The project for this album arose from the encounter with Lew Soloff during the Vallekilde Summer Session in the year 2000 when Danish bass-player and composer Niels Ryde met him for a gig. Lew Soloff, who had collaborated in the seventies with the group Blood, Sweat and Tears and in the eighties with the Gil Evan's Band, suggested Niels Ryde to go and record his original compositions in New York. Since then, Lew Soloff joined Niels Ryde in Denmark various times to go on tour with Niels Ryde's project. This project turned out in an album, "Pocket Music" (NCB Music Mecca). Niels Ryde's original compositions are melodic and very interesting as far as harmony is concerned. Tha tracklist includes some other compositions written by the band members of the Niels Ryde Quartet. The interplay between musicians is excellent, and the musicians are well teamed up. Their technical and expressive skills are outstanding. Beautiful and crepuscular ballads alternate with chasing up-tempo compositions rich in jazz dissonances and interesting and modern sounds. Particularly interesting are, in my opinion, the following tracks: "Pocket Music" (N. Ryde), "Sunday Afternoon" (N. Ryde) e "Gratitude"(A. Morgensen). A very nice record; it's a pleasure to listen to it over and over again. You may visit Niels Ryde's official website for further information: www.nielsryde.dk

Eva Simontacchi for Jazzitalia