EJE THELIN GROUP – Hypothesis (Musicians Record Co, 1979) / EJE THELIN – Bits & Pieces (Phono Suecia, 1980)

Instrumental
International relevance: **/**

Eje Thelin already had a long career as a trombone revitalizer when he recorded these albums, entering the live scene already in the mid 1950's and making his record debut in the early 60's. He went through many changes including a free jazz phase with Joachim Kühn resulting in a couple of early 70's albums of which I gladly recommend the very expressionistic ”Acoustic Space”. He made a gradual slip towards jazz fusion in the 70's, and these two albums from the turn of the decade 1979/80 are probably the furthest he got in that direction. By that time, jazz fusion in general had become a very stale genres lazily giving in to the conventions it had created for itself.

”Hypothesis” however is an unusually vital effort, displaying an openness that had been long lost. Allowing free form (”Duett”) and soul jazz (”Back-woods Song”) into the mix, as well as giving piano player Harald Svensson free reign over the self-explanatory track ”Piano”, and allowing dreamy moods into ”Curved Space” and the two versions of ”Here's That Rainy Day” certainly broadens the palette. Svensson might in fact be the real star here, adding a certain lyricism to the album.

”Bits & Pieces” was recorded with roughly the same line-up as ”Hypothesis”, but expanded with bassist Bronisław Suchanek, occasionally percussionist Malando Gassama and with Steve Dobrogosz on piano on some tracks. The album opens in a moody way with the beautiful ”Gloomy” which lives up to its title and followed by the almost ambient ”Islands”. The entire album is much more peaceful than its predecessor; only ”Castor And Pollux” and ”Carneval” heaten it up a bit. Which album you prefer at a given moment is a matter of mood. You could say that they are two sides of the same coin.

These are not my favourite Thelin albums – I still prefer the noisy Thelin of the early 70's – but regarded in the jazz fusion context where they belong, these two discs are head and shoulders above what the genre most often had to offer at this late date.

Hypothesis full album
Bits & Pieces full album playlist