Nicolas Leirtrø’s Action Now!

With slight variations on the classic organ combo instrumentation the Action Now! quartet move way past funk and fusion to the future. The group is led by Norwegian bassist Nicolas Leirtrø,  who composed all of Entrance’s tunes and has been in bands like Amalie Dahl’s and Hidros9. Drums are played by fellow Norwegian Veslemøy Narvesen, who has played with the likes of Ingebrigt Håker Flaten and Mette Rasmussen. Organ is in the hands of the UK’s Kit Downes, who works with everyone from Camila Nebbia to Kjetil Jerve Harmonic, with reeds and flute tones from Swede Mats Gustafsson who has partnered numerous international sound innovators.

While Gustafsson’s impassioned and barking horn ejaculations often skirt the harshest edges of atonality, the drummer’s balanced thumps and cymbal color and the bassist’s thickened pulse keep the program flowing. Furthermore the organist’s paced throbs and emphasized tremors are about as far from the church and the Chitlin circuit as Norway is from Newark. Additionally the title track includes a calming piano interlude from Downes in contrapuntal variance with shrill reed cries and shaking drum rumbles.

More crucially in the place of expected soulful saxophone breaks, Gustafsson’s multiphonic and vocalized sound segments go to the limit on different flutes and a harmonica as well as propelling lowing baritone sax textures. For instance on a tune like “Darkness” the extruding push from the saxophonist combines basement tones with the organist’s pressurized dynamics, but further reed shouts make it seem as if a New Thing soloist was turned loose on the Chitlin’ Circuit and ends with a distinctive gonging from the drummer.

Although barely there cries and flutters a harsh arco string scrapes are also featured, it’s usually in adumbrating to longer, tougher expositions. This happens with the timbres on “Faint Screams” which sets the stage of the build up that is “Pitch Black”. Doubled organ quivers, thick bass string pulses and stratospheric multiphonic from Gustafsson intensify the dynamics to almost negate the understated introduction of the previous tune.

Moving the emphasis among keyboard patterns from spooky to spiritual on both instruments, giving Gustafsson space for his oral instruments to yelp or rumble, depending on the circumstances and holding the bottom with drum thuds and ruffs plus double bass pumps, Leirtrø’s group is heading for a distinctive sound. How it develops in the future will be worth following.

–Ken Waxman

Track Listing: 1. Entrance 2. Darkness 3. Textures 4. Errantry 5. Faint Screams 6. Pitch Black White Noise 7. Shapes of Noise for Double Bass 8. Action Now 9. Soothing Shapes 10. Organ Cycle 11. End Dance

Personnel: Mats Gustafsson (baritone saxophone, flute, spilåpipa, micro harmonica); Kit Downes (organ and piano); Nicolas Leirtrø (bass) and Veslemøy Narvesen (drums)