Chris Monsen
@chrismonsen.bsky.social
Music scribe (mostly jazz & related idioms) for Klassekampen's weekly music supplement Musikkmagasinet, Jazznytt, https://chrismonsen.substack.com/, and others. I recommend wine at Vinmonopolet between deadlines. Arsenal fan. Posts in Norwegian and English
Percussionist Kahil El’Zabar turns 72 today. #NowPlaying Return of the Lost Tribe (1998) by Bright Moments (Colson, El’Zabar, Favors, Jarman & McIntyre).
November 11, 2025 at 4:42 PM
Percussionist Kahil El’Zabar turns 72 today. #NowPlaying Return of the Lost Tribe (1998) by Bright Moments (Colson, El’Zabar, Favors, Jarman & McIntyre).
My A-sides picks:
November 9, 2025 at 4:14 PM
My A-sides picks:
Innen 1985 var omme hadde Hüsker Dü rukket å gi ut to albumklassikere, spille 150 konserter i USA og Europa, og signere for Warner. Flammen brant dessverre opp fort, men den brant også kraftig, noe man kan høre på liveopptakene på «1985: The Miracle Year». Les min omtale i dagens Musikkmagasinet.
November 7, 2025 at 12:41 PM
Innen 1985 var omme hadde Hüsker Dü rukket å gi ut to albumklassikere, spille 150 konserter i USA og Europa, og signere for Warner. Flammen brant dessverre opp fort, men den brant også kraftig, noe man kan høre på liveopptakene på «1985: The Miracle Year». Les min omtale i dagens Musikkmagasinet.
Remembering the late tenor ace Charles Brackeen, who was born on this day 85 years ago. #NowPlaying Attainment, his 1988 classic with Olu Dara, Fred Hopkins and Andrew Cyrille (and produced by Dennis Gonzales).
November 5, 2025 at 1:44 PM
Remembering the late tenor ace Charles Brackeen, who was born on this day 85 years ago. #NowPlaying Attainment, his 1988 classic with Olu Dara, Fred Hopkins and Andrew Cyrille (and produced by Dennis Gonzales).
The late bass master Henry Grimes was born OTD 90 years ago. Grimes played with the likes of Lee Konitz, Sonny Rollins, McCoy Tyner, Albert Ayler, Don Cherry, Cecil Taylor, and Marc Robot, but don't forget his first (and until the 2000s, only) album as leader, the terrific The Call (📸 Francis Wolff)
November 3, 2025 at 6:46 PM
The late bass master Henry Grimes was born OTD 90 years ago. Grimes played with the likes of Lee Konitz, Sonny Rollins, McCoy Tyner, Albert Ayler, Don Cherry, Cecil Taylor, and Marc Robot, but don't forget his first (and until the 2000s, only) album as leader, the terrific The Call (📸 Francis Wolff)
November 1, 2025 at 10:18 PM
Har skrevet om «Touch», det nye albumet til post-rocklegendene Tortoise for Musikkmagasient i dag. Tidvis noe tilbakeskuende, men dytter også kledelig i litt nye retninger. Best når det er en beat eller motorisk rytme som driver musikken, mer tafatt når de blir stillestående. Les i papir- + e-avisa.
October 31, 2025 at 12:58 PM
Har skrevet om «Touch», det nye albumet til post-rocklegendene Tortoise for Musikkmagasient i dag. Tidvis noe tilbakeskuende, men dytter også kledelig i litt nye retninger. Best når det er en beat eller motorisk rytme som driver musikken, mer tafatt når de blir stillestående. Les i papir- + e-avisa.
Some group, this. Mary Halvorson Amaryllis Sextet at Victoria Nasjonal Jazzscene, Oslo, this evening.
October 30, 2025 at 8:27 PM
Some group, this. Mary Halvorson Amaryllis Sextet at Victoria Nasjonal Jazzscene, Oslo, this evening.
To quote the brilliant man himself: “[…] a great work of art is imperfect, for me. It has to be imperfect, maybe in some subtle way. Perfect is not interesting.”
With that in mind, my pick.
With that in mind, my pick.
October 29, 2025 at 7:04 PM
To quote the brilliant man himself: “[…] a great work of art is imperfect, for me. It has to be imperfect, maybe in some subtle way. Perfect is not interesting.”
With that in mind, my pick.
With that in mind, my pick.
The magnificent Arild Andersen turns 80 today. A double bass master with an instantly recognizable tone and a strong melodic feel, he was at the forefront of the explosion of Norway’s new wave of jazz in the late 60’s and early 70’s, and is still going strong. Happy birthday! (📸 Kai Hansen).
October 27, 2025 at 5:32 PM
The magnificent Arild Andersen turns 80 today. A double bass master with an instantly recognizable tone and a strong melodic feel, he was at the forefront of the explosion of Norway’s new wave of jazz in the late 60’s and early 70’s, and is still going strong. Happy birthday! (📸 Kai Hansen).
I put on In Our Style, Jack DeJohnette's duo album w/David Murray, when the rumors of DeJohnette's death started circling this morning. Perhaps somewhat of a foot note in his storied career, but a wonderful release nonetheless, with the mighty, late Fred Hopkins playing bass on two of the tunes. RIP
October 27, 2025 at 12:28 PM
I put on In Our Style, Jack DeJohnette's duo album w/David Murray, when the rumors of DeJohnette's death started circling this morning. Perhaps somewhat of a foot note in his storied career, but a wonderful release nonetheless, with the mighty, late Fred Hopkins playing bass on two of the tunes. RIP
A Fickle Sonance by Jackie McLean was recorded on this day of October in 1961 at the Van Gelder Studio in New Jersey.
October 26, 2025 at 9:06 PM
A Fickle Sonance by Jackie McLean was recorded on this day of October in 1961 at the Van Gelder Studio in New Jersey.
Litt rørende å se hvor godt den nye Oslo-bunaden har slått an.
October 24, 2025 at 9:26 PM
Litt rørende å se hvor godt den nye Oslo-bunaden har slått an.
#5debutalbums8084
1) The Feelies - Crazy Rhythms (5pts)
2) The Beat - I Just Can't Stop It
3) Human Switchboard – Who's Landing In My Hangar?
4) Detail (Dyani / Gjerstad / Stevens) – Backwards And Forwards / Forwards And Backwards
5) Womack & Womack – Love Wars
From the short list attatched below.
1) The Feelies - Crazy Rhythms (5pts)
2) The Beat - I Just Can't Stop It
3) Human Switchboard – Who's Landing In My Hangar?
4) Detail (Dyani / Gjerstad / Stevens) – Backwards And Forwards / Forwards And Backwards
5) Womack & Womack – Love Wars
From the short list attatched below.
October 24, 2025 at 9:19 PM
#5debutalbums8084
1) The Feelies - Crazy Rhythms (5pts)
2) The Beat - I Just Can't Stop It
3) Human Switchboard – Who's Landing In My Hangar?
4) Detail (Dyani / Gjerstad / Stevens) – Backwards And Forwards / Forwards And Backwards
5) Womack & Womack – Love Wars
From the short list attatched below.
1) The Feelies - Crazy Rhythms (5pts)
2) The Beat - I Just Can't Stop It
3) Human Switchboard – Who's Landing In My Hangar?
4) Detail (Dyani / Gjerstad / Stevens) – Backwards And Forwards / Forwards And Backwards
5) Womack & Womack – Love Wars
From the short list attatched below.
Har skrevet om saksofonisten Anna Högberg Attack!s rystende, vakre og helende 'Ensamseglaren', og vurdert Zanussi 3s "bare" jazz, bass og fortreffelig musikalske samhandling og oppfinnsomhet på 'A Keen Beast' som gild nok i seg selv i dagens Musikkmagasinet i Klassekampen. Les i papir og i e-avisa.
October 24, 2025 at 8:12 AM
Har skrevet om saksofonisten Anna Högberg Attack!s rystende, vakre og helende 'Ensamseglaren', og vurdert Zanussi 3s "bare" jazz, bass og fortreffelig musikalske samhandling og oppfinnsomhet på 'A Keen Beast' som gild nok i seg selv i dagens Musikkmagasinet i Klassekampen. Les i papir og i e-avisa.
Faig Ahmed, Fuel (2016) at Nasjonalmuseet.
October 19, 2025 at 10:09 AM
Faig Ahmed, Fuel (2016) at Nasjonalmuseet.
Clip from the magnificent James Brandon Lewis Quartet at Nasjonal Jazzscene last night. Astoundingly brilliant.
October 18, 2025 at 2:47 PM
Clip from the magnificent James Brandon Lewis Quartet at Nasjonal Jazzscene last night. Astoundingly brilliant.
Henry Threadgill er, som musikken han lager, stadig i bevegelse, og nye utgivelser med hans navn er alltid en begivenhet. Ofte også med finurlige nye vrier, som oktetten med akustiske gitarer, akustiske bassgitarer og flygel som spiller på «Listen Ship». Har anmeldt albumet i dagens Musikkmagasinet.
October 17, 2025 at 4:29 PM
Henry Threadgill er, som musikken han lager, stadig i bevegelse, og nye utgivelser med hans navn er alltid en begivenhet. Ofte også med finurlige nye vrier, som oktetten med akustiske gitarer, akustiske bassgitarer og flygel som spiller på «Listen Ship». Har anmeldt albumet i dagens Musikkmagasinet.
Happy 65th birthday to the one and only Bob Mould! (Photo: Timothy Norris/Getty Images)
October 16, 2025 at 7:12 PM
Happy 65th birthday to the one and only Bob Mould! (Photo: Timothy Norris/Getty Images)
Post your first record.
Depends if this means first record I got over all, or first I bought with my own money. I'm going with the former, in which case it's probably this.
Depends if this means first record I got over all, or first I bought with my own money. I'm going with the former, in which case it's probably this.
October 15, 2025 at 8:31 PM
Post your first record.
Depends if this means first record I got over all, or first I bought with my own money. I'm going with the former, in which case it's probably this.
Depends if this means first record I got over all, or first I bought with my own money. I'm going with the former, in which case it's probably this.
Heftig konsertkveld i Oslo i dag: Paal Nilssen-Love Extra Large Unit på Jazz på Munch, det freidige jazz-rock-m.m.-bandet Peders Hode på Kafé Hørverk, trommis Johnathan Blake (Oliver Lake, Kenny Barron, Kris Davis m.fl.) m/stjerneensemble på Cosmopolite, og Donny McCaslin på Nasjonal Jazzscene.
October 15, 2025 at 4:22 PM
Heftig konsertkveld i Oslo i dag: Paal Nilssen-Love Extra Large Unit på Jazz på Munch, det freidige jazz-rock-m.m.-bandet Peders Hode på Kafé Hørverk, trommis Johnathan Blake (Oliver Lake, Kenny Barron, Kris Davis m.fl.) m/stjerneensemble på Cosmopolite, og Donny McCaslin på Nasjonal Jazzscene.
Trying to soothe that deadline blues with some vintage Lee Konitz #HBD #NowPLaying
October 13, 2025 at 9:24 PM
Trying to soothe that deadline blues with some vintage Lee Konitz #HBD #NowPLaying
The first of two recording sessions for Cecil Taylor's The World of Cecil Taylor (Candid, 1961) with Archie Shepp, Buell Neidlinger and Denis Charles took place on this day of October in 1960.
October 12, 2025 at 5:25 PM
The first of two recording sessions for Cecil Taylor's The World of Cecil Taylor (Candid, 1961) with Archie Shepp, Buell Neidlinger and Denis Charles took place on this day of October in 1960.
Some sources say the 10th, others 11th, so let’s just celebrate the magnificent Fred Hopkins, who was born around this time of October in 1947, all weekend. Play some Air! Or any of the many other recordings he made such significant and memorable contributions to. (📸Tom Copi).
October 10, 2025 at 2:16 PM
Some sources say the 10th, others 11th, so let’s just celebrate the magnificent Fred Hopkins, who was born around this time of October in 1947, all weekend. Play some Air! Or any of the many other recordings he made such significant and memorable contributions to. (📸Tom Copi).