Bruno Råberg: Lifelines

Swedish bassist and prolific composer Bruno Råberg unveils all sides of his musicality on this expansive double-CD set. With saxophonist Chris Cheek, guitarist Ben Monder and either Ted Poor or Matt Wilson on drums, they explore Råberg’s darkly transparent vehicles for improvisation like the sparsely meditative “Agni,” rubato soundscapes like “Chosen Path” and “Moondown,” and cathartic, distortion-laced eruptions like “Agog” and “An Afternoon by the Meadow,” along with more conventional, thoughtfully composed pieces like the lyrical “April Suite,” the sensitive “Ballad for Summer’s End” and the restful “Elegy.” For sheer output alone, it’s astounding. And the depth of expression and degree of surprise represented here is remarkable.

Originally Published November 1, 2008