{"product_id":"frode-kjekstad-quartet-stars-aligned-cd","title":"Frode Kjekstad Quartet - Stars Aligned (CD)","description":"\u003ch1\u003eThe third time he guitarist Frode Kjekstad is recording and touring with the American saxophone star - Eric Alexander\u003c\/h1\u003e \u003cp\u003eWhat a perfectly apt album title.  We have our 'stars'; four of them.  They're aligned.  All independent factors have come together - at the ideal moment.\u003cbr\u003eNorwegian guitarist Frode Kjekstad has worked with luminaries including Joe Farnsworth, Frank Foster, Johnny Griffin and Lonnie Smith (2004 album New York Time also featuring Eric Alexander).\u003cbr\u003eEnglish organ and piano maestro Roy Powell's collaborations have included performances with Arild Andersen, Eddie Daniels, Art Farmer and Dave Liebman.\u003cbr\u003eGerman drummer Frederik Villmow owns an equally impressive credit list: Dave Kikoski, Benny Benack III, Chris Potter and Vince Mendoza.\u003cbr\u003eAmerican saxophonist Eric Alexander has performed and recorded with a celestial constellation including: Harold Mabern, Ron Carter, Kenny Barron, Cedar Walton and Pat Martino.\u003cbr\u003eWhat elements combine to produce a perfect jazz album? Concise, motivative themes ('head-solos-head' arrangements), intricate phrasing, freedom for soloists to improvise over (complex) chord progressions, interdisciplinary elegance and symbiosis. Stars Aligned is truly an exemplary example.\u003cbr\u003eThe jazzily-titled opener, The Phineas Trane, explodes with all the above-mentioned ingredients with powerful and punchy solos from all.\u003cbr\u003eYour perfect jazz album might well contain a joyous tune in 3\/4 time, a jazz waltz - Open Ocean is exactly that.\u003cbr\u003eIf you like solid, walking-tempo Blues - check out Blues4u!\u003cbr\u003eLet's trade bars of Funk with bars of Swing and we have Bonebreaker.\u003cbr\u003eWe need a seductive, contemplative ballad. Moon Song more than fits the bill.\u003cbr\u003eThe eponymous Stars Aligned is a fast-paced bluesy outing in a minor key - with major delivery.  Jingles, 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).\u003cbr\u003eConnect virtuosity, immaculate timing, positivity with a soupçon of serendipity - and the stars align.  A perfect jazz album. \u003c\/p\u003e    \u003ch2\u003eTrack Listing\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cul\u003e\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cul\u003e        \u003cli\u003eThe Phineas Train\u003c\/li\u003e                  \u003cli\u003eOpen Ocean\u003c\/li\u003e                  \u003cli\u003eBlues 4U\u003c\/li\u003e                  \u003cli\u003eBonebreaker\u003c\/li\u003e                  \u003cli\u003eMoon Song\u003c\/li\u003e                  \u003cli\u003eStars Aligned\u003c\/li\u003e                  \u003cli\u003eHammond Cheese\u003c\/li\u003e                  \u003cli\u003eFoggy Morning In The Woods\u003c\/li\u003e                  \u003cli\u003eJingles\u003c\/li\u003e          \u003c\/ul\u003e  \u003ch2\u003eAdditional Details\u003c\/h2\u003e  \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLabel:\u003c\/strong\u003e Losen Records\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGenre:\u003c\/strong\u003e Jazz\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/strong\u003e English  \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRun Time:\u003c\/strong\u003e 53:36 mins\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRegion:\u003c\/strong\u003e 0       \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRelease Date:\u003c\/strong\u003e 03\/06\/26\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eUPC:\u003c\/strong\u003e 7090025833274\u003c\/p\u003e ","brand":"MUSIKKLOSE","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47201393410297,"sku":"LOS3272","price":15.3,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0815\/4889\/files\/LOS3272.jpg?v=1767982754","url":"https:\/\/mvdshop.com\/products\/frode-kjekstad-quartet-stars-aligned-cd","provider":"MVD Shop","version":"1.0","type":"link"}