Pelle Fridell - Soul Go Jaz (2022) [Hi-Res]

Born in Stockholm, Sweden and since 1993 resident in Copenhagen, Denmark, saxophonist Pelle Fridell can look back on an exquisite list of top musicians with whom he has already performed together. Among them are Toots Thielemans, Randy Brecker, Sir Charlie Watts, Tom Waits, Ivan Lins, Angelique Kidjo, Georgie Fame, Geir Lysne, Chris Potter, Michael Mantler and more.

Pelle has already released five solo albums. Soul Go Jaz (2018) is the latest release in the Go Jaz series with Go Jaz (2002) and More Go Jaz (2011). Pelle performs on his album sax, flutes, bass-clarinet, keys, programming. Additional artists are Tim Lutte, Niclas Campagnol (drums), Søren Reiff (guitar), Lars Danielsson ( bass), Mads Storm (Rhodes, piano), Jesper Christenson (Wurlitzer, piano), and Michael Mølhede (trumpet).

The starter of the album, For The Ladies, presents Fridell in the best light. He performs the sax with great passion and emotion. Marvin Gaye could be the inspiration for his saxual approach. On Johanna he hits the sweet spot with his graceful flute in combination with sax burning the notes in a fast run.

Looking shows a superior treatment of the sax in a multitude of overdubs well balanced and perfectly harmonized. Hands Off firmly stands in the fusion jazz style similar to Jeff Lorber or the group Metro. The slow tempo ballad History shines with a musical revelation and its inner persuasiveness.

Calling a tune The Speed gives the impression that it is designed for velocity. Linked to a continuous melody, virtuosity unfolds in a free-flowing improvisation. Humanity is a big term with conceptual depth. Based on a dynamic bass run, Fridell unfolds his entire spectrum of free-formed jazz. Every Day is constructed with reviving strokes of modernisms featuring saxes in various tonality. Family aptly displays the full range of saxophones from soprano to the bass in perfect interaction.

Megasoul dreamily intertwines elements of contemporary jazz with Pelle's personal style. Asleep switches into the transition period between waking and sleeping, that twilight that leads to dreamland. An intimate dialogue between piano and flute. The up-tempo Generator is the second fusion jazz tune showcasing Pelle on sax and an inspiring rhythm run.

Till Dig are the Swedish words for To You. A slow, contemplative piece. The final Never Give Up combines elements of contemporary jazz with those of Funk music to an intoxicating masterpiece of jazz.

Sometimes the geographical distance to the motherland of jazz is an elementary prerequisite for a certain independence of style. The Swedish Go Jaz stands for Good Jazz and that is the minimum you can await here.