Janne Schaffer
Band members Related acts
line up 1 - Janne Schaffer -- guitar
supporting musicians (1977) - Jason Lindh -- - Stefan Brolund -- - Malando Gassama -- - Mats Glenngard -- violin - John "Rabbit" Bundrick -- keyboards, - Lars Jansson -- clavinet, keyboards - Lars Beijbom -- drums, percussion - Peter Sundell -- drums, percussion - Lennart Aberg -- sax
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- The Attractions - Electric Banana Band - Grapes of Wrath - Swenka Lod Ab! - The Noie Men - Opus III - Pop Workshop - Sleepstones - Ted and The Top Teens
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Genre: rock Rating: 3 stars *** Title: Katharsis Company: Columbia Catalog:
PC 34499 Country/State: Stockholm, Sweden Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+ Comments: cut top right corner Available: 1 Catalog ID: 3305 Price: $20.00 |
I guess you'd consider Janne Schaffer to be royalty among Swedish musicians. Starting in the mid-'60s he's played in scores of Swedish bands and as a sessions player his work turns up with everyone from ABBA to Bob Marley.
I'm guessing Schaffer's affiliation with ABBA played a role in getting him signed to CBS/Columbia, to say nothing of the fact 'Katharsis" saw an American release. Regardless, one of the shortest and funniest biographies I've read is found on the album's back cover: "Swedish born Janne Schaffer literally carved his own career when he was 16. During woodwork lessons in school he made his first guitar. Fifteen years alter Jonne is still whittling new ideas. Schaffer has become one of the most sought-after guitarists in Europe, both for studio work and live dates. Producer John Hammond maintains that the sign of a serious professional musician is one who returns to those sideman gigs that spawned him, to keep sharp. And Janne does just that. He goes back to the neighborhood groups whenever he has a chance. He enjoys the experience and the contrast with the larger ones. To him it's all learning. He incorporates what he gets from the roots into what he gives to groups like ABBA. ABBA is among the fastest rising rock groups in the world. About the only place they haven't caught fire is the U.S.A. Their albums consistently run high in the charts in England and the Continent. Janne Schaffer is on all of those ABBA albums. Frank Meyer, music editor of Variety, has said, in effect "look no further you Beatle-seekers. The new super-group is here." He was referring to ABBA with Janne on guitar. Schaffer is one busy man. Tours as leader or sideman have taken him to Israel, Germany, Canada, England, and America In his native Sweden he has been an instructor in a jazz-rock course and has accompanied singer Alice Babs in Stockholm's finest night clubs. He is versatile enough to have recorded with trumpeter-flugelhornist Art Farmer and often works studios in Germany. Guitarist Schaffer has been compared to fellow guitarist Jeff Beck. He has quick reflexes and the spark that ignites. But Schaffer's music is more like Carlos Santana's than eck's in it's depth. There's no question about his jazz and latin influences and the sidemen he picks from his homeland are better able to handle what Janne throws at them.".
Featuring eight Schaffer-penned instrumentals, let me start out by warning everyone that if you were hoping to hear a collection of ABBA-styled pop ditties, this wasn't an album to buy. Yeah, Schaffer's unique guitar tones were on display across these songs, but this was an album for guitar fans. Specifically, this was an album for people who enjoyed jazz-rock fusion acts like Jeff Beck, The Dixie Dregs, and even Weather Report. There was no mistaking the man's talents. The tones he got out of his guitars was unique - kind of a "bell" tone and he was capable of playing in a wide variety of styles - ranging from hardcore fusion ('Stocking Suite'), to new-age numbers ('Wintergreen'). I'll tell you that Schaffer had a good ear for melodies, so tracks like 'Bromma Struttin'' and 'Dimbaa Jullow' were far more commercial than most of what you'd hear from those other acts.
"Katharsis" track listing: 1.) Bromma Struttin' (instrumental) (Janne Schaffer) - 5:03 rating: **** stars I have to admit being surprised how much I enjoy 'Bromma Struttin''. Musically the instrumental offered up a strange hybrid of dance tune and Jeff Beck-styled jazz-rock fusion. Hearing the speed Schaffer played at was stunning and it was also a great showcase for the interesting "bell" sound that marked his playing style. The voice-box solo would have put Joe Walsh to shame. The liner notes describe it as: " ... a laid back, easy rocker with a catchy line'" 2.) Stocking Suite (instrumental) (Janne Schaffer) - 9:27 rating: *** stars 'Stocking Suite' would have easily fit on a Dixie Dregs album, or one of Jeff Beck's mid-'70s jazz-rock fusion collections. Technically the performance was immaculate, though clocking in at over nine minutes it reached and surpassed the point of diminishing returns. Enough said ... The description:: "... more up in tempo with reflections of a latin nature. Note how each time the theme is stated it sounds different. it' the kind of timbre and tonal control that makes Janne stand out form his contemporaries. The second a of the suite is a ballad showing a romantic side of his talent" 3.) The Blue Gate (instrumental) (Janne Schaffer) - 7:09 rating: *** stars Admittedly this Jeff Beck-meets-a-disco-beat instrumental probably wasn't going to appeal to everyone. It certainly didn't do much for me, but after hearing it a couple of times I have to admit the song's groove got to me - particularly the funky bass line. And here's what the liner notes say: "Latin instrumentation and rhythmic insinuation opens 'The Blue Gate,' but when the melodic line hits, it throws an eastern flavoring into the pit making for some interesting harmonies."
(side 2) 1.) Dimbaa Jullow (instrumental) (Janne Schaffer) - 5:05 rating: **** stars In spite of what the liner notes said, 'Dimbaa Jullow' had a distinctive Back-meets The Dixie Dregs feel. It also had one of the album's prettiest melodies. "Violins and complicated rhythmic combinations characterize 'Dimbaa Jullow'. There are Eastern and Spanish harmonies with a punctuating syncopation tat excites the listener." 2.) Ramsa (instrumental) (Janne Schaffer) - 2:37 rating: **** stars Kicked along by a prominent flute, 'Ramsa' has always reminded me of a good Focus song. Right off the bat that means lots of folks will go running for the doors. "Ramsa" is a joyful raga-sounding affair with a country air ascribed to an acoustic guitar underpinning. Again the rhythms are astounding in their increasing metamorphosis." 3.) Atlanta Inn (instrumental) (Janne Schaffer) 2419 - 8:27 rating: **** stars Wow, how would have ever expected a Swedsh guitar pro to start out with such a funky sound ? One of the album's prettiest tunes. Not sure why, but for some reason, this always makes me think of classic Steely Dan. Now that would have made for an interesting collaboration ... 4.) The Red Gate (instrumental) (Janne Schaffer) - 4:25 rating: *** stars Probably the album's most rock-fusion oriented tune. Another good example of the unique guitar tone Schaffer carved out. " ... a rocker with nice harmonies on top." 5.) Wintergreen (instrumental) (Janne Schaffer) - 2:35 rating: *** stars An acoustic number (Schaffer on acoustic guitar, accompanied by bass), 'Wintergreen' was pretty and short, though it had kind of a new age-ish feel to my ears. " ... should have been title 'Blowing My Own Horn' because here is Janne Schaffer with bass accompaniment only. Now this in and of itself is no great news, what with the penchant to record in this format lately. It's just that we have become used to Schaffer in a rock-jazz-latin group thus far. The change is dramatic. "Wintergreen" for all its brevty, may well be the identifying mark of the album, for in its short exposition Janne lets is know who he is in terms quite apart for what has proceeded it."
The original Swedish release reflected different cover art and the Swedish song titles:
"Katharsis" track listing: (side 1) 1. Bromma Struttin' (instrumental) (Janne Schaffer) - 5:30 2. Strumpin Suite (instrumental) (Janne Schaffer) - 9:28 i.) Allegro ii.) Aagio 3.) Dan bla porten (instrumental) (Janne Schaffer) - 7:09
(side 2) 1.) Dimbaa Jullow (instrumental) (Janne Schaffer) - 5:04 2.) Ramsa (instrumental) (Janne Schaffer) - 2:37 3.) Atlanta Inn (instrumental) (Janne Schaffer) - 8:37 4.) Den roda porten (instrumental) (Janne Schaffer) - 4:20 5.) Skogsstjarnan (Hymn) (instrumental) (Janne Schaffer) - 2:07
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