ZAV: "Out of the Spectacle"

“Out of the Spectacle” is the crystallization of a continuing
collaboration between three Danish improvising musicians from
three different generations, that places itself somewhere between
textural improvisation, expressive free jazz and abstract soul.

Alto saxophonist Jesper Zeuthen is a Danish legend, that got
public attention already in the late 60’s for his work with the group
“Blue Sun” and has continued to evolve his music through his own
bands and his work with Jakob Bro, Anderskov Accident, Kasper
Tranberg etc.

Jacob Anderskov is one of the most outstanding voices on the
piano and has, since his debut in 2001, received numerous awards
for his music. He has worked with Michael Formanek, Chris Speed,
Airto Moreira etc. In 2018 he is nominated for the Nordic Council
Music Price.

The youngest of the three, Anders Vestergaard, is all over the
Danish underground music scene and known for his personal
touch on the drums. He is a part of the hard-hitting groups Yes
Deer and Laser Nun and has played with Evan Parker, Lotte Anker,
Thomas Morgan etc.

Together the three musicians creates a non-conceptual and bodily
music that meets the audience in a both challenging and atoning
way, emotionally multidimensional and spacious. They have
developed a personal interplay where influences, dynamics and
intensions floats freely between each other, melts together in
synergy and explodes in abstraction, and where the aim is to
create space instead of filling it up. A sort of reconciliatory blues to
the great spectacle.

Line up:

Jesper Zeuthen - Saxophone
Jacob Anderskov - Piano
Anders Vestergaard - Drums

Reviews:

Featured in Both New Nordic Jazz Playlist & New Nordic Friday Playlist

"Zeuthen's gently spiraling melodic lines unfold amid the repeated bell-like patterns of Anderskov's piano and Vestergaard's rustling, percussive beat. The mystery is the melody blooming in the roots of rhythm." (All About Jazz)

No bite-sized tunes to whistle to but an adventurous exploration of various grey areas by three sound manipulators and grandmasters from the improvisation scene. Unlike many live recordings of this kind, this is also very enjoyable in the living room, especially side B. (Jazzenzo)

“As the record unfolds, Zeuthen injects some Blakan-style melody, as well as Ayleresque intensity, turning up the vibrato, while the other musicians powerfully prod and respond.” (Downbeat)

Close to this piece coda, Anderskov translates one of Zeuthen cries to an exotic, lyrical solo, playing with his piano strings like a Japanese koto. Zeuthen answers with a whispering tone, almost as if adapting a shakuhachi flute vocabulary to his alto sax while Vestergaard colors this brilliant conversation with a ritualistic pulse. (The Free Jazz Blog)

"It’s not the music for the faint-hearted jazz fan. However, this will surely be a great experience for the free-jazz connoisseur." (Jazznyt, DK)

"One of the most remarkable impro-jazz / avant-garde albums of the year." (Ivan Rod)