Sono – Hyperballad/ Part Wolf

A full on six-piece harp led jazz cover of Bjork´s classic song Hyperballad! – The band is led by the multi-talented Keith Kenniff (aka Helios and Goldmund) who plays drums, and features his twin brother Colin on double bass. Only moments after his second album under the Helios moniker, entitled ´Eingya´, is out on the streets and Keith Kenniff is back again, this time recording with his modern jazz sextet Sono. This ultra-limited 10″ is a document of a professionally recorded live performance where the band performed Bjork´s classic track ´Hyperballad´ and Jim Black´s jazz-rock masterpiece ´Part Wolf´. We already know how addictive ´Hyperballad´ is from Bjork´s version, but hearing it now transformed into a ten-minute harp led jazz freak-out puts the track in a totally different light. As the lightly plucked guitar, deft and loose drums and deep plucked bass transform lyrics into notes it´s hard not to fall in love with this inspired re-imagination. The flipside is less well known, but no less effective – Jim Black´s impeccable downtown credentials as part of the Tiny Bell Trio with Dave Douglas speak for themselves. The rock influence and smokey jazz mood brings to mind the best of Joni Mitchell collaborator Brian Blade. An unforgettable record, Sono is another milestone release for the still-young Yesternow label, and is without a doubt a taster of great things to come!