{"product_id":"frode-kjekstad-quartet-stars-aligned","title":"Frode Kjekstad Quartet - Stars Aligned","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eStars Aligned\u003c\/em\u003e - what a perfectly apt album title, as we have our 'stars'; four of them, Norway's exemplary guitarist \u003cstrong\u003eFrode Kjekstad\u003c\/strong\u003e, renowned US tenor saxophonist \u003cstrong\u003eEric Alexander\u003c\/strong\u003e, England's organ and piano maestro \u003cstrong\u003eRoy Powell\u003c\/strong\u003e, and Germany's drummer \u003cstrong\u003eFrederik Villmow\u003c\/strong\u003e, whose many collaborations include saxophonists \u003cstrong\u003eChris Potter\u003c\/strong\u003e and \u003cstrong\u003eAlan Skidmore\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\"All the elements that combine to produce a perfect jazz album are evident in \u003cem\u003eStars Aligned\u003c\/em\u003e; concise, motivated themes ('head-solos-head' arrangements), intricate phrasing, freedom for soloists to improvise over (complex) chord progressions, interdisciplinary elegance, and symbiosis.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eStars Aligned\u003c\/em\u003e is truly an exemplary example of great jazz playing. \"The jazzily-titled opener, \u003cem\u003eThe Phineas Trane\u003c\/em\u003e, explodes with all the above-mentioned ingredients with powerful and punchy solos from all. Your perfect jazz album might well contain a joyous tune in 3\/4 time, a jazz waltz - \u003cem\u003eOpen Ocean\u003c\/em\u003e is exactly that. If you like solid, walking-tempo Blues - check out \u003cem\u003eBlues 4u\u003c\/em\u003e. Let's trade bars of Funk with bars of Swing and we have \u003cem\u003eBonebreaker\u003c\/em\u003e. We need a seductive, contemplative ballad. \u003cem\u003eMoon Song\u003c\/em\u003e more than fits the bill.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe eponymous \u003cem\u003eStars Aligned\u003c\/em\u003e is a fast-paced bluesy outing in a minor key - with major delivery. Latin overtones infuse \u003cem\u003eHammond Cheese\u003c\/em\u003e with its groovy head and heady solos. Back to a ballad, the exquisite \u003cem\u003eFoggy Morning in the Woods\u003c\/em\u003e feels - exactly like that. \u003cem\u003eJingles\u003c\/em\u003e, with it's call-and-response head is a minor key (non-melancholic!) intense, blistering excursion (underlined by the spontaneous, triumphant 'yeah' at the end). Connect virtuosity, immaculate timing, positivity with a soupcon of serendipity - and the stars align. A perfect jazz album.\" - David Fishel, 2025\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"LOSEN RECORDS","offers":[{"title":"CD","offer_id":58820352180569,"sku":"SDZ-50239","price":18.99,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0588\/3455\/0945\/files\/Stars-Aligned.png?v=1786459866","url":"https:\/\/spindizzyrecords.com\/products\/frode-kjekstad-quartet-stars-aligned","provider":"Spindizzy Dublin","version":"1.0","type":"link"}