Record Reviews

ARNE DOMNERUS ~ THE SHEIK / BROST-TONER FOUR LEAF CLOVER 2005/6 (Barcode: 7319200042837) ~ SWEDEN ~ Jazz Recorded: 1974 - 1979 Released: 2002 This is a reissue of two albums, both recorded in 1979, by Swedish saxophonist / composer / bandleader Arne DomnerusFind albums by this artist, one of the Godfathers of the Swedish Jazz scene, active for over five decades with an extensive recording legacy of over a hundred albums as a leader and sideman. CD1 is the album “The SheikFind albums with this title”, recorded in a quintet setting with American pianist / vocalist Jimmy RowlesFind albums by this artist, trumpeter Jan AllanFind albums by this artist, bassist Georg RiedelFind albums by this artist and drummer Rune CarlssonFind albums by this artist (the last two were one of the best European rhythm sections at the time). Of the nine tracks on this album seven are standards and two are original compositions by Riedel. This reissue adds a bonus track recorded by a Big Band, which features Domnerus, recorded in 1975. Considering the presence of Rowles, this album is all in traditional mainstream Jazz setting. CD2 is the album “Brost-TonerFind albums with this title”, recorded in a nonet and quartet settings, which include top Swedish Jazz players at the time, including pianists Bengt HallbergFind albums by this artist or Gunnar SvenssonFind albums by this artist, guitarist Rune GustafssonFind albums by this artist, Riedel and drummer Egil JohansenFind albums by this artist. Of the ten tracks on this album, eight are original compositions by the performing musicians and two are standards. This reissue adds a bonus track recorded by a Big Band, which features Domnerus, recorded in 1974. The music here is completely different from that on the companion album, full of vibrant modern European Jazz, with frequent tempo changes, complex harmonies and sophisticated compositions, which are ideal vehicles for the superb improvisations. Overall, this is a wonderful visit to the Swedish Jazz scene in the mid-1970s, which I had plenty of opportunity to experience first-hand during my visits there and meeting many of the musicians, who perform on these albums. Sweden had one of the strongest local Jazz scenes in Europe at the time and every visiting American Jazz musician used to include Sweden in their concert roster.

Updated: 29/01/2025Posted: 29/01/2025

CD 2 Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend

WIERBA / SCHMIDT QUINTET ~ THE MOLE PEOPLE SJ 004 (Barcode: 5902596066017) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2011 Released: 2012 This is the fourth album by the Polish Jazz quintet, which was founded by two young players / composers: pianist Michal WierbaFind albums by this artist and trumpeter Piotr SchmidtFind albums by this artist. The quintet also includes bassist Michal KapczukFind albums by this artist and drummer Sebastian KuchczynskiFind albums by this artist. The fifth member of the quintet is a guest artist and in this case it the fabulous Polish saxophonist Piotr BaronFind albums by this artist. The quintet performs seven tunes, five of which are original compositions by Wierba, one by Schmidt and the remaining one is a Jimmy RowlesFind albums by this artist standard. The music sits well within the comfortable boundaries of typical Jazz mainstream, moving vaguely between Bebop and Hard Bop. The original compositions are all quite solid, but overall unremarkable and lack an edge which could keep the listener focused for the duration of the music. The performances are also very good, but than again there´s nothing here that every Jazz fan never heard before. Baron, who obviously represents a completely different league, sadly contributes very little, as most of the music is performed without his direct involvement. The only moment when the music becomes truly inspired is when the beautiful standard is performed solo by the pianist. To make things perfectly clear this is not a bad album; there are plenty of interesting moments and excellent solos (Baron´s solos in particular) but it is not enough to make it a remarkable album. In view of the music made by the very young Polish Jazz players, even younger than the ones on this album, constantly breathing on the neck of their slightly older colleagues, the level of competition requires everybody to try ever so harder. Life is a bitch.

Updated: 12/06/2018Posted:

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

MICHAL WIERBA / DOPPELGANGER PROJECT ~ ORANGE SKY CELESTIS 005 ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2013 Released: 2014 This is the debut album by young Polish Jazz pianist / composer Michal WierbaFind albums by this artist, known to local fans as the co-leader of a quintet with trumpeter Piotr SchmidtFind albums by this artist. This is a much more intimate project, basically a piano trio plus percussion and a female vocalist on three tracks. The participating musicians apart from Wierba are: bassist Jakub DworakFind albums by this artist, drummer Arek SkolikFind albums by this artist, percussionist Lukasz KurzydloFind albums by this artist and vocalist Patrycja ZarychtaFind albums by this artist. The album consists of ten tracks, five of which are Wierba originals, three are standards and one each is by Kurzydlo and Zarychta. Although Wierba is an excellent player by all standards, this album does him a terrible disservice. The music sounds like something played during a yuppie birthday party, always simplistic and pleasant, conformist and sugary sweet. Even the divine Jimmy RowlesFind albums by this artist´ composition "The Peacocks", played on solo piano like a Frederic ChopinFind albums by this artist nocturne, sounds completely ridiculous. The vocalist sings in English (again!) and I don´t need to repeat what I think about that. Even the album´s liner notes credit the wrong tracks to their composers, at least in the case of the a.m. Rowles composition and the tracks timings are wrong like on the last track. In short anything that could go wrong here simply did go wrong. This record should have never been recorded, nor released. I´m not adding another word…

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend