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11 Reviews Found. Use search to find more reviews or follow the links in the review text.

USCHI BRUNING / ERNST-LUDWIG PETROWSKY ~ KONTRASTE
EDEL CONTENT 4029759080510 (Barcode: 4029759080510) ~ GERMANY ~ Jazz

Recorded: 1987 Released: 2012

This is a reissue (first time on CD) of the phenomenal album by the Avant-Garde duet of female vocalist Uschi BruningFind albums by this artist and the iconic East German Jazz multi-instrumentalist (flute / clarinet / saxophone) / composer Ernst-Ludwig PetrowskyFind albums by this artist. Together they perform twelve tunes, eight of which were composed by Petrowsky, one by Bruning, another one by East German Jazz musician Eberhard WeiseFind albums by this artist and the remaining two are standards.

Bruning, who except for one case is not singing lyrics and only uses her voice to produce wordless vocalese, is an absolute maverick, freely moving between melodic passages into screams, shouts and shrill almost operatic high tones. Connected telepathically to Petrowsky, together they produce a series of duets, which redefine the meaning of Avant-Garde Jazz vocals.

Petrowsky is brilliant regardless which instrument he chooses to play on a given tune, and his diverse stylistic approaches are plainly demonstrated herein. Absurdly, he is the "more conventional" performer on this album, in contrast to his traditional position of innovator and groundbreaker. The pair manages to create a wonderful balance, which results in this highly unconventional music to be almost "easy" for the listener. Of course the label "Art of the Duo" applies without reservation to this album.

Listening to this music in retrospect one can not cease to wonder how on earth such unconventional, free-spirited, Avant-Garde and plainly anti-establishment subversive music was not only recorded but also released on a State owned label in the most oppressive Socialist Country at the time, famous for its infamous Stasi secret police. But people familiar with the history of Jazz behind the Iron Curtain know of the existence of endless such absurdities. Another question of course is why the people under oppression produced such daring music whereas those living in the "free world" were at the same time recording mostly absolutely obscene garbage.

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: 12/04/2019Posted: 11/05/2016CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

EUROPEAN JAZZ ENSEMBLE ~ MEETS THE KHAN FAMILY
M.A MUSIC 807 ~ GERMANY ~ Jazz-World Fusion

Recorded: 1992 Released: 1992

This is a live album by the European Jazz EnsembleFind albums by this artist, a collective of Jazz musicians led by German bassist Ali HaurandFind albums by this artist (who died in 2018), which included in its various configurations since 1976 the absolute crème de la crème of European Jazz representatives. The lineup on this album comprises, in addition to Haurand, of trumpeters Thomas HebererFind albums by this artist, Manfred SchoofFind albums by this artist and Rainer WinterschladenFind albums by this artist, saxophonists Ernst-Ludwig PetrowskyFind albums by this artist, Gerd DudekFind albums by this artist and Stan SulzmannFind albums by this artist, guitarist Philip CatherineFind albums by this artist, pianists Joachim KuhnFind albums by this artist and Rob van den BroeckFind albums by this artist, vocalist Uschi BruningFind albums by this artist and drummer Tony LevinFind albums by this artist (of the twelve musicians two are British, one Belgian and one Dutch, and the rest are Germans). On this album they invited three Indian musicians, members of the extended Khan family: Ustad Zamir Ahmed KhanFind albums by this artist on sitar, Irshad Hussain KhanFind albums by this artist on tabla and Ustad Munir KhanFind albums by this artist on sarangi. The album presents four tracks, two lasing over fifteen minutes and two over twenty minutes, one each composed by Danish trumpeter Allan BotschinskyFind albums by this artist (a former member of the ensemble), Sultzmann, Kuhn and Schoof.

The music is a wonderful example of Jazz-World Fusion, with the entire ensemble and the guests offer a group improvisation based on pre-composed themes, but expanding the music way beyond the original melodies, as expected. The ensemble plays some parts in a Big Band manner, but most of the time the music involves group improvisations between the ensemble members and the guests, often flying far and away from the initial source.

Since all the musicians on this album are superb instrumentalists, the level of the performances is nothing short of stunning. All the albums by this ensemble are excellent documents of the diversity and complexity of the European scene, and here they are able to create new cross-genre musical explorations.

Overall, this is a very interesting and rather unique Jazz-World Music album, which presents a meeting between Big Band Jazz and Indian traditional music, which usually is performed in a much more intimate lineup. These musicians prove again that music has no stylistic borders, and gifted musicians are able to communicate within any musical environment without any obstacles. Wholeheartedly recommended!
Updated: 17/08/2024Posted: 16/08/2024CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

GEORGIE FAME / USCHI BRUNING / ALAND SKIDMORE QUARTET ~ A DECLARATION OF LOVE
ITM 9200020 (Barcode: 4250317473738) ~ UK ~ Jazz

Recorded: 2008 Released: 2015

This is an archival release of a live concert which features the British Jazz singer / keyboardist / songwriter Georgie FameFind albums by this artist and the German Jazz singer Uschi BruningFind albums by this artist accompanied by the quartet led by the legendary British Jazz saxophonist Alan SkidmoreFind albums by this artist, which also includes pianist Steve MellingFind albums by this artist, bassist Geoff GascoyneFind albums by this artist and drummer Ian PalmerFind albums by this artist. The album presents ten tracks, of which five feature Fame, three feature Bruning, one is a Fame / Bruning duet and one is an instrumental performance by the quartet. The music is mostly Jazz standards, except the title tracks which is a Fame original and one standard which has lyrics written by Fame. Recorded at the Berlin Philharmonic, the album´s sound quality is impeccable.

Fame has been my favorite Jazz vocalist since I have heard him live in London in the late 1960s, and I have been fortunate to hear him perform many times over the years in very diverse circumstances ranging from intimate solo appearances to his concerts with Big Bands, always delivering the absolute top performances. Regardless if he sang Jazz, Blues, Rhythm And Blues or even Pop, his absolutely unique intonation and heartfelt articulation are simply magical. Now in his sixth decade as a performer, he is still a formidable Artist.

Bruning is a German Jazz icon, who started her career in the dark days of the DDR period, which paradoxically produced some of the most interesting European Jazz. Her work with the legendary saxophonist Ernst-Ludwig PetrowskyFind albums by this artist is one of the most interesting vocal recordings made at the time behind the Iron Curtain. She is still active today on the German scene and definitely worth following.

Skidmore needs no introduction of course, being one of the world top saxophonists and one of the most important Jazz musicians keeping the John ColtraneFind albums by this artist legacy alive. His enormous contribution to British / European Jazz is unprecedented.

Overall this is a wonderful vocal Jazz album, full of great singing, superb instrumental work and good taste, rarely present on contemporary recordings. Great fun from start to finish and of course warmly recommended!
Updated: 08/05/2023Posted: 21/07/2019CD 1 Slipcase Recommend To A Friend

GEORGE GRUNTZ ~ RENAISSANCE MAN
TCB 22162 (Barcode: 725095221627) ~ SWITZERLAND ~ Jazz

Recorded: 1961 - 2001 Released: 2002

This is a wonderful archive album by Swiss pianist / composer / bandleader George GruntzFind albums by this artist, which presents a collection of fifteen recordings spread over a period of forty years, most of which have never been released before. The include intimate formats but mostly European Big Bands and Orchestras, like his Concert Jazz BandFind albums by this artist, WDR Big BandFind albums by this artist, NDR Big BandFind albums by this artist and others. The many participants include such legendary Jazz artists as pianist Joachim KuhnFind albums by this artist, vocalist Sheila JordanFind albums by this artist, bandoneónist Dino SaluzziFind albums by this artist, saxophonists Alan SkidmoreFind albums by this artist and Ernst-Ludwig PetrowskyFind albums by this artist and many others.

The music displays the outstanding talents of Gruntz as pianist, arranger and composer, presenting beautifully diverse music, which includes mainstream Jazz, orchestral Jazz and Jazz-World Fusion pieces, always executed with finesse and absolute charm. Therefore this album is a wonderful introduction to the many talents of Gruntz for listeners not familiar with his work but also a gorgeous collection of previously unavailable recordings for those already familiar with his achievements.

Gruntz was always the epitome of European Jazz as one of its Godfathers, perfectly combining the American Jazz tradition with the European Classical and Folklore traditions. The recordings included herein are all exquisite examples of what European Jazz is all about, stylistically and conceptually. Although the collected pieces have seemingly nothing in common, they amalgamate into a perfect kaleidoscope of modern European Jazz

Personally I can get never enough of Gruntz and his music, so this album is simply one more token of memory by this great Artist, who is sadly relatively little known to most Jazz listeners around the world. In addition his recordings are not easily available as well, which makes the task of keeping his memory alive even harder.

Overall this is a brilliant collection of excellent music, which deserves a proud place in any serious music collection. Not to be missed!
Updated: 26/09/2016Posted: 26/09/2016CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

JAZZ WERKSTATT ORCHESTER ~ AUS TEUTSCHEN LANDEN
EDEL CONTENT 4029759080596 (Barcode: 4029759080596) ~ GERMANY ~ Free Jazz / Improvised Music

Recorded: 1972 Released: 2012

This is a reissue (first time on CD) of the excellent album by the East German Jazz Werkstatt OrchesterFind albums by this artist, an ensemble consisting of thirteen players, which included the best Jazz musicians active at the time, like trombonist Conrad BauerFind albums by this artist, saxophonist Ernst-Ludwig PetrowskyFind albums by this artist, keyboardist Ulrich GumpertFind albums by this artist, drummer Gunter SommerFind albums by this artist and others. The orchestra performed a five-part suite based on German Folk songs, written and arranged by Gumpert.

The album was originally released in 1977, five years after this music was recorded, to commemorate a series of concerts called "Jazz In Der Kammer" and to celebrate the 100th concert. The music included here was recorded during the 48th concert of that series.

The music is very unique, combining the Big Band tradition, the German Brass Band tradition and folklore and Free Jazz, which was the preferred modus operandi of the ensemble members. Together the resulting music is a phenomenal expression of cross-genre beautiful weirdness.

Following the opening statement, which consists of a different folk melody in each of the suite´s parts, the players perform expanded solos, which in turn evolve into spontaneous Free Jazz group improvisations, which are insanely intensive and technically dazzling. There are very few recordings of such kind in existence, which turns this album into a rara avis.

The fact that this music was recorded and released in East German is truly amazing and pretty incomprehensible. But despite the political oppression and censorship East Germany managed to produce some of the most amazing early European Jazz, of the Avant-Garde and Improvising Music variety. For connoisseurs of Free Jazz this is an absolute must!

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: 12/04/2019Posted: 11/06/2016CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

JERZY MILIAN ~ CUTTING
GAD 123 (Barcode: 5903068120985) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz

Recorded: 1971 - 1977 Released: 2020

This is the ninth installment of the archival series released by GADFind albums on this label Records, which presents the work of Polish Jazz vibraphonist / composer / bandleader Jerzy MilianFind albums by this artist. This chapter is dedicated to Milian´s recordings from 1970s, done in East Berlin (then DDR) with the Rundfunk Tanzorchester BerlinFind albums by this artist, conducted by Gunter GollaschFind albums by this artist, which included the best East German musicians, such as saxophonist Ernst-Ludwig PetrowskyFind albums by this artist, trumpeter Joachim GrasswurmFind albums by this artist, trombonist Hubert KatzenbeisserFind albums by this artist, saxophonist / clarinetist Werner SchmidtFind albums by this artist, pianist Horst PawliczakFind albums by this artist, bassist Klaus KochFind albums by this artist, drummer Wolfgang WinklerFind albums by this artist and others. The orchestra performs sixteen compositions by Milian, also arranged by him.

The music is typical orchestral Jazz, based on the wonderful compositions and brilliant arrangements by Milian, which offer a mixture of relatively easier pieces with some Funk, Swing and even Big Beat inclinations, but also more advanced ones bordering on Anat-Garde, altogether a wonderful example of modern European Jazz, reflecting Milian´s fascination with the Third Stream idiom. These orchestral pieces are obviously more "well behaved" in comparison to the music Milian composed for small combos, but still complex enough to rise a brow fifty years later. The orchestra included many excellent instrumentalists (Petrowsky among them), who performed the difficult music without a hitch, and therefore the result is still awe inspiring

Milian´s compositions are absolutely brilliant and remain completely valid, often sounding as if composed today. Sophisticated, elegant, clever and beautifully structured, this music is alive and kicking as it was at the time it was created.

Overall this is an incredible piece of Polish / European Jazz history, which absolutely deserves to be heard and studied. With Milian´s passing it is even more important to document his work and bring it to the public. For orchestral Jazz and East European Jazz enthusiasts this album and all the albums released in this archival series are an absolute must!
Updated: 16/09/2020Posted: 16/09/2020CD 1 Remastered Recommend To A Friend

JERZY MILIAN ~ NEUROIMPRESSIONS
GAD 050 (Barcode: 5901549197655) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz

Recorded: 1970 - 1973 Released: 2016

This is the sixth installment of the archival series released by GADFind albums on this label Records, which presents the work of Polish Jazz vibraphonist / composer / bandleader Jerzy MilianFind albums by this artist. This chapter is dedicated to Milian´s recordings from the early 1970s, done with small ensembles in Hungary and East Germany (DDR), captured during three separate sessions, each producing three tracks. All nine tracks are original compositions by Milian.

The Hungarian session was recorded with a quartet led by trumpeter Rudolf TomsitsFind albums by this artist with included also pianist Gyorgy VukanFind albums by this artist, bassist Balazs BerkesFind albums by this artist and drummer Vilmos JavoriFind albums by this artist. Both East German sessions find Milian accompanied by the legendary saxophonist Ernst-Ludwig PetrowskyFind albums by this artist, bassist Klaus KochFind albums by this artist and drummer Willibald WinklerFind albums by this artist. Trumpeter Heinz BeckerFind albums by this artist participated on just one of these sessions.

The music is by far the most Avant-Garde of all Milian´s compositions presented on this series, and although obviously composed, it sounds like spontaneously Improvised Music most of the time. Both the Hungarian and the East German musicians were at the time representatives of the East European Free Jazz / Improvised Music scene, and their bold and adventurous attitude put them on the same level as their counterparts from across the Iron Wall. Petrowsky´s saxophone work does not differ much from what Evan ParkerFind albums by this artist played at the time in the UK or Willem BreukerFind albums by this artist played in Netherlands and so on.

From the historical perspective this album presents one more layer of Milian´s diversity and versatility, which is certainly much less known than his Big Band activity, which made him popular among listeners of less complex music. There is no doubt that Milian was able to take advantage of the opportunities the Eastern Block had to offer, in order to create some of the most audacious music made at the time anywhere on the planet.

As usual the original recordings are excellently remastered and the booklet offer informative bi-lingual background information about the music and the time it was created at. It is yet another must for all East European Jazz fans and collectors!
Updated: 12/04/2019Posted: 15/01/2017CD 1 Remastered Recommend To A Friend

JERZY MILIAN ~ RIVALEN
GAD 037 (Barcode: 5901549197471) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Classical Fusion

Recorded: 1968 - 1974 Released: 2016

This is the fifth installment of the archival series released by GADFind albums on this label Records, which presents the work of Polish Jazz vibraphonist / composer / bandleader Jerzy MilianFind albums by this artist. This chapter is dedicated to Milian´s ballet music, and presents four of his works, three of which were choreographed for the stage by the pioneering Polish choreographer Conrad DrzewieckiFind albums by this artist. One piece was recorded by the Poznan Opera OrchestraFind albums by this artist, which featured saxophonist Zdzislaw NowakFind albums by this artist, and the other three by the excellent East German Rundfunk Tanzorchester BerlinFind albums by this artist conducted by Gunter GollaschFind albums by this artist, which featured the legendary saxophonist Ernst-Ludwig PetrowskyFind albums by this artist and trumpeter Joachim GrasswurmFind albums by this artist.

The composition entitled "Tema Con Variazioni", which was released on Milian´s album "Muzyka Baletowa I FilmowaFind albums with this title" appears here in its full version for the first time.

The music is completely visionary, as usual in Milian´s case, floating somewhere between Third Stream, Duke Ellington´s Jazz suites and contemporary Classical Music. Considering the fact he was only in his thirties, when this music was composed, he already had a tremendous experience and vision, which only very few of his contemporaries shared.

The recording with the Poznan Opera Orchestra is a bit stiff (except for the excellent saxophone parts), as these were classically trained musicians and Milian´s intricacies must have been straining for them, but the three Berlin recordings are all spectacular and awe inspiring, especially in retrospect. Nobody today dares to write and perform such complex and farsighted music and perhaps we should be grateful to the Socialist Era, which enabled projects that in today´s economic reality would be completely impossible to realize.

This is unquestionably one of the strongest albums in this series, which of course has a tremendous historic value, but first and foremost presents some incredible music, which absolutely has to be preserved for posterity. For Polish Jazz connoisseurs this is an essential piece of the puzzle and a must in every serious record collection. Brilliant stuff!
Updated: 12/03/2020Posted: 27/02/2016CD 1 Remastered Essential Recommend To A Friend

JERZY MILIAN ~ STIGMA
GAD 107 (Barcode: 5903068120480) ~ POLAND ~ Avant-Garde Jazz

Recorded: 1970 Released: 2019

This is the eighth installment of the archival series released by GADFind albums on this label Records, which presents the work of Polish Jazz vibraphonist / composer / bandleader Jerzy MilianFind albums by this artist. This chapter is dedicated to Milian´s recordings from 1970, done in Berlin (then DDR) with the Ensemble Studio 4Find albums by this artist, a septet led by saxophonist Ernst-Ludwig PetrowskyFind albums by this artist and including trumpeter Joachim GrasswurmFind albums by this artist, trombonist Hubert KatzenbeisserFind albums by this artist, saxophonist / clarinetist Werner SchmidtFind albums by this artist, pianist Eberhard WeiseFind albums by this artist, bassist Klaus KochFind albums by this artist and drummer Wolfgang WinklerFind albums by this artist. The septet performs four compositions by Milian, also arranged by him. Additional three compositions by Milian are performed by the Rundfunk Tanzorchester BerlinFind albums by this artist, conducted by Gunter GollaschFind albums by this artist, a cooperation that would continue for the next fourteen years. Milian plays vibraphone on five tracks, both with the septet and the orchestra.

The music is a wonderful example of modern European Jazz, with both the septet and the Big Band pieces reflecting Milian´s fascination with the Third Stream idiom. The septet included some of the most important East German Jazz players at the time, many of which founded the Avant-Garde / Free Jazz scene in East Germany, which was known by its adventurous explorations and radical approach, which for some reason where tolerated by the State censorship, often considered as the sternest behind the Iron Curtain. Therefore it is quite natural that the tracks with the septet are quite challenging and free spirited, and the fact that this music was strictly composed often seems to be lost in the heat of the execution. The orchestral pieces are obviously more "well behaved", but still complex enough to rise a brow fifty years later. The orchestra included many excellent instrumentalists (Petrowsky among them), who performed the difficult music without a hitch, and therefore the result is not surprising, but still awe inspiring

Milian´s compositions are absolutely brilliant and remain completely valid, often sounding as if composed today. Sophisticated, elegant, clever and beautifully structured, this music is alive and kicking as it was at the time it was created.

Overall this is an incredible piece of Polish / European Jazz history, which absolutely deserves to be heard and studied. With Milian´s passing it is even more important to document his work and bring it to the public. For orchestral Jazz and East European Jazz enthusiasts this album and all the albums released in this archival series are an absolute must!
Updated: 12/03/2020Posted: 12/03/2020CD 1 Remastered Recommend To A Friend

JERZY MILIAN ~ WHEN WHERE WHY
GAD 005 (Barcode: 5901549197044) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz

Recorded: 1972 - 1979 Released: 2012

The Polish GADFind albums on this label Records label has become a treasure chest of archival recordings by Polish Jazz and Rock artists and in the short period of time since 2010, when the label released its first album, it established its position on the market as a dedicated and reliable source of interesting material. This album follows the already established pattern and is the first volume of archival material by legendary Polish Jazz vibraphonist / composer Jerzy MilianFind albums by this artist, one of the forefathers of modern Polish Jazz.

The material collected here was recorded over a period of several years in the 1970s by the East German Rundfunk Tanzorchester BerlinFind albums by this artist conducted by Gunter GollaschFind albums by this artist, which included many excellent players, some known also internationally like the legendary saxophonist Ernst-Ludwig PetrowskyFind albums by this artist. Milian worked with the orchestra for many years, writing and recording a lot of quite diverse music with them.

The music presented here, all composed by Milian, consists of fifteen relatively shorter pieces, which exemplify the "lighter" side of his composer´s milieu, which of course does not mean the music is of lesser quality or sophistication. The melodies are all quite superbly crafted and the orchestral arrangements are all splendid and interesting. It is less adventurous material than some of Milian´s other compositions, but lacks nothing as far as compositional skills, flair and elegance are concerned. The orchestra performs the music spotlessly and with grace and as a result this is a wonderful Big Band / orchestral album, which reflects well on Milian´s talent and vision. It is also a great example of European Big Band / orchestral sound and style, which varies considerably from its American counterparts.

In retrospect these recordings are a sad reminder of the Big Band form, which is almost extinct today in comparison to its hay days. With the impossible economics behind keeping a Big Band performing and touring and a dwindling public funding, most Big Bands, including the one present here, were eventually disbanded, an omen of a disappearing Culture. They also present a little known facet of European Jazz, which bloomed under the surface behind the Iron Curtain, even in the DDR and East Berlin, which were always considered as the epicenter of Socialist conservatism, cultural and otherwise, and oppression of "forbidden" Western influences. And yet the wide open eyes of the censorship often missed some truly daring escapades happening just under its nose. This is definitely one of such cases.

With remastered and restored sound and informative booklet (including text in English), this album is definitely worth checking out by any connoisseur of European Jazz, looking for another perspective.
Updated: 27/02/2016Posted: CD 1 Remastered Recommend To A Friend

SYNOPSIS ~ SYNOPSIS
EDEL CONTENT 4029759080480 (Barcode: 4029759080480) ~ GERMANY ~ Free Jazz / Improvised Music

Recorded: 1974 Released: 2012

This is a reissue (first time on CD) of the album by the East German quartet SynopsisFind albums by this artist, which comprised of legendary pioneers of Free Jazz / Improvised Music in that country: saxophonist Ernst-Ludwig PetrowskyFind albums by this artist, trombonist Conrad BauerFind albums by this artist, pianist Ulrich GumpertFind albums by this artist and drummer Gunter SommerFind albums by this artist. The quartet performs six pieces, four of which are credited in turn to each of the quartet members, one is a group composition by all four participants and one is based on a Folk tune. A month before recording this music Synopsis recorded another session for the FMPFind albums on this label label based in West Berlin, which was released later on.

The music is a stunning example of early East European Avant-Garde, which moves between Free Jazz and Improvised Music, something radically different and highly surprising and in full contrast to what one might expect was happening in Jazz behind the Iron Curtain. Although these musicians had contact with their eastern neighbors in Poland, who were already involved in creating their own Avant-Garde scene at the time, as well as meeting western musicians while performing at Warsaw´s Jazz Jamboree festival, but the fact that such adventurous music was created and than released is completely baffling, considering the fact that East Germany was the most closely censored and culturally limited of all the Eastern Block countries (see Side Note below).

Even in retrospect this music sounds poignant and striking, which of course is not that surprising now, as these four musicians have all reached legendary status on the European Improvised Music scene. Each of them has a completely unique voice on a global scale and this early recording should be a revelation to all the listeners who did not hear it at the time it was created. The urgency and unlimited longing for freedom by people living under an oppressive political regime explodes here in full, driving the music to the limits known at the time and beyond. And yet underneath all that havoc there is still the typical German correctness and almost autistic separation from savoir vivre. Overall this a classic of the genre and a first class document of European Jazz history.

Since this album had a very limited reach in the first place, the fact that it is available again should make hordes of Improvised Music connoisseurs extremely happy. Not to be missed!

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: 12/04/2019Posted: 18/03/2016CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

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