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| Shalder Geo |
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Kristian Blak – p
Heshin Ziska Davidsen – g
Mikael Blak – b
Hugni Klakkstein - dr
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For
the fact that a number of Estonian music-lovers has learned a thing or two about Faeroe
Islands – one: no big trees grow there; two: a fair amount of enticing music is made
in that far-off place in the Northern Atlantic – the 1998 album «Voices of the
Northern Islands», released by the Estonian duo of Villu Veski & Tiit Kalluste, can
be given credit for. However, a man who has consistently popularised the music of his
native islands in different parts of the world, for years, is pianist Kristian Blak.
His recent ensemble, Shalder Geo, appears at Jazzkaar 2000 performing a repertoire of
original compositions, improvisations and re-workings of folk melodies. (Shalder Geo is a
place on Shetland and also the title of a folk song; shalder is the indigenous name
of Faeroe Islands’ national bird, oyster-catcher.) Kristian Blak is an accomplished
composer-instrumentalist well versed in a variety of styles and genres, from chamber
compositions to ballet music and beyond.
During the remainder of its the Scandinavian tour, Shalder Geo will be augmented for a few
concerts by saxophonist JohnTchicai and the Sami singer of yoiks, Inga Juuso.
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