Monday 17 September 2018

The Rare Wallgrens Orkester's Steel Bend Rock from Sweden 1973





Led by Swedish composer and pianist Jan Wallgren, this septet made a pleasant 'modal jazz' or post-bop album way back in 1973 that is yet super unknown (I think), the other album in their discography appearing less enticing with its many cover songs.  From a dial that ranges from pure jazz a la Charlie Parker on the left to pure fusion a la Bitches Brew to the right ventricle, this is perhaps a 5 degree slant to the more desired rightwards axis.  For those who are familiar with the Mingus collection, the totality of it reminds me not a little of Mingus' 70s albums like Mingus Moves or Changes.  The contents of the band as well as LP are listed here.  All compositions are by Wallgren.  The wonderful C minor track called Disponent Solvent:





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