挪威爵士四重奏The Core终于不请自来了。前两年的NOTCH一直想请的。其实最想看的是核心乐队的核心(;-)萨克斯手Kjetil Møster，近期北欧爵士届闪耀之星。看过唯一一次“现场”是4年前在奥斯陆看他作为Zanussi 5成员录音前的排练。当场领教那把次中音萨克斯的强悍。游刃于爵士/实验/死亡金属的Møster真人却是沉静的酷哥。说了半天没想到此次The Core中国行的阵容里萨克斯被Jørgen Mathisen取代。遗憾！或者换个角度重新认识The Core吧。

重听2张The Core的唱片：2004年在Jazzaway发表的首张专辑Vision和2007年在Jazzland发表的最新专辑Office Essentials。陋室生辉。

The Core are:
Jørgen Mathisen - Saxophones
Erlend Slettevoll - Piano
Steinar Raknes - Bass（曾以Ola Kvernberg Trio组员身份参加了NOTCH06）
Espen Aalberg - Drums

From Norway, here comes The Core, out to rehabilitate any notions of Norwegian jazz as somehow austere and hymnal. Bristling with dark resolve, The Core have conjured a neat trick, with an unashamedly retro take on Coltrane¹s great post bop toward free quartets of the late ¹60s, made sound as though it were minted yesterday. The sense of excitement and discovery can be attributed to the positive collective psyche of four outstanding young Norwegian musicians in drummer Espen Alberg, pianist Erlend Slettevoll, bassist Steinar Raknes and saxophonist Jørgen Mathisen, who attack the band¹s largely modal repertoire with real gusto and then back it up with both energy and stamina, the grit that¹s often conspicuously absent in today¹s jazz.

Tues and Wed May 6/7
5月6、7日周二、三
Shanghai上海
Glamour Bar 魅力酒吧
晚9pm
RMB 50
(021) 6350 9988, 6329 3751

Thurs, May 8
5月8日周四
The Imperial Granary 皇家粮仓
晚 7.30 pm
RMB 380/580/780（票价贵得可以忽略）
 
Fri, May 9
5月9日周五
OT Lounge
6 Ritan Lu 日坛路6号
6502 5722

Sun, May 11
5月11日周日
Peking University Hall北京大学白昼年纪念讲堂
晚 7.00 pm
RMB 20-150
www.piaowutong.com
6275 8452, 6275 2279