Record Reviews
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  | LARRY CORYELL ~ I`LL BE OVER YOU
CTI 67238 (Barcode: 024646723826) ~ USA ~ Smooth Jazz
Recorded: 1994 Released: 1995
This is an album by American Jazz / Fusion guitarist / composer Larry CoryellFind albums by this artist, the third of the three albums he recorded for the CTIFind albums on this label label owned by producer Creed TaylorFind albums by this artist. The album features a large team of musicians, including vocalist Peabo BrysonFind albums by this artist, guitarist Chuck LoebFind albums by this artist, saxophonist Grover Washington, Jr.Find albums by this artist, bassist Will LeeFind albums by this artist, drummer Steve FerroneFind albums by this artist and many others. The album presents eleven tracks, most of which are arrangements of Soul songs with some original contributions by Coryell.
This album was undoubtedly Coryell’s most commercial album ever, almost completely outside of his usual Jazz / Fusion environment. The title song even enjoyed some chart success. Obviously Coryell was convinced to try his commercial luck by the producer, and thank God the album was not a success, with Coryell retuning to playing Jazz.
Having said that the album offers some great acoustic guitar licks, which show his true skills. The production and performances by all the musicians involved are as perfect as slick, commercial music allows.
Overall, this is a short stunt with commercial music by one of the greatest guitar players of all times, which can be easily forgiven, and perhaps forgotten as well. It is listenable at all? Well, if you’re in a mood for a smoothie, it certainly is.
| | Updated: 21/08/2023Posted: 21/08/2023 | CD 1 Recommend To A Friend |
  | ROLF KUHN ~ AFFAIRS
INTUITION 3211 (Barcode: 750447321120) ~ GERMANY ~ Jazz
Recorded: 1997 Released: 1997
Following the recent demise of the great German clarinetist / composer / bandleader and one of the Godfathers of the modern German Jazz, as well as a dear Friend, Rolf KuhnFind albums by this artist, I decided to dig into my shelves and write about some of his albums I did not review previously.
Kuhn recorded this album with a bunch of friends from the US and Germany, a list that proves his status as one of the most admired Jazz musicians on the international scene. The list includes saxophonists Ornette ColemanFind albums by this artist and Dave LiebmanFind albums by this artist, trumpeter Randy BreckerFind albums by this artist, guitarist Chuck LoebFind albums by this artist, fellow clarinetists Eddie DanielsFind albums by this artist and Buddy DeFrancoFind albums by this artist, trombonist Albert MangelsdorffFind albums by this artist, bassist Dieter IlgFind albums by this artist and drummer Wolfgang HaffnerFind albums by this artist. The music includes some standards and some original compositions by Kuhn and the participating musicians, altogether ten tracks of great performances, which showcase Kuhn’s versatility playing anything between Swing to Free.
These relaxed sessions are an ideal opportunity to allow the musicians to get the absolute best out of themselves, all supporting Kuhn as the main soloist, who is simply brilliant every step of the way.
Kuhn a sublime example of a total musician, with a career spanning decades and crossing styles from Swing to Avant-Garde, always with grace, intelligence and professionalism beyond reproach. For clarinet lovers, this album is an absolute revelation.
Overall, this an instant classic, full of brilliant music and heavenly performances, which is absolutely perfect from start to finish. Goodbye Friend!
| | Updated: 23/09/2022Posted: 23/09/2022 | CD 1 Recommend To A Friend |
  | ROLF KUHN ~ INTERNAL EYES
INTUITION 750447332829 (Barcode: 750447332829) ~ GERMANY ~ Jazz
Recorded: 2000 - 2001 Released: 2001
This is a fine album by German clarinetist / composer Rolf KuhnFind albums by this artist, one of my all time favorite musicians, recorded with members of the younger generation of the German Jazz scene: organist Frank ChastenierFind albums by this artist, bassist Detlev BeierFind albums by this artist and drummer Wolfgang HaffnerFind albums by this artist and several guest stars: American saxophonist Bob MintzerFind albums by this artist, Swedish pianist Claes CronaFind albums by this artist, French pianist Martial SolalFind albums by this artist, American guitarist Chuck LoebFind albums by this artist and drummer Peter ErskineFind albums by this artist. Together they perform ten tunes, five of which are originals by Rolf Kuhn, three are by Mintzer and the remaining two are standards. The album was partly recorded by the legendary sound engineer / producer Walter Quintus and the sound quality is of course excellent.
The music on this album is mostly mainstream Jazz, which pays tribute to the American Jazz tradition, with elegant and sophisticated touches of European Jazz. When Mintzer plays up front, everything sounds American and when Kuhn plays up front everything sounds European, which is hardly surprising. Same can be said about Crona and Solal, who come from two very different Jazz environments. The two tracks that feature Loeb are Fusion oriented. In short this album embraces both the traditional approach and the modern one, treating them both with respect and as a result presents Kuhn as a versatile, relevant figure despite his advanced age.
Kuhn´s clarinet sound, which has been his trademark for decades, is absolutely unique, combining the traditional Jazz approach originating in the early Jazz days and European modernism. Kuhn, who often joins forces with his pianist brother Joachim KuhnFind albums by this artist, produced a substantial and consistently excellent body of recorded work over time, which in retrospect is an integral part of the European Jazz and one of its finest facets.
This is one of the most accessible and straightforward albums that Kuhn recorded during his extended career and as such is highly recommended to listeners who are not familiar with his work, perhaps serving as an introduction to the Rolf Kuhn universe, which is vast and versatile. Definitely worth exploring!
| | Updated: 05/02/2016Posted: 05/02/2016 | CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend |
  | WOLFGANG LACKERSCHMID ~ LAKE GENEVA
HIPJAZZ 015 (Barcode: 4250095882845) ~ GERMANY ~ Smooth Jazz
Recorded: 1995 Released: 2018
This is a reissue of an album by German Jazz vibraphonist / composer Wolfgang LackerschmidFind albums by this artist, recorded in a quartet setting with American guitarist Chuck LoebFind albums by this artist and bassist John LeeFind albums by this artist and Danish percussionist Marilyn MazurFind albums by this artist. The album presents ten original compositions, three each by Lackerschmid, Loeb and Lee and one by Mazur. This remastered edition adds one bonus track.
The music is a typical American influenced Fusion, which resembles music played by other ensembles at the time, especially Steps AheadFind albums by this artist led by American vibraphonist Mike MainieriFind albums by this artist, of which Loeb was a member. The music is very melodic and easy on the ear, bordering on Smooth Jazz, but always elegant and solid. The compositions are kept within a defined harmonic framework, serving as basis for lengthy improvisations, mostly by Loeb. Of course the performances are highly professional, as appropriate of musicians of this class.
Overall this is a very pleasant album, enjoyable like an afternoon breeze, but not very ambitious musically. A nice groove and a relaxed mood are the main elements this music stands for. This is ideal for listeners who like American Fusion / Groove music with a lot of gentle guitar work up front. Although this music is over two decades old, it is still perfectly valid within the Smooth Jazz framework.
| | Updated: 08/07/2018Posted: 08/07/2018 | CD 1 Digipak Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend |
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