Roy Powell: Solace
MIC’s Listen to Norway series continues with Roy Powell’s 'Solace'.
On ‘Solace’, UK-born Oslo-based pianist Roy Powell’s fourth album, the keys, bass and drums work the angles of the songs potential, with strong emphasis on tone, mood and space. With sensitive support from bassist Terje Gewelt and drummer Jarle Vespestad, Powell resists the bebop urge to blow, instead remaining as calm as an easygoing river. Almost all of the nine originals are slow ruminations, frequently developing in an undulating, slightly wounded manner, and Powell’s glancing touch is very subtle. This is sophisticated, low-key acoustic jazz: you have to wait until the last track of nine before the tempo picks up. Quiet, impressionistic, graceful and plain beautiful, ‘Solace’ represents the perfect soundtrack for a moment of introspection and calmness.
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