Torben Snekkestad/Søren Kjaergard

A transformative session of chamber Jazz, Another Way of the Heart demonstrate that cerebral improvisations can evolve at a restrained slow pace without descending to New Age fluff. Norwegian multi-instrumentalist Torben Snekkestad and Danish pianist Søren Kjaergard are sophisticated enough to pull off this feat. Experienced players, Snekkestad has recorded with the likes of Agustí Fernández and Barry Guy, while Kjaergard has played with Michael Blake and Andrew Cyrille.
The session is transformative because until definition arises with “A speed already altered”, the third of a dozen miniatures, the moderato breaths, vibrations and general musical atmosphere suggest that cloying ambient sounds will dominate. Luckily that misconception is pushed aside by woody, heavily vibrated buzzes from the reedist and resounding clinks and clatters from the piano’s innards and this toughening is intensified during the remainder of the CD. Yet the Snekkestad-Kjaergard interface is temporal enough so that sequences of warmth and sprightliness exist at the same time as the most gymnastic sonic techniques. This duality is expressed on tracks such as “Into Particles of Light” and “Wind and floating lines no.3”. The first contrasts gushes of vuvuzela-like low pitches with the pianist’s romantic airs. The second matches cozy parlor-piano-like patterns with unaccented reed breaths that evolve from timbre commentary to create a mutual exposition with keyboard echoes. Other incursions involve reed double tonguing and peeping split tones and energetic inner piano string twangs or rococo keyboard build ups. Stress is always balanced with serenity.
Alternating airiness and altissimo trills, Snekkestad works vibrations up the scale on “Nourishing this between” and creates curvaceous textures, while Kjaergard rumbles basement tones. “Radiant recomposed”, the most extended track, may also be the most expressive, as the reedist moves from expelling chalumeau vibrations and tongue stops to a collection of intermittent twittering bites the better to join the pianist’s inner string glissandi and soundboard echoes, leading to a dynamic finish.
Exceptional on its own, Another Way of the Heart could also curtail common japes about Scandinavian stoicism and simplicity.

–Ken Waxman

Track Listing: 1. Speechless Thunder 2. Wind and floating lines no.1 3. A speed already altered 4. The always acting Nothing 5. Gentle Latitudes 6. Wind and floating lines no.2 7. Nourishing this between 8. Radiant recomposed 9. Into Particles of Light 10. Wind and floating lines no.3 11. Holding mountain, Holding movement 12. Origin returns to fire

Personnel: Torben Snekkestad (tenor and soprano saxophones, clarinet and trumpet) and Søren Kjærgaard (piano)