Paal Nilsson-Love & Ken Vandermark
As a consolation for not noticing, that Ben Frost, Samamidon and basically the rest of Bedroom Community were playing last weekend, I did notice that (possibly) favourite Improv Jazz duo of Norwegian drummer Paal Nilsson-Love and American Ken Vandermark on Saxofon and Clarinet were playing the following - being the one just passed, namely Sunday.
Expectations were high, and I was pleased to see that the crowd counted about 30 people, a little more than I expected a lot more than I feared. Accompanying me was David, who acted as a last minute replacement, who’s expectations I am unaware of, but at least they must have been of the expectations for the unknown kind.
First up was a Danish improv duo of Drums and Electric guitar called BodaBoda duo. The guitar playing reminded me of the playing of Rauol Bjørkenheim, but with even more references to Heavy Metal. The players suited each other well and kept the bar high for the main act.
From set off Nilsson-Love and Vandermark raised the bar out over the roof, and filled the room with sound - Nilsson-Love often heavy on the cymbals, and Vandermark in a melodic mood. Playing three pieces, the two with Vandermark on Saxofon were the wilder ones, and the middle piece with him on Clarinet was the more quieter. Only for a few moments there was some of the inevitable slowing down and finding new direction, giving the listener a break if you wish… but overall it was clear that these players know each other well, and can follow each other without letting me know who is taking the lead.
I initially intended to leave the show with a copy of the first Dual Pleasures CD, given the fact that the second one has become one of my all time favourite purchases. However having recently put out two new improvised live recording, those were the only ones with the duo for sale. I got both the Milwaukee Volume and Chicago Volume (both Smalltown Superjazz) and both CD (each recorded live in the respectable town) resembles the gig from Copenhagen - however one minor concern is a printing error, resulting in the three tracks on the Milwaukee Volume is on the Chicago CD and vice versa.