Record Reviews

GUSTAV BROM ~ POLYMELOMODUS GAD 032 (Barcode: 5901549197402) ~ CZECHOSLOVAKIA ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 1976 Released: 2015 This is a reissue of the cult album by the Czech arranger / bandleader Gustav BromFind albums by this artist and his Orchestra, released originally in Czechoslovakia in 1977 by the state owned SupraphonFind albums on this label label. During the post-WWII Socialist Era, the Gustav Brom OrchestraFind albums by this artist was the only Big Band from behind the Iron Curtain, which was known in the West and was considered to be one of the top Big Bands in the world. One of the characteristics of the Brom leadership was the fact that the orchestra performed mainly original compositions by the orchestra members. This album includes six pieces, five of which are original compositions by the orchestra members and one is an arrangement of a Steely DanFind albums by this artist song. This is the first time this album is available on CD and it includes one alternate take as a bonus track. The music is a remarkable amalgam of the Big Band sound with Jazz-Rock and Funk genres, which were popular at the time. Very few traditional Big Bands attempted to tackle the influx of new musical directions and therefore this album is so unique in its openness and forward thinking. The original music played by the orchestra is absolutely stunning, combining high-quality melodic themes with brilliant Big Band arrangements and superb execution by the orchestra members, which were all top Czechoslovak Jazz musicians active at the time. It´s remarkable how fresh and contemporary this album sounds today, losing absolutely nothing of its original charm and quality. Some of the Jazz-Rock arrangements present here are supreme classics of the Brass-Rock idiom. Considering the fact that Big Bands are a dying breed today, it´s so great to be able to listen to this marvel again and perhaps learn from it. This is another superb project by the excellent GADFind albums on this label Records label, which consistently earns a reputation of one of the most important reissue specialist labels in the world, under the leadership of the label owner Michal WilczynskiFind albums by this artist. Absolutely wholeheartedly recommended!

Updated: 23/02/2016Posted: 23/02/2016

CD 1 Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend

CZECHOSLOVAK RADIO JAZZ ORCHESTRA ~ JAZZ FROM STUDIO `A` GAD 057 (Barcode: 5901549197754) ~ CZECHOSLOVAKIA ~ Jazz Recorded: 1976 Released: 2017 This is a reissue of the superb Big Band / Orchestral Jazz album recorded by the Czechoslovak Radio Jazz OrchestraFind albums by this artist, which for many years managed to record orchestral Jazz music played by the best Czechoslovak Jazz musicians, such as trumpeter Laco DecziFind albums by this artist, pianist Karel RuzickaFind albums by this artist, drummer Josef VojevodaFind albums by this artist and many, many others. The orchestra was directed by Kamil HalaFind albums by this artist, who contributed most of its material, both as a composer and arranger. The album was recorded "live in the studio". This remastered edition expands the album by adding three tracks originating from a radio session to the eight original tracks. The music is a superb example of European Big Band / Orchestral Jazz, which is much more complex and sophisticated than parallel (in time) American recordings. The tunes are much more diverse and often multi-part and the arrangements display the full dynamic of the orchestra, with a wonderful balance between the rhythm section and the rest of the instruments in the band. Rhythmically and stylistically the music is much closer to the then current Jazz-Rock Fusion than to Swing, which dominates most American Big Bands. It is very educational to compare this album to the other Big Band / Orchestral Jazz album "PolymelomodusFind albums with this title" recorded in the same year by the Gustav Brom OrchestraFind albums by this artist, another legendary representative of the Czechoslovak orchestral Jazz. Both albums reissued by the GADFind albums on this label Records label have many similarities and both are brilliant examples of what is possible to achieve with a great orchestra under a direction of an open minded leader. I have had the vinyl version of this album since the day it was originally released and over the years it was always one of my favorite Big Band albums. This new reissue with the improved sound and bonus tracks makes it even more desirable. Absolutely not to be missed by European Jazz connoisseurs, especially of course by fans of the big orchestral sound – nothing compares to this! Phenomenal stuff!

Updated: 19/07/2017Posted: 19/07/2017

CD 1 Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend

JERZY MILIAN ~ BLUES FOR PRAHA GAD 007 (Barcode: 5901549197068) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 1965 - 1966 Released: 2013 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 second 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 in former Czechoslovakia, Poland´s southern neighbor, which had a wonderful Jazz scene as well at the time these recordings were made, i.e. mid-1960s. For many reasons, which fall far beyond the scope of a record review, the cooperation between these two scenes was rather limited, and therefore this album is especially important, as it documents a little known chapter of Eastern European Jazz. Milian established collaboration with Gustav BromFind albums by this artist, the founder and leader of the legendary Gustav Brom OrchestraFind albums by this artist, which was one of the best Jazz Big Bands in Europe at the time. He performed and recorded with the orchestra several times until the brutal Warsaw Pact invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1968, which put an end to the Prague Spring. The material collected here presents four studio tracks recorded by the Czech radio and three live tracks recorded a few months later. Two tracks are Milian originals and one was composed by the Gustav Brom Orchestra´s bassist Milan RezabekFind albums by this artist. The remaining four tracks are standards. The American trumpeter Ted CursonFind albums by this artist, who often visited Eastern Europe and recorded in Poland as well, solos along Milian on one track. All tracks feature extended solos by Milian and are a wonderful testimony to his virtuosic abilities. The orchestra also performs quite splendidly of course, even in the trickiest moments. The music is nor terribly innovative, moving within the established boundaries of Bee Bop and Cool, but is definitely well played. Overall this is yet another glace at the Polish Jazz history, which of course deserves to be remembered. 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.

CD 1 Remastered Recommend To A Friend

VARIOUS ARTISTS ~ POLISH RADIO JAZZ ARCHIVES VOL.21 POLSKIE RADIO 1873 (Barcode: 5907812248734) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 1964 Released: 2015 This is the twenty-first installment in the series of releases initiated by the Polish Radio, which presents archive Jazz recordings from the radio vaults. Radio recordings are always a fabulous source of remarkable material, and as far as Polish Jazz history is concerned, the Polish Radio, which was a state monopoly for 45 years, recorded over time a plethora of invaluable material, which apart from the albums released by the Polskie Nagrania record company (also a state monopoly), is the only available additional source of Polish Jazz recordings. For many years Polish Radio recorded concerts presented during Poland´s most important Jazz venues, including the annual Jazz Jamboree Festival and many other festivals as well. The seventeen tracks collected here were recorded during the seventh Jazz Jamboree Festival, which took place between October 24 and 26 1964 in Warsaw. This is second part of the Jazz Jamboree 1964 recordings. The music was performed by four different ensembles, which are: the Polish Radio Jazz OrchestraFind albums by this artist conducted by Andrzej KurylewiczFind albums by this artist (four tracks), the Czechoslovak Gustav Brom OrchestraFind albums by this artist (five tracks), the Polish Traditional Jazz ensemble Warsaw StompersFind albums by this artist (three tracks) and finally the Dutch singer Rita ReysFind albums by this artist accompanied by a trio led by her husband pianist Pim JacobsFind albums by this artist with his brother Ruud JacobsFind albums by this artist on bass and guitarist Wim OvergaauwFind albums by this artist (five tracks). Most of the music consists of standards, but the Polish Radio Orchestra plays two, the Gustav Brom Orchestra four and the Warsaw Stompers one original composition. The music performed by the Gustav Brom Orchestra is by far the most interesting part of this album, and includes very advanced modern compositions, arrangements and individual performances. The beautifully restored sound quality is excellent and the warm ambience of the analog recording is a true joy. As usual with this series, which is very reasonably priced, I miss the presence of "in depth" liner notes / booklet, which should convey the circumstances at which this music was recorded and its importance to the development of Jazz in Poland. Nevertheless this is an absolutely essential piece of Jazz history which every Jazz fan will surely consider an absolute must.

CD 1 Digipak Remastered Recommend To A Friend