It's only in performance, that Paal "Strangefruit" Nyhus's true value can truly be appreciated. Yes, he's a turntablist (purists can prefix that with "dreaded," though they'd be grossly mistaken), but he's also much more. He's a sound sculptor who, like Brian Eno and John Cage, finds music around every corner. He possesses an extensive record library, from which to source some of his sounds, which would shame even the most pathological collector. Over the past decade, this Norwegian sonic explorer and manipulator has provided real-time soundscaping, enriching projects including guitarist Eivind Aarset's Connected (Jazzland, 2004), and trumpeter/Nu Jazz progenitor Nils Petter Molvaer's Streamer: Live (Sula, 2004).

An integral part of the extended Punkt family, Nyhus makes it clear that music comes from many sources, and not only conventional instruments. He's also demonstrated that real-time sonic manipulation can be an improvisational premise as exciting as any other. The debut of Mungolian Jet Set's (the moniker for his group as a leader) Beauty Came to Us in Stone was released in 2006, but still warrants a serious look, as it's a groundbreaking album that, in a different time, could have been considered a classic.

It is a classic, despite its relatively limited availability; a series of nine interconnected sonic collages ...

Read the full article:

http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=29226

Article Source: Allaboutjazz.com