Tenor, Jimi & UMO – “Mysterium Magnum” – [Herakles Records]

Naysayer   5/3/2016   CD, Jazz

Jimi Tenor is constantly pushing himself to try out new things, or reinterpret things he is familiar with, or put a twist on things familiar, or….. Needless to say, a chameleon of sound. Jimi Tenor, his name a combination of his favorite youth idol Jimmy Osmmond (HOT!!!!) and the tenor saxophone, comes from Finland and has created music electronic, jazz, big band, industrial. He has made his own electronic-mechanic instruments. Needless to say, creative and out there. “Mysterium Magnum”, the 2015 release on Herakles Records, continues this push. Tenor performs with UMO the Finnish national Jazz Orchestra, creating 12 pieces of tight, solid and clear jazz. UMO are amazing in their playing. Clear, crisp sounds punch through these big band orchestra pieces. Oh the horns. There is a retro feel to the numbers, going back to sixties studio orchestras performing soundtracks and backup for big name singers of the past. But it’s more than that for as the band plays on Tenor comes in with the craziest synth sounds I’ve heard in a while. Squonks, squeaks, blurbles. It’s a 1960’s Russian synthesizer, the RITM-2. Oh it is so good. I just couldn’t stop smiling…. and laughing…. and jumping around. The whole thing plays it straight, but it is not, not really, not with Tenor at the helm. And at the controls of the RITM-2. Enjoy.