Jon Hassell (1937) is the creator of a unique style of music, consisting of a mysterious mix of traditional and modern-digital, composed and improvised and Western and Eastern. Together with Brian Eno he made some ambient milestones and with his electronically enriched trumpet playing he paved the way for nu jazz. It is not without reason that trumpeters Nils Petter Molvaer, Erik Truffaz and Arve
… Henriksen cite him as a great source of inspiration. Even Eric Vloeimans dedicated a number to him. After 1985's Power Spot, Hassell is back at ECM with the amazing Last Night The Moon Came (…). The CD contains intriguing ambient jazz and very languid dub, supported by the deep bass lines of Peter Freeman. Hassell completes the circle with his disciples by giving a major role to the Norwegians Eivind Aarset (guitar), Jan Bang (live sampling) and Helge Norbakken (percussion), known for their collaboration with Molvaer and Henriksen. Hassell himself provides their sound carpets with sparse but strikingly chosen North African-sounding lines with his whisper-soft trumpet playing. Genius music, precisely because Hassell balances on the border of modern creative / fusion and new age but always manages to stay on the right side. (HB)more