Odin Norway Vinilo y CD

Review: Espen Berg's Maetrix captures the pianist and composer at a bold creative high, as he upscales his craft, this time working with the celebrated Trondheim Jazz Orchestra. Originally premiered to a full ovation at the 2017 Molde International Jazz Festival, this six-part suite finally sees release, recorded between Oslo's Rainbow Studio and Ora Studio in Trondheim. Berg furthers his rep for rhythmic complexity and emotive depth to a 14-piece ensemble featuring standout artists Daniel Herskedal, Rob Waring, and Hayden Powell, while vocalists Kirsti Huke and Sissel Vera Pettersen ensure a graceful vocal topline. Echoes of Pat Metheny and Kenneth Dahl Knudsen waft through the compositions, but Maetrix stands firmly in Berg's own voice, radiating the sense of a collaborative effort years in the making.