1. Basrelief 5:50
2. Ventetid 6:39
3. Blues Sphere 4:40
4. Peberrod 2:40
5. Inge 5:27
6. Annelise 12:55
Allan Botschinsky - flugelhorn
Bent Jædig - alto sax, flute
Niels Husum - tenor- and soprano sax
Niels Neergaard - trombone
Torben Munk - guitar
Ib Lund Nielsen - bass
Bjarne Rostvold - drums
Many musicians of
today’s jazz and rock scene have been playing for so many years that they
often have quite a different musical background. The keyboard player kenneth
Knudsen became known originally as a jazz musician in „Trio 65½" in
the late 60‘s. But while he went along electronical roads in the 70‘s, the
bass player Ib Lund Nielsen chose acoustic jazz. Already then he drew
attention as a bass player as well as composer, but he actually started as a
banjo player in a traditional jazzband in 1955.
From 1958 he played the bass in more progressive surroundings. In the 60‘s
he arranged for the Danish Radio Jazz Group and he has always written music
for the groups he has been a member of.
In 1963 he moved from Jutland to Zealand, where he evolved a close cooperation
with the sax-player Niels Husum. Ib Lund Nielsen wrote an essential part of
the repertoire for groups led by Niels Husum. „Trio 65½" existed for
about 4½ years. Parallel to thet he continued writing for Niels Husum’s
group, which now had become a septet. Since the early 70‘s this group
largely has remained the same as the one you her on „Basrelief".
During the 70‘s it has
comprised of musicins such as Palle Mikkelborg, Hugh Steinmetz, Lars Togeby (trumpets)
and Kjeld Jul Nielsen (basstrumpet).
From time to time the septet has played at „Montmartre Jazzclub" nd on
the Radio of denmark. As a consequence of the musicians’ many other
activities, the septet has been acting mainly as a workshop for compositions
and arrangements by Ib Lund Nielsen for the last ten years.
Fascinated by the strange rhythms
in East European folkmusic Ib Lund Nielsen the 13 minutes long composition „Annelise".
„Basrelief" refers to the
discreet bass theme in the title number. „Ventetid" is inspired by a
Swedish film about two lovers who, disturbed by a technical problem, pass the
time by playing ludo. „Blues Sphere" is a blues with anintroduction,
middle part and ending in 7/4.
„Peberrod" is build on
the old standard „The Man I Love", and „Inge" is dedicated to the
composer’s wife.
Ib Lund Nielsen has chosen some of the best musicians in Denmark to make this
recording. As a matter of fact you could call it an „All Star Band".
The music gives you a feeling of
ease, and reveals gradually many details, which you may not recognize
listening to the record at first.
There is no piano, so the sounds
relies on the four horns. The guitar playes lso an important role, both as a
harmonic and rhythm instrument and as a lead on the same level as the horns.„Basrelief"
contains music with a lot of colours. In a time when music is often impressed
by fashions quickly forgotten, this music will be timeless, because it is a
product of timeless elements, imagination and improvisation. And this record
marks very much the 17 year old cooperation between Ib Lund Nielsen and Niels
Husum.
1979 Jens Jørn Gjedsted.
