Vossabrygg is a live album by Norwegian jazz guitarist Terje Rypdal, recorded at Vossajazz in 2003 and released on ECM in 2006.[1]Vossabrygg - translated to English as "Vossa brew" - was commissioned for Norway's 2003 Vossajazz festival and was conceived by Rypdal as a tribute to Miles Davis's classic album, Bitches Brew.[3]
Reception
The critical reception of Vossabrygg noted its ambitious scope, describing it as "a stunning, unraveling labyrinth, created by a master explorer."[4] Writing for AllAboutJazz, John Kelman observed Rypdal's strong musical lineage to Miles Davis, from Rypdal's line-up and instrumentation choices on Vossabrygg, as well as its similarities to other progressive recordings in Davis's discography, notably In a Silent Way[5] Despite the obvious musical influences, Rypdal's ability to deliver originality was a sentiment expressed in several reviews,[4][6][7] with the performances from both Rypdal and trumpeter, Palle Mikkelborg, attracting praise.[8][3] "The clear antecedents of Vossabrygg in the music of Miles don't obscure the fact that this is unequivocally a Rypdal record, transcending mere imitation and applying a distinctive filter."[5]
Though the critical reception of Vossabrygg was generally positive, the inclusion of drum loops and sample interludes by Rypdal's son were frequently cited as detracting from the overall musical experience.[8] Their inclusion was described as "tedious" and "a curate's egg" in a BBC Music review[3] and "instantly dated" by PopMatters.[9]
