# Blackjazz > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Blackjazz > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Blackjazz.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blackjazz > Source revision: 1290349324 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) ***Blackjazz*** is the fifth studio album by the Norwegian band [Shining](/source/Shining_(Norwegian_band)), released through Indie Recordings on 18 January 2010. It marks a shift into the [avant-garde metal](/source/Avant-garde_metal) genre, with [extreme metal](/source/Extreme_metal), [industrial](/source/Industrial_music) and [progressive](/source/Progressive_music) influences. ## Production ### Songwriting As on Shining's two previous albums, the music draws elements from many different genres. The album's title, *Blackjazz*, is meant to describe the band's sound.[1] The instrumentation is far simpler than on the two previous albums, with Jørgen Munkeby focusing on guitars and saxophone. This has made the album's sound closer to how they sound live, as songs from previous albums needed to be simplified for live performances.[2] According to Munkeby, a big inspiration in the development of the Blackjazz genre, was his work with [In Lingua Mortua](/source/In_Lingua_Mortua) in 2006/2007. To quote Munkeby: "Lars' refreshing blend of an impressive intellectual display and direct raw power has been a big inspiration for me. Lars is a true pioneer. He was the first person to invite me to play sax in a black metal setting, and in so doing, contributed strongly to SHINING's later development of the Blackjazz genre."[3] Another big influence on *Blackjazz* is Shining's collaboration with [Enslaved](/source/Enslaved_(band)),[4] with whom they composed and performed a 90-minute ″Armageddon Concerto″, *Nine Nights in Nothingness – Glimpses of Downfall*, at [Moldejazz](/source/Moldejazz) 2008. In fact, the concerto's second movement is an early version of *Blackjazz Deathtrance*, the seventh movement is an early version of the song "Fisheye", and a studio version of the first movement, "RMGDN", is a bonus track on the vinyl edition of *Blackjazz*. The concerto was commissioned by Moldejazz after the programme committee saw a video of the two bands performing a cover of [King Crimson](/source/King_Crimson)'s "[21st Century Schizoid Man](/source/21st_Century_Schizoid_Man)" on their 2007 tour.[5] A new version of the same song forms the final track on *Blackjazz*, featuring guest vocals by Enslaved's [Grutle Kjellson](/source/Grutle_Kjellson). The song "Fisheye" features the repeated mention of "1-3-7-5"; Munkeby explained that his inspiration for the song was [kabbalah](/source/Kabbalah) and [gematria](/source/Gematria).[6] ### Promotion Shining performed the world premiere of the song "Fisheye" live on *Store Studio*, a culture talk show on [NRK](/source/NRK), 10 October 2009. Their performance was later released on YouTube, and as a free [mp3](/source/Mp3) download from NRK.[7] An extended version of "Fisheye" and the single "The Madness and the Damage Done" were released on [iTunes](/source/ITunes) prior to *Blackjazz* release. The Singles were well-received, with "Fisheye" named *Best song of 2009* by a critic in NRK's Lydverket,[8] and giving Shining a place on *[Time Out New York](/source/Time_Out_New_York)'*s list *the Stars of 2010*.[9] ## Reception The album was well received by critics. Notably, it was one of the few new releases ever to get a perfect five-star rating in its initial review by [Allmusic](/source/Allmusic), although its rating was later downgraded to four and a half stars.[citation needed] ## Track listing All tracks written by [Jørgen Munkeby](/source/J%C3%B8rgen_Munkeby) except "[21st Century Schizoid Man](/source/21st_Century_Schizoid_Man)" written by [Greg Lake](/source/Greg_Lake), [Ian McDonald](/source/Ian_McDonald_(musician)), [Michael Giles](/source/Michael_Giles), [Peter Sinfield](/source/Peter_Sinfield) and [Robert Fripp](/source/Robert_Fripp). ## Personnel **Shining** - [Jørgen Munkeby](/source/J%C3%B8rgen_Munkeby) – vocals, guitars, saxophone - [Even Helte Hermansen](/source/Even_Helte_Hermansen) – guitars - [Tor Egil Kreken](/source/Tor_Egil_Kreken) – bass - [Bernt Moen](/source/Bernt_Moen) – synthesizers, keyboards - [Torstein Lofthus](/source/Torstein_Lofthus) – drums **Additional musicians** - [Grutle Kjellson](/source/Grutle_Kjellson) – guest vocals on "Omen" and "21st Century Schizoid Man" **Production** - [Jørgen Munkeby](/source/J%C3%B8rgen_Munkeby) – [producer](/source/Record_producer) - [Sean Beavan](/source/Sean_Beavan) – [mixing](/source/Audio_mixing) - Tom Baker – [mastering](/source/Audio_mastering) ## Charts Chart (2010) Peak position Norwegian Albums Chart[10] 9 ## Release history Region Date Label Format Catalog Norway 18 January 2010 Indie Recordings CD INDIE 045 CD double LP INDIE 045 LP Europe 25 January 2010 Indie Recordings CD United States 2 February 2010 The End Records CD ## References 1. [""Blackjazz" Out Jan 25th"](http://www.shining.no/v1/img/bio_blackjazz/SHINING_Blackjazz_pressrelease.pdf). Indie Recordings. 5 December 2009. Retrieved 16 January 2010.[dead link] 1. Ingmar Wåhlberg (30 April 2009). ["Intervju: Shining"](http://www.groove.no/html/article/69453244.html) [Interview: Shining] (in Norwegian). *groove.no*. Retrieved 16 January 2010. 1. ["In Lingua Mortua » Pre-order"](https://web.archive.org/web/20150924035024/http://www.inlinguamortua.com/2010/07/24/pre-order/). Archived from [the original](http://www.inlinguamortua.com/2010/07/24/pre-order/) on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 16 February 2014. 1. Ingmar Wåhlberg (30 April 2009). ["Intervju: Shining"](http://www.groove.no/html/article/69453244.html) [Interview: Shining] (in Norwegian). *groove.no*. Retrieved 16 January 2010. Det er klart at samarbeidet med Enslaved har inspirert oss, og det har også påvirket soundet på den nye skiva. 1. ["Enslaved og Shining lager bestillingsverk til Moldejazz 2008!"](https://web.archive.org/web/20110607212137/http://www.moldejazz.no/2008/index.php?page_id=6998) [Enslaved and Shining makes a commissioned work for Moldejazz 2008!] (in Norwegian). *moldejazz.no*. Archived from [the original](http://www.moldejazz.no/2008/index.php?page_id=6998) on 7 June 2011. Retrieved 17 January 2010. Det var etter at programkomiteen i Moldejazz fikk høre et live-opptak av Shining og Enslaveds felles tolkning av King Crimson-låten "21st Century Schizoid Man" at man bestemte seg for å gi banda utfordringen å lage et bestillingsverk til festivalen. 1. ["Shining - For all of you who have asked about the meaning of the numbers "1, 3, 7, 5", please watch my answer in the following YouTube video"](https://www.facebook.com/shiningnorway/posts/for-all-of-you-who-have-asked-about-the-meaning-of-the-numbers-1-3-7-5-please-wa/157493764279260/). [Archived](https://archive.today/20240623155333/https://www.facebook.com/shiningnorway/posts/for-all-of-you-who-have-asked-about-the-meaning-of-the-numbers-1-3-7-5-please-wa/157493764279260/) 2024-06-23 at the Wayback Machine. 1. Jørgen Hegstad (30 November 2009). ["Last ned ny Shining-singel gratis!"](http://www.nrk.no/lydverket/last-ned-ny-shining-singel-gratis/) [Download the new Shining single for free!] (in Norwegian). *Lydverket*. NRK. 1. Jørgen Hegstad (20 December 2009). ["Årets Beste: Jørgen Hegstad"](http://www.nrk.no/lydverket/arets-beste-jørgen-hegstad/) [This Year's Best: Jørgen Hegstad] (in Norwegian). *Lydverket*. NRK. Retrieved 16 January 2010. 1. Sophie Harris; Jay Ruttenberg; Colin St. John; Hank Shteamer (14 January 2010). ["The stars of 2010"](http://newyork.timeout.com/articles/music/81933/best-of-2010-music-preview). *Time Out New York*. Retrieved 16 January 2010. 1. ["VG Lista – Album Top 40"](http://norwegiancharts.com/weekchart.asp?cat=a&year=2010&date=201004). *norwegiancharts.com*. Hung Medien. Retrieved 2 February 2010. - [""Blackjazz" Out Jan 25th"](http://www.shining.no/v1/img/bio_blackjazz/SHINING_Blackjazz_pressrelease.pdf). Indie Recordings. 5 December 2009. Retrieved 16 January 2010.[dead link] ## External links - [SHINING (NOR): Fisheye – live at Norwegian TV 2009.10.19](https://www.youtube.com/Iqn2QMD3ZSE) on YouTube - [Fisheye single](http://www.last.fm/music/Shining/Fisheye+-+Single) on Last.fm --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Blackjazz](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blackjazz) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blackjazz?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.