NIGHTS FLIGHTS SPICE
by Mika Pohjola with Ben Monder, Matt Penman

This quartet came together under unexpected circumstances when guitarist Ben Monder replaced the originally scheduled saxophonist Chris Cheek shortly before the recording session, resulting in a unique collaboration that was never repeated in this exact lineup.

The album presents a selection of Pohjola's original compositions, several of which previously appeared on Announcement, Landmark, and Still Alive. While Landmark and Still Alive were recorded with larger ensembles including bassist Fernando Huergo and saxophonist Miguel Zenón, Nights Flights Spice focuses on the interaction of an acoustic quartet.

The title track introduces elements of jazz fusion and appears twice on the album in two different interpretations. The remaining repertoire is rooted in contemporary acoustic jazz, with an emphasis on ensemble interplay and improvisation.

The album includes compositions such as When Things Will Change, built around a rubato introduction that develops into extended improvisations by Pohjola and Monder, and My Mother Turned Fifty, a previously unreleased composition combining bebop-inspired lines with a lyrical melody.

Nights Flights Spice documents a collaboration between four established jazz musicians and reflects Mika Pohjola's compositional style during the late 1990s and early 2000s. Listeners interested in related recordings may also explore Landmark and Northern Sunrise, the latter featuring saxophonist Steve Wilson.

http://nights.bluemusicgroup.com