Record Reviews
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  | AGA TAURA CONFAB / ENRICO RAVA ~ EL CONVIDADO
SVART / MONDO 381 (Barcode: 6430065589419) ~ ARGENTINA ~ Jazz-World Fusion
Recorded: 1975 Released: 2019
In June of 1975 Italian trumpeter / composer Enrico RavaFind albums by this artist recorded his debut album for the prestigious German ECMFind albums on this label label, entitled "The Pilgrim And The StarsFind albums with this title", which upon its release later that year kick-started his solo career. The album was recorded with an international lineup of ECM stable musicians: American guitarists John AbercrombieFind albums by this artist (who also released his ECM debut the same year) and a marvelous Scandinavian rhythm section consisting of Swedish bassist Palle DanielssonFind albums by this artist and Norwegian drummer Jon ChristensenFind albums by this artist.
A trumpet virtuoso and an exceptionally gifted composer, Rava established himself on the international scene during the entire decade earlier, playing and recording with the elite of Avant-Garde Jazz players of that period both in Europe and in America, which included Steve LacyFind albums by this artist, Roswell RuddFind albums by this artist, Charlie HadenFind albums by this artist, Don CherryFind albums by this artist, Argentinean Gato BarbieriFind albums by this artist (during his stint in Italy), Lee KonitzFind albums by this artist and others. By the early 1970s Rava embraced a more melodic approach to Jazz and started to cooperate with Fusion musicians, a path common to many of his European contemporaries. This led to his participation in the recording of the seminal Jazz-Rock opera "Escalator Over The HillFind albums with this title" by Carla BleyFind albums by this artist as well as the recording of the little known album for the legendary German MPSFind albums on this label label called "Katcharpari RavaFind albums with this title", where he played vis-à-vis Abercrombie and which, when first heard by ECM owner Manfred EicherFind albums by this artist, led to inviting them both to record for ECM in the first place.
What led Enrico Rava to take part in the recording of the obscure album you are holding in your hand, which took place in December of 1975 in Buenos Aires, the Capital of Argentina, you ask? Well it turns out Rava had some family in Buenos Aires, which he was visiting at the time and which is hardly surprising considering the fact that most of Argentina´s inhabitants are descendants of European ethnic groups, with more than 55% of them having Italian origins. Therefore being Italian and having family in Argentina is a highly probable outcome. Quite accidently, Rava already visited Buenos Aires almost a decade earlier, when playing there with the Steve Lacy quartet. A performance by that quartet recorded in Buenos Aires in November of 1966 was released as the album "The Forest And The ZooFind albums with this title" on the ESPFind albums on this label label.
The rest of the story, however, is pure Jazz "improvisation". Upon learning that Rava is in town, local Jazz aficionados swiftly decided to size the day and hook him up with local musician and record an album. It is difficult to know today if Rava and the Argentineans realized that he was already under ECM contract and they needed to ask Eicher to give them permission to make this recording, which was highly unlikely he would. But considering South American attitude towards rules and regulations nobody probably cared too much about it, which of course in retrospect should make us thankful.
The team selected to accompany Rava, named as "Aga Taura ConfabFind albums by this artist", included three Argentinean Jazz musicians: pianist Fernando GelbardFind albums by this artist, bassist Adalberto CevascoFind albums by this artist and drummer Nestor AstaritaFind albums by this artist and an Argentinean Folk percussionist Farias GómezFind albums by this artist, who also contributed vocalese parts. Although less experienced and with no international exposure at the time, they stood their ground formidably and performed alongside Rava without any inferiority complex. Of the five tunes on the album, four are performed by the quintet, where Gelbard plays the Fender Rhodes electric piano, and one is a duet consisting of Rava and Gelbard, who plays acoustic piano. Not surprisingly Rava´s performances are the absolute pinnacle of the session, encompassing different styles and approaches moving between melodic lyricism and Free Form explorations. He knowingly pays tribute to his idols: Miles Davis and Chet Baker, but avoids copying any explicit phrasing and crafts his distinctly own voice.
The spontaneous recording session lasted for a few hours, just long enough to capture five tracks totaling in about forty two minutes of music. The sound quality of the recording turned out to be better than one might expect, with clear, crispy tone and excellent separation, which suited the music perfectly. The music includes a Rava original, which appears only on this album, a standard, a composition by the Brazilian composer João DonatoFind albums by this artist, a composition by Argentinean saxophonist / composer Horacio BorraroFind albums by this artist and finally a composition by the quintet´s percussionist Farias Gómez – a mixed bag which offers a strong World Music influence and plenty of opportunities for the musicians to show their chops.
In retrospect this is definitely a piece of music that deserves to be revisited, not only for nostalgic reasons, but primarily as a historical document of the period, as well as proof of the fact that music knows no boundaries. Due to its rarity the original LP release is a highly sought after collectors item to Jazz aficionados all over the world, not only connoisseurs of Enrico Rava, but also enthusiasts of early Jazz-World Fusion.
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: 22/05/2020Posted: 22/05/2020 | CD 1 Mini-Sleeve Remastered Recommend To A Friend |
  | JOHN CARTER / BOBBY BRADFORD ~ SEEKING
HATOLOGY 620 (Barcode: 752156062028) ~ USA ~ Jazz
Recorded: 1969 Released: 2006
This long overdue reissue of the legendary debut album by the quartet led by saxophonist / clarinetist / flautist / composer John CarterFind albums by this artist and trumpeter Bobby BradfordFind albums by this artist, with Tom WilliamsonFind albums by this artist on bass and Bruz FreemanFind albums by this artist on drums, is a tribute to the great era of American Jazz, when groundbreaking music was being created there on momentous scale. The quartet was operating under the cooperative name New Art Jazz EnsembleFind albums by this artist, typical of the period´s social / philosophical climate of unity and cooperation on one hand and high appreciation of individual expression and genius on the other. The music expands the tradition already established by Free Jazz pioneers like Ornette ColemanFind albums by this artist, Eric DolphyFind albums by this artist and John ColtraneFind albums by this artist, but is completely unique and refreshing. Carter´s virtuosity (my favorite being his clarinet playing) and compositional skills place him immediately at the spearhead of the burgeoning musical revolution taking place at the time, a position he would firmly keep up for decades to come. The interplay between Carter and Branford is reminiscent of the superb dialogue between Ornette Coleman and Don CherryFind albums by this artist, but the level of telepathic conversation seems to be even more intimate. The most amazing aspect of the album is its total lack of aggressiveness; the music tickles the intellect constantly rather than banging the listener right on his head in an attempt to create a shock treatment affect, an approach often used by other Free Jazz / Avant-Garde players. As a result the music is listenable even to a less experienced Jazz enthusiast, who might find most of other Free Jazz experimentation too overwhelming or aesthetically shocking. In retrospect this album is a Jazz masterpiece in every respect and a worthy addition to every serious music collection. Having it available again is a true blessing and a new chance to get acquainted with a true lost treasure.
| | Updated: 12/04/2019Posted: | CD 1 Mini-Sleeve Oversampling Remastered Essential Recommend To A Friend |
  | DON CHERRY / NANA VASCONCELOS / COLLIN WALCOTT ~ THE CODONA TRILOGY
ECM 2033/35 (Barcode: 602517674202) ~ USA ~ Jazz-World Fusion
Recorded: 1978 - 1982 Released: 2008
This wonderful Box Set contains the three albums by the legendary trio comprising of trumpeter / composer Don CherryFind albums by this artist, Brazilian percussionist / composer Nana VasconcelosFind albums by this artist and multi-instrumentalist / composer Collin WalcottFind albums by this artist recorded in late 1970s and early 1980s and released on the ECMFind albums on this label label, which are "CodonaFind albums with this title" (ECM 1132) recorded in 1978, "Codona 2Find albums with this title" (ECM 1177) recorded in 1980 and "Codona 3Find albums with this title" (ECM 1243) recorded 1982.
These albums are magnificent examples of early Jazz-World Fusion, which precede what has become a trend on the contemporary music scene by decades. All three musicians are absolute virtuosi and the fact that they come from such diverse musical backgrounds and yet are able to create music together with such harmony and mutual understanding, is truly amazing. In the process of recording these albums all three musicians play several instruments each. The listener can hear Cherry play the flute for example, which is quite unusual and a plethora of various ethnic instruments like sitar, tabla, talking drum and many others are used throughout.
This music lost absolutely nothing of its original charm and fascination and sounds every bit as enchanting as it did at the time of the recording. Walcott´s tragic death in 1984 unfortunately put an end to this unique trio, but their legacy stays with us forever. It is still one of the most profound and best examples of what Jazz-World Fusion is all about
Side Note: These albums are not available on CD individually, so this is the only way to obtain them in CD form.
| | Updated: 26/01/2019Posted: | CD 3 Mini-Sleeve Box Set Recommend To A Friend |
  | ORNETTE COLEMAN ~ BEAUTY IS A RARE THING: THE COMPLETE ATLANTIC RECORDINGS
RHINO 71410 (Barcode: 081227141028) ~ USA ~ Jazz
Recorded: 1959 - 1961 Released: 1993
This magnificent Box Set includes some of the most revolutionary music ever recorded on this planet. Ornette ColemanFind albums by this artist’s music dropped on the jazz scene with the force of an atom bomb by the end of the 1950s. Although other great jazz pioneers, especially John ColtraneFind albums by this artist and Miles DavisFind albums by this artist, were already slowly approaching the free / Avant-Garde jazz idiom, Coleman’s bold and fearless attack on the conventional jazz form was completely radical and innovative, splitting the jazz community immediately into the pro and contra camps, with discussions as heated as they can get. Coleman was ridiculed and called bad names by critics and listeners alike, who failed to comprehend his prophetic statement, and it took many years before this music was widely accepted into the jazz canon and treated with the proper esteem. Recorded between May 1959 and March 1961 (less than 2 years!) this music includes all 9 Coleman’s albums released on Atlantic (The Shape Of Jazz To ComeFind albums with this title, Change Of The CenturyFind albums with this title, This Is Our MusicFind albums with this title, Free JazzFind albums with this title, Ornette!Find albums with this title, Ornette On TenorFind albums with this title, The Art Of The ImprovisersFind albums with this title, TwinsFind albums with this title and To Whom Who Keeps A RecordFind albums with this title), as well as previously unreleased material and selections from Gunther SchullerFind albums by this artist’s Jazz AbstractionsFind albums with this title featuring Coleman. As usual in such Box Sets, the music is presented in chronological recording order. As to the musicians, most of the music was recorded in quartet setting, with Coleman and trumpeter Don CherryFind albums by this artist as the permanent core of the group and various bass / drums rhythm sections, which included Charlie HadenFind albums by this artist, Scott LaFaroFind albums by this artist and Jimmy GarrisonFind albums by this artist on bass and Billy HigginsFind albums by this artist and Ed BlackwellFind albums by this artist on drums. The legendary “Free Jazz” session features a double quartet and includes Eric DolphyFind albums by this artist on bass clarinet and Freddie HubbardFind albums by this artist on trumpet. There is hardly any need to go into the description of the music itself - whole books have been written on the subject and the music is indescribable anyway. What is important however, is the fact that any respectable jazz collection could never be considered comprehensive if it didn’t include this music. Absolutely essential!
| | Updated: 12/04/2019Posted: | CD 6 Box Set Remastered Bonus Tracks Essential Recommend To A Friend |
  | JOHN COLTRANE ~ THE HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION: THE COMPLETE ATLANTIC RECORDINGS
RHINO 71984 (Barcode: 081227198428) ~ USA ~ Jazz
Recorded: 1959 - 1961 Released: 1995
This magnificent Box Set compiles everything John ColtraneFind albums by this artist recorded for AtlanticFind albums on this label – his second long-term recording stint with a label following his PrestigeFind albums on this label period and preceding his final years on Impulse!Find albums on this label. The first 6 CDs include all the 10 Coltrane’s LPs released on Atlantic (Giant StepsFind albums with this title, Coltrane JazzFind albums with this title, My Favorite ThingsFind albums with this title, Bags & TraneFind albums with this title, Olé ColtraneFind albums with this title, Coltrane Plays The BluesFind albums with this title, Coltrane’s SoundFind albums with this title, The Avant-GardeFind albums with this title, The Coltrane LegacyFind albums with this title, Alternate TakesFind albums with this title), but the material is organized in chronological order (by session). The 7th CD adds over an hour of never before released material. All this music was recorded over a period of just over two years (January 1959 – May 1961), but it includes some of the most pivotal Jazz recordings ever. The Atlantic period is a superb document of transition for the Jazz Giant. Stylistically it presents the steady move from Bebop and Hard Bop to Free. Instrumentally it shows the shift from tenor saxophone to soprano saxophone. It also reveals the process of crystallization of Coltrane’s great classic quartet (see The Classic Quartet: Complete Impulse! Studio RecordingsFind albums with this title), whereas by October of 1960 three quarters of the quartet (with McCoy TynerFind albums by this artist on piano and Elvin JonesFind albums by this artist on drums) were already in place and only the bassist Jimmy GarrisonFind albums by this artist was to join soon after. Two of the sessions present here are collaborations with other co-credited Jazz Giants: “Bags & Trane” with the great vibraphonist Milt JacksonFind albums by this artist and “The Avant-Garde” with legendary trumpeter Don CherryFind albums by this artist. The music is of course divine – absolutely nothing I can say about it would ever come close to the experience of actually listening to it. This music influenced every Jazz musician and Jazz lover on earth and left a mark on contemporary music, which has no equals to this day. It also shows Coltrane as a great composer for the first time, with some of his greatest melodies like “Giant Steps” and “Naima”. His interpretation of “My Favorite Things” is of course probably the most commonly known Jazz anthem ever. This sublime music is an integral part of Art’s cannon and an everlasting evidence of human (or perhaps super-human) genius. Absolutely essential!
| | Updated: 12/04/2019Posted: | CD 7 Box Set Remastered Bonus Tracks Essential Recommend To A Friend |
  | CUSTOM TRIO / ANDRZEJ PRZYBIELSKI ~ FREE BOP
POLONIA 226 ~ POLAND ~ Jazz
Recorded: 1999 Released: 2000
This is probably the best album recorded by the recently deceased Polish trumpet virtuoso / composer Andrzej PrzybielskiFind albums by this artist, who remains largely unknown to most Jazz aficionados even in his native country. An eccentric and outsider, Przybielski was blessed with an incredible talent, which unfortunately was recognized only by very few connoisseurs.
This studio recording, obviously well planned and relaxed, allows the great trumpeter to relax fully and play his heart out to the fullest, accompanied by excellent musicians worthy of his company, which are called Custom TrioFind albums by this artist. The trio consists of saxophonist Krzysztof KapelFind albums by this artist and the Oles BrothersFind albums by this artist: bassist Marcin OlesFind albums by this artist and drummer Bartlomiej OlesFind albums by this artist – Poland´s Free Jazz most notable rhythm section. Together as a quartet they perform nine original compositions, five of which were composed by Przybielski and the remaining four by Bartlomiej Oles.
The performances are absolutely stellar and the album is one of the best Polish (and definitely not only Polish) Jazz albums ever recorded. As much as that sounds overblown, if you can listen to this music, you´ll be instantly convinced. Any other player placed opposite (or side by side) a genius like Przybielski is in a great danger of appearing pale. Luckily Kapel is capably to blow like only a few can, matching everything that Przybielski plays with a vengeance. This is simply unbelievable music, which stands easily opposite such legendary sessions as the early Ornette ColemanFind albums by this artist with Don CherryFind albums by this artist. In short this is essential Jazz, which can only be played by a very small group of exceptionally gifted players, which is definitely the case here. Brilliant!
| | Updated: 02/01/2017Posted: | CD 1 Slipcase Recommend To A Friend |
  | PIOTR DAMASIEWICZ / INTO THE ROOTS ~ SPIWLE
L.A.S. 002 ~ POLAND ~ Free Jazz / Improvised Music
Recorded: 2019 Released: 2020
This is an album by Polish Jazz trumpeter / composer Piotr DamasiewiczFind albums by this artist recorded in a trio format with bassist Zbigniew KozeraFind albums by this artist and drummer Pawel SzpuraFind albums by this artist. Bagpipe player Jan RytFind albums by this artist guests on one track. The album presents six original compositions, all by Damasiewicz. The music was recorded live in a remote village in Polish Beskid Mountains, but the sound is wonderfully clear and authentic. There is some confusion between the running order of the tunes on the album’s artwork, but this is a minor issue.
Damasiewicz managed to establish a position for himself on the local scene as one of the leading Improvised Music / Free Jazz activists and recorded several important albums over time, which for me personally are quite a mixed bag. However, this album immediately proved to be my favorite Damasiewicz album so far. Perhaps the immediacy and intimacy of this recording are more appealing to me than his large ensemble works and other recordings, where he probably tried to say too much.
The album’s title is definitely very appropriate as far as this music is concerned, as it really goes back to the roots. The question which roots is not really relevant, as this music goes back to perhaps the very deepest roots of music itself, with primitive, repetitive and enthralling rhythmic patterns, which were best preserved in African music and from there arrived into Jazz. Perhaps there are also Polish roots here, inspired by the mountains and Folklore traditions surrounding this recording. Damasiewicz manages to incorporate all these elements into highly effective and mesmerizing, hypnotizing music. His trumpet improvisations on top of the steady rhythmic patterns sound more honest, revealing and moving than ever before, at least for me.
The music is somewhat reminiscent to the early attempts to create Jazz-World Fusion by the great pioneers of Jazz, obviously sound-wise closest to the recordings by Don CherryFind albums by this artist. By following that path Damasiewicz finds the best of himself in the minimalist trio setting, with his trumpet playing being the clear focus of the entire journey. Strangely, or perhaps not, this is also the most coherent and melodic album he recorded so far, perhaps unintentionally, but undoubtedly highly effective.
Overall this is a wonderful album from start to finish, accessible to a much wider audience than earlier albums by Damasiewicz, and despite its seeming simplicity, his most effective contact with his listeners ever. Beautiful and challenging don’t have to be a contrasting, as this album clearly shows. This music makes you want to dance! Well done!
| | Updated: 15/12/2021Posted: 19/03/2021 | CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend |
  | EHRAN ELISHA / ROY CAMPBELL ~ WATCHING CARTOONS WITH EDDIE
OUTNOW 004 (Barcode: 7290011216979) ~ ISRAEL ~ Jazz
Recorded: 2008 Released: 2011
This wonderful album by drummer Ehran ElishaFind albums by this artist and trumpeter Roy CampbellFind albums by this artist is a sort of tribute to the early Free Jazz Giants like Don CherryFind albums by this artist, Ed BlackwellFind albums by this artist, Bill DixonFind albums by this artist and others. Elisha and Campbell collaborated and recorded together in the past and their musical dialogue if full of mutual friendship, respect and admiration. All the music on the album is composed or co-composed by them. The title track refers to the fact that Elisha, while being a student and later a friend of the legendary drummer Ed Blackwell, often watched cartoons with the master in order to relax before the lessons. Of course the concept of the drums-trumpet duet in Free Jazz is not completely unusual, with the legendary Ed Blackwell / Don Cherry album "MuFind albums with this title" being an early example. Originally released in 1969 that double LP was a revolutionary step forward, redefining and expanding the genre´s borders. In the course of history several other noticeable drums-trumpet duet albums were also recorded. The idea behind this album is an imaginary double LP project, which embodies a series of imaginary duets between Blackwell and other Free Jazz Giants. Both Elisha and Campbell are already established names on the scene and Free Jazz connoisseurs most probably already came across their work – if not it´s about time to remedy that mistake. Elisha´s ability to play the drums as a melodic instrument (as opposed to a purely rhythmic one) is truly remarkable. His extended solo passages never cease to amaze as far as inventiveness and sensitivity are concerned. Campbell´s minimalism, combined with his complete command of his instrument is highly effective and artistically sublime. Their duets are wonderful example of two musicians listening to each other at all times, giving up their egos in order to achieve a fusion of their powers and a higher level of unity. I can´t imagine any Free Jazz enthusiast not finding this album worthy of their attention. Great stuff!
| | | CD 1 Mini-Sleeve Recommend To A Friend |
  | MACIEJ GARBOWSKI ~ ELEMENTS
NOT ON LABEL ~ POLAND ~ Jazz
Recorded: 2009 Released: 2010
This is the debut album by the Polish Jazz bassist Maciej GarbowskiFind albums by this artist, known to followers of the Polish Jazz scene as one third of the RBBFind albums by this artist trio. The album is a bold statement in every respect: it is recorded live and by an unconventional (trumpet / bass / drums) trio with young Polish trumpeter Piotr DamasiewiczFind albums by this artist and Swedish drummer Jon FaltFind albums by this artist. The album comprises of a continuous suite of mostly improvised music, which includes some composed motifs by Garbowski and Damasiewicz, sometimes used only in part and sometimes quoted in full. These motifs serve as points of reference in the continual conversation between the musicians, which is obviously spontaneous but seems to have a sense of almost telepathic consistency. Although separated into six tracks on the album, this is definitely one piece of music, mood and celebration of freedom. The technical proficiency of these young musicians is simply astounding and their ability to generate alternative sounds on their respective instruments is awe-inspiring. Damasiewicz and his trumpet, which at times remind us of Don CherryFind albums by this artist and Tomasz StankoFind albums by this artist, taking the absolutely best lessons from both, is simply phenomenal. Hopefully his future recordings will give us more glimpses of his talent, since judging by this recording he is definitely heading in the right direction. Garbowski and his bass are virtuosic and enormously sensitive in this difficult setting, gluing the music together and supplying the anchor to stability, without restricting it in any sense. Falt and his drums, which are already familiar to Jazz connoisseurs from his work with pianist Bobo StensonFind albums by this artist, is the icing on the cake, ornamenting the music with delicate caressing touches on the cymbals or energetic full-kit explosions, al done with taste and elegance. Overall this is a brilliant piece of Free Jazz, perfectly executed and full of inspired, serious music, which easily compares to the best recordings of this type done anywhere else in the world. If the future fate of Polish Jazz (and European Jazz in general) is in the hands of young musicians like these three, the older generation can rest assured that it is in good hands indeed. Polish Jazz fans should definitely seek out this gem as soon as possible. Brilliant stuff!
| | | CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend |
  | GLUE ~ CHATS WITH THE REAL MCCOY
CREATIVE SOURCES 257 (Barcode: 5609063402575) ~ UK ~ Free Jazz / Improvised Music
Recorded: 2012 Released: 2013
This is the second album by the Improvised Music trio GlueFind albums by this artist, consisting of three Berlin based musicians: British trumpeter Tom ArthursFind albums by this artist, Canadian bassist Miles PerkinFind albums by this artist and Greek drummer Yorgos DimitriadisFind albums by this artist. Together they perform eight original pieces all attributed collectively to the trio members and of course all improvised.
The music is an intimate conversation between three musicians, who give each other a lot of space and respect, creating an on the fly trialogue of rare beauty. Listening to this music is like eavesdropping on a tête-à-tête by three friends, who are freely exchanging ideas and supporting each other to express them. In complete contrast to most Improvised Music recordings, this music is so minimalistic and non aggressive, that listening to it requires nothing more than an open mind and pushing conventional approach to music aside.
The trumpet work by Arthurs is obviously the most impressive piece of the puzzle, with futuristic sound vistas, virtuosic triads and single notes thrown in the air like fireworks and innovative approach to the trumpet, changing its role within the Free Jazz / Improvised Music idioms, like Don CherryFind albums by this artist did five decades earlier.
But of course Glue is all about communal experience and the work of Perkin and Dimitriadis is an integral part of the end result. Both play little of what might be considered as traditional role of the rhythm section, exploring their degrees of freedom to the max. The bass, used very percussively, in addition to the usual plucking, adds an entire layer which gives this music its bodily essence, whereas the percussion plays constantly, but never any steady rhythmic patters, simply ornamenting the overall result with a myriad of one note accents and pulsations.
The resulting music becomes a one of its kind experience, which miraculously holds water after it was recorded. Most of Improvised Music may be communicative or fascinating enough to be heard live but fails to retain the magic on record. This album proves that creating a lasting Improvised Music piece is possible.
Although Improvised Music connoisseurs are a tiny minority even among the Jazz lovers, they tend to be extremely faithful as fans, and therefore I hardly recommend to all of them to listen to this album as this music is truly worth being discovered and followed in the future.
| | Updated: 18/09/2016Posted: 18/09/2016 | CD 1 Recommend To A Friend |
  | CHARLIE HADEN ~ THE COMPLETE REMASTERED RECORDINGS ON BLACK SAINT & SOUL NOTE
CAM JAZZ 1001 (Barcode: 8024709111227) ~ USA ~ Jazz
Recorded: 1977 - 1990 Released: 2010
This superb Box Set collects all the albums recorded by the legendary US bassist / composer Charlie HadenFind albums by this artist on the twin Italian independent labels: Black SaintFind albums on this label and Soul NoteFind albums on this label. Haden needs no introduction to any serious Jazz connoisseur; suffice to say that from the early days with Ornette ColemanFind albums by this artist in the late 1950s, his bass playing would definitely establish "The Shape Of Jazz To Come", paraphrasing on the title of Haden´s first recording with Coleman. Later on he was a member of the legendary Keith JarrettFind albums by this artist US quartet and later cooperated with the most distinguished Jazz musicians around the globe. His virtuosic bass playing and excellent compositions are always a source of great musical joy. The musicians playing on these five albums include: drummer Billy HigginsFind albums by this artist, pianist Enrico PieranunziFind albums by this artist, trumpeter Chet BakerFind albums by this artist, drummer Paul MotianFind albums by this artist, pianist Geri AllenFind albums by this artist, trumpeter Don CherryFind albums by this artist, saxophonist Dewey RedmanFind albums by this artist and drummer Ed BlackwellFind albums by this artist. Remastered, mini-sleeved, and with a great bargain price – this Box Set an absolute must for any serious Jazz collector.
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: 10/04/2020Posted: | CD 5 Mini-Sleeve Box Set Remastered Recommend To A Friend |
  | STEVE HILLAGE ~ L (EXPANDED EDITION)
VIRGIN 373419 (Barcode: 094637341926) ~ UK ~ Progressive Rock
Recorded: 1976 Released: 2007
2nd album by Steve HillageFind albums by this artist and his most (commercially) successful release ever. In contrast to the debut album, which was recorded while Hillage and his partner Miquette GiraudyFind albums by this artist were still members of GongFind albums by this artist and included strong similarities to Gong material, this album was quite a different affair. Hillage used his record label’s connections to establish contact with US musician / producer Todd RundgrenFind albums by this artist, who agreed to produce this album. Hillage and Giraudy left for the US, where this album was recorded and produced by Rundgren, with members of Rundgren’s band UtopiaFind albums by this artist serving as the backing band. The material includes both original material by Hillage / Giraudy and a few covers of what Hillage describes as “his favorite songs at the time” (including a great version of DonovanFind albums by this artist’s “Hurdy Gurdy Man”). The album stands the test of time fabulously and is a great example of both Hillage’s strength as a composer and a guitarist. One more point of interest is the participation of the great jazz trumpet player Don CherryFind albums by this artist, who adds an interesting coloring to the album’s atmosphere. A classic by all means!
| | | CD 1 Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend |
  | WOJCIECH JACHNA / JACEK BUHL ~ NIEDOKONCZONE KSIAZKI
AUDIO TONG 14 (Barcode: 859706101586) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz
Recorded: 2010 Released: 2011
This wonderful album by the Polish duo: trumpeter Wojciech JachnaFind albums by this artist and drummer Jacek BuhlFind albums by this artist, is a superb example of how Jazz reinvents itself and updates itself constantly thanks to new and talented musicians. Of course the concept of the trumpet-drums duet in Jazz is not completely unusual, with the legendary Don CherryFind albums by this artist / Ed BlackwellFind albums by this artist album "MuFind albums with this title" being an early example. Originally released in 1969 that double LP was a revolutionary step forward, redefining and expanding the genre´s borders.
In the course of history several other noticeable trumpet-drums duet albums were also recorded. This album, as mentioned above, updates this concept thanks to the new technology available today, which allows electronically generated ambient vistas to be incorporated into some of the tracks, but basically it´s up to the two players to create the substance. The music, although mostly improvised and close to the Free Jazz movement, has a strong melodic content and atmospheric / ambient feel about it, which is characteristic of movie soundtracks.
Buhl´s ability to play the drums as a melodic instrument (as opposed to a purely rhythmic one) is truly remarkable. His extended solo passages never cease to amaze as far as inventiveness and sensitivity are concerned. Jachna´s minimalism, combined with his complete command of his instrument is highly effective and artistically sublime. Their duets are wonderful example of two musicians listening to each other at all times, giving up their egos in order to achieve a fusion of their powers and a higher level of unity.
This is definitely one of the most interesting Polish Jazz albums I´ve come across lately and I can´t imagine any true Jazz enthusiast not finding this album worthy of their attention. Great stuff!
| | | CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend |
  | 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 | CD 1 Mini-Sleeve Recommend To A Friend |
  | ALBERT MANGELSDORFF ~ AND HIS FRIENDS
MPS 4029759119616 (Barcode: 4029759119616) ~ GERMANY ~ Free Jazz / Improvised Music
Recorded: 1967 - 1969 Released: 2017
This is a reissue of the MPSFind albums on this label album by legendary German Jazz trombonist / composer Albert MangelsdorffFind albums by this artist. It presents six improvised duos, each with another Jazz player, which are: Americans - trumpeter Don CherryFind albums by this artist, drummer Elvin JonesFind albums by this artist, saxophonist Lee KonitzFind albums by this artist, Hungarian born resident in US guitarist Attila ZollerFind albums by this artist and German born resident in US vibraphonist Karl BergerFind albums by this artist and finally German pianist Wolfgang DaunerFind albums by this artist. Four of the compositions are credited to the members of the duo performing them and two are credited to Mangelsdorff.
Mangelsdorff was one of the Father figures of the German and then European jazz for decades. Since the late 1940’s he and his older brother Emil MangelsdorffFind albums by this artist led numerous ensembles, always on the vanguard of the ever-changing Jazz scene. He was one of the greatest trombone players in the history and single-handedly changed the status of this instrument from a background / support role to the front line position, proving that when in hands of a virtuoso player the trombone can be as fascinating any other instrument.
By the end of the 1960’s Mangelsdorff gradually moved towards Free Jazz and concentrated on playing in intimate settings like the duo and later even on completely solo performances. His revolutionary solo trombone album “Trombirds” (recorded 1971) was the first solo trombone album. Albert Mangelsdorff died in 2005 at the age of 77, leaving a tremendous legacy of recorded music, as revolutionary and groundbreaking as one can only expect from a true Jazz Master.
This album, recorded between 1967 and 1969, presents the early Mangelsdorff duo recordings with some of the most important Jazz musicians of the period. Each and every one of these duo performances is completely different and yet they all create a cohesive musical vision of a genius. Not for a casual Jazz listener, but a delight for connoisseurs with a refined Jazz ear, this album also brought forth the "Art of the Duo" idiom, often used to describe European Jazz duo recordings of the highest class.
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: 22/02/2018 | CD 1 Mini-Sleeve Remastered Recommend To A Friend |
  | ALBERT MANGELSDORFF ~ AND HIS FRIENDS (MOST PERFECT SOUND EDITION)
MPS 0673752 (Barcode: 044006737522) ~ GERMANY ~ Jazz
Recorded: 1967 - 1969 Released: 2003
German trombonist Albert MangelsdorffFind albums by this artist was one of the Father figures of the German and then European jazz for decades. Since the late 1940’s he and his older brother Emil MangelsdorffFind albums by this artist led numerous ensembles, always on the vanguard of the ever-changing jazz scene.
He was one of the greatest trombone players in the history and single-handedly changed the status of this instrument from a background / support role to the front line position, proving that when in hands of a virtuoso player the trombone can be as fascinating any other instrument. By the end of the 1960’s Mangelsdorff gradually moved towards free jazz and concentrated on playing in intimate settings like the duo and later even on completely solo performances. His revolutionary solo trombone album “Trombirds” (recorded 1971) was the first solo trombone album. Albert Mangelsdorff died in 2005 at the age of 77, leaving a tremendous legacy of recorded music, as revolutionary and groundbreaking as one can only expect from a jazz Master.
This album, recorded between 1967 and 1969, presents the early Mangelsdorff duo recordings with some of the most important jazz musicians of the period: Don CherryFind albums by this artist (trumpet), Elvin JonesFind albums by this artist (drums), Karl BergerFind albums by this artist (vibraphone), Attila ZollerFind albums by this artist (guitar), Lee KonitzFind albums by this artist (alto sax) and Wolfgang DaunerFind albums by this artist (piano). Each and every one of these duo performances is completely different and yet they all create a cohesive musical vision of a genius. Not for a casual jazz listener, but a delight for connoisseurs with a refined jazz ear.
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: 27/05/2018Posted: | CD 1 Digipak Oversampling Remastered Recommend To A Friend |
  | MIKROKOLEKTYW ~ REVISIT
DELMARK 591 (Barcode: 038153059125) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz
Recorded: 2009 Released: 2010
This is the debut album by Polish Jazz duo MikrokolektywFind albums by this artist, which includes trumpeter Artur MajewskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Kuba SucharFind albums by this artist. Both musicians play also electronic keyboards. The album includes eleven tracks, all composed by the duo members, either individually or collectively. The album was released on the veteran US (Chicago) DelmarkFind albums on this label label and was the label´s first release by Eastern European Jazz musicians.
Mikrokolektyw creates a wonderful musical world of their own, with the trumpet and drums becoming one as if fused together and the electronic effects and sounds provide a background upon with the melodic content is spread. Although very close to Free Jazz, the music is lyrical and surprisingly melodic, not crossing over to the spontaneous Improvised Music territory. It is obvious that the music is carefully planned, before being executed, but during the actual performance a wide range of musical freedom is involved.
Although the concept of a trumpet / drums duo is seldom seen in Jazz, the Polish Jazz scene seems to be an exception, with several such duos active on the local scene. The excellent Wojciech JachnaFind albums by this artist / Jacek BuhlFind albums by this artist album "Niedokonczone KsiazkiFind albums with this title" is in fact quite similar to this album, but there are several others. Of course one can always go back to the roots and seek out the Don CherryFind albums by this artist / Ed BlackwellFind albums by this artist collaboration "MuFind albums with this title".
Of course the music of Mikrokolektyw is well based on the Jazz tradition, but tries to innovate on many fronts, including the electro-acoustic sound and the World Music influences. They also display a phenomenal level of communication with each other, which is essential especially in an intimate setting like a duo.
Overall this album is a great example of Jazz being alive and kicking, developing and growing, with an interesting future ahead. Hopefully other US and European labels will decide to release more albums originating in Poland, as that country seems to have more to offer than most others these days.
Jazz enthusiasts, who like their music with an interesting twist, will have a field day with this album!
| | | CD 1 Recommend To A Friend |
  | MONGREL ~ TASKENSPILL
LOSEN 131 (Barcode: 7090025831317) ~ NORWAY ~ Jazz
Recorded: 2014 Released: 2014
This is the debut album by young Norwegian Jazz quartet MongrelFind albums by this artist, which comprises of trumpeter Thomas Husmo LitleskareFind albums by this artist, pianist Johan LindvallFind albums by this artist, bassist Stian Andreas Egeland AndersenFind albums by this artist and drummer Tore FlatjordFind albums by this artist. The album presents eleven original compositions by Litleskare, Lindvall and Andersen.
The music is modern European mainstream, which is melody based but also open to less constrained improvisation and rhythmic freedom. For such young composers the music is remarkably mature and open minded and perfectly blends the Jazz tradition with contemporary trends. Surprisingly it is not deeply rooted in Scandinavian Jazz, with its dark melancholy, but rather tends to be more passionate and expressive.
All four musicians play splendidly, with Litleskare drawing most of the attention as the front man, but in fact the music is a well coordinated group effort and everybody gets an opportunity to show his chops. The trumpet sound is somewhat similar to Don CherryFind albums by this artist or Tomasz StankoFind albums by this artist, two great Masters of the instrument, which of course means that Litleskare learns from the best. Lindvall is very melodic and plays beautiful passages both as a soloist and accompanist. The rhythm section is perfectly able to keep steady time, when necessary, but also is equally proficient when the music ventures into Free territory, with Andersen providing a steady support for the music to move on and Flatjord gracefully adds his polyrhythmic ornamentations.
Overall this is a remarkable debut album, which again points out that these young European Jazz musicians are here to take the music into the future, preserving the tradition and expanding the genre, saving it from stagnation. The quartet fully justified the high hopes raised by this album by releasing a sophomore album ("Thick As ThievesFind albums with this title") two years later, which is also excellent. Wholeheartedly recommended!
| | Updated: 26/11/2016Posted: 26/11/2016 | CD 1 Mini-Sleeve Recommend To A Friend |
  | NOCZ & IVA BITTOVA ~ NOCZ & IVA BITTOVA
HEVHETIA 0086 (Barcode: 8588005257275) ~ CZECH REPUBLIC ~ Jazz
Recorded: 2014 Released: 2014
This is the second album by the NoczFind albums by this artist quartet, which comprises of Norwegian trumpeter Didrik IngvaldsenFind albums by this artist and Czech musicians: saxophonist Radim HanousekFind albums by this artist, bassist Marian FriedlFind albums by this artist and drummer Vaclav PalkaFind albums by this artist. On this album they are joined by Czech violinist / vocalist Iva BittovaFind albums by this artist, who participates on nine of the fourteen tracks present herein. All the music is original; Ingvaldsen composed eleven compositions, Hanousek two and one is a collective composition by the ensemble.
The music is a fiery version of modern Jazz mixed with free improvised passages and World Music influences. Some of the pieces are distinctly more melodic than others, but overall the music stays pretty well organized and structured while at the same time it is freely spirited and very imaginative. The level of the individual performances is superb from start to finish and the album truly presents unconventional contemporary Jazz at its best. The trumpet / saxophone front end of the quartet brings on fond memories of the early days of Avant-Garde Jazz, especially Don CherryFind albums by this artist´s contributions, but the ambiance is undoubtedly updated to some extent. The rhythm section is also absolutely first class, keeping the pulse of the music flowing and at the same time contribution also some incredible solo parts.
The presence of Bittova adds a wonderful new dimension to the quartet´s sound and her vocalese passages are among the album´s highlights, although the entire proceedings deserve only the highest praise. This album is a great example of the maturity of European Jazz, which keeps evolving more dramatically than ever thanks to the removal of national borders, enabling the emergence of international ensembles, such as this one.
Overall this is an excellent modern Jazz album in every respect, surprising, moving and engaging, which will make every fan of nontrivial, advanced, open-minded Jazz extremely happy. Listening to this music is a true delight from start to finish!
| | Updated: 12/04/2019Posted: | CD 1 Mini-Sleeve Recommend To A Friend |
  | BARTLOMIEJ OLES / TOMASZ DABROWSKI ~ CHAPTERS
FENOMMEDIA 012 (Barcode: 5907604327128) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz
Recorded: 2014 Released: 2015
Trumpet / drums duo recordings are a very special chapter in Jazz history and they include some fascinating interplays recorded over time by American Jazz musicians, such as the legendary Don CherryFind albums by this artist / Ed BlackwellFind albums by this artist or Max RoachFind albums by this artist / Dizzy GillespieFind albums by this artist recordings. Some American / European trumpet / drums duos are also worth mentioning, such as the Leo SmithFind albums by this artist / Gunter SommerFind albums by this artist, Dave DouglasFind albums by this artist / Han BenninkFind albums by this artist or Bill DixonFind albums by this artist / Tony OxleyFind albums by this artist, documented on their respective recordings. On the contemporary Polish Jazz scene this relatively rare pairing of instruments seems to be quite favorable, with such excellent examples like Wojciech JachnaFind albums by this artist / Jacek BuhlFind albums by this artist, Artur MajewskiFind albums by this artist / Kuba SucharFind albums by this artist and others. Trumpeter / composer Tomasz DabrowskiFind albums by this artist already has one trumpet / drums album under his arm, recorded with the American drummer Tyshawn SoreyFind albums by this artist and now he joins the brilliant drummer / composer Bartlomiej OlesFind albums by this artist in a new trumpet / drums duo, captured on this album.
Bartlomiej Oles is of course known to all Polish Jazz connoisseurs as half of the Oles Brothers rhythm section, which in time achieved a legendary status as one of the best modern Jazz rhythm sections around, but this album focuses on his work as composer. Of the ten pieces presented on this album, Oles composed eight, and co-composed one with Dabrowski, with the remaining piece, which closes the set, being a Thelonious MonkFind albums by this artist composition.
In comparison to the trumpet / drums albums listed in the opening paragraph, this recording is definitely the most lyrical and deeply melodic of them all. Oles demonstrated his lyricism and love of melody over the years in the numerous compositions he contributed to the vast Oles Brothers recorded legacy. Additionally, his treatment of the drums as a melodic instrument has always been his particular trademark, as he almost never simply sets a rhythm but rather plays the drums in par with his musical partners in various ensembles. The intimacy of just two instruments is an ideal opportunity to place these compositional and performance qualities at the center of the listener´s attention.
Dabrowski, whose meteoric rise to fame is fully justified, seems to be an ideal partner aiding Oles to achieve his goals. His virtuosic attack, combined with the intrinsic lyricism, turn his trumpet into a seemingly unlimited tool able to express an enormously diverse set of emotions, from whisper to shout, anger to joy, despair to mellow melancholy. Playing side by side with Oles, who is of course more experienced and mature, pushed Dabrowski really hard to reach and than cross his limits, which resulted in the best performance of his life so far. Oles managed to catalyze and crystallize Dabrowski´s unique style and mannerism, molding them into a perfect musical entity.
There is so much music on this album that a true comprehension and appreciation of it requires several listening sessions even for the most experienced music lovers. Peeling off the layers of aesthetic and emotional essence captured herein by these two Masters is a delightful and rewarding experience. There is no doubt that this is a monumental achievement in every sense and a model of lofty, almost spiritual communication between an Artist and his audience.
Personally I have a deep satisfaction from the fact that I have always considered these two musicians as representatives of what is best about Polish Culture in general and Polish Jazz in particular: honesty, consistency and a proper usage of a God given talent. Thank you both for such a wonderful gift!
| | Updated: 02/01/2017Posted: | CD 1 Recommend To A Friend |
  | OVER THE HILLS ~ ESCALATOR OVER THE HILL
IMR 008 (Barcode: 3426300098870) ~ FRANCE ~ Jazz
Recorded: 2015 Released: 2015
This is an album by French Jazz nonet called Over The HillsFind albums by this artist, co-led by bassist Bernard SantacruzFind albums by this artist and drummer Bruno TocanneFind albums by this artist. As the title suggests, it is a remake of the iconic Jazz opera “Escalator Over The HillFind albums with this title”, composed by Carla BleyFind albums by this artist with libretto by Paul HinesFind albums by this artist, originally released in 1971. The album presents ten tracks, all composed by Bley and included in the original version of the opera (but appearing in a different order), arranged by members of the nonet.
The original recording of “Escalator Over The Hill” took three years and included some of the greatest talents on the international music scene, like bassist / vocalist Jack BruceFind albums by this artist, guitarist John McLaughlinFind albums by this artist, trumpeter Don CherryFind albums by this artist, vocalists Jeanne LeeFind albums by this artist, Sheila JordanFind albums by this artist and Linda RonstadtFind albums by this artist and many, many others. It was a true spiritual experience, with an Avant-Garde concept and attitude at the helm, reflecting the wonderful atmosphere of freedom that the Arts enjoyed at this period of human Artistic apogee, perhaps the last, surely the last so far.
This remake, recorded forty-five years later, reflects some of the power of the original music, but fails to rekindle the drama and shocking innovation of the original delivery. It is simply way to well organized and beautified / smoothed up in comparison, at least to me. The somewhat hectic, disorganized aura of the original is lost here completely in favor of coherent orchestral arrangements, which are all very skillful of course.
But of course the brilliant music by Bley is still here, and the performances are all first class, creating a very enjoyable listening experience. If any younger listeners are about to discover the original opera thanks to this recording, all is well and the effort was worthwhile. This album is definitely worth being discovered just a token of appreciation for the heroic effort involved in this undertaking.
| | Updated: 31/08/2021Posted: 31/08/2021 | CD 1 Mini-Sleeve Recommend To A Friend |
  | WOJCIECH PULCYN ~ TRIBUTE TO CHARLIE HADEN
FOR TUNE 0125 (Barcode: 5906395808274) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz
Recorded: 2016 Released: 2017
This is the debut album as a leader by veteran Polish Jazz bassist Wojciech PulcynFind albums by this artist, dedicated as the title suggest, to the great American bassist / composer Charlie HadenFind albums by this artist. The music was recorded live at the Polish Radio studio by a group of Pulcyn´s cohorts, which include trumpeter Tomasz DabrowskiFind albums by this artist, saxophonist Mateusz SliwaFind albums by this artist, pianist Kuba StankiewiczFind albums by this artist and drummer Sebastian FrankiewiczFind albums by this artist. Vocalist Grazyna AuguscikFind albums by this artist and Pulcyn´s eight years old son Piotr PulcynFind albums by this artist (who plays cello) appear on one track each. The album presents nine pieces, six of which were composed by Haden, two by Ornette ColemanFind albums by this artist and one is a traditional tune.
Over the years I have had the immense pleasure to hear Pulcyn live many times and his performances were always impeccable and inspiring. His affinity with his instrument is as close as humanly possible and his humility and kind manners are an example of musical chivalry. Therefore this album, which finally puts the spotlight on his musical skills, is a long overdue opportunity to pay dues to his talents and personality.
The music should be pretty familiar to serious Jazz listeners, in particular those who follow the long and impressive career of Haden from his early days as a member of the revolutionary Ornette Coleman quartet, which changed the face of the Jazz idiom, to his work as a leader of his own ensembles. It is modern, often groundbreaking music, which remains completely relevant to this very day, and to be honest it is still on the forefront of the genre, despite the years that have passed sine it was originally composed.
The really fascinating aspect of this album is the fact that this music, created and performed originally by American musicians, is treated here with a completely new and more importantly European approach, which sets new meaning to the music and invigorates it immensely. I am tempted to say that this specific treatment of the music is more fascinating than the original in many respects, and for sure it is as far from imitation as can be imagined.
The performances are all stellar, as expected from the participating musicians. Dabrowski, who consistently earned a position of one of the top European Jazz trumpeters, fondly fits the shoes of the great Don CherryFind albums by this artist, again displaying his personal style and approach rather than imitating the Master. Sliwa, a young and upcoming player, stands shoulder to shoulder with the veterans, playing like a pro. Stankiewicz, a marvelous pianist, is a symbol of lyricism and never misses a note, always knowing when to touch the keyboard ever so delicately and Frankiewicz, a faithful companion in endless rhythm sections, supports the bassist amicably and telepathically.
From the opening solo bass track to the very last moment of this album Pulcyn´s bass is prominently featured in many diverse roles and intonations, always perfectly in accord with the music and the rest of the band, a true silent hero behind the scenes, who makes everything perfect.
This album is definitely a superb tribute to Haden´s genious, but at the same time it is a tribute to Pulcyn´s legacy as one of the top Polish Jazz bassists and an icon of stability, perfection and personal standing. Thank you Wojtek for all those beautiful moments!
| | Updated: 21/10/2017Posted: 21/10/2017 | CD 1 Recommend To A Friend |
  | JOHN TCHICAI ~ AFRODISIACA
PROMISING MUSIC 44107 (Barcode: 602517689350) ~ DENMARK ~ Jazz
Recorded: 1969 Released: 2008
Danish (of Congolese origin) saxophonist / composer John TchicaiFind albums by this artist was one of the very few European musicians involved with the development of Free Jazz in the US in the early 1960s, where he played with Don CherryFind albums by this artist, Archie SheppFind albums by this artist and John ColtraneFind albums by this artist. Upon his return to Denmark in the late 1960s, Tchicai became one of the leaders of European Free Jazz movement, as well as a visionary precursor of Jazz-World Fusion, dedicating much of his work to incorporating African Music into Jazz. This momentous recording documents one of the first major Jazz-World Fusion works, recorded by a Jazz orchestra with 26 players, mostly Danish musicians, with the Dutch saxophone colossus Willem BreukerFind albums by this artist as a guest. The title track is a 22 minutes long Jazz suite, performed by the orchestra and composed by trumpeter Hugh SteinmetzFind albums by this artist, with the soloist improvising individually and collectively on top. It is an amazing piece of music and a daring excursion into uncharted musical territory, which sounds as awesome and impressive today as it did at the tome of its recording, perhaps even more so in retrospect, considering how little experimenting is done these days. The rest of the album includes music composed by Tchicai and performed by smaller ensembles, emphasizing the concept of collective improvisation. The entire album was conceived and eventually brought to life by the legendary producer Joachim BerendtFind albums by this artist, who prophetically recognized the importance of Tchicai’s work and struggled ceaselessly to make this immensely complex project to come to fruition. The music remains a timeless manifest to the most creative period in Jazz, when the unexpected was truly expected. Superbly remastered and elegantly packaged by Promising MusicFind albums on this label, this is a treasure. Brilliant!
| | | CD 1 Mini-Sleeve Oversampling Remastered Recommend To A Friend |
  | VIKTOR TOTH ~ CLIMBING WITH MOUNTAINS
BMC 132 (Barcode: 5998309301322) ~ HUNGARY ~ Jazz
Recorded: 2006 Released: 2007
This is a brilliant album by Hungarian saxophonist / composer Viktor TothFind albums by this artist, one of the most prominent young European Improvised Music advocates, who has been very active in the last few years releasing several important recordings and performing many concerts. The album documents the first meeting between Toth and the legendary American drummer Hamid DrakeFind albums by this artist, which resulted in recording this great music. Of the 11 tracks present on this album, six are recorded in a trio format with the excellent bassist Matyas SzandaiFind albums by this artist, and the remaining five in a quartet format with trumpeter Ferenc KovacsFind albums by this artist. Toth composed ten pieces and the remaining one was composed by the bassist. The music is remarkably melodic and often even lyrical, which is not something one expects form a Free Jazz setting, but Toth is simply a romantic at heart and his melodies cut deeply. Drake´s phenomenal playing is trimmed accordingly and he displays his ability to stay overtly melodic, which he rarely does elsewhere. The bassist does a perfect job every time and complements Drake as if they played together since years. The trumpeter, who is also a very experienced musician in the Avant-Garde circles, contributes some superb licks as well. The atmosphere of this recording fondly reminds the early Ornette ColemanFind albums by this artist quartet with Don CherryFind albums by this artist, especially in view of the obvious joy and personal satisfaction displayed by the musicians involved. The listener should be able to enjoy this music even if his experience with Free Form is somewhat limited, as these performances are so overwhelming that all barriers are immediately removed. Connoisseurs of the great Eastern European Jazz should grab this gem on sight, satisfaction guaranteed!
| | Updated: 12/04/2019Posted: | CD 1 Mini-Sleeve Recommend To A Friend |
  | VIKTOR TOTH ~ POPPING BOPPING
BMC 191 (Barcode: 5998309301919) ~ HUNGARY ~ Jazz
Recorded: 2010 Released: 2011
This is a great album by an international Free Jazz quartet led by Hungarian saxophonist / composer Viktor TothFind albums by this artist, one of the most prominent young European Improvised Music activists. The quartet also includes Belgian trumpeter Bart MarisFind albums by this artist, a well known figure on the European scene, superb Hungarian bassist Matyas SzandaiFind albums by this artist, who regularly plays with Toth and Turkish drummer Robert IkizFind albums by this artist. This live recording captures the quartet performing six original compositions, all by Toth. The players are all exceptional and the chemistry between them is second to none. Again choosing the early Ornette ColemanFind albums by this artist quartet with Don CherryFind albums by this artist as a model, which seems to suit his music perfectly both instrumentally and aesthetically, Toth presents ambitious music, which somehow remains accessible. This is a rare quality, which very few Free Jazz / Improvised Music protagonists are able to create as consistently as Toth, as evident on several of his previous recordings, which deserves to be truly admired. His compositions also retain the quality, which marks his work from the early days, which should keep his followers satisfied. Overall this is another first-rate album by first-class musicians, which should be welcomed by music connoisseurs everywhere. Warmly recommended!
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  | EDWARD VESALA TRIO ~ NANA
SVART 421 (Barcode: 6430065585183) ~ FINLAND ~ Free Jazz / Improvised Music
Recorded: 1970 Released: 2018
This is a reissue of the iconic debut album by the Godfather of modern Finnish Jazz drummer / composer / bandleader Edward VesalaFind albums by this artist and his trio with Finnish saxophonist Juhani AaltonenFind albums by this artist and Norwegian bassist Arild AndersenFind albums by this artist. The album presents seven original compositions, four by Aaltonen, one each by Vesala and Andersen and one co-composed by all three members of the trio. Finnish trumpeter Mike KoskinenFind albums by this artist, who was supposed to play on the album, fell ill and the recording went down in history as a trio affair.
This was the first ever Finnish Free Jazz album and except for the little known album "NykysuomalaistaFind albums with this title" (Contemporary Finnish) recorded a year earlier, on which Vesala and Aaltonen appeared only on the B side of the LP, this was the debut full album for both of them.
The music is typical of the early European Free Jazz wave, which exploded on both sides of the Iron Curtain by the late 1960s. Vesala enlisted Anderson (who was a few months younger than him) to play with the trio as Anderson had already gained experience playing Free Jazz with Don CherryFind albums by this artist and others. The cooperation proved to be of crucial importance for Vesala, as it led to him being introduced to Norwegian saxophonist Jan GarbarekFind albums by this artist. In 1972 Vesala took part in his first ECMFind albums on this label album, the Jan Garbarek´s "TriptykonFind albums with this title" and soon after recorded his debut album for the label "Nan MadolFind albums with this title". He recorded five more albums for ECM and also participated on albums by Polish trumpeter Tomasz StankoFind albums by this artist released by the label.
In retrospect, the album is not only a highly important document of Finnish / European Jazz, but also a piece of music that still sounds vibrant and exciting, in spite of the fact that it was recorded five decades earlier.
This remastered edition is the first ever appearance of this historic album on CD, and considering its immense importance, it is an absolute must for any serious European Free Jazz connoisseur!
| | Updated: 28/06/2020Posted: 26/06/2020 | CD 1 Remastered Recommend To A Friend |
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