Record Reviews

ANAT COHEN ~ NOTES FROM THE VILLAGE ANZIC 1302 (Barcode: 896434001177) ~ ISRAEL ~ Jazz Recorded: 2008 Released: 2008 4th album by Israeli (resident in US) clarinetist / saxophonist / composer Anat CohenFind albums by this artist, sister of trumpeter Avishai CohenFind albums by this artist and saxophonist Yuval CohenFind albums by this artist, who are also collectively known as the 3 CohensFind albums by this artist. Cohen is already established as one of the leading female Jazz performers in the US and her previous releases have earned her much deserved critical acclaim. On this album Cohen returns to a classic quartet format, with keyboardist Jason LindnerFind albums by this artist (the only non-Israeli on this album), bassist Omer AvitalFind albums by this artist and drummer Daniel FreedmanFind albums by this artist. Guitarist Gilad HekselmanFind albums by this artist guests on three tracks. Cohen´s prime instrument is the clarinet, which she plays masterfully and with a unique lyricism, rooted deeply in the Jewish tradition of that instrument, but she also plays the soprano and tenor saxophones and bass clarinet on this album, displaying her instrumental versatility. Half of the album´s material comprises of Cohen´s original compositions, the rest are standards, including a great version of John ColtraneFind albums by this artist´s "After The Rain". It is a real pleasure to hear these young, but extremely talented musicians, carrying the Jazz tradition into the next Century, expanding it with their own fresh ideas and youthful enthusiasm. Cohen masterly mixes Middle Eastern, Cuban, and above all Jewish ethnic elements into her delivery, with deep sensitivity and finesse. Overall this is a great Jazz album, which is also accessible to a much wider audience beyond the hard-core Jazz circle, without loosing any of its musical integrity. Delightful!

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GILAD HEKSELMAN ~ HEARTS WIDE OPEN LE CHANT DU MONDE 2037 (Barcode: 3149024203725) ~ ISRAEL ~ Jazz Recorded: 2010 Released: 2011 This is the 3rd album by the sensational Israeli guitarist / composer Gilad HekselmanFind albums by this artist, who resides in NY since 2004, as do many other Israeli Jazz players. Hekselman quickly established himself as one of the top guitar players on the NY scene, a fact that is not a result of any publicity stunts but simply his incredible talent. With his tone very similar to early Pat MethenyFind albums by this artist, he is often compared to Metheny, but that kind of comparison is somewhat superficial. Hekselman is much more Jazz oriented than Metheny ever was in fact. Critics and more importantly fellow musicians agree unanimously that Hekselman was blessed with exceptional talent and his meteoric rise to fame is fully justified. This album, recorded with Hekselman´s regular trio: bassist Joe MartinFind albums by this artist and drummer Marcus GilmoreFind albums by this artist and with guest appearance on four tracks by saxophonist Mark TurnerFind albums by this artist, presents eight original compositions, which are all ideal vehicles for the leader´s display of his guitar magic, which is pretty amazing from start to finish. Clear, elegant, pure and melodic, his playing is always right on top of what is best for the music at any particular moment. Never clotted or overcrowded by too many notes, which usually plagues guitar players, he dances on his strings like leaves on a spring breeze, as if fingers and brain commands had nothing to do with it. But honestly, and most importantly, this is 100% unadulterated Jazz, free of any attempts whatsoever to become a neck-breaking Fusion trip, another plague of today´s guitar players. If this is what Hekselman is capable of at the tender age of 28, his future seems to be laid out for him on a golden path to stardom. Hopefully his head is not lost in the process. Hats off to you, Gilad and God Bless!

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BODEK JANKE ~ SONG 2 NOT ON LABEL 4260014871218 (Barcode: 4260014871218) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Pop Fusion Recorded: 2019 Released: 2020 This is an album by Polish (resident in Berlin) Jazz drummer / composer Bodek JankeFind albums by this artist recorded in an international quartet setting with Namibian vocalist / guitarist Shishani VranckxFind albums by this artist, Estonian pianist Kristjan RandaluFind albums by this artist and British bassist Phil DonkinFind albums by this artist. The excellent Polish Atom String QuartetFind albums by this artist provide the string parts and world class guests: American saxophonist Bill EvansFind albums by this artist, Israeli guitarist Gilad HekselmanFind albums by this artist and German trumpeter Sebastian StudnitzkyFind albums by this artist appear on selected tracks. The album presents ten tracks, five of which are originals (two by Janke and three by Vranckx) and the rest are arrangements of Pop songs. As the title suggests, this album is a continuation of its predecessor called "SongFind albums with this title" released a couple of years earlier. Although basically a Jazz album, the concept it presents is a mixture of inventive and ambitious arrangements of well known Pop songs and original compositions, with the emphasis on transforming the music into way more complex setting than its origins. Not surprisingly, since the leader is a drummer, the most striking feature of the music is a completely idiosyncratic rhythmic / polyrhythmic approach, which takes the music into an entire new dimension. The instrumental performances by all the participants on this album are simply phenomenal. Bodek is the rhythmic machine, which drives the entire ensemble, but the superb piano parts and excellent support by the bassist create a most impressive ambience of pulsating / vibrating musical unity, which sparks with originality. Vranckx adds her warm and somewhat mystical vocals, which bring the depth of African music into the proceedings. The guest stars add the proverbial cherry on top, carefully trying not to steal the show and respectfully naturally expand the ambience. The string arrangements deserve a special mention, not only because they are brilliantly executed, which is hardly surprising, but mostly due to their perfect fit to the core of the music, and not just an artificial ornamentation. Overall this is a most unusual and highly fascinating album, which requires repeated attentive listening sessions in order to truly expose its hidden treasures. It offers strikingly unusual arrangements and brilliant performances, full of aesthetic sophistication and reflecting the best European Jazz has to offer. This music should find a wide range of listeners, who are sure to enjoy its beauty, both within the circles of Jazz connoisseurs and beyond. Wholeheartedly and highly recommended!

Updated: 08/04/2020Posted: 08/04/2020

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METTE JUUL ~ CHANGE UNIVERSAL 060257796101 (Barcode: 060257796101) ~ DENMARK ~ Jazz Recorded: 2019 Released: 2019 This is the fourth album by Danish Jazz singer / guitarist / songwriter Mette JuulFind albums by this artist recorded with a team of excellent musicians: Swedish bassist Lars DanielssonFind albums by this artist and Danish keyboardist Heine HansenFind albums by this artist who play on most of the tracks and three guitarists playing on selected tracks: Swedish Ulf WakeniusFind albums by this artist (three tracks), Israeli Gilad HekselmanFind albums by this artist (two tracks) and Danish Per MollehojFind albums by this artist (one track). The album presents thirteen tracks, five of which are written or co-written by Juul and the rest are her interpretations of standards. The music is a collection of intimate trio, duo and solo performances, completely acoustic and minimalist, with the "more is less" attitude clearly in mind. The bass and piano trio sessions are kept in a classic vocal Jazz atmosphere, whereas the solo and duo tracks with the guitarist have a slightly Folksier ambience. The material is carefully selected to suit Juul´s vocal abilities, which allows her to be relaxed and feel herself for the entire duration of the album. As usual for a non-native English speaker the accent and pronunciation are evidently "foreign" (well Scandinavian obviously), but in this case it is rather charming than obtrusive. The vocal stylistics and mannerisms are somewhat similar to those of the great Karin Krog, which of course is meant as a compliment. The instrumental performances are of course perfect in every respect. Both the trios and the duos with the guitarists keep the focus on the vocalist accompanying her amicably and creating the appropriate ambience rather than being dominant. In the age when making music is usually associated with overloading the listener´s ears with a wall of synthetic noise, such modest and delicate approach is most welcome and commendable. Overall this is wonderful, subtle and delicate piece of music, which is full of great instrumental performances and heartfelt vocals, superb choice of songs and a straightforward, honest delivery, despite its sophistication and artistry. Warmly recommended!

Updated: 19/09/2019Posted: 19/09/2019

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PETROS KLAMPANIS ~ CHROMA MOTEMA 219 (Barcode: 181212002195) ~ GREECE ~ Jazz-Classical Fusion Recorded: 2015 Released: 2017 This is the third album by Greek (resident in NY) bassist / composer Petros KlampanisFind albums by this artist, recorded with Israeli guitarist Gilad HekselmanFind albums by this artist, Israeli pianist Shai MaestroFind albums by this artist, American drummer John HadfieldFind albums by this artist and Japanese percussionist Keita OgawaFind albums by this artist. The quintet is accompanied by a string octet. The album was recorded live and presents seven compositions, five of which are by Klampanis, one by Hekselman and one by the Greek Jazz pianist / composer Spyros ManesisFind albums by this artist. The music is beautifully melodic and offers superb string arrangements, which together create an atmosphere of elegance and Classically influenced mood, spiced with the European Jazz stylistics, in spite of the fact that it was created by musicians resident in the US, which apparently did not manage to take away their sensitivities. Lyrical and melancholic, the music moves majestically from one composition to another, keeping the listener engulfed within the magical atmosphere of anticipation. The personal performances are all top class. Klampanis not only plays the expected bass lines which hold the music together, but explicitly leads the compositions via his bass intros and solos. Hekselman is one of the top guitar players today and his lead parts are always right on the money, with his electric guitar sound adding another dimension to the music, but not dominating it stylistically, which saves this album from moving into the Fusion idiom. Maestro plays mostly in the background but his harmonic parts are exactly what this music needs. Hadfield and Ogawa delicately add the rhythmic layer, carefully staying away from overly disturbing the gentle flow of the music. Overall this is a wonderful, delicate and intelligent album, which should make many open-minded Jazz and Jazz-Classical Fusion listeners ecstatically happy. Definitely recommended and worth investigating!

Updated: 20/02/2018Posted: 20/02/2018

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KENNETH DAHL KNUDSEN ~ CLOCKSTOPPER LONGLIFE 1204 (Barcode: 5706274004229) ~ DENMARK ~ Jazz Recorded: 2012 Released: 2012 This is the second album by Danish bassist / composer Kenneth Dahl KnudsenFind albums by this artist, recorded in NY in a quintet (and septet on three tracks) lineup, which includes the excellent Polish trumpeter Tomasz DabrowskiFind albums by this artist and Israeli guitarist Gilad HekselmanFind albums by this artist, Danish pianist Soren MollerFind albums by this artist, American drummer Jonathan BlakeFind albums by this artist and on three tracks American saxophonist Jaleel ShawFind albums by this artist and Danish trombonist Jonas LindhFind albums by this artist. The album presents nine original compositions, all by Knudsen. The music is typical modern European Jazz, mostly within the mainstream idiom, but thanks to the excellent compositions and inspired playing it is full of highly interesting moments. The maturity and diversity of Knudsen´s compositions is truly remarkable and his subtly melodic themes serve as ideal vehicles for the band members to spread their wings and create their improvisations. There are many superb solos here, mostly by Dabrowski and Hekselman and the music flows beautifully from start to finish, being over much too soon. Knudsen certainly manages to continue what he started on his debut album fulfilling the hopes that album inspired in the listeners. In spite of his relatively young age he emerges as a major player on the European scene, and becomes an Artist that is definitely worth watching in the future. If he continues on the path the first two albums established, he will definitely get places. Overall this is a great piece of music, worthy of repetitive listening, superbly composed and executed with flair and elegance by all the musicians involved. Still little known, this music deserves a much wider recognition, which I hope will come in time. Well done again and looking forward for more!

Updated: 09/02/2016Posted: 09/02/2016

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KENNETH DAHL KNUDSEN ~ STRINGS ATTACHED GATEWAY 2606 (Barcode: 5707471018576) ~ DENMARK ~ Jazz Recorded: 2010 Released: 2010 This is the debut album by Danish Jazz bassist / composer Kenneth Dahl KnudsenFind albums by this artist, recorded with a septet he leads, which features the talents of two extraordinary upcoming Jazz musicians: the Polish trumpeter Tomasz DabrowskiFind albums by this artist and Israeli guitarist Gilad HekselmanFind albums by this artist. The other members of the septet are pianist Jens Ulrich MadsenFind albums by this artist, saxophonist Mads LykkeFind albums by this artist, bass clarinetist Jacob DanielsenFind albums by this artist and drummer Rasmus IversenFind albums by this artist. The album presents ten original compositions, all by Knudsen. The music is typical modern European Jazz, with ambitious compositions, based on melodic themes but allowing for a large degree of freedom and expression. The Scandinavian atmosphere is strongly present, with most of the material being low key and strongly lyrical, but the compositions are diverse and intelligent enough to keep the music flowing and keep the listener absorbed. The level of the compositions, especially in view of the fact that this is a debut album, is surprisingly high and consistently excellent. The individual performances as well as the ensemble playing are also quite superb, again unusually so for a debut album and the young age of the musicians involved. Both Dabrowski and Hekselman play some truly scorching solos, which are extraordinary by any standard. Madsen plays mostly in the background, but his work is remarkably sensitive and I´d love to hear him play in a piano trio setting (like on the short "Interlude"). The rhythm section does a splendid job all the way through, with Knudsen filling the space with his powerful bass lines and Iversen displaying a very dynamic, yet nonintrusive driving power. It is truly inspiring to hear such impressive music being made by such young musicians, which promises that the future of European Jazz is in very good hands. In the four years since this album was recorded both Dabrowski and Hekselman already reached semi-stardom status on the upcoming scene and Knudsen managed to release a second album, also featuring Dabrowski and Hekselman, which I have yet to hear. This is definitely an outstanding debut worthy of praise and admiration. Hats off, Gentlemen!

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RADEK WOSKO / ATLANTIC QUARTET ~ ATLANTIC MULTICULTI MPJ 018 (Barcode: 5907796319819) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 2015 Released: 2016 This is the debut album by Polish Jazz drummer / composer Radek WoskoFind albums by this artist and his new Atlantic QuartetFind albums by this artist, which also includes Israeli guitarists Gilad HekselmanFind albums by this artist, Danish pianist Soren GemmerFind albums by this artist and Polish bassist Mariusz PrasniewskiFind albums by this artist. Together they perform eight pieces, seven of which are original compositions by Wosko and one is by the late Polish violinist Zbigniew SeifertFind albums by this artist. It seems that Wosko finally found the perfect formula for his music, which is presented here by this quartet, i.e. a melodic Jazz-Rock Fusion, which does full justice to his compositions. Coupled with beautiful execution by all the quartet members, this album guarantees a pleasurable listening experience, without lowering the musical standards. The album is dominated by the enchanting sound of Hekselman´s guitar, with virtuosic phrasing and crystal clear sound bringing on immediately fond memories of early Pat MethenyFind albums by this artist, but definitely presenting a unique and personal approach. Gemmer offers a wonderfully sensitive accompaniment, but sadly does not play too much solo. The rhythm section moves the music forward amicably, playing exactly what is needed in such environment. Although Wosko states in the liner notes that this music represents the meeting of European and American influences, as symbolized by it´s title, personally I find it to be almost completely dominated by contemporary American Jazz approach, with very little of the European aesthetics left, which of course does not diminish its quality. Overall this is a wonderfully crafted Jazz-Rock Fusion album, perfectly executed by the musicians on board and accessible to a very wide range of music lovers, which hopefully will result in at least some commercial success.

Updated: 21/02/2017Posted: 21/02/2017

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RADEK WOSKO / ATLANTIC QUARTET ~ SURGE MULTIKULTI MPJ 025 (Barcode: 5903068683329) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2019 Released: 2019 This is the second album by Polish Jazz drummer / composer Radek WoskoFind albums by this artist and his Atlantic QuartetFind albums by this artist, which includes Norwegian (resident in Copenhagen) guitarist Stian SwenssonFind albums by this artist (who replaced Israeli Gilad HekselmanFind albums by this artist who played on the debut), Danish pianist Soren GemmerFind albums by this artist and Polish bassist Mariusz PrasniewskiFind albums by this artist. The album presents eleven original compositions, eight composed by Wosko and three co-composed by all four members of the quartet. The music, although sonically continuing the guitar dominated Fusion ambience of the debut, is way more open and offers significant proximity to European Jazz elements, including the Nordic loftiness and Polish lyricism, two of the most powerful ingredients of modern European Jazz. It is great to find Wosko finally approaching his "natural" elements in his music, which combined with his maturity and experience accumulated over time and his excellent compositions come all together on this album. The playing is also excellent all the way, with the two Scandinavian melody weavers leading the way with confidence and finesse. Swensson is a wonderful surprise (sadly I failed to hear his debut album so far) and steps easily into Hekselman´s shoes with complete confidence. His playing is the most significant color of the music, but he respectfully leaves space for his cohorts to have their say. He can be firm and decisive but also delicate and considerate, showing great sensitivity. Gemmer is a superbly lyrical player and his sense of melody and atmospheric vistas are simply hair-rising. Prasniewski offers both a solid bottom filling to the quartet´s sound and a significant rhythmic drive. Wosko offers inventive and supportive drumming parts, especially significant during the open / almost free compositions, but does not dominate the music, staying respectfully in-line with the other quartet members. The album is a wonderful example of the ideal balance between melody and order and freedom and open space, which is always so difficult to achieve without pulling the music one way or another; one could almost say that it is case study of such vague and evasive musical phenomenon. Overall this is a beautiful and superbly executed album, for me definitely the best recording by Wosko so far and a gate of hope for his future endeavors. This quartet is a formidable team, which exemplifies the best there is in contemporary, still young but already mature European Jazz. Well done!

Updated: 08/12/2019Posted: 08/12/2019

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