Allt Större Klarhet (Increasing Clarity in Swedish) is the new album of Swedish-Italian reed player-composer-educator Alberto Pinton’s new quartet, Relentless, with pianist Alexander Zethson, double bass player Vilhelm Bromander, and drummer Konrad Agnas (Bromander and Agnas played in Pinton’s Trio and Sestetto Contemporaneo).
The album is released four years after Pinton’s last album as bandleader-composer, NUQuartet (2021), and by the same label that released his debut album as bandleader, Clear Now, Jonas Kullhammar’s Moserobie (2001). It was recorded at Fas2 in Stockholm in October 2024, and it is also Pinton’s first-ever album to be released on limited edition vinyl (only 198 copies). Italian artist Oreste Sabadin did the cover artwork while listening to the music.
Pinton composed all the music and employs his impressive command of reed instruments – baritone sax, Bb, Eb, and EEb contra-alto clarinets, alto flute, and bass flute. The music is rooted in the Nordic jazz aesthetics, highlighting Pinton’s strong melodic and lyrical themes, and the playful but reserved resonance of his reed arsenal with the rhythm section of Zethson, Bromander, and Agnas. This rhythm section is attuned with every nuance in Pinton’s playing and opens and enriches the themes with its joyful energy.
The title piece is a three-part, clever and engaging suite for clarinets. «Över Ytan» (Above the Surface) and «Scarce» are beautiful ballads, serenaded by Pinton’s ethereal and caressing alto flute. «Folksong» stresses the driving rhythmic power of Zethson, Bromander, and Agnas as they push Pinton’s baritone sax flights higher and higher. This impressive album ends with the uplifting, optimistic message of «Firm Believer», and Pinton, who is an experienced athlete, knows the importance of firm belief in himself and his capabilities to keep pushing his boundaries.
Eyal Hareuveni
Alberto Pinton (baritone saxophone, Bb, Eb & EEb contra-alto clarinets, alto flute, bass flute), Alexander Zethson (piano), Vilhelm Bromander (double bass), Konrad Agnas (drums)
