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Cennet Jönsson Double Standards Quartet, Volume 1

Kopasetic Productions – KOPACD 006

Cennet Jönsson, saxophones;
Jacob Karlzon, Piano;
Hans Andersson, bass;
Peter Nilsson, drums.

Album recorded January 2005

This is an album of just seven standards, executed with considerable care and a distinctive interpretation and displaying a very high level of intelligent communication between all four members of the quartet. Cennet Jönsson, who has played with a considerable number of highly reputed musicians including Billy Cobham, Michael Brecker, Dizzy Gillespie, Gary Husband, John Taylor and Kenny Wheeler, brings a honeyed, charming pitch to his soprano playing and a sympathetic yet ardent feel to his tenor. He is clearly a mature musician and this shows not only in his musical interpretation, but also in his choice of players who are clearly more than competent to fit into any musical perspective while each preserving his own individual annunciation.

The larger part of the sax work on the album comes from the soprano and Cennet really does show us that he is keen to explore its latent potential, seeming sometimes reluctant to proceed too far until he has firmly decided which way to go. Thus he generates a lot of rubato playing, an approach that I personally like a good deal.

This is altogether a truly relaxed and relaxing album, though not without musical excitement. It rolls along with a refined, unfailing and undulating energy that has left me waiting for Volume 2.

Reviewed by
ken cheetham
February 2006