Record Reviews

BLUE EFFECT ~ 1969-1989 (EXPANDED EDITION BOX SET) SUPRAPHON 5990 (Barcode: 099925599027) ~ CZECHOSLOVAKIA ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 1969 - 1989 Released: 2009 This wonderful reissue Box Set collects all the recordings by the legendary Czechoslovak ensemble Blue EffectFind albums by this artist (a.k.a. Modry EffectFind albums by this artist). It is a brilliant document of the music scene, which thrived in Czechoslovakia (and other so-called "Socialist" Eastern European countries behind the Iron Curtain) following the 1968 Prague Spring, cut short by the brutal invasion of Czechoslovakia by the Warsaw Pack armies. Although the liberalization and reform that the Czechoslovak People yearned for was crushed by force and had to wait for two more decades to be finally achieved, the spirit of the Prague Spring lived on in People´s hearts and Arts were one of the areas where these feelings could be manifested, albeit carefully in view of the censorship and persecution. Jazz was an escape route to many Eastern European musicians, as it was tolerated and even supported by the Socialist regime (for reasons, which are beyond the scope of this review) and by the early 1970s many Rock musicians collaborated with their Jazz colleagues in order to avoid the scrutiny, which "decadent" Rock suffered from, in contrast to the relative liberal approach to Jazz. This strengthened the Jazz-Rock movement, which at the time was gaining worldwide popularity, with many Jazz-Rock Fusion ensembles active on the Czech music scene from the early 1970s to mid 1980s, with Blue Effect being the best and most important representative of that phenomenon as well as the first Czechoslovak Progressive Rock act. It was formed by guitarist / composer Radim HladikFind albums by this artist, bassist Jiri KozelFind albums by this artist and drummer Vlado CechFind albums by this artist. Both Hladik and Cech remained as the group´s core founding members for the entire duration of their activity. The group was basically a Progressive Rock outfit, but its innovative approach and cooperation with Jazz musicians, like the ensemble Jazz QFind albums by this artist and the Jazz Orchestra Of Czechoslovak Broadcasting CorporationFind albums by this artist were revolutionary at the time and way ahead of their time. This Box Set includes all eight studio albums recorded by Blue Effect and a whole CD of bonus material, which includes an EP, singles and other bonus tracks. In retrospect this is some of the best Eastern European Jazz-Rock / Prog, which should not be missed by any connoisseur of the genre. An essential piece of music history!

Updated: 26/01/2019Posted:

CD 9 Mini-Sleeve Box Set Remastered Bonus Tracks Essential Recommend To A Friend

ENERGIT ~ ENERGIT (EXPANDED EDITION) GAD 220 (Barcode: 5903068123283) ~ CZECHOSLOVAKIA ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 1974 - 1976 Released: 2022 This is a 2CD reissue of the debut album by the Czechoslovak Jazz-Rock Fusion ensemble EnergitFind albums by this artist. It is a brilliant document of the music scene, which thrived in Eastern Europe behind the Iron Curtain, in all the so-called "Socialist" countries, and was every bit as interesting, groundbreaking and visionary as anything else happening at the same time in Western Europe or the USA. In spite of political pressures, artistic censorship and economic hardships, with very limited access to recordings from the West, decent equipment or proper recording facilities, these young and ambitious musicians were exploding with ideas and boldly exploring new territories. The resulting music created at the time remains completely relevant today and should be rediscovered by young audiences, as it lost absolutely nothing of its power and intellectual quality. Energit was formed by the brilliant guitarist Lubos AndrstFind albums by this artist, after he left the legendary Jazz QFind albums by this artist ensemble, joining forces with two excellent young musicians from another legendary ensemble SHQFind albums by this artist: keyboardist Emil ViklickyFind albums by this artist and saxophonist Rudolf TichacekFind albums by this artist. The lineup was completed by bassist Jan VytrhlikFind albums by this artist and alternating drummers: Karel JencikFind albums by this artist, Anatoli KohoutFind albums by this artist and Josef VojevodaFind albums by this artist. Percussionist Jiri TomekFind albums by this artist guests on two tracks. Andrst wrote all of the original material performed by the ensemble, which although Blues influenced, was at the time centered on the Jazz-Rock Fusion idiom, similar in sound and obviously influenced mostly by Mahavishnu OrchestraFind albums by this artist, but also by Return To ForeverFind albums by this artist or Weather ReportFind albums by this artist. The first CD presents the original album, which offers five tracks, with the opening 17+ minutes long and the closing tracks being parts of a suite. The second CD presents seven tracks of bonus material, two recorded live, four originating from a radio broadcast and one from a TV broadcast, from which four are previously unreleased. The reissue is accompanied by extensive bi-lingual liner notes, as usual with the superb GADFind albums on this label Record releases, which cover the group’s history and other background information. Overall, this is some of the best Eastern European Jazz-Rock Fusion, which should not be missed by any connoisseur of the genre, especially those interested in music originating from behind the Iron Curtain. A must!

Updated: 23/12/2022Posted: 23/12/2022

CD 2 Remastered Recommend To A Friend

ENERGIT ~ ENERGIT / PIKNIK (CZECHOSLOVAK JAZZ-ROCK EXPANDED EDITION) INDIES HAPPY TRAILS 626 (Barcode: 8595026662629) ~ CZECH REPUBLIC ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 1973 - 1978 Released: 2008 This wonderful reissue collects all the recordings by the Czechoslovak ensemble EnergitFind albums by this artist. It is a brilliant document of the music scene, which thrived in Eastern Europe behind the Iron Curtain, in all the so-called "Socialist" countries, and was every bit as interesting, groundbreaking and visionary as anything else happening at the same time in Western Europe or the USA. In spite of political pressures, artistic censorship and economic hardships, with very limited access to recordings from the West, decent equipment or proper recording facilities, these young and ambitious musicians were exploding with ideas and boldly exploring new territories. The resulting music created at the time remains completely relevant today and should be rediscovered by young audiences, as it lost absolutely nothing of its power and intellectual quality. Energit was formed by the brilliant guitarist Lubos AndrstFind albums by this artist, after he left the legendary Jazz QFind albums by this artist ensemble, joining forces with two excellent young musicians from another legendary ensemble SHQFind albums by this artist: keyboardist Emil ViklickyFind albums by this artist and saxophonist Rudolf TichacekFind albums by this artist. The lineup was completed by bassist Jan VytrhlikFind albums by this artist and drummer Karel JencikFind albums by this artist. Andrst wrote most of the all-original material performed by the ensemble, which although Blues influenced, was at the time centered on the Jazz-Rock idiom, similar in sound to the early Mahavishnu OrchestraFind albums by this artist. For the second album Viklicky was replaced by Milan SvobodaFind albums by this artist, who also wrote the brass arrangement used on that album, and Jencik was replaced by Jaromir HelesicFind albums by this artist. The bonus material includes an ultra-rare EP, a track released previously on a compilation album and some archival live recordings. In retrospect this is some of the best Eastern European Jazz-Rock, which should not be missed by any connoisseur of the genre. A must! Side Note Since the 1950s Czechoslovakia had a highly developed Jazz scene, certainly in proportion to its population, which included many successful ensembles and even Big Bands, as well as Jazz clubs, festivals and publications, all this in spite of state censorship and political limitations. The similar situation existed since the 1960s as far as Rock (including Progressive Rock and Jazz-Rock Fusion) was concerned, resulting in many excellent, interesting and innovative ensembles. The music was relatively well documented by the three state owned record labels: SupraphonFind albums on this label (founded in 1927), PantonFind albums on this label (founded in 1968) and OpusFind albums on this label (founded in 1971 and based in Bratislava, created on the base of Slovak division of Supraphon). Following the "Velvet Revolution" in 1989, the state owned record labels were privatized, with Supraphon dominating the local market. However, Supraphon was quite reluctant as far as exploring its vast back catalogue is concerned, and this is where the small independent Indies Happy TrailsFind albums on this label Records, a reissue label dedicated to the preservation of the recorded legacy of Czechoslovak music, owned and run by the devoted enthusiast / historian Jaromir KratochvilFind albums by this artist, founded in 2007, comes in. Over the years the label released a plethora of brilliant music, reissuing long deleted LPs and extensively exploring the archives in search of bonus material. The quest of Indies Happy Trails is similar to what the GADFind albums on this label Records label, run by Michal WilczynskiFind albums by this artist, is doing for Polish music, with similar consistency and praiseworthy dedication.

Updated: 28/02/2020Posted:

CD 2 Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend

JAZZ Q ~ AMULET STUDIO BUDIKOV 038 (Barcode: 8594159980389) ~ CZECH REPUBLIC ~ Jazz-Funk Fusion Recorded: 2020 Released: 2020 This is an album by Czech Fusion ensemble Jazz QFind albums by this artist founded in 1964 (yes you are reading correctly) and led by veteran keyboardist / composer Martin KratochvilFind albums by this artist and here including guitarist Zdenek FiserFind albums by this artist (another veteran ex ImpulsFind albums by this artist), bass guitarist Premysl FauknerFind albums by this artist (yet another veteran and member of early versions of Jazz Q) and drummer Filip JenicekFind albums by this artist (a representative of the young generation). The album presents thirteen original compositions, ten of which were composed by Kratochvil and one each by the other three members of the ensemble. The music is a typical Jazz-Rock Fusion, based on the excellent compositions of the "forever young" Kratochvil, which offers splendidly weaved melodic themes, which serve as basis for extensive soloing by keyboards and guitar, supported amicably by the rhythm section, with occasional soli by bass and drums. There is not much innovation of course, but Fusion has been pretty stable in the last five decades, so the genre´s lovers prefer to stay on the safe side. Kratochvil seems to be completely time defiant and his music sounds as fresh and full of his idiosyncratic tricky melodies as he was half a Century ago and it is a true joy to see (and hear) a veteran musician to be so stable and productive over the years. Fusion and guitar freaks should love this album to bits and are encouraged to find a copy, since they don´t make music like this anymore these days, and it still makes you ass swing impatiently, which is the greatest thing any music can do, especially if played by musician in the eighth decade of his life. Hats off Maestro!

Updated: 22/01/2021Posted: 22/01/2021

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

JAZZ Q ~ ELEGIE (ELEGY) (EXPANDED EDITION) GAD 045 (Barcode: 5901549197594) ~ CZECHOSLOVAKIA ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 1975 - 1976 Released: 2016 This is a reissue of the 4th album by the legendary Czechoslovak Jazz-Rock Fusion band Jazz QFind albums by this artist, led by keyboardist / composer Martin KratochvilFind albums by this artist, which also included guitarist Frantisek FranclFind albums by this artist, bassist Premysl FauknerFind albums by this artist and drummer Libor LaunFind albums by this artist. Several guest musicians also participated on selected tracks. The original album comprised of eight original compositions, all by Kratochvil, which are presented here in their remastered form on the first CD of the 2CD set. The second CD collects live recordings by the group, which were previously released on two festival compilations, a couple of radio recordings, which are previously unreleased and fourteen tracks which were recorded as a soundtrack to the movie entitled "Hriste", all also previously unreleased. This album is undoubtedly one of the best Jazz-Rock Fusion albums ever recorded, not only behind the Iron Curtain, but worldwide. It offers the essence of the most advanced Fusion "spirit", which reached its apogee in the mid 1970s, defined by recordings by Chick CoreaFind albums by this artist (Return To ForeverFind albums by this artist), John McLaughlinFind albums by this artist (Mahavishnu OrchestraFind albums by this artist), Joe ZawinulFind albums by this artist (Weather ReportFind albums by this artist) and of course countless lesser known musicians, who contributed to the genre´s rapid development. Kratochvil and his Jazz Q ensemble managed to distill the Fusion elements and incorporate them within European aesthetics, which resulted in a much calmer and more lyrical form. Based on beautiful melodic themes, with solid harmonic structures and sophisticated expanded suite-like structures, this music is as good as Fusion ever got in its lifespan, with most of what has been offered under the genre´s banner later on was a sad imitation of the past. Kratochvil´s brilliant compositions, combined with his virtuosic keyboards technique and deep musical sensitivity and elegance, are simply irresistible. Supported by an excellent team of band members and guests, each of whom contributed his own layer to the final result, he was able to create a masterpiece, which has a few rivals to this day and sound as good today as it did at the time it was released. It is definitely one of the most well aging Fusion albums out there. The bonus material on this album is every step as good as the original album and offers a wonderful opportunity to get better and deeper acquainted with Kratochvil and his band at the time. The diversity and richness of his compositions is fully exposed here, and the fact that this music is finally available for us to enjoy is a miracle in every sense. This album is an absolute must to every Fusion fan on this planet (and perhaps beyond), especially since at the time of its release most music fans living on the West side of the Iron Curtain were completely oblivious as to what was happening on the East side. Now is the time to finally discover what was missed. Essential stuff!

Updated: 13/01/2025Posted: 18/03/2017

CD 2 Remastered Bonus Tracks Essential Recommend To A Friend

JAZZ Q ~ HODOKVAS (FEAST) (EXPANDED EDITION) GAD 198 (Barcode: 5903068122972) ~ CZECHOSLOVAKIA ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 1978 - 1980 Released: 2022 This is a reissue of the 6th album by the original incarnation of the seminal Czechoslovak Jazz QFind albums by this artist ensemble, founded and led by keyboardist / composer Martin KratochvilFind albums by this artist. The music was recorded by a quartet version of the ensemble, which also included guitarist Frantisek FranclFind albums by this artist, bass guitarist Vladimir PadrunekFind albums by this artist and drummer Pavel TrnavskyFind albums by this artist. Two additional musicians took part on selected tracks. All the music was composed by Kratochvil. The music was recorded in 1979 and released on LP by SupraphonFind albums on this label the following year, in 1980. This remastered and expanded version of the album includes an entire second CD of bonus material, presenting twenty tracks of studio and live recordings made between 1978 and early 1980s, mostly by the same lineup and all but two previously unreleased. As usual with GADFind albums on this label releases, the album includes informative in-depth (bi-lingual) liner notes, photographs and detailed information about dates and places of recording. The music is, as always with Kratochvil´s work, absolutely brilliant. Although dominated by his keyboards, there is plenty of space left for some blood-curdling guitar work by Francl and superb rhythm section work by Padrunek, and the new drummer Trnavsky, which gave the group a much sharper / Rocky feel and sound than ever before. Francl and Padrunek both rejoined the group, having earlier played on the album “SymbiosisFind albums with this title”. The compositions are amongst the finest ever of all Kratochvil’s legacy, realized after crystalizing his experiences as the leader / composer of the group’s material since its inception, and he is one the greatest musical tension builders, as reflected by his hypnotic compositions, which the group performs exquisitely. The Jazz Q material firmly belongs to the finest Eastern European Jazz-Rock Fusion material ever recorded, which sounds today every bit as brilliant as it did at the time it was created. The incredible reissues by GAD Records bring this legacy back to life and give an opportunity to younger generation of music lovers to get familiar with these treasures. Overall this is an absolute must for all Fusion lovers the world over, but lovers of Jazz created behind the iron curtain should find this especially interesting. Not to be missed!

Updated: 13/01/2025Posted: 02/05/2022

CD 2 Remastered Essential Recommend To A Friend

JAZZ Q ~ HVEZDON (ASTEROID) (EXPANDED EDITION) GAD 119 (Barcode: 5903068120756) ~ CZECHOSLOVAKIA ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 1979 - 1982 Released: 2020 This is a reissue of the 7th and last album by the original incarnation of the seminal Jazz QFind albums by this artist ensemble, founded and led by keyboardist / composer Martin KratochvilFind albums by this artist. The music was recorded by a quartet version of the ensemble, which also included guitarist Frantisek FranclFind albums by this artist, bass guitarist Vit MusilFind albums by this artist and drummer Pavol KozmaFind albums by this artist. Three additional musicians took part on selected tracks. All the music was composed by Kratochvil, with one track co-credited to all four members of the ensemble. The music was recorded in 1981 but released on LP by SupraphonFind albums on this label only three years later, in 1984. This remastered and expanded version of the album includes an entire second CD of bonus material, presenting twenty-one tracks of alternate versions and other recordings made between 1979 and 1982 by the same lineup. It will take over three decades of waiting for the next Jazz Q album to be recorded. Kratochvil, who was also heavily involved in composing and recording music for the Czechoslovak film industry, was recording the music in his own studio and managed to produce vast amounts of material, which he used "interchangeably" between his Jazz Q activities and his cinematic creations, which resulted in versions of the same compositions appearing in both idioms, which is reflected on this album. The music is, as always with Kratochvil´s work, absolutely brilliant. Although dominated by his keyboards, there is plenty of space left for some blood-curdling guitar work by Francl and superb bass playing by Musil, who left Czechoslovakia for Western Europe and was accordingly omitted from the artwork´s credits on the original release. The Jazz Q material firmly belongs to the finest Eastern European Jazz-Rock Fusion material ever recorded, which sounds today every bit as brilliant as it did at the time it was created. The incredible reissues by GADFind albums on this label Records bring this legacy back to life and give an opportunity to younger generation of music lovers to get familiar with these treasures. Overall this is an absolute must for all Fusion lovers the world over, but lovers of Jazz created behind the iron curtain should find this especially interesting. Not to be missed!

Updated: 13/01/2025Posted: 15/09/2020

CD 2 Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend

JAZZ Q ~ JAZZ Q (EXPANDED EDITION BOX SET) SUPRAPHON 5872 (Barcode: 099925587222) ~ CZECHOSLOVAKIA ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 1973 - 1986 Released: 2007 This wonderful reissue Box Set collects all the recordings by the Czechoslovak ensemble Jazz QFind albums by this artist. It is a brilliant document of the music scene, which thrived in Czechoslovakia (and other so-called "Socialist" Eastern European countries behind the Iron Curtain) following the 1968 Prague Spring, cut short by the brutal invasion of Czechoslovakia by the Warsaw Pact armies. Although the liberalization and reform that the Czechoslovak People yearned for was crushed by force and had to wait for two more decades to be finally achieved, the spirit of the Prague Spring lived on in People´s hearts and Arts were one of the areas where these feelings could be manifested, albeit carefully in view of the censorship and persecution. Jazz was an escape route to many Eastern European musicians, as it was tolerated and even supported by the Socialist regime (for reasons, which are beyond the scope of this review) and by the early 1970s many Rock musicians collaborated with their Jazz colleagues in order to avoid the scrutiny, which "decadent" Rock suffered from, in contrast to the relative liberal approach to Jazz. This strengthened the Jazz-Rock movement, which at the time was gaining worldwide popularity, with many Jazz-Rock Fusion ensembles active on the Czech music scene from the early 1970s to mid 1980s, with Jazz Q being the best and most important representative of that phenomenon. It was formed by the legendary keyboardist / composer Martin KratochvilFind albums by this artist and during the decade of its activity included in its ranks a long list of superb Czech musicians, like guitarists Lubos AndrstFind albums by this artist and Frantisek FranclFind albums by this artist, bassists Vladimir PadrunekFind albums by this artist and Premysl FauknerFind albums by this artist, drummers Jaromir HelesicFind albums by this artist and Pavol KozmaFind albums by this artist and many others. The British vocalist Joan DugganFind albums by this artist (wife of Frantisek Francl), who lived in Czechoslovakia at the time was also a member of the group as was the Czech vocalist Jana KoubkovaFind albums by this artist. Kratochvil wrote most of the fantastic music played by Jazz Q, although some of the material came from various band members. In their live performances the ensemble also included standards. This Box Set includes all six studio albums recorded by Jazz Q, an archival live album released only in the 1990s and a whole CD of bonus material. In retrospect this is some of the best Eastern European Jazz-Rock, which should not be missed by any connoisseur of the genre. An essential piece of music history!

Updated: 26/01/2019Posted:

CD 8 Mini-Sleeve Box Set Remastered Bonus Tracks Essential Recommend To A Friend

JAZZ Q ~ LIVE PLZEN 1980 GAD 262 (Barcode: 5903068124709) ~ CZECHOSLOVAKIA ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 1980 Released: 2023 This is an archival live album by the original incarnation of the seminal Czechoslovak Jazz QFind albums by this artist ensemble, founded and led by keyboardist / composer Martin KratochvilFind albums by this artist. The music was recorded by a quartet version of the ensemble, which also included guitarist Frantisek FranclFind albums by this artist, bass guitarist Vladimir PadrunekFind albums by this artist and drummer Pavel TrnavskyFind albums by this artist. The album presents five tracks, four of which were composed by Kratochvil and one by Trnavsky. As usual with GADFind albums on this label releases, the album includes informative in-depth (bi-lingual) liner notes, photographs and detailed information about the recording and historical background about the group. The music is, as always with Kratochvil´s work, absolutely brilliant. Although dominated by his keyboards, there is plenty of space left for some blood-curdling guitar work by Francl and superb rhythm section work by Padrunek, and the new drummer Trnavsky, which gave the group a much sharper / Rocky feel and sound than ever before. Francl and Padrunek both rejoined the group, having earlier played together on the group’s 3rd album “SymbiosisFind albums with this title”. This album is especially important, since Jazz Q released relatively little live material from their early period. Since they were phenomenal live performers, every opportunity to hear them live is an absolute delight. The music was recorded during a concert following the release of the 6th album “Hodokvas (Feast)Find albums with this title” and this excellent quartet incarnation of the group was sadly short lived and did not survive until the recording of the 7th and last album “Hvezdon (Asteroid)Find albums with this title” recorded by the original group. The Jazz Q material firmly belongs to the finest Eastern European Jazz-Rock Fusion material ever recorded, which sounds today every bit as brilliant as it did at the time it was created. The incredible reissues by GAD Records bring this legacy back to life and give an opportunity to younger generation of music lovers to get familiar with these treasures. Overall this is an absolute must for all Fusion lovers the world over, but lovers of Jazz created behind the iron curtain should find this especially interesting. Not to be missed!

Updated: 19/12/2023Posted: 16/12/2023

CD 1 Remastered Recommend To A Friend

JAZZ Q ~ PORI JAZZ 72 GAD 130 (Barcode: 5903068121074) ~ CZECHOSLOVAKIA ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 1972 Released: 2020 This is an archival release presenting a live performance by Czechoslovak Jazz-Rock Fusion group Jazz QFind albums by this artist during the 1972 Pori Jazz Festival, excellently recorded by the YLE (Finnish Broadcasting Company). The group founded and led by keyboardist / composer Martin KratochvilFind albums by this artist included also guitarist Lubos AndrstFind albums by this artist, bassist Vladimir PadrunekFind albums by this artist and drummer Michal VrbovecFind albums by this artist. The album presents four original extended pieces, one by Kratochvil, two by Andrst and one co-composed by Andrst and Padrunek. One of the pieces was composed for the planned Pori performance another for a planned trip to Tunis, that never materialized and two were written for the group second album "Pozorovatelna (The Watch-Tower)Find albums with this title", which was recorded a few months later. The music is every bit as brilliant as one might expect; soaring, highly energetic Fusion, superbly executed and splendidly composed, easily matching everything in that was happening within the genre in Western Europe and the US at the time. The "Pori 72" mini-suite demonstrates the sophistication of Jazz Q, both on the compositional level and power of execution, which features impressive guitar and electric piano parts as well as virtuosic support by the rhythm section. But the rest of the pieces is equally impressive, and shows the incredibly high level of musical ingenuity present on the Czechoslovak scene at the time, which I wrote extensively about in my numerous reviews of albums released there at the early 1970s. This album is a wonderful addition to the recorded legacy of Jazz Q, and the fact that the music was recorded almost fifty years before it was released is truly astonishing, since the music sounds completely fresh and contemporary. As usual the YLE vaults prove to be a fountain of youth for hidden treasures, and GADFind albums on this label Records again demonstrates its justification as a crucial factor in preserving and exploring East European Culture at its best. A shining gem!

Updated: 01/11/2020Posted: 01/11/2020

CD 1 Remastered Recommend To A Friend

JAZZ Q ~ POZOROVATELNA (THE WATCH-TOWER) (EXPANDED EDITION) GAD 068 (Barcode: 5901549197914) ~ CZECHOSLOVAKIA ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 1973 Released: 2018 This is a reissue of the 2nd album (but really a debut as the earlier album was recorded with another group called Blue EffectFind albums by this artist) by seminal Czechoslovak Jazz-Rock Fusion band Jazz QFind albums by this artist, led by keyboardist / composer Martin KratochvilFind albums by this artist, which at the time also included the legendary guitarist Lubos AndrstFind albums by this artist, bassist Vladimir PadrunekFind albums by this artist and drummer Michal VrbovecFind albums by this artist. British, resident in Czechoslovakia at the time, vocalist Joan DugganFind albums by this artist, guests on one track and violinist Rudolf ChalupskiFind albums by this artist guests on another. This remastered 2CD edition includes the original album on the first CD and bonus material, which includes early versions of the compositions, radio and live recordings, mostly previously unreleased, on the second CD. Except for one tune, all the music is original and was composed mostly by Kratochvil and the other members of the band. Forty five years after this music was recorded it still sounds remarkably fresh and powerful, standing shoulder to shoulder with the best early Jazz-Rock Fusion albums recorded at the time anywhere on the globe. In many respects this music managed to stay more relevant than many of the most influential albums recorded beyond the Iron Curtain, that are still considered classic of the genre today. The music on the original album presents a coherent ambience, full of mystery and suspension, quite minimalistic in many respects, especially in view of other Fusion albums. The melodic content is moody and subdued, and the instrumentalist perform with great delicacy and reserve, almost unheard of in the Fusion idiom. The overall result is that of a magic journey through space and time, which is fascinating and completely absorbing. In spite of the minimalistic approach the four members of the band present plenty of their virtuosic abilities, with Andrst simply tearing the space-time continuum to shreds. His incredible Blues feel, although not dominant here, is absolutely Godly. The bonus tracks reveal other facets of the quartet, with more vibrant and energetic material, all of which offers a superb sonic quality, which bonus tracks often lack. The material is quite mixed and offers a diverse stylistic ambience, with Jazz, Blues and Fusion pieces all present and which allow the players to show more of their excellent capabilities. As a result these bonus tracks are all worth being present here and listened to and are the antidote of the "filler" approach that so many reissues suffer from. Overall this is one of the greatest albums recorded by Eastern European musicians ever, not only within the Jazz-Rock idiom, but generally. Every second of this music counts and having it back in circulation is an absolute delight. This is an absolutely essential piece of musical history and a must have item in any decent music collection. Congrats to GADFind albums on this label Records again for the splendid and dedicated work of love!

Updated: 13/01/2025Posted: 13/04/2018

CD 2 Remastered Bonus Tracks Essential Recommend To A Friend

JAZZ Q ~ RITUAL STUDIO BUDIKOV 040 (Barcode: 8594159980402) ~ CZECH REPUBLIC ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 2022 Released: 2023 This is an album by the Czech Fusion ensemble Jazz QFind albums by this artist, which functions almost sixty years since it was established in 1964 by keyboardist / composer / bandleader Martin KratochvilFind albums by this artist. The current lineup of the group includes also guitarist Zdenek FiserFind albums by this artist, bassist Premysl FauknerFind albums by this artist and drummer Filip JenicekFind albums by this artist. The album presents nine original compositions, all by Kratochvil, and was recorded in his own studio, which functions since many years. The music offers a wonderful collection of melodic themes, deeply soaked in Blues and offering a genuine Fusion tradition, with extensive guitar and keyboards soloing and dynamic, highly supportive rhythm section, which is a true heaven for lovers of the genre. Despite his advanced age (approaching eighty), Kratochvil remains forever young, and his heart-wrenching melodies and virtuosic keyboard solos are completely ageless. He sticks to his own formula since many years, and the “don’t fix it if it ain’t broke” rule serves him perfectly well. Although the music has a distinct nostalgic tinge, the result is way more effective than what Fusion music has to offer these days. Overall, this is an excellent Fusion album, which sounds as if it was recorded in the 1970s, but still sounds fresh and exciting, especially to listeners who grew up listening to Fusion at that time. The guitar and keyboards licks are right on the money and it should be a no-brainer to grab a copy ASAP. I wish you health and happiness my Friend and hope to hear more of your music again soon!

Updated: 13/03/2023Posted: 13/03/2023

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

JAZZ Q ~ SYMBIOSIS (EXPANDED EDITION) GAD 170 (Barcode: 5903068121999) ~ CZECHOSLOVAKIA ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 1973 - 1975 Released: 2021 This is a reissue of the 3rd album by Czechoslovak Jazz-Rock Fusion band Jazz QFind albums by this artist, led by keyboardist / composer Martin KratochvilFind albums by this artist, originally released in 1974. The lineup that recorded this album includes also guitarist Frantisek FranclFind albums by this artist, bassist Vladimir PadrunekFind albums by this artist, drummer Michal VrbovecFind albums by this artist and British vocalist Joan DugganFind albums by this artist, as well as several guests on selected tracks. The original album, which is included here on the first CD, presented five tracks, one of which lasts over sixteen minutes, two composed by Padrunek and three by Kratochvil. This expanded edition includes also a second CD with twelve bonus tracks, recorded between 1973 and 1975, all composed by Kratochvil, originating from radio recordings and club appearances, mostly previously unreleased. As usual with GADFind albums on this label releases, the album includes informative in-depth (bi-lingual) liner notes, photographs and detailed information about dates and places of recording. With the change of the guitar player and addition of a vocalist, the music of Jazz Q expanded to include some Blues-Rock elements in addition to the Fusion elements that characterized the band from its conception. Duggan was a sole native English language female vocalist behind the Iron Curtain, which gave the band immediately a “Western” aura, so desired by all East European bands. Francl was obviously a brilliant guitar player with a deep feel for both Blues and Fusion and combined with Kratochvil’s brilliant compositions, Jazz Q were simply unstoppable. Fusion fans should find the track “Toledo” (on the bonus CD) especially fascinating, as it was recorded three years before Chick CoreaFind albums by this artist’s “My Spanish HeartFind albums with this title”, but sounds as if taken from that album. The music is absolutely timeless and amalgamates many influences, both the obvious ones like Jazz, Rock and Blues, but also subtle Folk and Classical music accents (see the Orchestral pieces on the bonus CD). Combined with the superb musicianship found here, this album is a true gem from start to finish. The fact that this music had no chance to reach listeners in Western Europe at the time is a travesty, which can now be easily rectified. Overall, this is obviously one of the best East European albums recorded at the time, and although it is almost fifty years old, it sounds absolutely fresh and exciting. As usual, hats off to GAD Records for bringing this treasure back to life and expanding it with additional brilliant music, which deserves to be heard and should not be forgotten. No decent Fusion record collection is complete without this album in it. Absolutely essential!

Updated: 13/01/2025Posted: 14/01/2022

CD 2 Remastered Bonus Tracks Essential Recommend To A Friend

JAZZ Q ~ TALISMAN STUDIO BUDIKOV 030 (Barcode: 8594159980303) ~ CZECH REPUBLIC ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 2015 Released: 2016 This is an album by Czech Fusion ensemble Jazz QFind albums by this artist founded in 1964 (yes you are reading correctly) and led by veteran keyboardist / composer Martin KratochvilFind albums by this artist and here including guitarist Zdenek FiserFind albums by this artist (another veteran ex ImpulsFind albums by this artist), bass guitarist Premysl FauknerFind albums by this artist (yet another veteran and member of early versions of Jazz Q) and drummer Filip JenicekFind albums by this artist (a representative of the young generation). The album presents twelve original compositions, all of which were composed by Kratochvil. This album follows the album “ZnovuFind albums with this title” (Eng. Again), released three years earlier, which was the first Jazz Q release in over two decades. The music is a typical Eastern European Jazz-Rock Fusion, based on the excellent compositions of the "forever young" Kratochvil, which offers splendidly weaved melodic themes, full of melancholy and lyricism, which serve as basis for extensive soloing by keyboards and guitar, supported amicably by the rhythm section, with occasional soli by bass and drums. There is not much innovation of course, but Fusion has been pretty stable in the last five decades, since the genre´s lovers prefer to stay on the safe side. This music combines highly melodic approach with Funk and Groove, which is quite unique. The fretless bass guitar parts work brilliantly within this idiom and provide a perfect background layer for the synthesizer and guitar parts. Kratochvil seems to be completely time defiant and his music sounds as fresh and full of his idiosyncratic tricky melodies as he was half a Century ago and it is a true joy to see (and hear) a veteran musician to be so stable and productive over the years. Fusion and guitar freaks should love this album to bits and are encouraged to find a copy, since they don´t make music like this anymore these days. It is hard to believe that this music was created and played by a musician in the eighth decade of his life. Hats off Maestro!

Updated: 03/02/2021Posted: 03/02/2021

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

JAZZ Q ~ ZIVI SE DIVI GAD 010 (Barcode: 5901549197105) ~ CZECHOSLOVAKIA ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 1975 Released: 2013 This is a real treat! The Czechoslovak band Jazz QFind albums by this artist was always one of my favorites since the time they first arrived on the scene in the early 1970 and I loved their albums to bits. The band epitomized the Eastern European Jazz-Rock Fusion better than any other singular band of their time and had absolutely no competition, neither in their own country nor in any other Eastern European countries, although the competition was very fierce with some excellent Polish, Hungarian and other local bands. A few years ago the Czech SupraphonFind albums on this label label (which was a State monopoly during the Socialist regime when the group was active) released a wonderful Box Set, which included all the albums and some additional material Jazz Q recorded for the label. Those eight CDs spun on my player for weeks on end and I was blissfully happy to have the "complete" Jazz Q legacy at my disposal. But as we all know, nothing is ever truly "complete" as this CD proves and a beautiful piece of the puzzle was missing for all these years, now available at last. Jazz Q were unique in every respect; the founder and principal composer keyboardist Martin KratochvilFind albums by this artist was an absolute genius, light-years ahead of everything that what was happening on the East European Fusion scene at the time and a musician that could easily stand shoulder to shoulder with the top movers and shakers of the worldwide Fusion scene, including the John McLaughlinFind albums by this artist´s Mahavishnu OrchestraFind albums by this artist, which was the model for his band. Kratochvil skillfully surrounded himself with other brilliant players, such as the ones appearing on this album: guitarist Frantisek FranclFind albums by this artist, saxophonist / violinist Jan MartinecFind albums by this artist, bassist Premysl FauknerFind albums by this artist and drummer Libor LaunFind albums by this artist. The band also featured the female vocalist (and Francl´s wife at the time) Joan DugganFind albums by this artist. All these musicians were virtuosi players, as is plainly evident to anyone listening to this album, and they were an ideal vehicle to present Kratochvil´s extraordinary music, which was often devilishly clever and complex. This live recording presents Jazz Q performing nine pieces, five of which are Kratochvil´s original composition, one is credited to the entire band and the remaining ones are composed by Eddie HarrisFind albums by this artist, Billy CobhamFind albums by this artist and John McLaughlinFind albums by this artist respectively, which is hardly surprising again as these the names associated with Fusion at the time. All these composition receive as extended treatment, which allow lengthy improvisations by the principal soloists (guitar, keyboards and violin), which are all breathtaking. The music lost absolutely nothing of its vitality, sophistication and honesty over the years and emphasizes the fact that music of such quality is almost never played today, a sad reflection of our times. If it was in my power, I´d make this album an obligatory part of every musical curriculum, hoping that it would open some people´s eyes and make them see the difference between senseless doodling and real music. Although criminally overdue, this is nevertheless a wonderful breath of fresh (albeit actually only well preserved) air, which makes life worth living.

Updated: 26/01/2019Posted:

CD 1 Remastered Essential Recommend To A Friend

JAZZ Q ~ ZVESTI (TIDINGS) (EXPANDED EDITION) GAD 283 (Barcode: 5903068125218) ~ CZECHOSLOVAKIA ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 1974 - 1978 Released: 2024 This is a reissue of the 5th album by the original incarnation of the seminal Czechoslovak Jazz QFind albums by this artist ensemble, founded and led by keyboardist / composer Martin KratochvilFind albums by this artist. The music was recorded by a quartet version of the ensemble, which also included guitarist Lubos AndrstFind albums by this artist, bass guitarist Premysl FauknerFind albums by this artist and drummer Jaromir HelesicFind albums by this artist. Saxophonist Jan MartinecFind albums by this artist guests on two tracks. The album presents eight tracks, all original compositions by Kratochvil. The music was recorded in 1977 and released on LP by SupraphonFind albums on this label in 1979. This remastered and expanded edition of the album includes an entire second CD of bonus material, presenting nineteen tracks of studio recordings made between 1974 and 1978, by various lineups, all but two previously unreleased, including two lengthy suites, eleven-part and four-part respectively. As usual with GADFind albums on this label releases, the album includes informative in-depth (bi-lingual) liner notes, photographs and detailed information about dates and places of recording. The music is, as always with Kratochvil´s work, absolutely brilliant. Although dominated by his keyboards, which include newly available synthesizers, there is plenty of space left for some blood-curdling guitar work by Andrst and superb rhythm section work by Faukner, and the new drummer Helesic. The compositions are amongst the finest ever of all Kratochvil’s legacy, realized after crystalizing his experiences as the leader / composer of the group’s material since its inception, and he is one the greatest musical tension builders, as reflected by his hypnotic compositions, which the group performs exquisitely. The music was strongly influenced by Kratochvil’s stay at the Berklee Collage of Music in Boston, where he was exposed to the then current American Fusion influences. The Jazz Q material firmly belongs to the finest Eastern European Jazz-Rock Fusion material ever recorded, which sounds today every bit as brilliant as it did at the time it was created. The incredible reissues by GAD Records bring this legacy back to life and give an opportunity to younger generation of music lovers to get familiar with these treasures. Overall, this is an absolute must for all Fusion lovers the world over, but lovers of Jazz created behind the iron curtain should find this especially interesting. Not to be missed!

Updated: 13/01/2025Posted: 13/01/2025

CD 2 Remastered Bonus Tracks Essential Recommend To A Friend

EERO KOIVISTOINEN / NORDJAZZ QUINTET ~ JAZZ LIISA VOL. 13 & VOL. 14 SVART 094 (Barcode: 6430065583011) ~ FINLAND ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 1974 - 1975 Released: 2017 Saxophonist / composer / bandleader Eero KoivistoinenFind albums by this artist is one of the Godfathers of modern Finnish Jazz with a career spanning six decades and a glorious legacy of recorded music spanning a wide range of stylistic explorations. The live radio broadcast captured here presents Koivistoinen and his quartet: pianist Heikki SarmantoFind albums by this artist (another iconic figure of the Finnish Jazz scene), his brother Pekka SarmantoFind albums by this artist on bass and drummer Reino LaineFind albums by this artist, hosting the superb Belgian guitarist Philip CatherineFind albums by this artist, who visited Finland at the time. On one track the quintet is expanded to a sextet when joined by the Bulgarian trumpeter Reicho IvanovFind albums by this artist. They perform five original compositions, two composed by Catherine, and one each by Danish trumpeter Palle MikkelborgFind albums by this artist, Koivistoinen and Ivanov. The music is highly electric (Sarmanto plays electric piano, Catherine electric guitar and even Ivanov plays an electric trumpet – see the Fusion group Eleventh HouseFind albums by this artist led by Larry CoryellFind albums by this artist, which had a similar lineup), which results in a charged Fusion fury, comparable to the best work of Mahavishnu OrchestraFind albums by this artist, and offering some of the finest quality of the genre ever recorded. I am happy to say that Koivistoinen and Heikki Sarmanto have been my friends since decades and I had the immense pleasure to write liner notes for their albums. The Nordjazz QuintetFind albums by this artist was a collaborative ensemble combining Jazz musicians from the Nordic countries (as opposed to Scandinavian, which means only Denmark, Norway and Sweden and not Finland and Iceland). The lineup changed over time and the one captured on this live broadcast includes Finnish saxophonist / flautist Pekka PoyryFind albums by this artist, Danish pianist Ole Kock HansenFind albums by this artist, Norwegian guitarist Nils Petter NyrenFind albums by this artist, Swedish bassist Kjell JanssonFind albums by this artist and Icelandic drummer Petur OstlundFind albums by this artist. They perform three original compositions, one composed by Hansen and two composed by Finnish Jazz musicians, both keyboardists / composers, not members of the ensemble: Olli AhvenlahtiFind albums by this artist and Jukka LinkolaFind albums by this artist. The music serves as basis for extended improvisations within the Fusion oriented idiom, featuring extensive soloing. These two sessions are ideally matched together and this CD is definitely one of the strongest and most coherent within the Jazz Liisa series. Overall this is some of the most staggering music created in Europe in the early to mid 1970s that one is able to hear and for European Jazz connoisseurs this is an absolute must have! Side Note The Finnish independent label SvartFind albums on this label Records released an unprecedented series of albums called Pop Liisa and Jazz Liisa, which present priceless historical recordings of Finnish Rock, Progressive Rock, Jazz-Rock Fusion and Jazz music, recorded live and broadcasted from the Liisankatu Studios in Helsinki under the "Popstudio" and "Jazzstudio" monikers between 1972 and 1977. The studios were owned by the YLE (Finnish Broadcasting Company), a public broadcasting service, which not only allowed the burgeoning Finnish music scene at the time to be exposed but also carefully archived the recordings for future generations. All this incredible music was previously unissued and collectively is probably the most important document of Finnish music from that period ever assembled. The music was released on 36 LPs (Pop Liisa Vol. 01 to Vol. 18 and Jazz Liisa Vol. 01 to Vol. 18) and on 18 CDs with every two consecutive volumes combined on one CD. The sound quality is absolutely superb, often better than the sound quality on the LPs released by these artists at the time. Many of the groups appearing on these albums never managed to record an album and these recordings are the only recorded legacy in existence of their activity. The released are accompanied by well researched and intelligent liner notes. This archival project is an outstanding example of how Cultural Legacy should be treated as well as of exemplary dedication to record producing professionalism.

Updated: 13/06/2020Posted: 13/06/2020

CD 1 Remastered Recommend To A Friend

MARTIN KRATOCHVIL / JAZZ Q ~ TEMNE SLUNCE GAD 018 (Barcode: 5901549197204) ~ CZECH REPUBLIC ~ Soundtracks Recorded: 1979 - 1980 Released: 2014 This album presents the music by Czech composer / keyboardist Martin KratochvilFind albums by this artist, leader of the legendary ensemble Jazz QFind albums by this artist, which served as the soundtrack of the controversial movie "Temne Slunce", which was based on a novel by famous Czech novelist Karel CapekFind albums by this artist entitled "Krakatit". The novel (written in 1922) prophesizes the invention of nuclear weapons and is one of many prophetic science fiction works written by Capek, who belongs to the same category of science fiction giants as George OrwellFind albums by this artist and Aldous HuxleyFind albums by this artist. "Temne Slunce" was in fact a second redemption of a film based on the same novel and made by the same legendary Czech director Otakar VavraFind albums by this artist. The first, black and white version of the film from 1948 had the original title of the book and the second, color version from 1981 was entitled "Temne Slunce" ("Dark Sun"). Vavra, who used mostly the famous Czech cinematic composer Zdenek LiskaFind albums by this artist to create the soundtracks for the films he directed, entrusted the creation of the soundtrack in the hands of Kratochvil, following a recommendation by Liska, who spotted and appreciated the incredible talents of Kratochvil. The album includes thirty two, mostly short pieces, which are split into three groups: part one (eleven tracks) part two (fourteen tracks) and bonus material (the last seven tracks). The music is performed mostly by Kratochvil playing synthesizers with occasional participation of the Jazz Q members (guitarist Frantisek FranclFind albums by this artist, bassist Vladimir PadrunekFind albums by this artist and drummer Libor LaunFind albums by this artist) and other guest musicians. This is the first appearance of the film soundtrack on record. The music sounds astonishingly contemporary today, some three and a half decades after it was recorded, and in comparison to other ambient / electronic / atmospheric music created today it is much more intelligent and advanced than most of what is produced today. Kratochvil brilliantly explores the possibilities offered by the synthesizers, without moving into extreme territory and keeping melody, harmony and rhythm present even when the music is entirely ambient. His feel for the drama and the film´s context is equally masterful. In retrospect the film is mostly remembered as a propaganda piece presenting the Socialist side of the Cold War conflict (not less ridiculous than similar propaganda pieces produced on the other side of the Iron Curtain), which does great injustice to the original novel it is based on. At least the film´s soundtrack remains as superb example of film music, which is likely to stay with us for eternity. Remastered from the original master tapes the album sounds spectacularly and is another great tribute to the legacy of Martin Kratochvil and Jazz Q brought to us by GADFind albums on this label Records, for which we are, as usual, grateful.

CD 1 Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend

POLISH JAZZ QUARTET ~ MEETS STUDIO M-2 GAD 054 (Barcode: 5901549197709) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 1964 - 1966 Released: 2017 This is a sensational archival album presenting the recordings by one of the formative modern Polish Jazz ensembles, the Polish Jazz QuartetFind albums by this artist, which comprised of saxophonist / composer Jan Ptaszyn WroblewskiFind albums by this artist, pianist / composer Wojciech KarolakFind albums by this artist, bassist Juliusz SandeckiFind albums by this artist and drummer Andrzej DabrowskiFind albums by this artist. The music included herein was recorded at the Polish Radio Studio M-2 with the studio orchestra conducted by Boguslaw KlimczukFind albums by this artist. Twelve wonderful pieces of early modern Polish Jazz are included on this album, seven of which are original compositions by Wroblewski, two are original compositions by Karolak and the remaining three are by other Polish composers, arranged by Wroblewski or Karolak. This album is the only source of recorded material by the Polish Jazz Quartet other than their debut album released in 1965 as the third volume of the legendary "Polish Jazz" series. The fact that the album does not include any American standards is extremely significant and points the way towards the development of the newborn Polish Jazz scene, which from its early days tried to create music different from the Jazz tradition, breaking away from the limitations and exploring new avenues, combining Jazz with the European musical tradition, local folklore and other influences, which eventually were to produce the "Polish Jazz Sound", which became an integral part of the Polish Cultural heritage. Stylistically the music moves between Swing, Bebop and Orchestral Jazz, still very much rooted in the American Jazz tradition, but already clearly trying to break away from it, which can be heard especially in Wroblewski´s masterful arrangements, which are very different from the American Big Band convention. The melodies are also much more sophisticated and diverse that the standard Bebop tunes, which served as vehicles for improvisation, whereas in the tunes present here the melodic contents has a much larger presence and position. The performances by all the musicians involved in these sessions are brilliant and one would never guess that this music was recorded beyond the Iron Curtain, where Jazz was in its early stages of development (at least on the National scale) and the musicians involved had very limited access to recorded material or performing experience. Listening to this album feels like taking a time machine trip five decades back in time, in order to visit the early childhood of modern Polish Jazz and the experience is truly magical. As usual the fact that this music is available for us to enjoy is by no means trivial and only thanks to the efforts of Michal WilczynskiFind albums by this artist, owner of the GADFind albums on this label Records label, it became a reality. Polish Jazz connoisseurs should be ever so grateful to this man for his unprecedented work.

Updated: 15/04/2017Posted: 15/04/2017

CD 1 Remastered Recommend To A Friend