Lyngr is an archipelago of islands off the coast of Norway with no cars but lots of music, where young guitarist Bjorn Solli goes to compose.
But if that conjurs images of wailing Scandinavians pining for the fjords, think again.
Recorded in Brooklyn with an a-team of New York’s finest, Aglow is an upbeat, swinging affair exploring the bright, melodic space opened up by Pat Metheny.
Saxophonist Seamus Blake (with trumpeter Ingrid Jensen on four tracks) provides a sour counterpoint to Solli’s buoyant lines, pianist Aaron Parks adds a rich harmonic layer, and bassist Matt Clohessy and drummer Bill Stewart move everything along at a pace.
Nobody exactly breaks a sweat, but if they did, Solli’s breezy, instantly likeable music would chill them out soon enough.
