ARILD ANDERSEN — Sagn (1991) APE (image+.cue), lossless

After many years working with both fellow Norwegian jazzer Jan Gabarek and such stateside talent as Sheila Jordan, Don Cherry, Sam Rivers, and George Russell, bassist Arild Andersen marked the mid-'70s with the first of several ECM sessions to be cut over the following two decades. Featuring regular collaborators like drummer Paal Thowsen, saxophonist Juhani Aaltonen, and pianist Lars Jansson, Andersen's solo outings not only reflected the airy sound ECM and Gabarek espoused, but the loose and tasteful experimentation of Miles Davis' '60s work as well. For Sagn, Andersen incorporates Norwegian folk songs into the mix with the help of singer Kristen Braten Berg, percussionist Nana Vasconcelos, and a combo of guitar, keyboards, and saxophone. Alternating between sung parts and instrumental segments, the commissioned piece is divided into three sections and finds the group ranging through buoyant swingers and meditative stretches. While a few of the instrumentals get weighed down in guitarist Frode Alneas' rock-tinged contributions, the album mostly comes off quite nicely. Stephen Cook  
Tracklist :
1     Sagn, Pt. 1 6:36
Arild Andersen
2     Sagn - Part I: Gardsjenta 2:57
Arild Andersen
3     Sagn - Part I: Eisemo 2:19
Arild Andersen
4     Sagn - Part I: Toll 4:40
Arild Andersen
5     Sagn - Part I: Draum 6:04
Arild Andersen
6     Sagn - Part I: Laurdagskveld 3:44
Arild Andersen
7     Sagn - Part II: Tjovane 5:06
Arild Andersen
8     Sagn - Part II: Sorgmild 6:24
Arild Andersen
9     Sagn - Part II: Svarm 2:13
Arild Andersen
10     Sagn - Part II: Gamlestev 2:29
Arild Andersen
11     Sagn - Part II: Reven 5:13
Arild Andersen
12     Sagn - Part III: Nystev 3:58
Arild Andersen
13     Sagn - Part III: Lussi 5:33
Arild Andersen
14     Sagn - Part III: Rysen 4:57
Arild Andersen
15     Sagn - Part III: Belare 2:32
Arild Andersen
16     Sagn - Part III: Sagn 2:36
Arild Andersen
Credits :
Bass – Arild Andersen
Design – Sascha Kleis
Guitar – Frode Alnaes
Keyboards – Bugge Wesseltoft
Percussion, Vocals – Nana Vasconcelos
Tenor Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone – Bendik Hofseth
Vocals – Kirsten Bråten Berg

ARILD ANDERSEN / RALPH TOWNER / NANÁ VASCONCELOS - If You Look Far Enough (1997) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Norwegian bassist Andersen's reputation in Europe over the decades is well established. He has appeared on a number of significant recordings, most notably Jan Garbarek's SAGN, and with his own iconoclastic ensemble Masqualero. IF YOU LOOK FAR ENOUGH distills those past endeavors into a most atmospheric, spacious outing. The more traditional elements of Andersen's heritage meet face-to-face with a profoundly European free-jazz sensibility.
Andersen's guests add noticeable flecks of color and some subtle energy to his nearly minimalist basslines. Ralph Towner's shifting facades of cloudy guitars add a more fluid resonance to the tracks. So does unsung percussionist Nana Vasconcelos, whose legendary stints on countless jazz and world/ethnic albums are all stellar. IF YOU DON'T LOOK FAR ENOUGH is a ruminative album, capable of striking a variety of moods. by AllMusic
Tracklist :
1     If You Look 3:14
Arild Andersen
2     Svev 5:28
Arild Andersen
3     For All We Know 4:02
J. Fred Coots / Sam M. Lewis
4     Backe 5:49
Arild Andersen
5     The Voice 7:47
Arild Andersen / Naná Vasconcelos
6     The Woman 4:40
Traditional
7     The Place 3:09
Traditional
8     The Drink 5:03
Traditional
9     Main Man 5:04
Arild Andersen / Ralph Towner / Naná Vasconcelos
10     A Song I Used to Play 4:08
Arild Andersen
11     Far Enough 6:25
Arild Andersen
12     Jonah 4:03
Paul Simon
Credits :
Bass, Producer – Arild Andersen
Design [Cover Design] – Barbara Wojirsch
Guitar [Guitars] – Ralph Towner
Percussion – Nana Vasconcelos
Snare [Snare Drum] – Audun Kleive 

ARILD ANDERSEN — Arv (1994) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Tracklist :
Del I    
1    Arv I    3:05
2    Sjugur Og Trollbrura    4:14
3    Det Var I Min Ungdom 4:55
Vocals – Bendik Hofseth
4    Liten Va Guten    4:14
Del II    
5    Gardsguten    3:48
6    Guten Og Jenta    3:10
7    Friarstev    1:36
8    Nils Tallefjorden    4:50
9    Han Ole    5:37
10    Kvålins Dans    4:03
Del III    
11    Stabbelåten    2:25
12    Ho Vesl' Astri Vår    4:40
13    Reven Og Skyttaren    7:40
14    Solfager Og Ormekongjen    7:07
15    Skuldalsbrura    6:05
16    Arv II    2:15
Credits :
Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar – Eivind Aarset
Bass, Composed By, Arranged By – Arild Andersen
Percussion – Naná Vasconcelos, Paolo Vinaccia (faixas: 2, 4, 6, 9 to 13, 15)
Piano, Keyboards – Bugge Wesseltoft
Soprano Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone – Bendik Hofseth
Arranged By [Vocal Arrangements (Sangarrangement)], Vocals, Jew's Harp, Vocals [Langeleik Sang] – Kirsten Bråten Berg

ARILD ANDERSEN - Hyperborean (1997) APE (image+.cue), lossless

Arild Andersen's Hyperborean is based on an Ancient Greek legend: according to the myth, the Hyperboreans lived beyond the north winds, where the sun god Apollo presided. Andersen has created an impressive song cycle that draws from contemporary instrumental, European jazz, jazz-rock and the distinctive ECM production sound. Andersen's playing is typically tasteful and the compositions are unpredictable and evocative, making Hyperborean another worthy addition to his catalog. by Stephen Thomas Erlewine
Tracklist :
1     Patch of Light, No. 1 2:05
Arild Andersen
2     Hyperborean 5:15
Arild Andersen
3     Patch of Light, No. 2 2:01
Arild Andersen
4     Duke Vinaccia 4:19
Arild Andersen
5     Infinite Distance 5:43
Arild Andersen
6     Vanishing Waltz 1:49
Arild Andersen
7     The Island 6:42
Arild Andersen
8     Invisible Sideman 4:43
Arild Andersen
9     Rambler 3:21
Arild Andersen
10     Dragon Dance 5:36
Arild Andersen
11     Stillness 4:11
Arild Andersen
12     Too Late for a Picture 1:29
Arild Andersen
Credits :
Arranged By [String Arrangement] – Kenneth Knudsen (faixas: 4)
Cello – Morten Hannisdal
Double Bass, Composed By – Arild Andersen
Drums, Percussion – Paolo Vinaccia
Ensemble [String Quartet] – Cikada String Quartet
Keyboards – Kenneth Knudsen
Producer – Manfred Eicher
Soprano Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone – Tore Brunborg
Tenor Saxophone – Bendik Hofseth
Viola – Marek Konstantynowicz
Violin – Henrik Hannisdal, Odd Hannisdal 

ARILD ANDERSEN GROUP - Electra (2005) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Arild Andersen's Electra was composed for the Spring Theater in Athens for their production. These "18 Scenes," as they are subtitled, represent various cues and serial music for the production of Sophocles' deeply moving classic. Andersen collaborates with both European and Greek musicians here, among them the great vocalist Savina Yannatou, guitarist Eivind Aarset, drummer Patrice Héral, and trumpeter Arve Henriksen. The music is heavily arranged, taut, and spacious. Everything is understated yet utterly dramatic. Voices, drum programs -- courtesy of Andersen and Nils Petter Molvær -- brass, electric guitars, chorus, and solo voices are given direction by Andersen's bass and conducting, allowing a sort of musical story to emerge that not only informs but works independently of the dramatic work they accompany. This is spirit music. Its goes under the radar and slowly, purposefully enters the listener's unconscious and body, creating a space for impressions created by the emotions and unconscious. Like Peter Gabriel's score for The Last Temptation of Christ, the music here suggests more than it demands. It points ambiguously inward and is seductive by its subtlety. It's not "jazz," but then, it isn't anything else either, because it holds so much more inside than mere classification. This is simply a wondrous piece, darkly haunting, yet utterly beautiful for what it leaves out as much what is here. Given what Andersen has created here, the stage production was blessed.
(This comment is posted on Allmusic by Thom Jurek, follower of our blog 'O Púbis da Rosa')
Tracklist :
1    Birth Of The Universe 0:11
Trumpet – Arve Henriksen
2    Mourn 5:18
Arco Bass – Arild Andersen
Guitar [E-bone Guitar] – Eivind Aarset
Percussion – Paolo Vinaccia
3    The Big Lie 6:26
Bass, Loops [Arco Bass Loops] – Arild Andersen
Drums [Left Channel] – Paolo Vinaccia
Drums [Right Channel] – Patrice Héral
Guitar [Guitars] – Eivind Aarset
Trumpet – Arve Henriksen
4    Chorus I 4:03
Guitar [Guitars] – Eivind Aarset
Loops [Arco Bass Loops] – Arild Andersen
Tabla [Tablas], Udu, Bass Drum – Patrice Héral
Trumpet – Arve Henriksen
Vocals [Vocal] – Savina Yannatou
Voice [Chorus Voice] – Elly-Marina Casdas, Fotini-Niki Grammenou
5    Electra Song Intro 1:35
Bass, Loops [Arco Bass Loops] – Arild Andersen
Guitar [Guitars] – Eivind Aarset
6    Electra Song 5:01
Bass – Arild Andersen
Cymbal [Cymbals] – Paolo Vinaccia
Guitar [Guitars] – Eivind Aarset
Instruments [Charon], Djembe, Drums – Patrice Héral
Trumpet – Arve Henriksen
Vocals [Vocal] – Savina Yannatou
7    Electra Song Outro 2:01
Bass – Arild Andersen
Cymbal [Cymbals] – Paolo Vinaccia
Guitar [Guitars] – Eivind Aarset
Instruments [Charon], Djembe, Drums – Patrice Héral
Trumpet – Arve Henriksen
Vocals [Vocal] – Savina Yannatou
8    Chorus II 2:43
Guitar [Guitars] – Eivind Aarset
Loops [Arco Bass Loops] – Arild Andersen
Trumpet – Arve Henriksen
Vocals [Vocal] – Savina Yannatou
Voice [Chorus Voice] – Elly-Marina Casdas, Fotini-Niki Grammenou
9    7th Background 11:01
Bass, Loops [Arco Bass Loops] – Arild Andersen
Drum Programming – Nils Petter Molvær
Drums, Percussion – Paolo Vinaccia
Guitar [Guitars] – Eivind Aarset
Tabla [Tablas], Udu – Patrice Héral
Trumpet – Arve Henriksen
10    One Note 0:10
Trumpet – Arve Henriksen
11    Whispers 3:22
Bass – Arild Andersen
Drums – Paolo Vinaccia
Trumpet – Arve Henriksen
12    Divine Command 2:24
Bass, Loops [Arco Bass Loops] – Arild Andersen
Guitar [Guitars] – Eivind Aarset
13    Clytemnestra's Entrance 3:24
Bass – Arild Andersen
Drums – Paolo Vinaccia
Guitar [Guitars] – Eivind Aarset
Trumpet – Arve Henriksen
Vocals [Vocal] – Chrysanthi Douzi
14    Loud Sound 0:21
Bass – Arild Andersen
Guitar [Guitars] – Eivind Aarset
Percussion – Paolo Vinaccia
Trumpet – Arve Henriksen
15    Chorus III 4:12
Guitar [Guitars] – Eivind Aarset
Loops [Arco Bass Loops] – Arild Andersen
Tabla [Tablas], Udu – Patrice Héral
Trumpet – Arve Henriksen
Vocals [Vocal] – Savina Yannatou
Voice [Chorus Voice] – Elly-Marina Casdas, Fotini-Niki Grammenou
16    Opening 9:32
Bass, Arco Bass [Arco Bass Loops], Drum Programming – Arild Andersen
Guitar [Guitars] – Eivind Aarset
Percussion – Paolo Vinaccia
Trumpet – Arve Henriksen
Voice, Kalimba [Thumb Piano], Drums, Voice [Voice Percussion] – Patrice Héral
17    Chorus IV 2:24
Guitar [Guitars] – Eivind Aarset
Loops [Arco Bass Loops] – Arild Andersen
Tabla [Tablas], Udu, Bass Drum – Patrice Héral
Trumpet – Arve Henriksen
Vocals [Vocal] – Savina Yannatou
Voice [Chorus Voice] – Elly-Marina Casdas, Fotini-Niki Grammenou
18    Big Bang 0:32
Bass – Arild Andersen
Guitar [Guitars] – Eivind Aarset
Percussion – Paolo Vinaccia
Trumpet – Arve Henriksen
Bass – Arild Andersen
Credits :
Producer, Composed By [All Compositions], Double Bass, Drum Programming – Arild Andersen
Drum Programming – Nils Petter Molvær
Drums, Percussion – Paolo Vinaccia
Drums, Percussion, Voice – Patrice Héral
Guitar [Guitars] – Eivind Aarset
Lyrics By – Sophocles
Trumpet – Arve Henriksen
Vocals [Chorus Vocal] – Elly-Marina Casdas, Fotini-Niki Grammenou
Vocals [Vocal] – Chrysanthi Douzi, Savina Yannatou