ARILD ANDERSEN TRIO - AS TIME PASSES - AT HIDDEN ROOMS
Arild Andersen - all photographs by Mike Harris
Less a jazz session, more a spiritual experience. Or is it the other way round? Safe to say the sounds in the underground vaults of Cambridge Modern Jazz Club in Hidden Rooms were wonderful. The youthful-looking Rob Luft with his gorgeous thatch of dark curls is even more energetic than ever. In the past ten years since i first heard his superb electric guitar he has emerged as a musician of the top class. He’s even on Radio 3 from time to time - with his diffident unpretentious style, he is a welcome guest.
Daniel Sommer by Mike Harris
Now he’s hooked up with brilliant bassist Araii Andersen from Oslo. His is the energy of a true composer and creative. Once heard his music haunts the listener, experienced in the world of composition Ariid on Bass is truly a dreamy experience. Driven drums demon Daniel Sommer the Dane, to bring a relaxed affability to the stage. He also composes ‘quite something for a drummer’ quipped Rob. This ensemble has travelled together for years, recorded their material along the way. The result is a super friendly brotherhood, delightful to listen in on their badinage.
Rob Luft by Mike Harris
Arild is a superb player and his base and personality put a brand of cool musical authority on the group.He brings the gravitas of a lifetime in jazz along with his remarkable songs to a concentration of talent
Rob is so immensely versatile he is almost an illusionist; he suffuses space with one strange sound after another. Is it a flute? Or a mellow sax? No, it’s Rob again with his incomparable command of an entire range of styles.
And Daniel breezes in with a centrifuge of timpani complete with tales and talk from the outset, he has a lovely speaking voice.
Arrid Andersen
Their first half of the show was cool even quiet -certainly contemplative. But the second half caught fire as front-of-house chief David often threatens the music will. Their return piece swung ‘ ‘They’re really in a groove’ gasped my companion admiringly , and they were. Rob Luft’s homage to sadly departed fellow guitarist John Martyn ( look him up) ascended into a mysterious creative world
Capricious Rob Luft
As time Passses’ is not simply the title of one of the most impressive of Arild Andersen’s works, it also the ‘transcendent musical journey’ the group have begun.These original compositions are no extempore flights of fancy. The audience is invited into a delicious sound world, music unheard before. Quite an evening.
