Meadow - 'Blissful Ignorance’

Edition Records – EDN 1025
Release date February 2011

Tore Brunborg: tenor and soprano saxophones;
John Taylor: piano;
Thomas Strønen: drums

My first hearing of this album almost had me convinced that I was listening to ECM, but the truth is a little different. The album was in fact recorded at the Rainbow Studios in Oslo, many of ECMs releases having been recorded there; it is among the top ten recording facilities in the world.
Most of the music has been written by saxophonist Tore Brunborg, an adherent to the Garbarek style, but with an upfront attack on the tenor and a much more vigorous tone, both of which give him a greater driving force. Hear the profundity of his voice on the title track.
The piano rocks, pianist John Taylor hardly exhibiting his principal influence, Bill Evans, as he rose above that a long time ago, playing now with an aplomb born of his encyclopedia of skills in harmonic chord construction and the warp and weft of his creations.
Drummer Thomas Strønen’s percussion is hugely elastic and lithe, without surrendering his self-assured control of timing. His clout is subtle, mastering fine gradations of texture, yet capable of ominous overtones.

This is a lovely album, rescued from near-oblivion as it was released in Norway late in 2009. Edition have done us a great favour in picking it up and kicking it up to a more deserved place in terms of circulation. It’s a bargain.

Reviewed by

ken cheetham
Feb. 2011