Ingebrigt Haker Flaten - (Exit) Knarr [Odin Records]

Put out on the circuit on September 24th, 2k21 via the ever active Odin Records imprint is "(Exit) Knarr", the next album commissioned by the Vossajazz festival and one that celebrates the three decades of activity on the Norwegian - and international - scene bass player Ingebrigt Haker Flaker can look back on in 2k21. Rolled out over six individual pieces and a total runtime of approx. 44 minutes the bassist, alongside a plethora of collaborating artists which are credited in detail for their contribution down to handclaps and on which stereo channel their part is audible, pays homage to a wide variety of cities he either lived in or feels a special connection to, starting with the driving, excited and complex polyrhythms of "Miles Ave (For Austin)" which bring on a certain funkiness and set the vibe for things to come like the subsequent "Brinken (For Trondheim)" which embarks on a dreamier, slighty twangy journey led by free floating electric guitars and a certain feel for balearic sunsets as well as early (Post) Progressive Rock explorations before "Hakkaran (For Opdal)" surprisingly amalgamates deep Jazz with elements of longing Tex Mex fusion for scorching hot summer evenings. The subsequent "A La Lala Love You (For Chicago)" sees quite a lot of swinging uptempo things going on alongside perfectly executed brass stabs and tight, steaming hot solo excursions, "Chaos Pad (For Mexico City)" weighs in tense, nightly and agitated Jazz Noir on various, ever meandering tempo signatures, aggressively screaming saxophones and hammering pianos for an intense sonic climax on the longplayer before the concluding "Museumsplein (For Amsterdam)" brings forth a widescreen cinematic approach perfectly fitting for an experimental road movie closing scene in which the main protagonist and his girl ride off into the sunset in a classic convertible. If this speaks to your taste in all things Jazz and beyond... go check!

Album artwork on Instagram!