Natura morta translates to “dead nature” in Italian and refers to the still life painting tradition that dates back to ancient times and serves as a link between the natural and human-made worlds as well as to a specific time and space. Natura Morta bySwedish composer/musician Sven Wunder continues the still life tradition through music, exploring art as a bridge between nature and the human ability to judge and observe.
Featuring a chamber orchestra and a jazz ensemble, Natura Morta is ambitious in both vision and scope. It covers a lot of ground over the course of its 12 tracks, spanning from epic orchestral numbers (“Natura Morta”) to funk-fueled takes (“Prussian Blue”) to soul jazz (“Impasto”). While this kaleidoscope of sounds keeps listeners on their toes, the album is united by a sense of melody that keeps the dense instrumentation in check and prevents it from becoming too stifling. Grand, transportive stuff.
