Record Reviews

MISHA ALPERIN ~ NIGHT ECM 1769 (Barcode: 044001434129) ~ RUSSIA ~ Jazz-Classical Fusion Recorded: 1998 Released: 2002 This is the 5th album on ECMFind albums by this artist by ex-Soviet (now living in Norway) brilliant pianist / composer Misha AlperinFind albums by this artist, which finds him in an intimate setting with two other musicians: German cellist Anja LechnerFind albums by this artist and Norwegian percussionist Hans-Kristian Kjos SorensenFind albums by this artist. The music, composed entirely by Alperin, was recorded live at a music festival held in Norway. Alperin´s music is contemplative and deeply moving, complex but also melodic, reminiscent of some contemporary Classical music but with a distinct Jazz connection. It is devilishly difficult to perform and the musicians present here are obviously all virtuosi. I can´t imagine any serious music connoisseur not falling in love with this music immediately and if you´re not familiar with it, now is the time!

CD 1 Slipcase Recommend To A Friend

BENNIE MAUPIN ~ THE JEWEL IN THE LOTUS ECM 1043 (Barcode: 602517232501) ~ USA ~ Jazz Recorded: 1974 Released: 2007 This great and unfortunately little known album by US reedman Bennie MaupinFind albums by this artist is a superb example of the artistic freedom extended to musicians by the legendary ECMFind albums by this artist label. Maupin is of course known from his input to the revolutionary music recorded by Miles DavisFind albums by this artist and later by the Herbie HancockFind albums by this artist sextet and in fact this album was recorded shortly after the recording of the three so called "MwandishiFind albums with this title" albums and later the immensely successful "Head HuntersFind albums with this title". The core members of Hancock´s sextet are here: Hancock himself on piano and electric piano, Buster WilliamsFind albums by this artist and bass, Billy HartFind albums by this artist on drums, augmented by trumpeter Charles SullivanFind albums by this artist and percussionists Frederic WaitsFind albums by this artist and Bill SummersFind albums by this artist. The music, all composed by Maupin, is deeply meditative and low key, but full of beauty and reflection. There is ample space for improvisation and interplay, all of which is done with great care and restraint, but the overall result aesthetically perfect. Perhaps not an "easy" album to listen to, especially for the first time, but music without challenge is not really worth pursuing, is it?

CD 1 Oversampling Remastered Recommend To A Friend