COMPOSERS: Arve Henriksen,Terje Isungset
LABELS: All Ice
ALBUM TITLE: World of Glass
PERFORMER: Terje Isungset, Arve Henriksen (glass instruments)
CATALOGUE NO: 1409
World of Glass is not a retail outlet, but one of those unusual albums that gets filed under jazz by default. Here we have Henriksen and Isungset respectively foregoing their usual trumpet and percussion in favour of a selection of invented glass instruments designed and made by two artists and a group of students from the Estonian Academy of Arts. Add the pre-existing glass harmonica, the 1820s glass flute, Japanese glass chimes and so on and it becomes apparent that the concept is less original than the accompanying hype would have us believe.
The experience of the music itself is as ethereal and mysterious as one might expect and the project avoids descending into the realms of the novelty record (just) thanks to the performers’ exploratory mindset and exceptional musicianship. The recording captures the instruments’ elusive dynamics surprisingly well. Not exactly essential listening, but an intriguing byway for the curious.
Roger Thomas