Record Reviews

ENRICO RAVA / OUT TO LUNCH ~ RAVA / ULLMANN / WILLERS / LILLICH / SCHAUBLE NABEL 4632 ~ ITALY ~ Jazz Recorded: 1989 Released: 1989 This is a relatively little known album by Italian Jazz trumpeter Enrico RavaFind albums by this artist recorded with the German quartet called Out To LunchFind albums by this artist, which comprised of saxophonist / flautist Gebhard UllmannFind albums by this artist, guitarist Andreas WillersFind albums by this artist, bassist Martin LillichFind albums by this artist and drummer Nikolaus SchaubleFind albums by this artist. The album presents eleven original compositions, six by Ullmann, three by Schauble, one by Willers and one co-composed by Ullmann and Willers. The music is typical modern European Jazz, firmly based in the Jazz tradition and offering some World Music motifs and rhythms and a lot of space for individual improvisation and exploration. All the compositions are solid and quite original, offering excellent ground for the individual and group improvisation. The electric guitar sound is slightly Fusiony at times, but all in very good taste. It is the second album by Out To Lunch and I don’t know much how they happened to involve Rava in this project, but all that is history and the music stays, being fresh and absorbing over thirty years later. Rava’s performances are of course phenomenal, with his Middle Eastern lyricism at its peak, but the Germans all perform without a hitch, perfectly merging their output with Rava’s contributions. Overall, this is a great piece of European Jazz history, which certainly deserves to be remembered, and since it is still available I urge everybody to grab a copy as long as they last. Satisfaction guaranteed!

Updated: 15/03/2022Posted: 15/03/2022

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

GEBHARD ULLMANN / BASEMENT RESEARCH ~ HAT AND SHOES BETWEEN THE LINES 71238 (Barcode: 608917123821) ~ GERMANY ~ Free Jazz / Improvised Music Recorded: 2013 Released: 2014 This is an album by German saxophonist / bass clarinetist / composer Gebhard UllmannFind albums by this artist and his international Basement ResearchFind albums by this artist quintet, which also includes American trombonist Steve SwellFind albums by this artist, British saxophonist Julian ArguellesFind albums by this artist (playing baritone saxophone here), German / French bassist Pascal NiggenkemperFind albums by this artist and American drummer Gerald CleaverFind albums by this artist. The album presents seven original compositions by the leader, recorded by the legendary sound engineer Walter QuintusFind albums by this artist. The music is a classic European Free Jazz recording, based on composed themes but offering a lot of open space and freedom of individual improvisation, overall pretty well “organized” / “well behaved”, which manages to eschew total havoc and chaos. The quintet plays admirably well together, producing coherent statements and ever-changing fabric of difficult, but exciting music. Although two-thirds of the quintet are American musicians, this music is obviously way more European in nature and sound, perhaps somewhat more tamed than American Free Jazz, but definitely way more effective. All the members of the quintet are of course seasoned and well-known musicians within the Free Jazz scene, with impressive recorded legacy behind them. As a result, the individual statements included herein are all truly inspired. Personally I am most impressed by the ensemble sound, which sounds really impressive and brilliantly lucid, obviously emphasized by the splendid sound quality of the album. Overall, this is an excellent example of the European Free jazz, which offers exciting ensemble playing and virtuosic individual statements, which all come together in a precise, listenable way. This music obviously requires effort and open-mindedness to be enjoyed, but is definitely highly rewarding and as such recommended!

Updated: 16/04/2022Posted: 16/04/2022

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend