Record Reviews
5 Reviews Found. Use search to find more reviews or follow the links in the review text.
  | ULRICH GUMPERT ~ `N TANGO FUR GITTI
EDEL CONTENT 4029759080626 (Barcode: 4029759080626) ~ GERMANY ~ Jazz
Recorded: 1982 Released: 2012
This is a reissue (first time on CD) of the solo piano album by the East German Jazz pianist / composer Ulrich GumpertFind albums by this artist. It presents five original compositions, all by Gumpert.
Gumpert, who was active on the East German Jazz scene in such diverse environments as Jazz-Rock Fusion and Free Jazz / Improvised Music, shows on this album his more lyrical side, playing his compositions with are based on clear melodic themes and than expanded into lengthy free form improvisations. The music moves between modern Jazz and contemporary Classical forms, full of highly sensitive and emotional gestures.
Experienced listeners will find here traces of influences and quotes of phrases by such diverse piano Masters / composers as Thelonious MonkFind albums by this artist, Erik SatieFind albums by this artist and the German born Austrian / Jewish composer Hanns EislerFind albums by this artist (whose fascinating life story is a must read). Gumpert incorporates all these influences subtly, but lovingly, creating his own unique amalgam.
Although complex and intellectually demanding this music is also accessible due to its lyrical and melodic nature. Therefore modern piano music connoisseurs, regardless of their genre of choice, should find this music fascinating and highly rewarding. In retrospect the music lost nothing of its power and charm and is still a superb listening experience.
Side Note: As all the East European countries under the Socialist regime, East Germany, or DDR as it was known at the time, had only one state owned and controlled Music Company, which released most of its productions on the AmigaFind albums on this label label. Among the many Amiga releases the legendary "orange J" series was dedicated to Jazz recordings, many of which were licenses from the West, but others were original productions, mostly of Jazz made in DDR. Some of these releases, like the one described above, were absolute gems.
Following the unification of Germany, the Amiga albums disappeared from the face of the earth and only in 2012 a German label reissued 15 Amiga Jazz albums on CD. They are all worth checking out!
| | Updated: 11/05/2016Posted: 20/03/2016 | CD 1 Recommend To A Friend |
  | JACHNA / TARWID / KARCH ~ SUNDIAL II
HEVHETIA 0130 (Barcode: 8588005257879) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz
Recorded: 2016 Released: 2016
This is the second album by the excellent Polish Jazz trio consisting of trumpeter Wojciech JachnaFind albums by this artist, pianist Grzegorz TarwidFind albums by this artist and drummer Albert KarchFind albums by this artist. It presents nine original compositions, four of which were composed by Tarwid, two were composed by Karch, one was composed by Jachna, one was co-composed by Jachna and Tarwid and the final one was co-composed by all three members of the trio.
The trio´s previous album, which created quite a stir on the Polish scene when it was released two years earlier, has set an incredibly high hurdle before the musicians to follow up and even more so to further develop their music, with the usual "second album dread" hovering above. I am delighted to say that they did not disappoint and managed very successfully to surmount all the perils.
The main element of this album is the decisive role of the composition, which takes over the role of improvised music, which was the primary modus operandi on the debut album. It becomes very apparent after just a few moments of listening, that this music is carefully composed and structured, which takes it even closer to the contemporary Classical idiom and further away from Jazz, than previously. The music is mostly very serene, relaxed and minimalistic, with prolonged pauses and a vast amount of space between the notes, except for a few highly intensive passages. Tarwid, who is the primary composer this time, plays long solo piano passages, which resemble the characteristic atmosphere of the music by the great French composer Erik SatieFind albums by this artist. Jachna almost completely avoids his blistering staccatos and mostly just plays the melody lines and variations. Karch also does not play traditional rhythms, just adds percussive layer to the music, mostly using mallets and playing very modestly. As a trio they are extremely effective, balanced and expressive, using the silence and space as their most efficient tool.
Together the trio creates an amazing amalgam of contemporary music, which simply eschews any simplistic classification. For a lack of a better definition it could be described as belonging to the very liberal and broad definition of the Jazz idiom, but in truth it could be also perceived as a next step in the development of contemporary music. Free yet organized, unconventional yet coherent, composed yet unexpected, this is definitely some of the best music that is being played in Europe these days.
One can only speculate what these young musicians will come up with in the future, but it is pretty sure it will be fresh and intellectually challenging. This level of composition and performance happens only very rarely, even on the European Jazz scene, which is blessed with remarkable quantity of extremely talented young musicians. In the meantime we can enjoy every second if this superb album, filling our hearts with the joy of creation these musicians share with us. Absolutely brilliant!
| | Updated: 27/10/2016Posted: 27/10/2016 | CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend |
  | QUINDEPENDENCE ~ CIRCUMSTANCES
NOT ON LABEL (Barcode: 5908254159688) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz
Recorded: 2016 Released: 2017
This is the debut album by young Polish Jazz ensemble QuindependenceFind albums by this artist which comprises of saxophonist / flautist Krzysztof MatejskiFind albums by this artist, trumpeter Dominik BorekFind albums by this artist, pianist Michal SalamonFind albums by this artist, bassist Milosz SkwirutFind albums by this artist and drummer Pawel NowakFind albums by this artist. The album presents seven tracks, four of which are original compositions (two each by Skwirut and Salamon), another two are arrangements of the first two of the fascinating seven piano pieces by Erik SatieFind albums by this artist called Gnossiennes and the last is a Polish Jazz standard by Zbigniew NamyslowskiFind albums by this artist.
The music is modern melodic mainstream Jazz, with excellent original compositions and quite unusual complexity, which offers an excellent listening adventure. Although still full of the typical Polish lyricism and melancholy, the music goes beyond the typical conventions and boldly steps into new territory, which even much more established ensembles of this king rarely visit.
The instrumental proficiency of these young players is also quite astounding, both on the individual level and as an ensemble. The complex music flows naturally and coherently, allowing for plenty of soloing opportunities and even some free form ensemble improvisation. Salamon, who is both a gifted composer and beautifully lyrical pianist (well remembered from the albums by F.O.U.R.S. CollectiveFind albums by this artist or MonosiesFind albums by this artist ensemble), sets the harmonic anchor for the proceedings and the horns deliver plenty of fiery moments. Skwirut not only keeps the music on track by his bass pulsations but also offers his two superb compositions, which are the most challenging pieces herein.
Overall this is a wonderful debut album, which was sadly lost somewhere amongst the multitude of the excellent Polish Jazz releases at the time. Since the album was not followed by other releases, I assume it is not active any more, which is a pity. I have no idea how it arrived on my desk four years after it was released, but better late than never is absolutely true in this case as well.
| | Updated: 04/04/2020Posted: 04/04/2020 | CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend |
  | VIENNA ART ORCHESTRA ~ THE MINIMALISM OF ERIK SATIE
HATOLOGY 671 (Barcode: 752156067122) ~ AUSTRIA ~ Jazz-Classical Fusion
Recorded: 1983 - 1984 Released: 2010
The Austrian modern Big Band / ensemble Vienna Art OrchestraFind albums by this artist is probably the most ambitious gathering of European Jazz musicians ever attempted and one of the most (probably the most) successful effort of this kind. Led by the charismatic composer / arranger / bandleader Mathias RüeggFind albums by this artist, who is a Master of his craft and who writes most of the music performed by the ensemble, the Vienna Art Orchestra is a revelation. The scope of music created by the Vienna Art Orchestra in the last three decades amounts to a gigantic body of work unparalleled by any other of his contemporaries. The orchestra members are all top Austrian Jazz players, as well as many guest musicians from other European countries. This very special project finds the ensemble reworking a set of compositions by the brilliant French composer Erik SatieFind albums by this artist. Satie´s short (minimalist) compositions, as beautiful as they are, are expanded and rearranged by Rüegg and become magnificent, presenting a perfect amalgamation of Jazz and modern Classical Music. The band includes the incredible vocals by Lauren NewtonFind albums by this artist, in addition to numerous superb musicians, such as saxophonists Harry SokalFind albums by this artist, Roman SchwallerFind albums by this artist and many others. The music is absolutely breathtaking and brilliant from start to finish; every moment catches the listener completely unprepared and leaves him absolutely stunned when the album is over. This is an utmost case in point of the European way to do things, which places all American Big Bands miles in the rear. An absolute must to any serious Jazz listener and an everlasting example of musical ingenuity. Essential!
| | | CD 1 Mini-Sleeve Oversampling Remastered Essential Recommend To A Friend |
|
