Karin Krog is an advernturous Norwegian jazz singer with a beautiful conception of melody and impeccable taste in collaborators. On this 1981 album, she’s joined by brilliant tenor saxophonist Warne Marsh and legendary bassist Red Mitchell. Marsh, a student of Lennie Tristano, had long been one of the most fascinating improvisers in jazz. Mitchell had, by then, spent a decade acclimating himself to tuning his bass in fifths, like a cello. Basses are nearly always tuned in fourths (with the notes being EADG), but Mitchell’s switch to CGDA tuning changed not only the tension and sound of his instrument but his note choices, as well. Here is a wonderful example of that.
Originally published at Late Republic Nonsense.