Record Reviews

GORDON BECK ~ EXPERIMENTS WITH POPS ART OF LIFE 1001 (Barcode: 804640100126) ~ UK ~ Jazz Recorded: 1967 Released: 2001 Pianist / composer Gordon BeckFind albums by this artist is one of the true forefathers of modern British and European Jazz; a pioneer and revolutionary in every sense and a giant musician, who managed to free himself from the boundaries imposed by the American Jazz tradition and take the music a step further to a new sphere. What is even more remarkable and amazing is the fact that in contrast to most British and European musicians, who took their emancipation from the rigors of the past towards Free Jazz and Improvised Music, Beck remained firmly within the seemingly “mainstream” form, playing melodically and in strict time, and yet so much “out there” that for people who are able to hear the difference it’s truly staggering. Beck first came to prominence when he joined the group led by British Jazz legend Tubby HayesFind albums by this artist in 1962 and remained with him for several years as his regular pianist, performing and recording some of the most remarkable albums in the British Jazz history. Since 1967 Beck started to record as a leader and his trio became the “house band” of the famous Ronnie ScottFind albums by this artist’s London club. By the end of the 1960s he took part in the development of the British Jazz-Rock Fusion, playing with Phil WoodsFind albums by this artist in the European Rhythm MachineFind albums by this artist and later with NucleusFind albums by this artist. He became increasingly involved with other musicians from the European scene, especially with many French Jazz players (an association that thrives to these very days). His extensive discography accumulated over the years, both as leader and sideman, is a formidable body of work, which stands out as one of the most consistently excellent and creative. This album was Beck’s second (out of three) release on the tiny independent Major MinorFind albums on this label label, which in time became one of the most sought after British Jazz collector’s items. For the recording Beck expanded his trio (Jeff ClyneFind albums by this artist – bass and Tony OxleyFind albums by this artist – drums) to a quartet, with the addition of no other that guitarist John McLaughlinFind albums by this artist, known at the time as “Johnny”. Apart from the fact that this is one of the very few early McLaughlin recordings, and therefore of immense historical value, the entire quartet is probably one of the strongest and most extraordinary European ensembles, pioneering the European approach of collective playing. McLaughlin’s brilliant arpeggios, Oxley’s prophetic time keeping away from time, Clyne’s innovative bass explorations and Beck’s flights all over the keyboard collectively create an new amalgam of sounds, taking the music to a new dimension, previously unexplored. How ironic, considering that the material consists entirely from Pop songs popular at the time (hence the album’s title), but in the hands of these players the music becomes truly experimental, as promised by the album’s title. The album’s producer Ray HorricksFind albums by this artist writes in the original liner notes: “This could be the most creative Jazz quartet album ever recorded in Europe… previous quartet recordings in London, or on the Continent, and including the best, have consisted of a rhythm section accompanying a leading soloist; whereas this one features a genuine collective development along lines which no other group, except Gary BurtonFind albums by this artist’s in America, has yet proceeded”. How perceptive and prophetic… Kudos to Paul KohlerFind albums by this artist of Art Of LifeFind albums on this label Records for bringing this timeless masterpiece back to circulation. This music, 40 years after it was recorded, sounds better and more exciting than most of what one hears in contemporary Jazz. Absolutely essential!

CD 1 Remastered Essential Recommend To A Friend

GORDON BECK ~ JAZZ TRIO ART OF LIFE 1017 (Barcode: 804640101727) ~ UK ~ Jazz Recorded: 1972 Released: 2005 Pianist / composer Gordon BeckFind albums by this artist is one of the key figures in the history of British Jazz and this album is a great document of his vital input as one of the pioneers of modern European Jazz. Recorded quite spontaneously during an Italian tour of the last version of the European Rhythm MachineFind albums by this artist, of which Beck and the other two musicians present here: British bassist Ron MathewsonFind albums by this artist and Swiss drummer Daniel HumairFind albums by this artist, were members together with US saxophonist Phil WoodsFind albums by this artist, who was living in France at the time. The entire recording session took just a few short hours and captures Beck and his colleagues performing two extended compositions, each of which occupied an entire side of the original LP. The first, written by Beck, is a Jazz suite in three parts with the opening and closing sections being relatively “straightforward” and the middle section open up to free group improvisation. The second was a completely improvised piece of Free Jazz, co-composed by the trio. The music is simply breathtaking, full if incredible interplay and magic moments, with virtuosi performances. This is Beck’s most advanced venture into Free Jazz (although only partially so), previously attempted only on the fabulous “GyroscopeFind albums with this title” album, and therefore of immense historical importance. Although Beck usually stayed inside a more “conventional” Jazz framework throughout his career, his improvisational power is beyond reproach and his ability to operate in the Free Jazz realm is well proven by this album. Unfortunately this recording was know only to a very limited group of listeners, even the most dedicated Beck’s followers, so the CD reissue is most welcome. I’ve had this album for 36 years now and always regarded it as one of my favorite European Jazz releases, now others can also enjoy it. Brilliant stuff! Side Note: The original LP was released on a small Italian Jazz label called DireFind albums on this label Records, owned by Tito FontanaFind albums by this artist. Fontana owned a recording studio in Milan, called Studio 7 (or studio Fontana), which was famous for producing soundtracks for the burgeoning Italian film industry. Tito was a dedicated Jazz buff and had a great taste and vision in Jazz. His produced and released some of the most incredible European Jazz albums in the early 1970s, which (as far as I know) were not reissued on CD so far (except this album), which is a great pity and a true tragedy. Italian Jazz fans should note that the legendary pianist Guido ManusardiFind albums by this artist recorded for the label, as did Claudio FasoliFind albums by this artist and other great Italian Jazz musicians. Polish Jazz fans should note that both Zbigniew NamyslowskiFind albums by this artist and Michal UrbaniakFind albums by this artist also made albums for the label. I remember visiting Tito in Milan in 1974 and spending a few lovely days with him, talking Jazz day and night, drinking Italian wines and coffee and eating some incredible food. He was a gentle, highly intelligent person with a rare and boundless love for the music, which we both shared.

CD 1 Oversampling Remastered Recommend To A Friend

PHIL WOODS / EUROPEAN RHYTHM MACHINE ~ ALIVE AND WELL IN PARIS EMI 724353965426 (Barcode: 724353965426) ~ USA ~ Jazz Recorded: 1968 Released: 2002 This is a reissue / remaster of the debut album by the great American saxophonist / composer / bandleader Phil WoodsFind albums by this artist, recorded with his European rhythm section under the moniker European Rhythm MachineFind albums by this artist, which includes Swiss pianist George GruntzFind albums by this artist, French bassist Henri TexierFind albums by this artist and Swiss drummer Daniel HumairFind albums by this artist. The album presents five tracks, two of which are originals by Woods and three are standards. Woods was one of the first American musicians, who discovered Europe as a source of brilliant Jazz musicians, and he toured and recorded in Europe extensively in the late 1960s and early 1970s, after he moved to Paris, where he stayed between 1968 and 1972. Although the music is pretty straightforward mainstream Jazz / Bebop, Woods’s incredible fluency and beautiful tone, and the superb performances by the rhythm section, make this an example of what swinging is all about, leaving everything that happened on the other side of the pond far behind. Gruntz, Texier and Humair are all leaders of the European scene, which was just exploding at the time this album was recorded, and stayed as pillars of the Jazz activity for many years, recording hundreds of brilliant albums in the process. Overall, this is one of the best possible marriages between American and European Bebop ever as are all the albums recorded by this quartet, and all of them lost absolutely nothing of its vitality and pure genius over time. A timeless classic!

Updated: 05/07/2024Posted: 05/07/2024

CD 1 Digipak Remastered Recommend To A Friend