Title: STILL ALIVE
Year: 2001
Category: LATIN,JAZZ,LIVERECORDINGS
- 1. Future Apparent 07:06
- 2. Old Couples Lullaby 05:32
- 3. Screenplay 08:10
- 4. Old Manhattan Tango 07:33
- 5. Landmark 07:31
- 6. Now Came to Us 03:11
- 7. Announcement - MikaSonik Theme 15:50
- 8. Passing Recline 05:14
- 9. Movements in Style 03:14
- 10. Summer Garden 06:19
- 11. Young in the 80s 08:12
- 12. A Ballad About Something 05:59
- 13. Retrospectives - MikaSonik Theme 10:39
- MikaSonik:
Mika Pohjola - piano & composer
Miguel Zenón - saxophone
Ben Monder - guitar
Fernando Huergo - bass
Roberto Dani - drums
STILL ALIVE
by Mika Pohjola with Miguel Zenón, Ben Monder
A live recording from Stockholm, Sweden during MikaSonik's European tour in January 2001, Still Alive documents the complete two-set concert without edits or overdubs.
The repertoire consists primarily of compositions originally introduced on the studio album Landmark, presented here in extended live performances. While the studio recordings emphasize detailed arrangements and layered textures, Still Alive focuses on the interaction between the musicians in a concert setting, with greater emphasis on improvisation and spontaneous ensemble playing.
The recording captures the working relationship developed by the quintet through regular performances and touring. Individual solos are balanced with collective improvisation on pieces such as 'Passing Recline' and 'Summer Garden', while the original compositions provide the framework for the group's live interpretations.
Together, Landmark and Still Alive document the same ensemble in two different settings: one as a carefully produced studio recording and the other as an unedited live performance recorded before an audience.