Örjan Hultén and Orion bring live show to Wolverhampton - review
A great deal of exciting jazz has emerged from Sweden, including the work of saxophonist Örjan Hultén,
His quartet Orion appeared at the Newhampton Arts Centre, Wolverhampton, at the start of an extensive UK tour organised by Birmingham Jazz for the Jazz WM Network.
The tour promotes the group’s new album, Minusgrader (Artogrush), which has enjoyed enthusiastic reviews.
And there is indeed much to enthuse over in the playing of these four Swedes - beautifully crafted contemporary jazz, delivered with warmth and good humour.
It was in the second set that Hultén, pianist Torbjorn Gutz, bassist Filip Augustson and drummer Peter Danemo displayed their greatest dynamism, with outstanding themes including Etude 4, a Middle Eastern-influenced piece with a slithering melody played by the leader on soprano.
On this, Hultén switched to tenor and opened his solo with breathy tones, evolving into more muscular playing.
Man With Orange is another vibrant piece, with two tempos - a medium slow blues feel, and then a fast beat - with fiery drive from Danemo’s drums, and a growling soprano from the leader.
The concert had opened with the darkly atmospheric title track of Minusgrader, which translates as Minus Degrees.
Another fine and very jaunty piece followed, October In May, by pianist Gutz. But compared to the lively second set, the first set lacked the fire and variety which Orion can offer - possibly because the band was still digesting a heavy meal they had thoroughly enjoyed in a Polish restaurant just before the concert.
Review by John Watson
