VC #1: Mwendo Dawa 'North Sea Jazz'
Inspired by the whole Vinyl Community movement and in need for ideas other then just posting favorite videos I decided to pick a vinyl from my small collection once in a while.
To start off I would like to feature Swedish band Mwendo Dawa. Mwendo Dawa is recording since the late seventies and consists of three steady members: Ove Johansson (sax), Susanna Lindeborg (piano,keyboards) and David Sundby (drums). Throughout the years they have been joined by different bass players. Amongst them Anders Jormin and Lars Danielsson, the latter playing on this album.
There's always been a mixed influence of hard bop, free jazz and avant-garde in the music and later in the development a lot of experimentation with electronics. The electronics here are Lindeborg's keyboards who sometimes go in unison with Johansson's sax line. However in those years the music stays mainly composed and melodic.
This is a wonderful set, capturing the outstanding musicianship of all members. I saw them live that same summer and what strikes me after all these years is the enormous maturity in Danielsson's bass playing at such an young age. Only 25 at the time of recording, he composes repertoire and drives the band, keeping things together, leaving space for Sundby to stretch out and playing keys as well.
Published on Dragon Records. Recorded at the North Sea Jazz Festival, July 9th, 1983
A side:
- Metropol
- Snow Mills
B side:
- Seven Strings
- Cherokee/The Ninth One
