Record Reviews

AL DI MEOLA ~ FLESH ON FLESH TELARC 83543 (Barcode: 089408354328) ~ USA ~ Jazz-World Fusion Recorded: 2002 Released: 2002 Ever since Al Di MeolaFind albums by this artist’s early days as a member of Chick CoreaFind albums by this artist’s Return To ForeverFind albums by this artist (with whom he recorded three splendid albums in the mid-1970s: Where Have I Known You BeforeFind albums with this title, No MysteryFind albums with this title and Romantic WarriorFind albums with this title) and then as a solo recording artist since 1976, his output has been consistently excellent. This remarkable career now stretches over 4 decades and Al seems to be going as strong as ever. A master of both the electric and the acoustic guitar, Di Meola refined his style over the years. Finesse and delicacy, replaced the youthful zest and energy, as demonstrated on his early albums by his guitar pyrotechnics. The love of Fusion was expanded and enriched by love of World Music, which presents an infinite source of inspiration. The 1990s saw Di Meola getting involved extensively with World Music, when he formed his group called World Sinfonia (with some of the best musicians from all over the world) and recorded a tribute to the great Argentinean composer Astor PiazzollaFind albums by this artist. In 1998 Di Meola signed with the excellent TelarcFind albums on this label label, famous for it’s superb sound recording quality, and this is his 4th release on that label. As usual the music is a tasty mixture of fiery Fusion and elegant World Music. Di Meola switches between the acoustic and electric guitar according the mood of the music. Also as usual, he includes some distinguished guests to play along with, this time the legendary Cuban keyboards player Gonzalo RubalcabaFind albums by this artist (who adds some of his own fire to the proceedings) and veteran bass virtuoso Anthony JacksonFind albums by this artist, who played with Di Meola on his early Fusion albums. Although Di Meola usually writes all the music on his albums, this time a Chick Corea composition was also included to celebrate the Di Meola / Jackson reunion. All together another triumphant achievement for Al and a superb musical experience. Most warmly recommended.

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

AL DI MEOLA ~ SPLENDIDO HOTEL / ELECTRIC RENDEZVOUS BGO 0927 (Barcode: 5017261209276) ~ USA ~ Jazz-World Fusion Recorded: 1980 - 1982 Released: 2010 This is a reissue / remaster of the 4th and 5th studio albums by American guitarist / composer Al Di MeolaFind albums by this artist: “Splendido HotelFind albums with this title” from 1980 and “Electric RendezvousFind albums with this title” from 1982, released on ColumbiaFind albums on this label Records. He is supported by his regular band at the time with keyboardist Philippe SaisseFind albums by this artist, bassist Tim LandersFind albums by this artist, drummer Robbie GonzalesFind albums by this artist and percussionist Eddie ColonFind albums by this artist. Many guest artists appear on these albums, including pianist Chick CoreaFind albums by this artist, keyboardist Jan HammerFind albums by this artist, bassist Anthony JacksonFind albums by this artist, drummer Steve GaddFind albums by this artist, guitarist Paco De LuciaFind albums by this artist, percussionist Mingo LewisFind albums by this artist and others. “Splendido Hotel”, originally a 2LP album, presents eleven tracks, seven composed by De Meola, one co-composed with Saisse, one by Saisse, one by Corea and one a pop standard. “Electric Rendezvous” presents eight tracks, five composed by Di Meola, and one each by Saisse, Hammer and Lewis. The music is the usual splendid mixture of superb melodies, Jazz licks, Fusion Groove and Spanish / Latin / Mediterranean / Flamenco Folkloristic accents, which was De Meola’s home turf. There is plenty of brilliant guitar playing by Di Meola and excellent parts by the guest artists, and although these two albums are not surprising or innovative as far as Di Meola’s output in the first decade of his career is concerned, they withstand the test of time splendidly and still sound great today. Overall, this is a marvelous reminder of the early days of Di Meola’s recording career, full of virtuosity, superb compositions and passionate performances by him and his cohorts, which were the leading American Fusion musicians at the time. They are a must in any serious Jazz-Rock Fusion / Jazz-World Fusion record collection.

Updated: 28/02/2024Posted: 28/02/2024

CD 2 Slipcase Remastered Recommend To A Friend

FUNK FACTORY ~ FUNK FACTORY WOUNDED BIRD 0116 (Barcode: 664140011625) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 1975 Released: 2007 1st and only album by a one-time recording project organized by the brilliant Polish Jazz musician Michal UrbaniakFind albums by this artist and his wife Urszula DudziakFind albums by this artist, following their move to the USA and after recording of several exquisite albums for the Columbia label. The album is to a large extent a cheek-in-tongue joke by Urbaniak in response to the "accusations" by his fellow American colleagues, that Eastern European musicians are not "funky". Here we have a proof that Urbaniak and his cohorts can play Funk as well as any American musician, and perhaps even better, as his Funk is so much more sophisticated and multilayered than anything else recorded in that style. Together with Urbaniak and Dudziak a couple of two other talented Polish musicians also take part in this project: virtuoso keyboardist Wlodek GulgowskiFind albums by this artist and singer Bernard KafkaFind albums by this artist, founder and leader of the superb Polish vocal group NOVIFind albums by this artist. In addition to the four Poles, a sensational American rhythm section was assembled, with bassists Anthony JacksonFind albums by this artist and Tony LevinFind albums by this artist, drummers Steve GaddFind albums by this artist and Gerald BrownFind albums by this artist and guitarists Barry FinnertyFind albums by this artist and John AbercrombieFind albums by this artist. Urbaniak burns his electric violin with the usual passion and virtuosity and Dudziak performs magic with her voice. The music was all written by Urbaniak, Gulgowski and Kafka, so here we have Polish Funk, which funks away all that´s funky. Although completely obscure, this is a great album, which hopefully can now be discovered by a wider audience after being reissued on CD. A must for all Polish Jazz enthusiasts!

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

STEVE SMITH ~ BUDDY’S BUDDIES TONE CENTER 40062 (Barcode: 8712725400622) ~ USA ~ Jazz Recorded: 1999 Released: 1999 Legendary drummer Buddy RichFind albums by this artist is usually associated with soaring Big Bands, but he also made several recordings with small ensembles, using the members of his band to play in a much more intimate setting. This album is a tribute to these small ensemble recordings, initiated by ex-Buddy Rich alumni Steve MarcusFind albums by this artist and Andy FuscoFind albums by this artist (both sax players). They joined forces with two other alumni, who also played with Rich on his small group recordings: pianist Lee MusikerFind albums by this artist and the extraordinary bassist Anthony JacksonFind albums by this artist. To drive the quintet and fulfill the place of their legendary drummer / leader they invited one of the most respected and musical US drummers Steve SmithFind albums by this artist. Smith is not only a fantastic player, but also one of the most versatile musicians around. His illustrious career spans back to the 1970 when he played with the Rock group JourneyFind albums by this artist during their hay days and with the French violin virtuoso Jean-Luc PontyFind albums by this artist and his Fusion group. Later on he played in several jazz small groups, Big Bands and a myriad of Fusion ensembles (including Steps AheadFind albums by this artist), always being one of the most solid and sought after drummers around. Since the early 1980s Smith also leads his own Fusion group Vital InformationFind albums by this artist, recording several albums over the years. It’s no wonder therefore that Smith is up to the challenge set up by this album, leading the quintet with grace and elegance. The music includes a selection of standards mostly associated with Buddy Rich ensembles. The level of musicianship is outstanding, with Smith and Jackson providing rock-solid rhythm foundation for the other musicians to solo. Although the music is well framed within the swing genre, it is fascinating and beautifully played. This album deserves to be considered as one of the best jazz recordings of the 1990s. Definitely a must for all people who cherish the memory of Buddy Rich and hard swinging well played jazz.

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

STEVE SMITH ~ FLASHPOINT MASCOT 7175 (Barcode: 8712725717522) ~ USA ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 2005 Released: 2005 Veteran Fusion drummer Steve SmithFind albums by this artist combines forces with three other extraordinary musicians to form one the best Fusion ensembles ever. Legendary saxophonist Dave LiebmanFind albums by this artist needs no introduction and his exceptional work since his days with the Miles DavisFind albums by this artist group has always been a beacon of innovation and excellence in the jazz world. The same can be said about the legendary bassist Anthony JacksonFind albums by this artist, whose illustrious career includes playing with Chick CoreaFind albums by this artist, Michel PetruccianiFind albums by this artist and countless other jazz stars. The fourth member of the band, Turkish keyboards player Aydin EsenFind albums by this artist, is the only relatively unknown musician in the group, but his performances and compositions prove beyond any shadow of a doubt that he belongs to the same class of musicianship with his three companions. The music is simply breathtaking and overwhelming from the very first moment this record starts playing to the very last note. The music (written mostly by Liebman and Esen) is rich in textures and incredibly intense. The performances are stellar, with one solo chasing another. The entire session just flows beautifully, simultaneously filling the listener with energy and stimulating his intellect. Definitely one of the strongest, cleverest and most fulfilling Fusion albums recorded in the 21st Century. Wholeheartedly recommended!

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

MIKE STERN ~ ALL OVER THE PLACE HEADS UP 33186 ~ USA ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 2011 - 2012 Released: 2012 Some musicians simply can´t go wrong, and guitarist / composer Mike SternFind albums by this artist is certainly one of them. Decades of superb performances, composing and recording albums produced an incredible volume of music, which is always first rate and stays fresh, vibrant and eternally uplifting. This, his 17th album as a leader, is another of those wonderful albums that are simply perfect in what they are. It includes eleven new Stern original compositions, performed by an incredible all star band and guest artists, which reads like the who´s who of American Jazz and Fusion. In time Stern managed to work out a formula, which works perfectly. His compositions combine great melodies with catchy licks and funky groove, but maintain incredibly high aesthetic standard and intelligent arrangements. The level of musicianship and stellar performances make the entire package irresistible. Stern´s Fusion is always an amalgam of the good old Blues roots with modern electric Funk and of course deep respect for the Jazz tradition. The list of the performers on this album is really very long, so here are just a few of the better known names: trumpeter Randy BreckerFind albums by this artist, saxophonists Kenny GarrettFind albums by this artist and Bob MalachFind albums by this artist, keyboardist Jim BeardFind albums by this artist, bassists Anthony JacksonFind albums by this artist, Will LeeFind albums by this artist and Dave HollandFind albums by this artist, drummers Dave WecklFind albums by this artist and Al FosterFind albums by this artist and many others. His wife, guitarist Leni SternFind albums by this artist, also makes a rare guest appearance. Fusion enthusiasts and Stern fans alike need absolutely no encouragement to grab this gem immediately. If anybody on this planet is still unfamiliar with his music, perhaps now is the time to remedy the situation. This album smokes!

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

MIKE STERN ~ ODDS OR EVENS WOUNDED BIRD 2297 (Barcode: 664140229723) ~ USA ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 1991 Released: 2007 5th album (4th on Atlantic) by American guitarist / composer Mike SternFind albums by this artist, who has been one of the most prominent figures in the Jazz and Fusion fields for the last three decades. His virtuoso performances and excellent writing are a source of musical joy and his consistently superb standards serve as a model, followed by generations of young guitarist around the world. On this album Stern continues the path established by its predecessors, presenting a set of his excellent compositions performed by a superb group of musicians, which includes saxophonist Bob BergFind albums by this artist, keyboardist Jim BeardFind albums by this artist, bassist Anthony JacksonFind albums by this artist, drummer Dennis ChambersFind albums by this artist and guest musicians. As usual, the compositions move between atmospheric ballads to up-tempo energetic excursions, performed with finesse and passion. This is classic Fusion and Stern´s guitar playing is simply overwhelmingly excellent, with great flow, emotion and technical virtuosity. A must for any Fusion enthusiast!

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

MIKE STERN ~ WHO LET THE CATS OUT? HEADS UP 3115 (Barcode: 053361311520) ~ USA ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 2006 Released: 2006 One of the pioneers of Fusion, Mike SternFind albums by this artist ranks this day among the best guitar players. Throughout his illustrious career, since his Miles DavisFind albums by this artist days and up to now, Stern released a long series of excellent solo album (this is his 15th release as a leader) and was very prolific as a sidemen taking part in hundreds of projects. His playing always borders elegantly between Fusion and Jazz, occasionally emphasizing one genre or another. This album presents a perfect mixture of both genres and includes players from both genres as well, such as Roy HargroveFind albums by this artist – trumpet, Chris Minh DokyFind albums by this artist – bass, Dave WecklFind albums by this artist – drums, Anthony JacksonFind albums by this artist – bass and many others. Stern wrote all the music and plays some mighty guitar here, with traces of Pat MethenyFind albums by this artist sound, but overall quite original and technically brilliant. This is a true fun album and I wholeheartedly recommend it to all fusion-heads.

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

HIROMI UEHARA ~ ALIVE TELARC 35307 (Barcode: 888072353077) ~ JAPAN ~ Jazz Recorded: 2014 Released: 2014 This is the ninth album by the extraordinary Japanese female pianist / composer Hiromi UeharaFind albums by this artist, and the third recording with her current trio (called The Trio ProjectFind albums by this artist) with the legendary veteran American bassist Anthony JacksonFind albums by this artist and the outstanding British drummer Simon PhillipsFind albums by this artist. The album comprises of nine original compositions, all by Hiromi. Seeing Hiromi on stage, which I was fortunate to experience once again just a few weeks ago (with drummer Steve SmithFind albums by this artist replacing the otherwise busy Simon Phillips), clearly reaffirms the impression that Hiromi is in a class of her own, blessed by powers like a force of Nature. The moment she steps on the stage the fragile and modest women turns into a Diva with an irresistible personality and overwhelming performing skills, simply stunning her audiences for the entire duration of the concert. She is a complete pianist, able to play in every style and in every genre with the same ease and elegance, regardless if she plays a Classical piece or a Jazz improvisation or a Rocky riff. The Trio Project finds Hiromi supported by two Masters of their trade, which turn it into a mean and lean music machine, which is unstoppable. With this trio Hiromi consistently moves away from the traditional Jazz environment and creates her own niche, which is somewhere in between Fusion, Prog and Vaudeville. Jackson lays a wonderful background sound upon which Hiromi´s improvisations ride securely and confidently. Phillips is right behind her, supporting her every move and emphasizing the rhythmical structures, forcefully but non-aggressively. As a composer Hiromi manages to come up every time with a set of superbly melodic pieces, which manage to sound different from everything she did earlier and yet somehow are consistently familiar, even catchy, from the first time one listens to them. She surely is one of the best song-weavers on the contemporary scene, proving time after time that nice little tunes can be anything but trivial or simplistic. Such a collection of talents in several areas, like composition, performance and showmanship is very rare indeed. With nine albums (and four DVDs) in just a decade Hiromi emerged as one of the most prolific, impressive and talented new arrivals on the world´s music scene, and she absolutely deserves every bit of the admiration and following she enjoys all over the world.

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

HIROMI UEHARA ~ LIVE IN MARCIAC TELARC 34112 ~ JAPAN ~ Jazz Recorded: 2011 Released: 2011 This is the third DVD by the extraordinary Japanese female pianist / composer Hiromi UeharaFind albums by this artist, and the first outing with her current trio (called The Trio ProjectFind albums by this artist) with the legendary veteran American bassist Anthony JacksonFind albums by this artist and the outstanding British drummer Simon PhillipsFind albums by this artist. The DVD comprises of seven original compositions by Hiromi and the trio´s interpretation of Ludwig van BeethovenFind albums by this artist´s sonata. Five of these pieces are from her seventh album called "VoiceFind albums with this title" (please follow the link to read more about this album), performed here live and in a slightly different order than on the studio album. Two more pieces originate from her debut album and the remaining one was previously unrecorded. Seeing Hiromi on stage, which I was fortunate to experience several times already, clearly reaffirms the impression that Hiromi is in a class of her own and that she is blessed by powers of the magnitude of a force of Nature. The moment she steps on the stage the fragile and modest women turns into a Diva with an irresistible personality and overwhelming performing skills, simply stunning her audiences for the entire duration of the concert. She is a complete pianist, able to play in every style and in every genre with the same ease and elegance, regardless if she plays a Classical piece or a Jazz improvisation or a Rocky riff. Of course a DVD is not exactly being there when this DVD was filmed, but it is as close as those who were not fortunate enough to be there in the flesh will ever get. Enjoy every moment of it!

DVD 1 Recommend To A Friend

HIROMI UEHARA ~ MOVE TELARC 33814 ~ JAPAN ~ Jazz Recorded: 2012 Released: 2012 This is the 8th album by the extraordinary Japanese pianist / composer Hiromi UeharaFind albums by this artist, and the 2nd recording with her current trio (called The Trio ProjectFind albums by this artist) with the wonderful veteran American bassist Anthony JacksonFind albums by this artist and the outstanding British drummer Simon PhillipsFind albums by this artist. The album comprises of nine original compositions, all by Hiromi, three of which are combined into a mini-suite. During the last decade since Hiromi first "exploded" on the scene, drawing immediate attention, she managed to produce an extensive body of work of outstanding quality, which has very few, if any, parallels. Immensely gifted as a composer and blessed by virtuosic piano ability, in addition to her personal charm, beauty and above all heavenly smile, she is talent incarnate. Her studio albums, live videos and cooperation projects with other musicians, like Chick CoreaFind albums by this artist, Stanley ClarkeFind albums by this artist and others are all examples of her versatility and limitless abilities. Hiromi´s output with this particular trio is some of her best, which is not surprising considering the level of experience and talent of her rhythm section. Jackson´s electric bass pulsations are funky and wonderfully fill the space between the piano chords, always exactly on time and in tune, beautifully supportive and inventive at once. Phillips, who is a very "busy" and dynamic drummer, suits her quirky music perfectly, seemingly being all over the drum set as if he was an octopus. The unity, perfect match and obvious musical coherence and almost telepathic mutual understanding turn this trio into a "scary" music making machine. Hiromi is often criticized for being "all over the place", both as a composer and a player, but this kind of critique is completely senseless. She can play faster and more accurately than most, and her music is multi-layered, with melodic lines and funky rhythm vamps co-existing logically and harmonically. Therefore one can suspect that most of any criticism towards her is primarily motivated by envy. This trio can be seen and heard playing live on the "Live In MarciacFind albums with this title" DVD, which was recorded a year earlier, performing mostly material from their debut album "VoiceFind albums with this title". Obviously Hiromi fans need no special arguments to grab this one ASAP, those who are still unfamiliar with her wonderful output should not waste any more time ignoring her, just give her a chance and you won´t regret it. Superb stuff!

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

HIROMI UEHARA ~ MOVE – LIVE IN TOKYO TELARC 35561 (Barcode: 888072355613) ~ JAPAN ~ Jazz Recorded: 2013 Released: 2014 This is the fourth DVD by the extraordinary Japanese female pianist / composer Hiromi UeharaFind albums by this artist, and the second outing with her current trio (called The Trio ProjectFind albums by this artist) with the legendary veteran American bassist Anthony JacksonFind albums by this artist and the outstanding British drummer Simon PhillipsFind albums by this artist. The DVD comprises of nine original compositions, all by Hiromi, which are all from her eighth album called "MoveFind albums with this title" (please follow the link to read more about this album), performed here live and in a slightly different order than on the studio album. Seeing Hiromi on stage, which I was fortunate to experience several times already, clearly reaffirms the impression that Hiromi is in a class of her own and that she is blessed by powers of the magnitude of a force of Nature. The moment she steps on the stage the fragile and modest women turns into a Diva with an irresistible personality and overwhelming performing skills, simply stunning her audiences for the entire duration of the concert. She is a complete pianist, able to play in every style and in every genre with the same ease and elegance, regardless if she plays a Classical piece or a Jazz improvisation or a Rocky riff. Of course a DVD is not exactly being there when this DVD was filmed, but it is as close as those who were not fortunate enough to be there in the flesh will ever get. Enjoy every moment of it!

DVD 1 Recommend To A Friend

HIROMI UEHARA ~ SPARK TELARC 38247 (Barcode: 888072382473) ~ JAPAN ~ Jazz Recorded: 2016 Released: 2016 This is the 10th studio album by the extraordinary Japanese female pianist / composer Hiromi UeharaFind albums by this artist, and the 4th (and sadly last) recording with her trio (called The Trio ProjectFind albums by this artist) with the legendary veteran American bass guitarist Anthony JacksonFind albums by this artist and the outstanding British drummer Simon PhillipsFind albums by this artist. The album comprises of nine original compositions, all by Hiromi. Seeing Hiromi on stage, which I was fortunate to experience many times, clearly reaffirms the impression that Hiromi is in a class of her own, blessed by powers like a force of Nature. The moment she steps on the stage the fragile and modest women turns into a Diva with an irresistible personality and overwhelming performing skills, simply stunning her audiences for the entire duration of the concert. She is a complete pianist, able to play in every style and in every genre with the same ease and elegance, regardless if she plays a Classical piece or a Jazz improvisation or a Rocky riff. The Trio Project finds Hiromi supported by two Masters of their trade, which turn it into a mean and lean music machine, which is unstoppable. With this trio Hiromi consistently moves away from the traditional Jazz environment and creates her own niche, which is somewhere in between Fusion, Prog and Vaudeville. Jackson lays a wonderful background sound upon which Hiromi´s improvisations ride securely and confidently. Phillips is right behind her, supporting her every move and emphasizing the rhythmical structures, forcefully but non-aggressively. As a composer Hiromi manages to come up every time with a set of superbly melodic pieces, which manage to sound different from everything she did earlier and yet somehow are consistently familiar, even catchy, from the first time one listens to them. She surely is one of the best song-weavers on the contemporary scene, proving time after time that nice little tunes can be anything but trivial or simplistic. Such a collection of talents in several areas, like composition, performance and showmanship is very rare indeed. Overall, this is a brilliant example of an extraordinary talent, which over time established Hiromi as one of the leading young Jazz stars in the world. Although some critics tried to classify her as a wunderkind, she proved beyond all doubt that she is the genuine talent in her own class.

Updated: 14/02/2025Posted: 14/02/2025

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

HIROMI UEHARA ~ VOICE TELARC 32819 ~ JAPAN ~ Jazz Recorded: 2010 Released: 2011 This is the seventh album by the extraordinary Japanese pianist / composer Hiromi UeharaFind albums by this artist, and the first recording with her current trio (called The Trio ProjectFind albums by this artist) with the wonderful veteran American bassist Anthony JacksonFind albums by this artist and the outstanding British drummer Simon PhillipsFind albums by this artist. The album comprises of eight original compositions, all by Hiromi, and an interpretation of a Classical piece (Ludwig van BeethovenFind albums by this artist´s piano sonata No. 8, "Pathetique"). During the last decade since Hiromi first "exploded" on the scene, drawing immediate attention, she managed to produce an extensive body of work of outstanding quality, which has very few, if any, parallels. Immensely gifted as a composer and blessed by virtuosic piano ability, in addition to her personal charm, beauty and above all heavenly smile, she is talent incarnate. Her studio albums, live videos and cooperation projects with other musicians, like Chick CoreaFind albums by this artist, Stanley ClarkeFind albums by this artist and others are all examples of her versatility and limitless abilities. Hiromi´s output with this particular trio is some of her best, which is not surprising considering the level of experience and talent of her rhythm section. Jackson´s electric bass pulsations are funky and wonderfully fill the space between the piano chords, always exactly on time and in tune, beautifully supportive and inventive at once. Phillips, who is a very "busy" and dynamic drummer, suits her quirky music perfectly, seemingly being all over the drum set as if he was an octopus. The unity, perfect match and obvious musical coherence and almost telepathic mutual understanding turn this trio into a "scary" music making machine. Hiromi is often criticized for being "all over the place", both as a composer and a player, but this kind of critique is completely senseless. She can play faster and more accurately than most, and her music is multi-layered, with melodic lines and funky rhythm vamps co-existing logically and harmonically. Therefore one can suspect that most of any criticism towards her is primarily motivated by envy. This trio can be seen and heard playing live on the "Live In MarciacFind albums with this title" DVD, which was recorded a few months later, performing mostly material from this album. Obviously Hiromi fans need no special arguments to grab this one ASAP, those who are still unfamiliar with her wonderful output should not waste any more time ignoring her, just give her a chance and you won´t regret it. Superb stuff!

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

MICHAL URBANIAK ~ FUSION III WOUNDED BIRD 3542 (Barcode: 664140354227) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Rock-World Fusion Recorded: 1975 Released: 2012 This is a reissue of the third (and last) US album by Polish Jazz violinist / composer Michal UrbaniakFind albums by this artist, released originally on the ColumbiaFind albums on this label label in 1975. In retrospect it is also one of the best Fusion albums ever recorded on this planet. Urbaniak, a veteran of the Polish Jazz scene, first came to prominence as the member of the legendary groups led by the Godfather of Polish Jazz, pianist / composer Krzysztof KomedaFind albums by this artist. While with Komeda, Urbaniak played the saxophone and switched to violin only after founding his own group in the late 1960s, when he also changed his musical direction from Modern / Free Jazz to Fusion, inspired by the groundbreaking innovations created at the time by Miles DavisFind albums by this artist. In his group he included his wife, the extraordinary singer Urszula DudziakFind albums by this artist and together they quickly developed a completely unique type of Fusion, which was light years ahead of anything else happening in that genre at the time anywhere in the world. Mixing Jazz, Rock, Folklore and Avant-Garde vocals, they established a completely new approach to composition and multilayered complexity, as documented on the two albums the group recorded as part of the legendary "Polish Jazz" series of albums, which was simply brilliant. Frustrated by the state of affairs in his country, which suffered under a Socialist Regime and harsh economic conditions, Urbaniak, like most of his colleagues, constantly looked for an opportunity to leave Poland and establish a career behind the Iron Curtain. He managed initially to record a couple of albums in West Germany for the SpiegeleiFind albums on this label label, but the real break came when Columbia offered him a recording deal. He and his wife left Poland and settled in the USA, as did several other Polish Jazz musicians at the time, like his ex group member pianist / composer Adam MakowiczFind albums by this artist for example. The three albums Urbaniak recorded for Columbia (and several more for other US labels, especially the dazzling "Funk FactoryFind albums with this title" album recorded shortly after this one and also reissued on Wounded BirdFind albums on this label) were outstanding and simply much better than anything the local scene could muster, but unfortunately Urbaniak´s US career never really took off, same as the careers of all other Polish Jazz musicians who tried to make it there, in spite of their immense talents. The reason was simply the narrow-mindedness of the US Jazz community (listeners and critics alike), which considered Jazz to be exclusively an American Art Form and failed to recognize anything originating outside of the US as artistically valid and meaningful, even if it hit them in the face. On this album Urbaniak is accompanied by top US Fusion players like guitarist John AbercrombieFind albums by this artist, bassist Anthony JacksonFind albums by this artist and drummer Steve GaddFind albums by this artist, as well as Polish compatriot keyboardist Wlodek GulgowskiFind albums by this artist. Guitarist Larry CoryellFind albums by this artist guests on one track, guitarist Joe CaroFind albums by this artist guests on another and Polish vocalist Bernard KafkaFind albums by this artist guests on yet another track. Drummer Gerald BrownFind albums by this artist replaces Gadd on two tracks. Dudziak´s vocals are simply out of this world and alone are worth listening to this album repeatedly. Urbaniak wrote almost all the dazzling music except for three tracks: a Dudziak improvisation, a superb composition by Polish saxophonist Zbigniew NamyslowskiFind albums by this artist, which fits this album´s mood like a glove and one tune by Gulgowski. As already said, this is timeless, heavenly, unparalleled music, which I´ve been listening to in the last almost 40 years without any trace of getting tired by it any time soon. This is an absolutely essential Fusion music, and anybody who has not heard this music does not know the true meaning of Fusion. God bless Wounded Bird for finally releasing this divine album on CD!

Updated: 11/09/2019Posted:

CD 1 Essential Recommend To A Friend