International relevance: **
The
first of many albums from these Gothenburg jazzers who carved out a
fusion jazz niche of their own with Susanna Lindeborg's mini moog.
However, it hadn't yet found its natural place in the music this
early on, and it sounds a bit like it was added when the others had done their parts, like an
afterthought. Mwendo Dawa was to a fair degree tenor saxophonist Ove
Johansson's band, but it was Lindeborg's keyboards that gave them
their special character. ”Basic Line” sounds
as if they're still searching for their unique sound, like they still are getting to know each other musically. It took some time
still before they got there. Recorded in 1978.
Two years and a couple of albums later, Mwendo Dawa had lost guitarist Ulf Wakenius which proved beneficial. ”Free Lines” is a much tighter work signified by a greater collective self-assurance. Ove Johansson plays with great ease here occasionally touching on free jazz, but the most striking leap forward comes from drummer David Sundby who's very powerful on ”Free Lines” giving the music a the much needed push that the debut lacked. Even the album's more lyrical moments are tenser and denser. And while Susanna Lindeborg may not have a leading role here, her keyboards slip much more smoothly into the music.
from "Basic Line":
Important Level
Basic Line
from "Free Lines"
Maria