Instrumental
International relevance: ***
Recorded with the second
Rena Rama line-up with American Leroy Lowe on drums instead of Bengt Berger who left after their first album. Not released until 1983 on Urspår's sublabel Organic Music,
but taped live at Stockholm's premiere jazz club Fasching one
winter's evening in 1975. The other Rena Rama albums are mostly OK
but not really top shelf material to my ears; it always sounds to me
as if they hold something back. That's not the case here. Housed in a beautiful cover, ”Live”
bursts with free jazz energy, especially Lennart Åberg who blows his
saxophone harder than I think I've ever heard him blow before while
Bobo Stenson attacks his piano with a fervour that from time to time
makes me think of Cecil Taylor. Leroy Lowe is everywhere but bassist
Palle Danielsson follows his every step. There's a sizzling energy
even in the softer passages, as if they just wait for the next
blowout that will come any moment. Some might think ”Live” is just a
complement to the regular Rena Rama albums, but I think this is their
absolutely finest moment on record. Essential!
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