BUGGE WESSELTOFT — Am Are (review)

BUGGE WESSELTOFT — Am Are album cover Album · 2025 · Nu Jazz Buy this album from MMA partners
4/5 ·
snobb
Pianist/keyboardist Bugge Wesseltoft, who was born half a century ago in a small town on the Norwegian southern shore, is one of the key people responsible for one of the significant modern trends in jazz, combining aerial Nordic folk-influenced grooveless piano jazz with contemporary electronics (often post-rock influenced), ie: so-called nu jazz or "future jazz".

On his newest album, "Am Are", Bugge continues developing his usual sound, offering a great collection of different formats (predominantly trios) in collaborations with some Nordic stars, as well as lesser-known musicians.

The album's opener, "How?",(the review is based on the digital album's version, the vinyl edition contains a different tracklist) is a rare Bugge piano/synth solo song, sounding very much like Chopin-like melancholic ballade, just adapted for the New Millenium. "ReiN" is a duet of Bugge, switching from Yamaha Synth to piano and back, and drummer Elias Tafjord. The piece is energetic and recalls synth-based space-themed jazz fusion compositions from the late 70s. "Is Anyone Listening?" is a different song - a piano/sax trio with r'n'b-influenced Norwegian singer Rohey Taalah. It's a bluesy ballad with a jazzy feel.

"BAG" is played by a more conventional trio with legendary acoustic bassist Arild Andersen and drummer Gard Nilssen on board. The song sounds very much like a traditional jazz fusion piece from 70-80s. The same trio is responsible for the next track, "Reel", which is a bit lazy and moody atmospheric ballad with a lot of deep acoustic bass soloing.

"Render" and "Vender" come from a different trio, with Bugge dominating heavily on electric keyboards (Fender Rhodes and Korg) and another Nordic jazz legend, drummer Jon Christensen, (plus electric bassist Sveinung Hovensjø) on support. Early Weather Report fans will be really happy with the sound of this one.

"JazzBasill" and the title track both come from the fourth different trio - Bugge plays piano with acoustic/electric bassist Jens Mikkel Madsen and drummer Øyunn. These two songs sound closest to the conventional modern jazz piano trio. The closer, "ThinkaHeaD", is the most unusual composition with feelable Indian rhythms from tabla player Sanskriti Shrestha. Other trio members on this track are Bugge (who plays organ besides piano here) and guitarist Oddrun Lilja. Still very much an atmospheric and ambient piece.

"Am Are" is another of Bugge's masterpieces, not deeply searching for new ground but trying to absorb all the best that has been done by him during the last decades, and present it in fresh and attractive form.

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