Music for Humans - Smith Komma John
The trio Smith Komma John consists of Stian Larsen (git), Adrian Myhr (bs) and Tore Sandbakken (tr), well-established musicians from the Norwegian music scene with experience from everything from free jazz to pop to world music. The trio has played together for several years and has, among other things, played on the National Jazz Stage, Lillesalen and toured Norway and Germany. At a time when most concerts have been cancelled, the trio decided to collect old and new material and document the trio's music in the studio. The new compositions are written by Stian Larsen and were recorded in Amper Tone in Oslo 13-14 May 2021, and released on Jazzland. The record is mixed by Kim Lillestøl and mastered by George Tanderø.
Smith Komma John is a traditional guitar trio in the true sense of the format, but one which musically expands the framework for jazz, rock and blues. The compositions are playful and often have a meta-perspective on genres and musical styles. They add a slight slant or an ironic twist of untraditional genres to their compositions and use this as a springboard for interaction and improvisation. The band seeks to convey an expression that has its feet firmly planted in improvised jazz where the soloist gets free play and individual expression, but where there is an opening to play with genres like reggae, Latin or free jazz.
Stian Larsen has mainly been the prime mover in the band, both as a bandleader and songwriter, and is a well-known figure from the music scene in Oslo. He is noted as a unique guitarist in everything from jazz and free improv to pop. The Smith Komma John project is his return to a more traditional trio format, but he brings baggage from the various projects he has worked on over the past 10 years. His goal as a soloist and songwriter is to use well-known musical idioms and styles but he wrestles with them to the breaking point through extended melodic expression and harmonics. From a history of music perspective, there is a nod to the way jazz musicians used popular music as a basis for their improvisations. From Charlie Parker's use of Tin Pan Alley and Latin via Stan Getz 'bossa and Miles Davis' "Human Nature" to Derek Bailey's "Standards", there is a common thread with improvising musicians who interpret other people's songs or draw inspiration for their own compositions. It is in this tradition that Smith Komma John wants to continue in a time that has largely "seen and heard everything." These are strong individual expressions and an interaction that deserves to be heard.
The musicians have several releases with other projects such as KÖök, player-nominated Kayak, Mapping Oceans, Johann Lindvall Trio, Oker and Dag Filip Roaldsnes to name a few.