November 1998

Anders Jormin
Once
Dragon Records

By Duck Baker

Bassist Jormin is joined by saxophonist Thomas Gustafson, drummer Jarle Vepestad, and vocalist Jeanette Lindstrom in a program including songs by Ornette Coleman, Michel Legrand and Kurt Weill. The material is strong and the group sound is pleasing, but Lindstrom is attempting the impossible in trying to sing convincingly (for native speakers) in English. A thousand tiny nuances defeat her purpose. When she scats or sings in Swedish, things work much better. A commendable but not quite recommendable effort.