Sunday, September 16, 2018

RENA RAMA – The 1970's albums

Rena Rama were founded in 1971 by drummer Bengt Berger, bassist Palle Danielsson and pianist Bobo Stenson. Soon after, saxophonist Lennart Åberg joined. The newly formed band did a session for Swedish television, and toured in Germany in 1972. The following year they received Rikskonserter's yearly Jazz i Sverige (”jazz in Sweden”) award, and as a result they released their first album ”Jazz i Sverige '73”. Rena Rama was influenced by Indian and African music and their initial music may be described as a kind of 'world jazz'.

Jazz i Sverige '73 (Caprice, 1973)
Instrumental
International relevance: **

Everything is right about ”Jazz i Sverige '73”, the intentions, the musicians, their skills, their outlook on music, but somehow the album just don't take off. It sounds like a collection of great ideas they never manage to quite set into motion. The music often sounds forced, as if Rena Rama try hard to push it forward to where they want it, to a point where it takes on a life of its own, but it never really happens. ”Jazz i Sverige '73” is a rare example of a Bengt Berger driven album that doesn't fulfill its potential.

Landscapes (Japo, 1977)
Instrumental
International relevance: **

In 1975, Bengt Berger left the band and was replaced by American born drummer Leroy Lowe who had played with trombonist Eje Thelin prior to Rena Rama. He has a lighter touch on ”Landscapes” than Berger had on ”Jazz i Sverige '73” which makes for a smoother running albeit less 'ethnic' sounding music where Palle Danielsson in particular seems to be more at ease – his elevated ”Rumanian Folk Song” is the best moment on here. ”Landscapes” reaches further than Rena Rama's debut but still isn't quite there

 
Inside-Outside
(Caprice, 1979)
Instrumental
International relevance: **

In 1979 Rena Rama was back with Caprice for an album that moves between the obvious traditional influences of the first album and the more straight ahead jazz of ”Landscapes”. It's all well played but not too inspiring.

Rena Rama existed for a long time still with a couple of line-up changes, and released a few more albums. A 1975 live recording with Leroy Lowe on drums was released in 1983, simply entitled ”Live”.

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