Comments on: Some Scandinavian Labels and Recordings

By: Sclalars

Sclalars — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 19:36:37 +0000

And of course this, an amazing jazz record, “a record to die for” in Stereophile magazine.

http://rateyourmusic.com/artist/siris_svale_band

By: Sclalars

Sclalars — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 18:24:03 +0000

Forgot to link to this site,

http://www.karibremnes.no/

Lars

By: Sclalars

Sclalars — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 17:58:40 +0000

Hi Jim!

I’d like to propose some Norwegian artists for you, all of them with, in my opinion, very good recordings.

Silje Nergaard, a jazz singer with a beautiful voice and very good sounding records
You can take a peek here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JJafNoROPZc&feature=related

Kari Bremnes, a jazz singer with a very special way of singing, and many of her records are being recorded in the very famous KKV ( Kirkelig Kultur Verksted)
One of the most played artist among Norwegian HiEnd folks.
She mostly sings in Norwegian, but have some songs in English too. Here’s one:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=skccviCa_H0&feature=related

Bjørn Eidsvåg, a minister with many amazing songs. Here’s a song with the very talented Swedish singer Lisa Nilson:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g7cHbK_mxPQ&feature=related

Mari Boine, a sami woman from Norway, with incredible sound on her records:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oVwK1zLIEv0&feature=related

These video’s sound does’nt give credit to the artists though, but you get some idea of their music.

Lars

By: jimdgoulding

jimdgoulding — Sat, 05 Jun 2010 10:39:26 +0000

Thank you, Spin, for your information and reply. Sahib Shihab recorded with The Danish Radio Jazz Group on the Danish OCTAV label. It was released on compact disc in 2008 and is stunning for its clarity and dynamics. Besides that, it doesn’t lack for cooking! I think it a worthy addition to any jazz loving audiophile’s collection. Ondine is a label I’m about to become more familiar with. Again, thanks.

By: spindrifter

spindrifter — Sat, 05 Jun 2010 04:01:42 +0000

Thanks for your music/audio blog/article. Agreed, Scandinavian music labels, in general, achieve a high standard of recording/mastering quality. Engineers and producers are meticulous in preparation and seldom makeshift or compromised in the recording equipment they utilize. For example, I once read that Danish national radio engineers took all of two whole days to mic up a live-to-air jazz piano gig, testing and placing mics until they were totally satisfied. Sonic results were simply stunning, I seem to recall.

May I mention an outstanding Finnish classical music label, Ondine of Helsinki? This label was recommended by a good friend some years back, and a dozen titles later, its detailed, tactile, full-range recordings, whether red book or SACD, consistently deliver. I have augmented my fondness for Sibelius’ works with adventurous offerings composed by fellow countryman, Einojuhani Rautavaara. Ondine’s catalogue is rich with Rautavaara titles, from where his quad-CD box set of eight symphonies (ODE 1145-2Q) and Garden of Spaces/Concerto for Clarinet and Orchestra/Cantus Arcticus (ODE 1041-2) come highly recommended.

Indeed “Cantate Domino” became a reference choral staple for many audiophiles, and rightly so. “Pawnshop” remains iconic due to audiophile demand, though musically, it leaves a lot to be desired (IMHO). And there are many unheralded, standout Scandinavian jazz titles out there, ready to be discovered!