Honest John

Extending the concept of harmonizing clarinet, accordion and guitar in a non-corny fashion, the Norwegian Honest John quintet doesn’t attain avant-garde status, but does turn out an excellent quick moving set. Ably backed by bassist Ola Høyer and Erik Nylander’s percussion and vintage drum machine, most of the light, floating polytones result from the riffs emanating from accordionist Kalle Moberg, who experience range from improvising with Paul Lytton to a gig as the Royal Palace’s kapellmeister. Guitarist/banjoist Kim Johannesen has recorded with Ab Baars; while saxist/clarinetist Klaus Ellerhusen Holm, who composed Sweet Travels’ nine track plays in a duo with David Stackenäs.

It’s doubtful that this music would receive royal assent, however as the group’s undulating trills, smears, smacks and jumps create sounds that are swinging and somewhat Arcadian, with the odd detour into dissonance but not regal.. Throughout Moberg’s tremolo run seem to evolve at a slightly faster tempo than the rest of the band’s playing. But this works impressively enough on tracks such as “Monkeytown II” where they contrast with clarinet doits and banjo clangs. Interspacing guitar frails and strums, accordion glissandi and drones and expressive horn bites and squeaks, the jumping tunes move rhythmically. However none are arranged so simply that space isn’t put aside for interludes that include group melody shredding following drum bangs (“Extended Expectations”) or climaxing with a three-part rondo from the lead instruments while the bass and drums’ pulse is at a walking pace. Pointedly “Looper” is the most unconventional tune which unites strained reed peeps, bellows whines, drum machine bumps and guitar string stabs that shred the theme before it’s sewn together with double bass bumps and linear clarinet puffs at the end.

Overall these Sweet Travels offer a foot-tapping good time, with enough musical sophistication so that descents into cliché and simple cadences are absolutely avoided.

–Ken Waxman

Track Listing: 1. Ehemhvasadu? 2. Spores 3. Monkeytown II 4. Looper 5. Extended Expectations 6. Mycelial Network 7. Kelpien Stew 8. Discovery 9. Sweet Travels

Personnel: Klaus Ellerhusen Holm (alto saxophone, Bb clarinet); Kalle Moberg (accordion); Kim Johannesen (guitar, guitar-banjo); Ola Høyer (bass); Erik Nylander (drums, percussion, Roland tr-77 drum machine)