MP3: Nybakat! - Music box

Nybakat!'s new album "Happy land" is no grand departure from the first one, but it's not as if that's a problem. More folk-influenced Swedish jazz? Yes, please! Pianist Ira Mogilevsky does let her bandmates get in on a bit more the action this time 'round though, so I suppose that does diversify the repertoire. As before, Ira's own pieces definitely reflect her Russian/Israeli background and on this particular record her tracks seem to lean more towards the slow and moody (despite the title, not that I'm complaining), but they are also balanced out by songs such as "Music box", a boppier number penned by drummer Vlad Nedelin with an odd time signature and a tense melody that seems to favor chromatic movement. As someone who doesn't necessarily seek out that much jazz these days, I really am glad that this record found its way to me. It's already received considerable playtime in my house and will continue to get much more in the future. Very recommended.

Nybakat! - Music box