The Norwegian , Skien-based Scheen Jazzprkester (SJO) was established in 201o and in each of its projects hosted an experienced composer. Among them pianist-accordion player Rune Klakegg with poet Torgeir Rebolledo Pedersen, drummer Audun Kleive and sax player Jon Øystein Rosland.

«Commuter Report» documents the collaboration of SJO with pianist-keyboards player-composer Eyolf Dale, who was born in Skien and is known from the duo Albatrosh, his own bands and his collaboration with the Trondheim Jazz Orchestra. Dale produced SJO project with Rosland and now is also associate professor in jazz at the Norwegian Academy of Music.

Dale wrote nine short composition especially for SJO and fronted this big band. The title of the album relates to his journeys from studio to home and back again, providing him the space and time he needed to digest and develop the music for «Commuter Report». The 12-musicians SJO features experienced musicians as Kleive, Klakegg and trumpeter Thomas Johansson, known from the bands Cortex, Friends & Neighbors and Paal Nilssen Love’s Large Unit. Johansson leads the SJO on its forthcoming project, «As We See It…», due to be released later this year on Clean Feed.

Dale employed the full sonic spectrum of SJO and his playful compositions are cleverly constructed with twists and turns and odd meters, best realized on «A Certain Kind of Basement Disco», where he positioned the piano trio against the orchestra in order to trigger joyful, rhythmic games. Dale gift for strong melodic themes is highlighted in the meditative-melancholic «Overture», the gentle, romantic dance «Rhône», with solos of Klakegg and Dale, and the most beautiful, emotional ballad «Infinite», or the nuanced, orchestral colors of «Wonderific».

It is clear that the the Norwegian commuter experience, and particularly the commuter experience of Dale himself, was more joyful, less stressful and, obviously, much more inspiring and productive than similar commuter experiences of most of us, the less fortunate residents of this planet. But at least the beautiful compositions of Dale for SJO may comfort us in our future commuting.

Eyal Hareuveni

Videos: Sigurd Ytre Arne (sigurdytrearne.com)

Eyolf Dale (p, harpsichord, celesta), André Kassen (ss, ts), Guttorm Guttormsen (as, cl, fl), Jon Øystein Rosland (ts), Line Bjørnør Rosland (bcl, cl), Finn Arne Dahl Hanssen (tp), Thomas Johansson (tp, flh), Magne Rutle (tb), Marius Hoven (tb), Åsgeir Grong (btb), Rune Klakegg (acc), Jan Olav Renvåg (b), Audun Kleive (dr)