STILL PICTURE
New Canvas Records NCR1001 (released 2004)
Simon Cosgrove soprano saxophone
David Gange flugelhorn, trumpet
Tom Rogerson piano
James Opstad fretless bass, cello
Chris Hill double bass (track 1)
Jon Opstad drums, percussion
recorded Feb-Sept 2003
cello overdubs Apr 2004
mixed by Jan Erik Kongshaug at Rainbow Studio, Oslo
1. Fjord Song (7.19); 2. Three Words (6.06); 3. Still Picture (11.48); 4. Quiet Place (7.21); 5. Athabasca (9.46)
All compositions by Jon Opstad • listen
Still Picture was composed and recorded during the first year of my music degree at Cambridge, and is primarily inspired by the music of the ECM record label, especially artists such as Kenny Wheeler, Jan Garbarek and Eberhard Weber. The Norwegian jazz scene was another strong influence (I am a quarter Norwegian). Apart from my brother James, who was 15 when this was recorded, the other musicians were Cambridge students at the time and I was lucky to have some amazing performers around to make the recording possible. Simon has since moved to Japan, while Tom and Chris are both active on the London scene doing great work (Tom's progressive electric band Three Trapped Tigers are currently getting a lot of acclaim).
The album was released in 2004 and got some very nice reviews in the jazz press. Fiona Talkington played the track Athabasca on BBC Radio 3's Late Junction programme.
Review Quotes
"It heralds the arrival of an intelligent and gifted young talent who, if there is an ounce of pioneering spirit in him, looks set to make quite a name for himself at home and abroad." E.J.Iannelli, Allaboutjazz.com
"An accomplished and engaging debut... We'll clearly be hearing a lot more from Opstad." Jazzwise Magazine
"Opstad’s debut is an appealing set steeped in the Northern European lyricism which is, perhaps, a common currency for those who grew up with Garbarek and Rypdal albums somewhere nearby." The Penguin Guide to Jazz (Eighth Edition)
"A mightily impressive album from a major talent in the making." Bristol Evening Post
"I am tempted to call it the 21st century Birth Of The Cool." Derek Ansell, Jazz Journal International
"Considering the youngest member of this band is 16 and the oldest is 23, the musical maturity and clearness of conception shown on Still Picture is considerable." John Kelman, AllAboutJazz.com
"What [the band] also share is youth and quite prodigious talent... Their playing and general approach shows a startling maturity and confidence… Really good, worth checking out and then worth repeated plays." Steve Baxter, JazzViews.co.uk