Christian Wallumrod Ensemble: The Zoo is Far

...Wallumrod's music, which on this album seems to have become more nuanced and sophisticated than ever before, blurring boundaries between contemporary jazz and modern classical chamber composition.


There have been a few line-up changes to the Christian Wallumrod Ensemble since their previous outing for ECM, the magnificent A Year From Easter. While Wallumrod, superstar trumpeter Arve Henriksen and
percussionist Per Oddvar Johansen remain, gone is Hardanger fiddle maestro Nils Okland, only for Gjermund Larsen to take his place. Cellist Tanja Orning and harpist Giovanna Pessi also step in to facilitate a far wider timbral range for Wallumrod's music, which on this album seems to have become more nuanced and sophisticated than ever before, blurring boundaries between contemporary jazz and modern classical chamber composition. Dynamically, The Zoo Is Far is a largely hushed affair, the gifted players managing to perform with a beautiful sense of restraint and mutual awareness, whilst being able to take things up a notch where necessary - for example, the muffled bass drum and creaking strings of 'Need Elp' are given a sudden burst of luminosity from Pessi's meticulous harp arpeggios. It's wonderful stuff. Highly recommended.


Christian Wallumrod: piano, armonio
Arve Henriksen: trompeta
Gjermud Larsen: violín, viola
Tanja Orning: cello
Giovanni Pessi: arpa barroca
Per Oddvar Johansen: batería, percusión, glockenspiel

1 Nash Lontano 4:38
2 Backwards Henry II 1:43
3 Parkins Cembalo 3:46
4 Fragment No. 6 2:11
5 Psalm Kvaen, Solo 1:18
6 Fragment No. 2 2:05
7 Music for One Cat 5:36
8 Arch Dance 7:54
9 Psalm Kvaen, Tutti 1:45
10 The Zoo Is Far 3:29
11 Fragment No. 7 1:34
12 Backwards Henry I 0:46
13 Fragment No. 3 2:40
14 Detach A 1:32
15 Need Elp 5:39
16 Psalm Kvaen, Trio 1:32
17 Detach B 1:48
18 Backwards Henry with Drums 4:31
19 Arpa 3:51
20 Detach C 1:05
21 Arch Dance with Trumpet 3:59
22 Fragment No. 1 1:03
23 Psalm Kvaen, Quartet 1:34
24 Allemande Es 5:44