artist : Ulf Wakenius title : Enchanted Moments label : Dragon Records cat# : DRCD278 genre : Jazz street date : 1996-05-16 tracks : 10 bitrate : 185 kbps avg. 44.1/Joint Stereo size : 73.49 mb source : CD type : Retail url : http://www.dragonrecords.se ________________________________________________________________________________ Those who've been exposed to Ulf Wakenius' more aggressive side will be pleasantly surprised by Enchanted Moments, a generally rewarding collection of ballads and standards that finds the Swedish fusion/hard bop/post-bop improvisor playing acoustic guitar exclusively. Wakenius' range of influences has included Pat Metheny and John McLaughlin as well as earlier guitarists like Wes Montgomery and Jim Hall -- and in this very lyrical and reflective setting, Metheny's influence is especially apparent. Well-respected in Swedish jazz circles but little known in the U.S., Wakenius is, for the most part, well-served by Scandinavian jazzmen Lars Jansson (acoustic piano, synthesizers) Lars Danielsson (acoustic bass, synthesizers) and Raymond Karlsson (drums, percussion). Overall, the synthesizers have a warm, strings-like sound that compliments Wakenius' vulnerable lyricism -- although on occasion, they take on a dull, new age-ish quality. But thankfully, this CD (available on the Stockholm-based Dragon label) has more strengths than weaknesses. ________________________________________________________________________________ 01 Hymn 4:08            02 Little Girl Blue 8:10            03 Cry Me A River 5:19            04 When I Fall In Love 6:26            05 Old Folks 5:41            06 I Wish I Knew 5:58            07 A Nightingale Sang In Berkeley Square 4:00            08 Blues At Night 5:07            09 My One And Only Love 3:38            10 Ballad Of The Sad Young Men 6:30            -----