Record Reviews

ERIC DOLPHY ~ MUSICAL PROPHET: THE EXPANDED 1963 NEW YORK STUDIO SESSIONS RESONANCE 2035 (Barcode: 096802280498) ~ USA ~ Free Jazz / Improvised Music Recorded: 1963 - 1964 Released: 2018 This is an archival reissue album by the iconic American saxophonist / flautist / bass clarinetist / composer Eric DolphyFind albums by this artist, one of the most important pioneers of the Free Jazz revolution, which exploded in the 1960s. The 3CD album collects all the material that was recorded during the July 1 and July 3, 1963 sessions in New York, which produced the two legendary albums: “ConversationsFind albums with this title” and “Iron ManFind albums with this title”, expanded with a whole CD of previously unreleased alternate takes, two previously unreleased bonus tracks and one track from a later session. The July 1 session was recorded just with bassist Richard DavisFind albums by this artist, while the July 3 session featured a large group of musicians, including saxophonist Clifford JordanFind albums by this artist, trumpeter Woody ShawFind albums by this artist, vibraphonist Bobby HutchersonFind albums by this artist, drummer Charles MoffettFind albums by this artist and others. As usual with the ResonanceFind albums on this label Records releases, the album includes an extensive booklet, which offers interviews, articles and splendid photographs. These recording sessions were almost the last time Dolphy was able to record, before his tragic and premature death in Berlin in June 1964 (he was only 36 years old at the time), followed only by his last recording, which produced the legendary album “Out To Lunch!Find albums with this title”, released on Blue NoteFind albums on this label Records. “Conversations” was the last album released during his lifetime, while “Iron Man” and “Out To Lunch!” were released posthumously. The music is of course absolutely sensational, both the duets with Davis and the larger ensemble tracks, some sounding still quite conventional but others already deeply into Improvised Music. Dolphy was an absolute virtuoso on all the three instruments he played, but his bass clarinet performances are, at least for me, most impressive, and sound today as fresh as they did six decades earlier. The duos with Davis are great examples of the “Art of the Duo” phenomenon, and their telepathic conversations are deeply moving. Overall, this is an excellent reissue, which collects the recordings done shortly before Dolphy’s death, and presents his genius in full view. Great sound quality and attractive packaging testify about the care and good taste by the record label, which does a great job in preserving great Jazz treasures.

Updated: 12/11/2025Posted: 12/11/2025

CD 3 Digipak Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend

ANDREW HILL ~ THE COMPLETE REMASTERED RECORDINGS ON BLACK SAINT & SOUL NOTE CAM JAZZ 1039 (Barcode: 8052405141866) ~ USA ~ Free Jazz / Improvised Music Recorded: 1980 - 1986 Released: 2015 This superb Box Set collects recordings by the legendary American pianist / composer Andrew HillFind albums by this artist released on the Black SaintFind albums on this label and Soul NoteFind albums on this label labels. It includes four albums, two of which are solo piano recordings: "Faces Of HopeFind albums with this title" and "Verona RagFind albums with this title". The album "Strange SerenadeFind albums with this title" was recorded in a trio setting with bassist Alan SilvaFind albums by this artist and drummer Freddie WaitsFind albums by this artist. The album "ShadesFind albums with this title" was recorded in a trio / quartet setting with saxophonist Clifford JordanFind albums by this artist, bassist Rufus ReidFind albums by this artist and drummer Ben RileyFind albums by this artist. Most of the music was composed by Hill. Hill is best known from a long stream of albums released on the Blue NoteFind albums on this label label in the 1960s, recorded with the top American players at the time, which show his brilliant technique and superb compositional talent. Later on Hill moved out of the Bebop and Post-bop traditions into more adventurous explorations, playing almost exclusively his own compositions, as documented on the albums included in this Box Set. The music is still absolutely fresh and shows why Hill was so influential to generations of Jazz piano players and composers. This is definitely an important document of the American Free Jazz movement, which deserves to be preserved for posterity and which should serve as a source if inspiration to the young generation of contemporary Free Jazz artists. Side Note The Italian independent record label Black SaintFind albums on this label was founded by the music critic / author / producer Giacomo PellicciottiFind albums by this artist in 1975. It was taken over by the producer Giovanni BonandriniFind albums by this artist in 1978 and a year later (1979) a sister label, called Soul NoteFind albums on this label, was established. The twin labels were run by Giovanni and later his son Flavio BonandriniFind albums by this artist, until they were sold in 2008 to the Italian KEPACH Music Group, which already owned the CAM JazzFind albums on this label label, and which also bought another Italian independent record label Dischi Della QuerciaFind albums on this label. The mission of the Black Saint / Soul Note labels was to record and document the Free Jazz / Improvised Music / Avant-Garde scene, mostly from the US but also from Europe, which continued between mid 1970s and late 1990s and produced a staggering collection of almost 550 albums recorded by world's most important Jazz innovators active at the time, providing an opportunity to American (mostly Afro-American) musicians, who would have never managed to make these recordings at home, ridden by racism, alienation and closed-mindedness. Without these two labels most of this fantastic human creativity would have been never documented. However, the Black Saint / Soul Note Box Sets produced under the CAM JazzFind albums on this label moniker are an archetypal example of how good intentions turn sour. Although these new editions often bring back to life some of the best music ever made on this planet, which in many cases has been lost in the tides of time and was unavailable on the market for ages, they suffer from an unforgivable disregard to the essence of cultural values and general sloppiness, contrary to human decency, which requires us to treat our cultural legacy with respect and loyalty. These Box Sets have no booklet which presents researched historical background and exact discographical information of the albums included, and most importantly an overview of the music and its meaning and contribution to the Jazz Art form. Although the original LP sleeves are reproduced, the information is in most cases too small to be readable at all. In short the fact that these Box Sets are meant to be inexpensive, does not mean that they have to be cheap!

Updated: 01/05/2020Posted: 01/05/2020

CD 4 Mini-Sleeve Box Set Remastered Recommend To A Friend

CHARLES MINGUS ~ BREMEN 1964 & 1975 SUNNYSIDE 1570 (Barcode: 016728157025) ~ USA ~ Jazz Recorded: 1964 - 1974 Released: 2020 This is an archival 4CD album by American bassist / composer / bandleader Charles MingusFind albums by this artist, recorded live in Bremen, Germany. It presents two concert recordings, separated by eleven years, each captured on a 2CD set. The album presents fifteen tracks, five of which are over ten minutes in duration, four are over twenty minutes in duration and two are over thirty minutes in duration. Most of the music is composed by Mingus, two tracks are standards and two others are composed by members of his ensembles. By the time the second concert was captured, Mingus was already suffering from a serious health issues and it is one of his last live recordings. CD1 & CD2 present the Mingus sextet with trumpeter Johnny ColesFind albums by this artist, saxophonists Eric DolphyFind albums by this artist and Clifford JordanFind albums by this artist, pianist Jaki ByardFind albums by this artist and drummer Dannie RichmondFind albums by this artist. CD3 & CD4 present the Mingus quintet with trumpeter Jack WalrathFind albums by this artist, saxophonist George AdamsFind albums by this artist, pianist Don PullenFind albums by this artist and Richmond (the only musician to play on both concerts). The music includes the iconic Mingus’ compositions, spanning his entire career, each and every one in a unique concert version, which depended on the specific lineup, the mood of the concert and of course the leader’s disposition, which means that regardless of how many versions of the same tunes one owns, they are always different, often dramatically different from every other version of the same tune. The two lineups are also very different; the sextet is dominated by the presence of Dolphy, whose hair-rising performances, especially those on flute and bass clarinet, are absolutely stunning, while the quintet might seem more relaxed and settled, but no less intense or sophisticated. Just two months after the concert captured herein, Ayler would be tragically dead, which makes his appearance here one of his last. Overall, this is a monumental piece of Jazz history, which deserves an honorable place in any serious Jazz collection, even if Mingus’ recordings, including live ones, are already proudly present therein. The 1964 concert is a true eye (ear) opener, disclosing the dramatic entry of Free Jazz into the core of the Jazz tradition, but every second of the music captured on this album is true Holy Grail!

Updated: 26/05/2024Posted: 26/05/2024

CD 4 Digipak Remastered Essential Recommend To A Friend