UDO PANNEKEET: Electric Regions (JAZZ): review / opinion to read on Music Waves

While Focus left their mark on the Dutch progressive scene in the 1970s with their unbridled track 'Hocus Pocus' (from 'Moving Waves'), Udo Pannekeet, the Dutch band's bassist, is less well known. Wanting to free himself from the Focus influences, the musician chose to emancipate himself from the band's usual repertoire by releasing a 100% jazz-oriented solo album at the end of 2019. And to do this, no less than 15 instrumentalists do their appearance! A line-up of which Udo Pannekeet claims to be very proud.

The idea of writing a solo album was born when he wrote the 24-minute-long song 'Electric Regions Part One' in 2015. And it only took four weeks for the strong man of this record to write this complicated piece of music! On a double bass introduction, the brass doesn't take long to appear. There's a hip-hop rhythm on a trumpet background, chain solos with various instruments, an alternation of rhythmic moments and calmer phases, and even a more jazz-rock side to the second part of the track with a slightly crunchy guitar solo. At the end of the track, samba tunes invite themselves to the party, before a more soulful lull takes over. You will have understood it, the artist crosses all the styles in this track which remains coherent all along.

The other tracks respect much more standard and short formats. 'Little Nura', in the middle of the record, plays the role of an interlude, led by a double bass with high notes almost solitary all along, delivering an intimate atmosphere close to a movie soundtrack. On 'The Antibes Situation', the rhythmics accelerate and a new electro dimension appears.

Like the first track, this album is therefore relatively varied and allows Udo Pannekeet to explore new musical dimensions. The total absence of vocals, a very frequent component in the jazz scene, and the sometimes experimental or even dissonant aspect make this "Electric Regions" a rather few accessible record but which remains nevertheless relatively interesting. To be recommended to jazz lovers and Focus fans with a certain curiosity. - Official website

UDO PANNEKEET

ELECTRIC REGIONS

AUTRE LABEL

JAZZ