MEINERT, CARSTEN - CARSTEN MEINERT / C.M. MUSICTRAIN (LP)

And here we are. FINALLY! Some unreleased kick-ass-actions by Meinert from the days when things were done differently. The first time I listened back to these recordings I had the same thrill inside of myself as when I had enjoyed to "To You" and "C.M. MusicTrain" for the first time. I was listening in one fixed body position without moving at all. Just smiling. Hardly breathing. What is really inside of this music? What is hitting me so hard and deep? Without analyzing or pointing out anything in particular here, I do think I am defenseless when someone is really using tradition as a tool to move forward into the unknown. By adding a distinct personal language. Creating new questions to consider and digest. This music both confuses and delights me. In marvelous ways and manners. Meinert is the captain onboard. But in constant support from his closest shipmate, Ole Matthiessen. This keyboard wizard and catalyst of creative music in Denmark is a key to understand the new directions of the music and the depth of it all. He has been in the center of things for as long as there have been creative jazz played in Scandinavia. Active in Tordenskjolds Soldater, he is killing it big time on the original "C.M. Musictrain" album where his electric piano (amplipiano) treatments are creative beyond creative in the masterpiece "San Sebastian", arranged by Matthiessen. Meinert is steering his ship wherever he wanna go. With Matthiessen on his side. Wherever the music takes it to. Never setting anchor. Never playing safe. But always experiencing new perspectives, harbors and angles. Of music. Of life.His tenor sax actions demand special attention. What I hear is a tonal color and way of phrasing connected to John Coltrane. But so much more added to it. There are definite inspirations drawn from the late and great Gato Barbieri as well, as you can hear if you check out the beautiful session on the B-side of this spectacular album. Coltrane is at the core though, played with a definite Scandinavian diphthong. Many sax players have tried before - to get close. But only a few succeeded adding a personal voice to the matter. How to make the music valid with such a strong model at hand? Many artists have drowned in their attempts. I can think of just a few in Europe that took Trane´s thing further and deeper: Juhani Aaltonen, Gunnar Lindgren, Börje Fredriksson and of course, Carsten Meinert. The search continues. How to add your personal voice to something that inspires you deeply. Meniert managed. This album is full of it. Full of beauty. Creative beauty. Unreleased music. Alternative versions and more. This is classic radical music from a turbulent and creative time in music making. The rhythm section is working hard in the small groupings with commitments and enthusiasm. On top of the rhythm plateau you hear the intense and warm fire of Meinerts sax and the insanely creative guitar treatments by Pierre Dørge. The guitar slaying of Dørge is simply brutal and highly creative. This is spectacular music, no holding back, led by the great Carsten Meinert. meinert. The myth. Appearing in front of us. Again. Very real. His narrative is an essential one. Respecting and loving the tradition. Fucking with the tradition. It is all about WHAT you hear. And HOW you treat it. Trust and respect are recommendable ways. Dare to believe. You will be highly rewarded. Not only with rare vinyls.(Mats Gustafsson, June 2026)