It is always a pleasure to listen to new releases from Scandinavian countries, in particular today we are in Jazz Prog territory with Krokofant’s sixth work. Titled “6” it is due out on January 10, 2025 via Is It Jazz? Records and contains 6 tracks between 7 and 8 minutes long. The lineup for this album is a trio including Axel Skalstad on drums, Tom Hasslan on guitar Jørgen Mathisen on Saxophone. The opening track “Harry Davidson” is an energetic blend of Jazz and Prog with the sax immediately in evidence, which we enjoyed as the first single taken. The textures are complex and elaborate, offering a distinctly Jazz Rock rhythm section over which the sax offers extended solo interventions and melodies that drive the sound. The tempo changes enrich the piece, which immediately shows the freshness of the trio’s sound and enhances the compositional and performing technique of this project. The second part of the song instead highlights the guitar and its solo interventions closer to Rock and Prog. The band explores a sound closer to the Progressive and Canterby Scene of the 70s in “Triple Dad,” imbuing the sound with fine intertwining of genres and styles. The textures are elaborate, with a technical rhythm section full of continuous tempo changes, developing the theme with the sax taking centre stage in the first part. As in the previous part, the second part develops, leaving more space for the guitar and continuing to develop the piece between solos and intricate, virtuoso textures. Funky rhythmic traits characterise the opening of “Country Doom,” an intense and elaborate piece with saxophone and guitar textures driving the melodies. As the minutes go by, the band layers the sounds, evolving the central theme of the piece with solo interventions by sax first and then guitar. Jazz, Experimental and Progressive intertwine, characterising the sound of this technical and engaging piece. The album’s shortest track “The Ballade” alternates 70s-style Jazz Rock passages with openings where effects and experimentation characterise the sound. A good interweaving of the two genres and styles, making the track original and full of quality ideas, ending with a soft Jazz section with the sax as protagonist. The album ends with the longest track in duration, “Pretentious Woman,” which exceeds eight minutes. The guitar intertwines with the sax, free to offer solo cues in the first part, a solid and elaborate rhythm section allows this intense and technical piece to develop. The band concludes the disc with a beautifully crafted jazz piece, bringing out the technique of all three lineup members. An album more Jazz than Prog with references to the Canterbury Scene and 70s sounds in general. Long instrumental textures enhance the band’s compositional and performing technique with long sax and guitar solos and a solid, intricate rhythm section. A recommended listen for lovers of Jazz Rock sounds with references to the 70s but with their own fresh and original sound.
Tracklist
1. Harry Davidson (7:25)
2. Triple Dad (7:57)
3. Oh My Cod (6:44)
4. Country Doom (8:27)
5. The Ballade (6:58)
6. Pretentious Woman (8:01)
Lineup
Tom Hasslan / Guitars
Axel Skalstad / Drums
Jørgen Mathisen / Saxophone
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