Record Reviews

MAX ANDRZEJEWSKI`S HUTTE AND CHOIR ~ HUTTE AND THE HOMEGROWN ORGANIC GOSPEL CHOIR WHYPLAYJAZZ 034 (Barcode: 4250459990346) ~ GERMANY ~ Jazz Recorded: 2016 Released: 2017 This is the third album by German drummer / composer Max AndrzejewskiFind albums by this artist and his HutteFind albums by this artist quartet, which also includes saxophonist Johannes SchleiermacherFind albums by this artist, guitarist Tobias HoffmannFind albums by this artist and Danish bassist Andreas LangFind albums by this artist. On this album the quartet is joined by a thirteen piece choir, called The Homegrown Organic Gospel ChoirFind albums by this artist, led by Tobias ChristlFind albums by this artist. Guest vocalist Dorrey Lin LylesFind albums by this artist appears on four tracks. Together they perform eleven original compositions, all composed by Andrzejewski. The music is an attempt to mix contemporary / Free Jazz with Gospel Music, an innovative idea, which sadly fails to achieve its purpose. Taken separately the music played by the quartet and the choir parts might work out well, but when they are superimposed each on top of the other, there is a clash which is hard to reconcile. The Jazz parts are complex and free spirited, while the Gospel parts are based on simple melodies, with exaggerated theatrics. The quartet is an excellent ensemble, which offers top class modern Jazz and is definitely worth following, as are other project Andrzejewski takes part in, but this particular project simply leaves me cold since its ingredients simply do not mix at all, as far a I am concerned. Overall this is an interesting and innovative project, which has some great quartet performances, sadly constantly disturbed by the simplistic and repetitive Gospel vocals. Not my cup of tea.

Updated: 06/06/2017Posted: 06/06/2017

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TAL ARDITI ~ PORTRAIT NOT ON LABEL ~ ISRAEL ~ Jazz Recorded: 2018 Released: 2018 This is the debut album by Israeli (resident in Berlin) guitarist / composer Tal ArditiFind albums by this artist, recorded in a trio setting with Danish bassist Andreas LangFind albums by this artist and German drummer Tobias BackhausFind albums by this artist. The album was recorded live at the A-Trane Club in Berlin and presents eight original compositions, all by Arditi. The music is quite unique and although based on solid melodic themes, it incorporates many different stylistic elements, ranging from Rock to contemporary Classical with a solid pitch of Fusion in between, but consistently manages to avoid a clearly defined classification, which is for the best in this case. Rhythmically the music often utilizes quirky tempo changes and polyrhythmic intricacies, which require attentive listening in order to follow the rapid developments. As a result this is definitely not an easy going Fusion album, which you can whistle to as you along, but a complex musical statement, perhaps overheated at times, but certainly awe inspiring. Luckily Arditi manages to avoid all the Fusion mannerisms, which are the plague of the Jazz guitar idiom. Arditi is obviously a brilliant guitarist, playing neck-breaking arpeggios with the speed of light, but definitely not in order to impress anybody, but simply because his music requires this kind of expression. He is equally proficient with playing full chords and his performance, which does not utilize any special electronic sound altering devices, sounds almost "acoustic", at least conceptually. The obvious virtuosity is dazzling, but not flashy, which is extremely rare among guitar players. The rhythm section, which comprises of two very busy musicians from the young Berlin Jazz scene, is wonderfully supportive and Arditi is definitely very lucky to find such fine musicians, who are able to follow his devilish schemes. There is little soloing by the rhythm section, but since the music is complex enough to be a challenge to everybody on board the soloing is not really that important, although wonderfully done, when present. Overall this is a very promising debut album, which establishes Arditi as a talent to follow and watch closely. Hopefully future recording will be slightly more relaxed and less feverish, but all in all, the introductory goal was achieved here in full. Definitely worth investigating!

Updated: 27/11/2018Posted: 27/11/2018

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FUSK ~ ABSURD ENTHUSIASM WHYPLAYJAZZ 060 (Barcode: 4250459992609) ~ DENMARK ~ Jazz Recorded: 2022 Released: 2022 This is the fifth album by International Jazz quartet FUSKFind albums by this artist, led by Danish drummer / composer Kasper Tom ChristiansenFind albums by this artist, with Polish trumpeter Tomasz DabrowskiFind albums by this artist, German clarinetist Rudi MahallFind albums by this artist and Danish bassist Andreas LangFind albums by this artist. The album presents ten original compositions, all by Christiansen, recorded “live” in the studio. This album celebrates 15 years of the quartet’s existence and is released five years after the previous album “The Jig Is UpFind albums with this title” from 2018. The music continues pretty much where it was left before the lengthy break, with excellent modern Jazz padded by a large degree of freedom, based on the excellent and very complex compositions by the leader. All members of the quartet are first class musicians, with extensive experience, so nothing can really go wrong. FUSK offers a unique sound as it misses a harmonic support and the trumpet / clarinet front line has to create all the melodic messages, which they of course manage to handle beautifully. The excellent rhythm section offers full support for the two soloists, who play most of the time in tandem, often unisono, which creates the distinctive sound effect the quartet offers. Overall, this is another splendid offer by this quartet, which explodes with talent and creativity. The open borders of the European Union make it easy for international cooperation to blossom, which this quartet personifies, but it is by far not the only gathering of the kind. Hopefully we won’t have to wait for another five years to hear the next outing by FUSK.

Updated: 26/02/2023Posted: 26/02/2023

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FUSK ~ FUSK WHYPLAYJAZZ 005 (Barcode: 4050486034583) ~ DENMARK ~ Jazz Recorded: 2010 Released: 2011 This is the debut album by the Danish / German quartet FUSKFind albums by this artist led by Danish drummer / composer Kasper Tom ChristiansenFind albums by this artist, which also features the Danish bassist Andreas LangFind albums by this artist and the German saxophonist Philipp GropperFind albums by this artist and bass clarinetist Rudi MahallFind albums by this artist, who is also a member of the Kasper Tom 5Find albums by this artist ensemble. The album presents nine original compositions, seven of which are by Christiansen and the remaining two are group compositions. This album is a superb example of contemporary modern European Jazz developed and created by a young generation of greatly talented individuals who are lucky to grow up in the affluent borderless Europe, which enables a much wider access to musical education and international cooperation than just a few decades earlier. These young musicians are able to size the moment and exploit this new reality, which results in an explosion of young international groups playing Jazz and Improvised Music all over the continent. Christiansen, who has been recoding music both as a leader and a sideman for several years before forming FUSK, established his position as one of the leaders of this new European scene, playing extensively with Scandinavian, German, Polish and other young musicians and additionally developing his skills as a composer, which came to full fruition with FUSK. Here he presents his most adventurous works and the quartet turned out to be an ideal vehicle for exploring his music. He is one of the relatively few drummers, who are bandleaders and principal composers in their ensembles. As a team Christiansen and Lang are one of the strongest and most imaginative rhythm sections on the European scene and this album is full of wonderful examples of their telepathic interplay. Supported by such an excellent rhythm section the two soloists are able to spread their wings and explore the freedom of improvisation in full. Both Gropper and Mahall gently weave their lush structures, both individually and collectively, creating a highly aesthetic whole. Overall this is an exciting and wonderful album from start to finish, full of surprises and one that keeps the listener on his toes from start to finish. Considering the fact that it is a debut recording, the result is even more commendable. Well done indeed!

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FUSK ~ SIEBEN ACHT GUTE NACHT FOR TUNE 0048 (Barcode: 5902768701548) ~ DENMARK ~ Jazz Recorded: 2012 Released: 2014 It´s been a while since Shakespeare pointed out that "Something is rotten in the state of Denmark"; as a matter of fact nothing could be further from the truth as far as the state of Danish Jazz in the second decade of the 21st Century is concerned. The country is enjoying an incredible renaissance of its Jazz scene, which thrived between 1950s and 1970s, when the legendary Copenhagen Jazzhus Montmartre club often seemed like one of the epicenters of European modern Jazz, and a long list of great American expatriates lived in Denmark at the time. The difference is that this time around it is the young generation of incredibly gifted Danish Jazz musicians who are setting the tone. The last few years of the Danish drummer / composer Kasper Tom ChristiansenFind albums by this artist´s career have been definitely good years; a succession of recordings and concerts as a leader of a number of ensembles firmly established his position as one the most prolific and outstanding young European Jazz musicians and his progress and development are continuously in full swing. Kasper Tom is quite an unusual musical figure, firstly being one of relatively few drummers / leaders and secondly and even more extraordinarily being the main composer of the material performed by his ensembles. We all know the jokes told about drummers and Kasper Tom simply shatters all these stereotypes. One of the effects of today´s European reality is the fact that international cooperation is easier and more common today then ever. Kasper Tom definitely seems to be able to explore that degree of freedom to the max, playing with other young musicians not only from his native Denmark, but also those from Poland, Germany and other countries. The quartet FUSKFind albums by this artist is an example of such international collaboration, with joins two Danish (Christiansen and Andreas LangFind albums by this artist) and two German (Philipp GropperFind albums by this artist and Rudi MahallFind albums by this artist) players. This is the quartet´s third album and the first live recording, captured at the legendary Warsaw Pardon, To Tu club, one of the most important alternative Jazz venues in Europe. The music is a wonderful display of Kasper Tom´s talent as a composer. His tunes are always somewhere between a catchy melodic theme and an open structure ideal for improvisation and exploration. Such incredible balance is quite rare and difficult to achieve and yet Kasper Tom manages to create these tunes with astonishing ease and versatility. Handled by the FUSK quartet, these tunes playfully follow one after another effortlessly, although they are anything but trivial or easy on the ear. The incredible strength of this music lies exactly in the fusion of melodic approach and complex execution, which result in aesthetic pleasure experienced by the listener, often unaware of its ingredients. It is quite educational to compare the music captured here with the studio version of the same tunes presented on the previous album, called "Super KasperFind albums with this title", which was recorded almost immediately after the Pardon, To Tu session. The ambience and the audience of the club, which I know personally very well from first hand experience, have a distinctive influence on this performance. In an ideal world we would always have an opportunity to hear the same music recorded live and in the studio; this album is therefore the ideal partner to the studio recording. European Jazz still manages to reinvent itself and push its boundaries ever further away from the stale mainstream tradition. Thanks to the young generation of Jazz players, which fearlessly explores the Jazz aesthetic, often against all odds, shunning from fads and fashions of contemporary non-culture, we are able to see our beloved music alive and kicking, going through another stage of its evolution. Kasper Tom and his colleagues all over Europe are our hope for the survival of what we consider true Culture, even if we need to enjoy it in the catacombs rather than in the amphitheaters. Side Note The above are my liner notes included on this album's artwork. I am honored when asked by the Artists to write liner notes for their albums, always hoping that my words reflect the true spirit of the music. This is also a symbol of our mutual respect and friendship developed over the years. The same is also true when Record Labels ask me to write liner notes for their releases, mostly in the case of reissues of archival albums, which is a symbol of their appreciation of my knowledge and historical perspective and my recognition of their dedication to the preservation of the history of recorded music and the effort to keep human Culture and Aesthetics alive.

Updated: 19/09/2018Posted:

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FUSK ~ SUPER KASPER WHYPLAYJAZZ 009 (Barcode: 4050486086735) ~ DENMARK ~ Jazz Recorded: 2012 Released: 2013 This is the second album by the Danish / German quartet FUSKFind albums by this artist led by Danish drummer / composer Kasper Tom ChristiansenFind albums by this artist, which also features the Danish bassist Andreas LangFind albums by this artist and the German saxophonist Philipp GropperFind albums by this artist and bass clarinetist Rudi MahallFind albums by this artist, who is also a member of the Kasper Tom 5Find albums by this artist ensemble. The album presents eleven original compositions, eight of which are by Christiansen and the remaining three are group improvisations. Christiansen is one of the most prolific young European Jazz personalities in the last decade and participates in several diverse ensembles in parallel, both led by him and by others, which involve musicians from different European countries. This kind of international collaboration is one of the most creative ingredients of the new European Jazz scene, where the artists can enjoy the freedom of movement without any restrictions and some take advantage of it quite broadly. As a result of his recordings Christiansen has established quite a reputation not only as a player and bandleader, but particularly as a superb composer of diverse stylistic approaches. His work is worth following across the broad spectrum of his creative output, of which FUSK is just a singularity. The music presented here emphasizes the freedom and openness in his compositions, which are based on short melodic themes which are then explored by the quartet quite liberally and without limitations. Of course even if the music is mostly improvised, both harmonically and rhythmically, it is neither chaotic nor disorganized, keeping well within the boundaries of group improvisation. The quartet members obviously listen to each other attentively and support each other constantly. There is an overall feeling of tenderness and respect and none of the aggression often associated with group improvisation is present here. The individual performances are all first class, with the two soloists obviously standing up front most of the time, but with the rhythm section firmly involved as well. Lang´s bass and Christiansen´s drumming are an excellent example of superb contemporary rhythm section work, which is nonabrasive and nonaggressive and yet keeps the music moving forward on a solid track. The music recorded on this album was also recorded live at the legendary Warsaw Pardon, To Tu club shortly before being recorded in the studio, and it´s highly recommended to listen to both versions, in order to appreciate the dramatic influence of a live audience on a Jazz performance. The live album is scheduled to be released on the Polish For TuneFind albums on this label label. Kasper Tom Christiansen and his cohorts are the new generation of European Jazz and judging by their accomplishments we have little to worry about the quality of the music they will create. What kind of impact this kind of music will have on the general Culture of the continent is another question…

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FUSK ~ THE JIG IS UP WHYPLAYJAZZ 043 (Barcode: 4250459991442) ~ DENMARK ~ Free Jazz / Improvised Music Recorded: 2017 Released: 2018 This is the fourth album by the European Jazz quartet FUSKFind albums by this artist, led by Danish drummer / composer Kasper Tom ChristiansenFind albums by this artist, which also includes for the first time Polish trumpeter Tomasz DabrowskiFind albums by this artist, and founding members: German bass clarinetist Rudi MahallFind albums by this artist and Danish bassist Andreas LangFind albums by this artist. The album presents ten original compositions, all by the leader. Christiansen and Dabrowski cooperated and recorded together many times in the past and therefore the fact that Dabrowski joined the quartet is only natural, replacing German saxophonist Philipp GropperFind albums by this artist, who was a member since the inception of the quartet. Although the music of FUSK is first and foremost a reflection of Christianson´s compositions, the presence of Dabrowski changed the internal balance and the overall sound of the quartet, taking it slightly back towards the American Jazz tradition and the early Free Jazz explorations of the late 1950s and early 1960s. Of course it is only one of the many aspects of this music as a whole and FUSK retains all its European Jazz qualities, but at the same time pays tribute to the Free Movement innovators. As usual, the music is based on highly complex and yet wonderfully melodic themes, which Christianson so ably creates, which in turn provide ideal platform for the quartet members to develop their individual and collective statements. The beautiful bass clarinet / trumpet double parts are one of the highlights of this album, as both Dabrowski and Mahall are able to keep an almost "romantic" form of dialogue between them, which is intriguing without being aggressive. Lang and Christiansen are a highly sensitive and technically fabulous rhythm section, which is standing shoulder to shoulder with the two soloists, participating equally in the process of group improvisation and mutual creation. The scope of the compositions, and as a result the scope of the music presented on the album is very diverse, which creates an element of tension with the listener not sure as of what to expect next. The music movies in and out between the improvised and precisely composed parts, often several times within the same track, with the rhythmic parts changing from no time to almost swinging time in an blink of an eye. However a blissful and relaxed feeling of order and coherence is present at all times and the music never falls apart in spite of its intricacy. For an experienced Jazz connoisseur this album is a lecture of Jazz, and especially Free Jazz history, delightfully illustrated by the music. Not surprisingly it is a wonderful piece of music, which should be enjoyed by as many listeners as possible and another milestone in Christiansen´s path, which is one of the most consistently excellent on the burgeoning European Jazz scene. Hats off, again, Maestro!

Updated: 12/05/2018Posted: 12/05/2018

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URI GINCEL ~ FREE UNIT 4402 (Barcode: 7640114794025) ~ ISRAEL ~ Jazz Recorded: 2010 Released: 2013 This is the debut album by Israeli (resident in Berlin) Jazz pianist / composer Uri GincelFind albums by this artist and his trio, which also includes Danish bassist Andreas LangFind albums by this artist and German drummer Moritz BaumgartnerFind albums by this artist. The album presents eight compositions, one of which is an original by Gincel, two are by John ColtraneFind albums by this artist, one is a standard, one is a folk tune, one is a classical tune, one is by the Israeli bassist / composer Eyal GanorFind albums by this artist and finally the last one is credited to all the trio members. The album presents a classic Jazz piano trio, playing pretty diverse musical themes, which are all transformed into the mainstream Jazz milieu. Of course Gincel demonstrates excellent technique and sensitivity, but this recording does not show his ability to break away from the Jazz tradition and take a step beyond. With Coltrane´s music aboard the listener expects much more freedom, especially when conditioned by the album´s title, which is not truly present herein. Even the album´s title track, which is the most "free" piece of music on the album, sounds still very conventional to Free Jazz connoisseurs. On the other hand as a mainstream piano trio album, this is quite an excellent effort. The rhythm section is absolutely superb, with Lang being among the finest European bassist these days. Baumgartner also performs very well, supporting the piano with just the right amount of rhythmic seasoning. The music is beautifully recorded (in one of Poland´s best recording studios) with beautiful sonic ambience, which will make piano trio fans extremely happy. Considering the fact that this is a debut recording, it is definitely quite an achievement and shows a lot of potential, which will be hopefully fully realized in the future. In the meantime this is definitely a very pleasant listening experience.

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PHILIPP GROPPER / PHILM ~ LICHT WHYPLAYJAZZ 007 (Barcode: 4050486070048) ~ GERMANY ~ Jazz Recorded: 2011 Released: 2012 This is the debut album by the quartet called PhilmFind albums by this artist, led by German saxophonist / composer Philipp GropperFind albums by this artist and including Norwegian pianist Havard WilkFind albums by this artist, Danish bassist Andreas LangFind albums by this artist and German drummer Oliver SteidleFind albums by this artist. Gropper is also known as the leader of the trio Hyperactive KidFind albums by this artist and the group TauFind albums by this artist, as well as a member of FUSKFind albums by this artist, SONNEFind albums by this artist and several other projects. With over thirty albums as a leader and sideman he is one of the most prolific German (Berlin based) Jazz musicians since the turn of the Millennium. The album presents six original compositions, all by Gropper. The music presents a set of passionate statements, beautifully crafted by their composer and wonderfully executed by the quartet, which combines four individual talents into a fresh amalgam, where the total is greater than the sum of its parts. Since I´m already familiar with Gropper, Lang and Steidle from other recordings, it is Wilk who is the nicest surprise of this album, playing some superbly imaginative lines and proving to be pianist definitely worth following in the future. Lang plays his usual wonderful bass staccatos and keeps the rhythm section as an integral part of the collective improvisation. Steidle, who is another veteran on the German scene and has a fine reputation as a highly imaginative and gifted drummer justifies his standing in full. Although most of the music is improvised, it has a strong melodic ingredient, sometimes clearly noticeable but most of the time only present subconsciously. This music has a clearly defined direction and a sense of purpose, which many Free Jazz / Improvised Music recordings simply lack completely. To be completely free and unrestrained within specified harmonic and melodic boundaries is a much more sophisticated form of expression than complete tonal anarchy, something free improvisers tend to forget. Overall this is an excellent debut group effort and I´m looking forward to hearing more from where this music came from, hopefully soon!

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PHILIPP GROPPER / PHILM ~ SUN SHIP WHYPLAYJAZZ 038 (Barcode: 4250459991381) ~ GERMANY ~ Avant-Garde Jazz Recorded: 2016 Released: 2017 This is the third album by German saxophonist / composer Philipp GropperFind albums by this artist and his quartet PhilmFind albums by this artist, which also includes Austrian keyboardists Elias StemesederFind albums by this artist, Danish bassist Andreas LangFind albums by this artist and German drummer Oliver SteidleFind albums by this artist. The album presents three original compositions, the first comprising of two parts and the second and third comprising of three parts each. This time, in contrasts to the quartet´s previous album, the music, although obviously still very much Avant Garde and Free Jazz oriented, manages to present a coherent approach and less self-indulgence, which result in a more communicative whole. Of course this is still highly specialized music, which a priori is intended for a very narrow audience, but the correct balance of Freedom and Discipline makes it all happen this time. All four members of the quartet are obviously highly talented musicians, which is apparent outright. The individual statements as well as the collective interplays are all outstanding, with each musician being allowed enough space to show his chops. The synthesizer is a nice innovation to the quartet´s overall sound and expands the scope of possibilities and adds a fresh sound layer to the overall sound, all for the best. Personally I enjoy the ragged, odd and unexpected rhythmic aspect of the music on this album, which is truly fascinating and quite innovative. The ability of the musicians to keep the time together is obviously remarkable and the hats off goes to the superb rhythm section of Land and Steidle, which is simply brilliant. But of course Gropper and Stemeseder create many wonderful statements all along, which are true delight to an attentive listener. Overall this is a beautiful example of European Free Jazz at its best, with shows the renewed German Jazz scene, especially in Berlin but also in other parts of the country, revitalized by the tremendous young generation of players and open to international cooperation, like it once was in the golden 1960s and 1970s. What a joy!

Updated: 17/12/2018Posted: 08/07/2017

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PHILIPP GROPPER / PHILM ~ THE MADMAN OF NARANAM WHYPLAYJAZZ 018 (Barcode: 4050486927960) ~ GERMANY ~ Jazz Recorded: 2014 Released: 2015 This is the second album by German saxophonist / composer Philipp GropperFind albums by this artist and his quartet called PhilmFind albums by this artist, which also includes Austrian pianist Elias StemesederFind albums by this artist, Danish bassist Andreas LangFind albums by this artist and German drummer Oliver SteidleFind albums by this artist. The album presents nine original compositions, all by Gropper. The music on this album is much more Avant-Garde oriented than on its predecessor, and is much more intense, primarily due to the presence of Stemeseder, who is a completely different player from Havard WilkFind albums by this artist, who played on that album. The melodic element is almost completely gone and most of the album sounds somewhat like Musique Concrete mixed with Free Jazz. It takes a while to get used to the harsh tone and aggressiveness of this music, but eventually its intricate nature becomes more penetrable. Although all four members of this quartet are obviously highly skilled musicians, the overall effect of this music is probably way beyond the pain threshold of an average Jazz listener, even those open-minded enough to listen to Free Jazz. This music seems to mock everything there is in music as conceived by most listeners: melody, chord structure, rhythm, even the very sense of music. This is the risk Avant-Garde takes when it questions the very fabric of music, and sometimes such experiments simply take it outside the human perception. There is no doubt this album has its moments, especially when it becomes quieter and almost minimalistic. Lang´s bass lines are always a delight and they are the candle in the dark as far as this music is concerned. Steidle also does a great job keeping time when there is no time, like only the best drummers can. Gropper plays relatively sparingly, especially in view of the fact this is his music and his band, and his dark tone suits the overall scenario perfectly. Stemeseder is definitely too busy, and has a problem letting go, amassing unnecessary intensity in places where it is not appropriate, but he is a very interesting player, which I haven´t yet properly digested. Overall this is a challenging and difficult album, which requires a lot of patience to get into, but eventually can be a stimulating and interesting experience. It is definitely suitable for hard core Free Jazz / Avant-Garde connoisseurs only.

Updated: 12/04/2019Posted:

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MAREK KADZIELA ADHD ~ IN BLOOM FOR TUNE 0079 (Barcode: 5902768701807) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2014 Released: 2015 This is the debut album by an international Jazz quartet ADHDFind albums by this artist, led by Polish Guitarist Marek KadzielaFind albums by this artist with German bass clarinetist Rudi MahallFind albums by this artist and a Danish rhythm section: bassist Andreas LangFind albums by this artist and drummer Kasper Tom ChristiansenFind albums by this artist – the latter three being all members of the excellent FUSKFind albums by this artist quartet. Two distinguished Polish Jazz musicians participate as guests: saxophonist Maciej ObaraFind albums by this artist and trumpeter Piotr DamasiewiczFind albums by this artist. The album presents ten original compositions (one appears in two versions), all by Kadziela and one standard by Thelonious MonkFind albums by this artist. Although free spirited and unconventional, the music is perfectly well rounded and aesthetically pleasing, flirting with Free Jazz and Improvising Music but also presenting melodic motifs and straight forward progressions. Across the board this music is quite accessible even to listeners who are embedded within modern mainstream Jazz. Kadziela´s guitar playing on this album is quite different from his earlier recordings, and most of the time it is pretty straight forward, almost acoustic, and avoids the usage of electronics and heavy sound effects. He manages to completely keep away from the dreaded Fusionist banalities that most modern guitar players suffer from, which is truly praiseworthy. Therefore it is perhaps the first time the listener can truly appreciate his ability to play melody and complex improvisations, which sound perfectly clear and vivid. The solo guitar piece on this album is definitely one of its absolute highlights. The contributions by the other members of the quartet, as well as those by the guests, are all excellent as well. I have already written much about the FUSK quartet and these are some of my favorite European musicians, so their performances here are hardly surprising. The Lang / Christiansen rhythm section in one of the top of its kind at the moment and Mahall´s legendary status is already well established. Kadziela couldn´t have found better partners for his musical explorations anywhere else to be honest. The two Polish guests are also masters of their trade and the tracks that feature their contributions add generously to the diversity of this album. I admit to having digestion problems with some of Kadziela´s earlier recordings, but I completely love this one, and I am very happy to say so. This music makes perfect sense to me, worms up my brain cells and keeps me smiling. For me it definitely is the best piece of music I have heard, that he produced. But of course the future is ahead of us…

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MADS LA COUR / ALMUGI ~ QUARTET WHYPLAYJAZZ 019 (Barcode: 4050486928226) ~ DENMARK ~ Jazz Recorded: 2015 Released: 2015 This is the debut album by the AlmugiFind albums by this artist quartet, led by Danish cornetist / composer Mads la CourFind albums by this artist, which also includes clarinetist Lars GreveFind albums by this artist, bassist Andreas LangFind albums by this artist and drummer Kasper Tom ChristiansenFind albums by this artist. The album presents nine original compositions, all by la Cour. Christiansen, Lang and la Cour were members of the QuartzFind albums by this artist quartet, which recorded a debut album almost a decade earlier and which was also released at the time on the excellent German WhyPlayJazzFind albums on this label label. The music is a an open form of modern Jazz, which ignores genres and conventions and freely floats between melodic passages and free improvisations, presenting the complete palette used by today´s new generation of European Jazz players, who are constantly trying to expand the Jazz idiom. These musicians are all very experienced players, having participated in numerous recordings as leaders and sidemen and played countless gigs, so there is nothing surprising about their proficiency and brilliance. Their functionality as a group is also beyond reproach, both when playing straightforward and improvising. The cornet solos are excellently structured and for some strange reason bring an association of the work by Don CherryFind albums by this artist in the early Ornette ColemanFind albums by this artist´s quartets. Of course la Cour has his own individual language and this is just a nostalgic whim on my part. He also weaves excellent melodies, which serve as vehicles for the quartet to improvise and express the individual statements. Greve is very expressive and skillfully uses the clarinet and bass clarinet to create atmospheric layers and solos, expanding the sonic scope of the music. The rhythm section is, as usual, exceptional. Lang and Christiansen are already well known for their skills and adaptability to every imaginable musical setting, and they don´t disappoint here as well. Overall this is another superb album coming out of Denmark, where Jazz is enjoying an impressive Renaissance in the last decade, which makes all connoisseurs of Scandinavian Jazz extremely happy. Very well done indeed and I am looking forward to hear more from this group in the future. Two more albums: a duo and a large ensemble recording by la Cour are also available.

Updated: 11/06/2016Posted: 11/06/2016

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LOTUS EATERS ~ FOR VERY SAD AND VERY TIRED WHYPLAYJAZZ 012 (Barcode: 4050486098578) ~ GERMANY ~ Jazz Recorded: 2012 Released: 2014 This is the debut album by the quartet called Lotus EatersFind albums by this artist, led by German saxophonist / composer Wanja SlavinFind albums by this artist and including pianist Rainer BohmFind albums by this artist, Danish bassist Andreas LangFind albums by this artist and drummer Tobias BackhausFind albums by this artist. Saxophonist Philipp GropperFind albums by this artist guests on one track. For Slavin, who in the past was a student of my dear friend Leszek ZadloFind albums by this artist, this is a second album as a leader, following the debut entitled "SciroccoFind albums with this title" from 2010. The album presents six tunes, five of which are originals and one is a standard by Billy StrayhornFind albums by this artist, which gives both the album and the group their respective names. In the liner notes Slavin refers to his original compositions as "inspired by" certain Jazz tunes or Jazz musicians, like Charles LloydFind albums by this artist or Hermeto PascoalFind albums by this artist. These compositions are very melodic, mostly low key ballads, full of melancholy and lyricism. The quartet performs them delicately and with an obvious respect, trying not to push them beyond their original framework. The last rack is the most open and includes an extended freely improvised section, but the overall impression is quite "conventional", which is rather unusual for the albums released on the WhyPlayJazzFind albums on this label label. The individual statements by the quartet members are all splendid. Slavin´s alto saxophone has a mellow, enchanting tone, which caresses the listener´s ears gently. Bohm does a wonderful job supporting the leader and although plays little foreground solos, his background layers are as much important. Lang is as usual simply outstanding and step by step becomes one of my favorite bassist of the young European scene. Backhaus is a bit too busy for my taste and not completely compatible with the album´s concept, but perhaps his activity provides a contrast which has a positive influence on the overall sonic result. This kind of music should be accessible to a wide range of Jazz listeners, as there is so much to like herein, that everybody can hand on to something else that strikes a chord; some will like the tunes, others the splendid performances and yet others might be delighted by the degree of freedom and space present, in spite of the seemingly "simple" approach. Regardless of the specific viewpoint, it is very hard not to like this album from the first hearing. Well done!

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QUARTZ ~ SO EIN DING MUSS ICH AUCH HABEN WHYPLAYJAZZ 002 (Barcode: 5707471006665) ~ DENMARK ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 2006 Released: 2007 This is the debut album by the young Danish quartet QuartzFind albums by this artist, which comprises of trumpeter Mads la CourFind albums by this artist, guitarist Frederik VedersoFind albums by this artist, bassist Andreas LangFind albums by this artist and drummer Kasper Tom ChristiansenFind albums by this artist. When this album was recorded nobody could have predicted that Vederso would soon become one of Denmark´s top Pop / Rock / Folk stars. This is also the debut recording of the Lang / Christiansen rhythm section, which in the decade following this recording was about to turn into one of the best Jazz rhythm sections in Europe. The album presents nine original compositions, all credited collectively to the quartet. The music of Quartz floats constantly somewhere between Jazz-Rock Fusion and contemporary modern Jazz. The Rocky guitar tends to pull the music towards Fusion, but the trumpet and rhythm section are obviously Jazz oriented, hence the duality. Regardless of the stylistic umbrella, this music is fresh, intelligent and full of intrinsic freedom, which allows for interesting improvisations and interplay between the band members. La Cour is a hell of a trumpet player and his solos soar high with a blood curdling intensity and speed. The rhythm section immediately presents their unique approach to providing the backbone for an ensemble, which is done with a specific twist of roles, with the bass being the rhythmic chronometer and the drums working with, against and above the expected rhythm patters, actually playing the instrument. The mutual understanding, respect and level of telepathic cooperation between these two guys are simply marvelous. There are also plenty of great tunes on this album, with some great melodies and catchy riffs, which make this music immediately accessible to most listeners. Although the music is quite sophisticated, it is also seemingly "easy on the ear", which of course is the best way to win over the listeners attention. In retrospect this is by far the most accessible album on the excellent WhyPlayJazzFind albums on this label label. This is definitely a superb debut effort and a piece of music that is certainly worth returning to from time to time.

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WANJA SLAVIN / LOTUS EATERS ~ SALVATION WHYPLAYJAZZ 035 (Barcode: 4250459999356) ~ GERMANY ~ Jazz Recorded: 2016 - 2017 Released: 2018 This is the second album by German saxophonist / composer Wanja SlavinFind albums by this artist and his European Lotus Eaters ensemble, recorded over a period of almost a year in three studios and with three slightly different lineups of the ensemble. The collective personnel includes some of the best contemporary European Jazz musicians mostly resident in Berlin: British trumpeter Tom ArthursFind albums by this artist, Norwegian trumpeter Erik Kimestad PedersenFind albums by this artist, German saxophonist Philipp GropperFind albums by this artist, German pianist Rainer BohmFind albums by this artist, Danish bassist Andreas LangFind albums by this artist, Swedish bassist Petter EldhFind albums by this artist, German bassist Bernhard MeyerFind albums by this artist, German drummer Tobias BackhausFind albums by this artist, Latvian drummer Ivars ArutyunyanFind albums by this artist and finally American drummer Nasheet WaitsFind albums by this artist. The album presents seven pieces, six of which are original compositions by Slavin and one is standard. From the very first notes of the album it is immediately apparent that this is a modern Jazz masterpiece in every respect. The melody based compositions are dressed up in contemporary arrangements, which include unusual rhythmic patterns and harmonic structures, creating a unique kaleidoscope of superb music, which is fascinating from start to finish and does not cease to explore uncharted territory and create new aural vistas. The level of these compositions is completely breathtaking and has very little competition elsewhere within music belonging to the same Jazz dialect. The ability to create an amalgam of the Jazz tradition, Classical influences and up to date approach, which incorporates elements form electronic music and above all allows a generous amount of space and freedom for improvisation is overall extremely effective. Combined with the creative performance abilities by these excellent European musicians, the overall result that is put in front of the listener as simply a knockout. The album is full of exquisite solos by the ensemble members and of course the ensemble performance as a whole is marvelous. The subtle, but easily distinguishable differences between the three lineups are also a most effective factor that makes this music so powerful. This album is a brilliant example of what European Jazz is all about; it is evident in its highly aesthetic values, its elegance and subtlety, its refinement and sophistication, which is simply unmatched anywhere else on this planet. The young Jazz Artists from Berlin, Warsaw, Copenhagen and Oslo manage to take the Jazz idiom to the next level, leaving the old world tarried far behind. If this album is an indication as to what can be expected in 2018, life is definitely worth living and there is no better way to kickoff another year of sublime music!

Updated: 02/03/2018Posted: 02/03/2018

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ANNA MARIA STURM ~ TALES OF WOE WHYPLAYJAZZ 015 (Barcode: 4050486915066) ~ GERMANY ~ Jazz Recorded: 2014 Released: 2014 This is the debut album by German actress Anna Maria SturmFind albums by this artist, recorded with her quintet which also includes German multi-reedman and arranger Wanja SlavinFind albums by this artist and drummer Peter GallFind albums by this artist, Israeli pianist Uri GincelFind albums by this artist and Danish bassist Andreas LangFind albums by this artist. The album includes nine songs, which are a mixture of Jazz standards, French chansons (written by Serge GainsbourgFind albums by this artist) and other popular material, sung in German, French and English. From the very first notes of this album it is obvious that Sturm is not a singer, but honestly neither was Marlene DietrichFind albums by this artist, Brigitte BardotFind albums by this artist or Marilyn MonroeFind albums by this artist for that matter. Therefore rather than dismissing this album outright one should not judge it by the same criteria as those applied to vocal Jazz albums, but rather consider it in a framework of a cabaret performance, which is more suitable here. It is obvious that Sturm loves these songs and interprets them in her own theatrical manner, which works fine despite of her vocal limitations. The accompanying quartet is absolutely wonderful, as are the arrangements, which make this album a continuous pleasure to listen to. Slavin, who plays a myriad of instruments, is the main instrumental soloist, but Gincel´s piano work is the most important layer which stays with Sturm´s vocals. The rhythm section does everything that is expected of it, providing wonderful bass pulsation and steady beat, but stays unobtrusive and elegantly in the shadows. Overall this is a "different" vocal album from most other similar efforts appearing on the scene and one that is a true fun to listen to. I suppose that this music works even better live. Definitely worth investigating!

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