Jaga Jazzist bandleader/tenor saxophonist Lars Horntveth ventures into solo territory once again with his sophomore set Kaleidoscopic, an album which may or may not be justifiably considered a set at all since it’s comprised of one sweeping 37-minute track. The term ’solo’ may also be a misnomer when applied to Kaleidoscopic: Horntveth is joined by 41 members of the Latvian National Orchestra (consisting of 34 string players, 3 percussionists, clarinet, flute, bass trombone, and one harp). However, the record is clearly the brainchild of Horntveth, whose meticulous arrangements and production are proof of his masterful control over the art of orchestral bombast. Crafting arrangements for a 41-piece orchestra while maintaining one’s own creative vision is no small feat, and here, the Jazzist horn player succeeds in creating a strikingly emotive symphonic score that seamlessly blends in some of the electronic elements characteristic of his main project. Heavily layered strings swoon and dip over a driving percussion section, always pushing the music not only forward but skyward. The music often goes from grandiose to introspective and back with the introduction and disappearance of muted analog synth lines. Kaleidoscopic is quite an apt name for the album, which covers a wide range of emotions that are all integral to the piece as a whole. The record doesn’t settle on one tone, opting instead to take listeners on an aural, emotional rollercoaster that manages to be affecting throughout by merit of its mournful melodies and lush, tender harmonies. With Kaleidoscopic, Horntveth has not only proven himself adept in the realm of neo-classical composition but also in forcefully convincing listeners that he is not wasting even one of his listeners’ 37 minutes.
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