Spinnaker (TWA Music)
Winther-Storm
Released October 22, 2012
12th Independent Music Awards Winner Jazz Album
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About:
Winther-Storm blends effectively an acoustic and electric sound into a dynamic whole. Inspiration comes from a wide specter of jazz developments from the last 50 years, with a few sidetracks into both rock and contemporary classical music. The repertoire is mainly composed by H. Storm and Winther Andersen Their first CD recordings Patchwork 2010 and Spinnaker has been very well received. In june 2013 Spinnaker won Independent Music Award, category Jazz Albums
The cooperation between the Norwegian guitarist and bassist goes back more than two decades. Together they also recorded two CDs with the band Line Up, featuring Jimmy Halperin on saxophone: Out From A Cool Storage and Line Up.
Håkon Storm has a distinct guitar voice and is a prolific composer. He has produced works for both big band and smaller jazz ensembles. Håkon has toured several times in Japan, the USA and Europe. His own recordings include solo works and collaborative ventures with some of the best and most respected musicians in Norway, Japan, Europe and the USA. Håkon teaches guitar, ensemble, rhythmic training, composition, theory and improvisation classes at the Norwegian State Academy of Music. His latest solo album Kobolt features the amazing Dutch string quartet Zapp 4. combining rhythm, guitar and strings in a fantastic blend.
Thomas Winther Andersen has toured in Europe and the USA with a multitude of musicians and bands, for example Robert Rook, Lee Konitz, Jimmy Halperin, Sheila Jordan, , Michiel Borstlap, John Engels and Jasper Blom. Thomas has composed many pieces for various jazz ensembles, big bands, as well as chamber music. His compositions have been broadcast on both Norwegian and Dutch radio, and many of them areavailable on CD recordings.
Argentine saxophonist Natalio Sued moved from Buenos Aires to Amsterdam in 2001. Improvisation plays a main role in his musical activities, where new and varied encounters withinternational improvisers take place in both renowned and underground venues worldwide. Sued also performs in bands encompassing a great diversity of genres. He embraces the freedom of instant composing, evoking his Argentinian background (Antimufa, Del Abasto) and his fascination for rock and contemporary music. Recent collaborations include projects with the trio Native Speaker, Tiltan and the saxophone quartet Solaris.
Mark Coehoorn studied drums at the Conservatory of Amsterdam from 2004 until 2008. He has performed with many of the finest jazz musicians in the Netherlands, such as Benjamin Herman, Lars Dietrich, Joris Roelofs and Jesse van Ruller. He teaches drums and plays with a variety of ensembles. Mark’s round sound and fluid feel has been likened to the sounds of such great jazz drummers as Jack Dejonette, Roy Haynes and Brain Blade. Mark has been an important voice of Winther-Storm since the first album Patchwork.
Track Listing:
1. Oktober (Håkon Storm) 5:49
2. Withdraw From Bb (Håkon Storm) 1:21
3. Mixed Up (T.W. Andersen) 5:59
4. Spinnaker (Håkon Storm) 5:37
5. Cross Atlantic View nr. 3 (T.W. Andersen) 5:25
6. Dolphy Dance (Håkon Storm) 4:03
7. Middle North Codex (Håkon Storm) 7:52
8. Longer (Håkon Storm) 4:39
9. Rundt Svingen (T.W. Andersen) 4:54
10. Return To E (T.W. Andersen) 5:24
Personnel:
Håkon Storm: guitar
Thomas Winther Andersen: acoustic bass
Natalio Sued: tenor saxophone
Mark Coehoorn: drums
Recorded at Studio Dirk, Amsterdam (October 9th 2011: tracks 1 & 7 / November 20th & 21st 2011: tracks 2,3,5,6,8,9 & 10 / March 4th 2012: track 4)
Sound Engineer: Dirk Hooglandt
Mastered by Peter Brussee
Produced by Thomas Winther Andersen and Håkon Storm
Co-production: Karl Seglem
Cover photo: wallpaperstock.net
Design: D.I.T. / Floris Tilanus
Review:
Håkon Storm and Thomas Winther Andersen have recorded a remarkable album with “Spinnaker.” They have succeeded in bridging the gap between exciting, modal jazz and free sound experiments, primarily with guitar and tenor saxophone. This has happened before, but rarely as organically as on this CD.
Håkon Storm takes the lead as the CD begins. Melodically, he carefully chooses his notes. The same applies a little later when the tenor saxophone makes its appearance. Natalio Sued has an almost 1950s sound on his instrument. Penetrating, but never intrusive; leading, but never directing.
In the album’s fourth composition, the title track “Spinnaker,” Håkon Storm demonstrates that he is capable of much more than just playing “pretty.” He makes the electronics wail with his guitar, experimenting with the sounds by stretching them and letting them tumble over each other. This is repeated in the piece “Middle North Codex,” in which freedom reaches for new dimensions.
Thomas Winther Andersen is a prominent presence in the background—and often also up front. He has a pleasantly dry tone on his double bass, which harmonizes beautifully with Marc Coehoorn’s inventive percussion.
“Spinnaker” is therefore a true listening album, which, in a good fifty minutes, delights both the seasoned jazz lover and the newcomer.
