists of the day.

Strandberg's piece 'Good News' keeps shifting between a powerful (and a bit monotonous) main phrase and more delicate sections where the bass sounds are truly enjoyable. 'Late August Nights' and the feelgood piece 'Happy Country' are crowned by maestro Juhani Aaltonen's flute. A couple of shortest pieces were born from studio jamming, and the album is closed with Aaltonen's beautiful composition 'The Finale (Thank You)'.

The album's overall mood is rather restrained, and despite the excellent musicianship the listener may miss a little wilder jazz spirit. Recommended especially for bass enthusiasts.
Share this review
more

Review Comments

Post a public comment below | Send private message to the reviewer
Please login to post a shout
No shouts posted yet. Be the first member to do so above!

Review Index

Member Zone

Username:
Password:
Stay signed in

Jazz Subgenres

Artists Alpha-index

JMA TOP 5 Jazz ALBUMS

Rating by members, ranked by custom algorithm
Albums with 30 ratings and more
A Love Supreme Post Bop
JOHN COLTRANE
Buy this album from our partners
Kind of Blue Cool Jazz
MILES DAVIS
Buy this album from our partners
The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady Progressive Big Band
CHARLES MINGUS
Buy this album from our partners
Blue Train Hard Bop
JOHN COLTRANE
Buy this album from our partners
My Favorite Things Hard Bop
JOHN COLTRANE
Buy this album from our partners

New Jazz Artists

New Jazz Releases

Sanyas Post Bop
STEVE TURRE
Buy this album from MMA partners
Pianohooligan : Critique of Swing in Two Parts, Pts. 1 & 2 Third Stream
PIOTR ORZECHOWSKI (PIANOHOOLIGAN)
Buy this album from MMA partners
Jason Stein, Marilyn Crispell, Damon Smith, Adam Shead : Spi​-​raling Horn Avant-Garde Jazz
JASON STEIN
Buy this album from MMA partners
Utopia Jazz Related Improv/Composition
OLIVER LUTZ
Buy this album from MMA partners
Charlie Pyne Quartet : Nature Is A Mother Vocal Jazz
CHARLIE PYNE
Buy this album from MMA partners
More new releases

New Jazz Online Videos

FULL ALBUM - Oliver Lutz - Utopia w/ Leif Berger, Constantin Krahmer
OLIVER LUTZ
js· 11 hours ago
Lift
DAVE WILSON (US/NZ)
js· 2 days ago
Nature is a Mother
CHARLIE PYNE
js· 2 days ago
Marta Warelis solo @ FourOneOne 5-11-23
MARTA WARELIS
js· 3 days ago
The Chapparrals - Shake Your Head (US, 1978) [Full LP] {Funk, Disco, Soul} ??ULTRA RARE KILLER LP??
THE CHAPPARRALS
js· 4 days ago
More videos

New JMA Jazz Forum Topics

More in the forums

New Site interactions

More...

Latest Jazz News

members-submitted

More in the forums

Social Media

Follow us
Follow us on Twitter Become a Facebook fan RSS Feed