Young Swedish jazz guitarist and Berklee School of Music grad Bjorn Wennas, focuses more on compositional form tinged with a purposeful outlook during his sophomore effort. And for those who entertain comparisons, the artist’s style might reside somewhere between Jim Hall and Mick Goodrick. But Wennas does perpetuate a distinctive methodology via these generally slow to medium-tempo jazz workouts, fused with punchy horn charts and vocalist Carmen Marsico's lyrically charged vocalise on selected tracks.
With funk-rock grooves, loping jazz movements, contrasting horns-guitar choruses and other stylizations, the guitarist mixes up his palate rather effectively here. As his dark-toned, electric lines surge forward with capacious voicings and probing chord progressions.
Vocalist Carmen Marsico and Wennas spin Monk’s "Ruby My Dear," into an intimate duet, complete with a buoyant bridge amid an after-hours type vibe. However, as a technician Wennas is in no great rush to get anywhere and concentrates more on churning out subtle inventions via an animated approach. Certain pieces sustain more interest than others. Yet Wennas conveys a mature vision during the preponderance of these craftily arranged works, awash with subtle surprises and the soloists hearty sojourns.
