Seen From Above is a tune from the most recent album with Johan Berke Upstairs Five: SIMPATICO (GASON Jazz CD761, 2017) http://www.gasonjazz.nu/
It's comprised of several parts, which was composed years apart, so the final version, on the cd, was long in the making. The electronic soundscape that begins the tune is derived mostly from bassoon-samples, which my friend Anders Matell recorded for another project of mine some years ago. I find it the most organic to use acoustic sounds as building blocks for electronic manipulations. Especially in cases like this, when someone is going to improvise freely on top of it, as Fredrik Nordström does, with utmost delicacy, here. After the long introduction, an even longer head in two parts, continues the tune until Robert Erlandsson, on bass, and Alberto Pinton, on baritone, each plays a very lyrical solo. The soundscape returns in the coda, but in a slightly reduced and static form, which is also transposed to suit the E minor tonality. I'm very fond of this form of linear composition, where you travel in one direction, whitout any returning to previous themes. I find it less predictable than traditional jazz forms, even though it can be nice to hear a melody twice too sometimes...
This tune is dedicated to the great bass player and composer Charlie Haden (1934-2014).
Johan Berke 10/2017
Alberto Pinton - clarinet, baritone saxophone
Fredrik Nordström - alto saxophone
Johan Berke - guitar, electronics
Robert Erlandsson - double bass
Fredrik Rundqvist - drums
Inspelning: Johan Nordin/Pavel Lucki
Mix: Johan Berke
Foto/klipp: Leif Johansson
http://www.musikfoto.leifjohansson.nu/
Inspelat 1 Juni 2017 på Jazzklubb Fasching i Stockholm
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