Record Reviews

COUNT BASIE ~ HIGH VOLTAGE MPS 4029759115601 (Barcode: 4029759115601) ~ USA ~ Jazz Recorded: 1970 Released: 2016 This is a reissue of an album by American pianist / composer / bandleader Count BasieFind albums by this artist, which was his second of two albums for MPSFind albums on this label. Basie leads the incredible Count Basie OrchestraFind albums by this artist, one of the tightest and archetypical Jazz Big Bands of all times, which includes some of the best American Jazz musicians of the period, like saxophonist Eddie DavisFind albums by this artist, flautist Eric DixonFind albums by this artist, trumpeter Joe NewmanFind albums by this artist, bassist George DuvivierFind albums by this artist, drummer Harold JonesFind albums by this artist and many others. The orchestra performs twelve classic Jazz standards, beautifully arranged by Chico O`FarrillFind albums by this artist. The music is definitely on the lighter side of the Jazz spectrum, with lush melodies and soft arrangements, spiced with beautiful soulful solos, a mixture which is appealing to a wide audience, way beyond the hardcore Jazz lovers. It is "Classical American Music" at its best, and it´s completely timeless and eternally young. However, at the time this album was recorded Swing as a genre and Big Bands playing Swing were already at their last legs, and would soon leave the stage, mostly for economic reasons, but also due to the rapidly diminishing interest in Jazz as popular music in America and the ascent of Rock and Pop as the centre of musical interest. In the historic perspective this album is a wonderful example of Big Band arrangements and the power of an orchestra, which sounds like one organic instrument, which in turn is clearly incomparable to any other form of instrumentation. As such it is a must to all Big Band lovers, but also a great portion of nostalgic fun of the highest quality. The original album had liner notes written by the great American music critic Leonard Feather, one of my role models, which is still a great fun to read today, forty five years later. Apparently great writing, same as great music, is immune to the passing of time. It´s great to have this album back in circulation! Side Note The legendary German MPSFind albums on this label (Musik Produktion Schwarzwald) label, founded by Hans Georg Brunner-SchwerFind albums by this artist (HGBS) in 1963, first as SABAFind albums on this label Records and later on from 1968 as MPS Records, was the most important independent European record label, which had an enormous contribution to the development of European Jazz. For many years MPS cooperated with the legendary German producer / author Joachim BerendtFind albums by this artist, my Friend and Mentor, whose visionary approach and open-mindedness brought the crème de la crème of the Jazz (in the broadest meaning of the word) musicians from all over the world to the label. Between 1963 and 1983 MPS produced about five hundred albums, many of which are among the most important Jazz recordings on this planet. In 1983 the MPS catalog was sold to UniversalFind albums on this label, which sadly resulted in all those artistic treasures to almost disappear from the face of the earth – a situation not only tragic but culturally criminal. Universal reissued a part of the MPS albums (probably 128 titles) on CD between 1999 and 2011 under the "Most Perfect Sound Edition" moniker. Since 2008 the German Promising MusicFind albums on this label label released some of the MPS recordings, but at a very slow pace. In 2014 the German company Edel AG bought the MPS catalogue from Universal and released a series of 25 MPS albums on CD with a new slipcase graphic design, which brought all those excellent albums back to life. In 2015 Edel AG started to record and release new albums under the MPS moniker. In 2016 Edel AG released a series of 10 classic MPS albums on CD, which were beautifully remastered and re-packaged, presenting the original artwork and liner notes, as well as new liner notes and photographs. An obvious labor of love, these reissues are what the MPS catalogue truly deserves. This project was continued in 2017 with another series of 10 classic MPS albums released on CD. In later years some new reissues were released sporadically. Over the years many SABA / MPS albums were reissued in Japan, which is often the only available source for these albums today, but that is a story in itself.

Updated: 28/05/2018Posted: 05/12/2016

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BIG BAND WYDZIALU JAZZU PANS W NYSIE ~ SINGING AND SWINGING NOT ON LABEL ~ POLAND ~ Big Band Jazz Recorded: 2023 Released: 2023 This is an album by a Big Band comprising of students and staff of the Jazz Department of the Nysa Academy, conducted by trumpeter Piotr SchmidtFind albums by this artist, featuring five young vocalists. The staff includes pianist Przemyslaw RaminiakFind albums by this artist, guitarist Jakub MizerackiFind albums by this artist and others. The album presents eight tracks, all standards, most from the repertoire of Frank SinatraFind albums by this artist and the Count Basie OrchestraFind albums by this artist. The playing time is just above half an hour, which makes this an EP rather than a full album. There is of course nothing new or surprising about the music, except the fact that is does sound perfectly professional and similar to any school Big Band around the globe, which testifies to the fertile ground for Jazz in Poland with such talented young players. Even the English accent and pronunciation by the vocalist is bearable. The staff of the Academy can be proud of their students, who stand up to the challenge without a hitch, producing a highly entertaining, nostalgic and pleasant vocal / Big Band album, which can be enjoyed by every Swing Big Band fan anywhere in the world. Overall, although “just” a school recording, this is a highly entertaining, perfectly played and excellently recorded Big Band album, making of which was surely a valuable lesson to all the students. Congrats to Piotr Schmidt for pulling this together!

Updated: 21/06/2023Posted: 21/06/2023

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FRANK FOSTER / SWR BIG BAND ~ A FRESH TASTE OF THAD JONES AND FRANK FOSTER HANSSLER CLASSIC 4010276018582 (Barcode: 4010276018582) ~ USA ~ Big Band Jazz Recorded: 1994 - 1996 Released: 2006 This is a wonderful Jazz Big Band album by American saxophonist / flautist / composer / arranger / bandleader Frank FosterFind albums by this artist, recorded with the brilliant German SWR Big BandFind albums by this artist during his two residencies as guest conductor in 1994 and 1996. The album presents eleven tracks, seven of which are compositions by Foster and four are compositions by Thad JonesFind albums by this artist. Foster succeeded Jones as the leader of the legendary Count Basie OrchestraFind albums by this artist in 1986 and continued to lead it until 1995, creating some of the definite late American Big Band sound. The album pays tribute to Jones and that Big Band tradition. Foster solos on most of the tracks and his warm sound is immediately recognizable. Of course the European musicians have no problem with tackling the material with ease and elegance. One is of course immediately tempted to compare the sound on this album, and other albums by German Big Bands like the NDR Big BandFind albums by this artist or HR Big BandFind albums by this artist, with their American counterparts. This album is particularly interesting due to the presence of American conductor and strictly American material, which are still unable the close the conceptual gap between European and American Big Band sound, which comes down to the difference between a collection of individuals as opposed of a one multi-headed body making music. Overall, this is an interesting mixture of American and European Jazz Big Band, brilliantly played by everybody involved and featuring Foster as the main soloist and conductor. Lovers of the genre should have a field day with this, sadly little know album, which is definitely worth being discovered!

Updated: 18/01/2024Posted: 18/01/2024

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FRANK SINATRA / COUNT BASIE ~ THE COMPLETE REPRISE STUDIO RECORDINGS UNIVERSAL 602527968872 (Barcode: 602527968872) ~ USA ~ Jazz Recorded: 1962 - 1964 Released: 2012 Every time I hear Frank SinatraFind albums by this artist sing, my heart melts and yet at the same time I get mad remembering what so many sanctimonious Jazz critics had to say about him and his contribution to Jazz. Let me tell you smug ignoramuses: Sinatra had more feel for Jazz in his pinky than most other Jazz vocalists you rave about. Anybody with a pair of ears used as musical devices rather than decoration will tell you that these recordings by Sinatra, accompanied by the divine Count Basie OrchestraFind albums by this artist, are pure, unadulterated Jazz classics, which stand the test of time better than most others recordings of the era. This album brings together the two studio albums Sinatra made with Basie: "An Historic Musical FirstFind albums with this title" (arranged and conducted by Neal HeftiFind albums by this artist) and "It Might As Well Be SwingFind albums with this title" (arranged and conducted by Quincy JonesFind albums by this artist), recorded a couple of years apart in the early 1960s, when both Sinatra and Basie were at their absolute artistic peak. The repertoire includes many Sinatra classic standards, which he performed repeatedly over the years live, with these particular versions being definitely remarkable. An absolute classic!

CD 1 Remastered Recommend To A Friend