HEDVIG MOLLESTAD – Tempest Revisited [vinyl]

Rune Grammofon RCD2223; LP: RLP3223

Norwegian guitarist Mollestad is a player of rare brilliance and in her power trio she allies the jazz technique of John McLaughlin with convoluted heavy riffing that wouldn’t be out of place on a Led Zeppelin album. On last year’s Ekhidna she concentrated on writing for a jazz-rock ensemble and Tempest Revisited is inspired by the music of compatriot composer Arne Nordheim. It’s a stylistically diverse set, touching on rock, funk and jazz, with some intense soloing. The three saxophonists play sweetly on ‘Sun On A Dark Sky’ before her guitar leads the ensemble on a twisting course, while ‘418 (Stairs In Storms)’ is delicate, melodic and full of space.