Kaare Norge: Morning Has Broken: CD

TRAD: Morning Has Broken; House of the Rising Sun; Scarborough Fair: LENNON: Imagine: CHRISTOPHER/JAMES/THOMPSON: Always on my Mind: JOHN/TAUPIN: Candle in the Wind: PAGE/PLANT: Stairway to Heaven: BROOKER/REID: A Whiter Shade of Pale:  CLAPTON/JENNINGS: Tears in Heaven: LENNON/ONO: Oh My Love: CLAPTON: Wonderful Tonight: NORGE: Beautiful Scenery: HENLEY/FREY: Wasted Time: LARSEN: Som Et Strejf.

Kaare Norge (Guitar) with  Kassandra Kvartetten and Kontra Kvartetten

CMC RECORDS (7): 8230692

From the outset, this album, which begins with its title song Morning Has Broken, is lovely. The strings that back our guitarist have some lovely moments, sometimes taking over the solo for a while. The other thing to notice is that almost every track will be known to the huge majority of listeners. John Lennon’s gorgeous Imagine is next and has some double – tracking on the guitar as well as the strings. Elvis’ Always On My Mind follows and continues the beautiful arrangements and recording.

Indeed a great deal of this album is all about ballads, and how fabulous they can sound with this line – up of players. Even House of the Rising Sun is a ballad arrangement, and nothing like the Animals version! Norge’s own Beautiful Scenery is one of only two pieces I hadn’t come across before. It is an emotional piece of writing and a lovely addition to this album as is the Eagles Wasted Time, which is perhaps one of the lesser known pieces.

Finally the final track is Kim Larsen’s Som E Strejf which is short but a wonderful closer to this album, which is essentially a superb set of pieces, beautifully arranged, and performed, and an ideal album for anyone who loves the guitar performing songs like this! Definitely one for your list!

Chris Dumigan