(THIS ARTICLE IS MACHINE TRANSLATED by Google from Norwegian)
13-year-old Laila Dalseth won an amateur competition on May 1 in her hometown of Bergen just 50 years ago. Soon rumors spread about this obvious gift, and in 1961 she was lured over to the capital for engagement with Kjell Karlsen. From then on she has been part of the Norwegian jazz elite, participated in the first Molde Festival (1961), made her record debut in her own name in 1963, and later received a long list of merits which included collaboration with Egil Kapstad, Roy Hellvin, Stokstad / Jensen Tradband, Per Borthen Swing Dept. Ltd., Christiania Jazzband, Red Mitchell, Al Cohn, Milt Hinton, Philip Catherine and many others, besides having continuously led their own bands since 1974, mostly in quintet format with saxophonist Totti Bergh. There have been engagements and tours from California to Indonesia, ten record albums in his own name, some in other people's names, several Spellemann Awards, a number of cultural awards – and of course Norwegian jazz life's highest award, the Buddy Award (1976).
standard repertoire
Laila Dalseth is faithful to the great melody treasure called "the american songbook" – or "standard repertoire" in Norwegian. There is no scatsong, no recitation, there is straight melodic lyrics conveying of great songs; she does this in a unique way with great warmth, fervor and empathy – which has given her a large audience. Three years ago came the compilation CD one of a kind (Gemini GMCD 106-2), with tastebuds from her record career 1975-99. Now a fresh CD, recorded in February this year, is titled Everything I love (Gemini GMCD 114).
She brings with her her regular quintet, with Totti Bergh (tenor saxophone and soprano saxophone), Per Husby (piano), Kåre Garnes (bass) and Tom Olstad (drums). In addition, there are two guest soloists, the 28-year-old alto saxophonist Frode Nymo and the experienced guitar virtuoso Staffan William-Olsson. Young Nymo (known among other things from "Urban Connection") will be a fresh feature with some different references, different phrasing methods, but impressive overview, maturity and understanding of the jazz tradition. Swedish-born William-Olsson (from "The Real Thing" etc.) has an impressive technical vacancy, elegant well-shaped melody lines and one of the finest guitar tones I know of.
Varied formats
Especially with this production is Laila Dalseth's, and the arranger Per Husby's, ability to put together musicians in different constellations, structure the songs in different ways, create surprising twists and shape variations. Already in the first track, "He loves and she loves", it opens gently and suggestively with duo vocals / piano before it suddenly shakes with the whole band. The cruel lyrics of "hardhearted Hannah, the vamp of Savannah, the meanest gal in town" are initially performed with a gentle and free duo before some rough guitar lines put the band into the right atmosphere around this man who "loves to see but suffer". "Speak love" begins with a rubato alternation and interaction between everything and tenor, followed by a theme and guitar solo in Latin form, whereupon Frode Nymo lays down on a straight swing accompaniment.
Three of the songs are in their entirety in duo format, vocals / piano, vocals / guitar or vocals / bass; one is with trio vocals / soprano saxophone / piano. These small formats provide their own care and openness, concentration and reflection. The closing track with Charles Mingus' tribute to Ellington, composed with Billy Strayhorn's beautiful "Lotus blossom", is in the aforementioned trio format, where Totti Bergh's beautiful soprano tone creates a dignified atmosphere. One of the standard repertoire's finest ballads, “Where or when”, is performed by vocals, alto saxophone and comp. Three of the tracks are with the usual quintet. Five of the tracks have a full septet crew.
Laila Dalseth is convincing in this hand-picked company. The atmosphere has obviously been nice in the studio, she has a youthful voice in a nice balance between the heartfelt, the clear and the relaxed swinging. Partner Totti Bergh is experienced, sensitive and thoughtful – he lifts every jazz record he is on.
