Green Prints

This is a very interesting set of music commissioned by the Swedish Broadcasting Company. Lennart Aberg (heard on soprano, flute, and tenor) composed and arranged seven selections for a big band that includes an eight-piece rhythm section. The first five numbers are inspired by East and West African music, utilize tricky time signatures, and (in addition to Aberg) have solos from trumpeter Palle Mikkelborg, Lars Olofsson, and Nils Landgren on trombones and Jan Schaffer on guitar synthesizer. The final two numbers (including the 16-minute "Round B") are more straight-ahead in the Gil Evans tradition and have spots for Aberg, Schaffer, bassist Palle Danielsson, and pianist Bobo Stenson. The music sounds quite original overall, swings in spots, and sounds fresh and new even with the passing of years.