Record Reviews
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  | JAKOB BRO / JOE LOVANO ~ ONCE AROUND THE ROOM: A TRIBUTE TO PAUL MOTIAN
ECM 2747 (Barcode: 602445994908) ~ DENMARK ~ Free Jazz / Improvised Music
Recorded: 2021 Released: 2022
This is an album by Danish guitarist Jakob BroFind albums by this artist and American saxophonist Joe LovanoFind albums by this artist, recorded in a highly unusual septet setting with three bassists: American Larry GrenadierFind albums by this artist and Thomas MorganFind albums by this artist and Danish Anders ChristensenFind albums by this artist, and two drummers: American Joey BaronFind albums by this artist and Spanish Jorge RossyFind albums by this artist. The album presents six tracks, two each by Bro and Lovano, one by American drummer / composer Paul MotianFind albums by this artist, to whom the album is dedicated, and finally one co-credited to all seven participating musicians.
The music is completely free spirited, mostly improvised with very little melodic continuity. It is mostly about atmosphere and despite the fact that it is performed by obviously highly talented musicians, sounds to me quite estranged and cold. It sadly represents the many ECMFind albums on this label albums, that despite the high potential completely fail to deliver anything worth mentioning.
Overall, for me this album says very little, and is one of those records that I continued to listen to until it was finished only from the respect I feel towards the musicians, never to return to it again.
| | Updated: 14/01/2025Posted: 14/01/2025 | CD 1 Slipcase Recommend To A Friend |
  | STEVE KUHN ~ MOSTLY COLTRANE
ECM 2099 (Barcode: 602527011141) ~ USA ~ Jazz
Recorded: 2008 Released: 2009
Excellent album by US pianist / composer Steve KuhnFind albums by this artist with his trio comprising of bassist David FinckFind albums by this artist and drummer Joey BaronFind albums by this artist and guest saxophonist Joe LovanoFind albums by this artist. Kuhn, who is one of the most impressive American pianists / composers on the Jazz scene since the 1960s, started to record for the ECMFind albums on this label label in 1974 and his numerous albums on the label are all truly outstanding. On this album Kuhn re-examines the John ColtraneFind albums by this artist legacy as a composer, performing nine of his compositions. The other four selections include two compositions by Kuhn and two standards, which Coltrane performed often during the early stage of his career. Although obviously a tribute to the greatest Genius of Jazz, the album can be also viewed as an attempt to personalize Coltrane´s legacy and influence, adapting it to contemporary approach, half a Century after Coltrane composed and performed this music. Regardless of how one wants to analyze this music, it works perfectly and produces an aesthetic experience of the highest degree. Superb stuff!
Visitors' Comments
Christopher Brice
This wonderful disc manages to bring a rich smoothness to the pieces without falling into the trap of "smooth jazz" (ie, not remotely MoR). Joey Baron adds brilliant highlights and I have made a mental not to hear more of Finck´s bass.
| | | CD 1 Slipcase Recommend To A Friend |
  | ENRICO PIERANUNZI ~ THE COMPLETE REMASTERED RECORDINGS ON BLACK SAINT & SOUL NOTE
CAM JAZZ 1004 (Barcode: 8024709112521) ~ ITALY ~ Jazz
Recorded: 1981 - 1997 Released: 2010
This superb Box Set collects all the albums recorded by the legendary Italian pianist / composer Enrico PieranunziFind albums by this artist on the twin Italian independent labels: Black SaintFind albums on this label and Soul NoteFind albums on this label. Pieranunzi needs no introduction to any serious Jazz connoisseur; suffice to say that from the early days in the mid-1970s he retained his position as one of the best, most sensitive and technically proficient piano player in Europe. His completely unique approach to playing and composing music has put him in a class of itself and his prolific recorded output is always a source of great musical joy. The musicians playing on these five albums include: trumpeter Art FarmerFind albums by this artist, bassist Marc JohnsonFind albums by this artist, drummer Joey BaronFind albums by this artist, drummer Paul MotianFind albums by this artist, saxophonist Lee KonitzFind albums by this artist and many others. Remastered, mini-sleeved, and with a great bargain price – this Box Set an absolute must for any serious Jazz collector.
Side Note
The Italian independent record label Black SaintFind albums on this label was founded by the music critic / author / producer Giacomo PellicciottiFind albums by this artist in 1975. It was taken over by the producer Giovanni BonandriniFind albums by this artist in 1978 and a year later (1979) a sister label, called Soul NoteFind albums on this label, was established. The twin labels were run by Giovanni and later his son Flavio BonandriniFind albums by this artist, until they were sold in 2008 to the Italian KEPACH Music Group, which already owned the CAM JazzFind albums on this label label, and which also bought another Italian independent record label Dischi Della QuerciaFind albums on this label.
The mission of the Black Saint / Soul Note labels was to record and document the Free Jazz / Improvised Music / Avant-Garde scene, mostly from the US but also from Europe, which continued between mid 1970s and late 1990s and produced a staggering collection of almost 550 albums recorded by world's most important Jazz innovators active at the time, providing an opportunity to American (mostly Afro-American) musicians, who would have never managed to make these recordings at home, ridden by racism, alienation and closed-mindedness. Without these two labels most of this fantastic human creativity would have been never documented.
However, the Black Saint / Soul Note Box Sets produced under the CAM JazzFind albums on this label moniker are an archetypal example of how good intentions turn sour. Although these new editions often bring back to life some of the best music ever made on this planet, which in many cases has been lost in the tides of time and was unavailable on the market for ages, they suffer from an unforgivable disregard to the essence of cultural values and general sloppiness, contrary to human decency, which requires us to treat our cultural legacy with respect and loyalty.
These Box Sets have no booklet which presents researched historical background and exact discographical information of the albums included, and most importantly an overview of the music and its meaning and contribution to the Jazz Art form. Although the original LP sleeves are reproduced, the information is in most cases too small to be readable at all. In short the fact that these Box Sets are meant to be inexpensive, does not mean that they have to be cheap!
| | Updated: 05/05/2020Posted: | CD 6 Mini-Sleeve Box Set Remastered Recommend To A Friend |
  | JOHN TAYLOR ~ ROSSLYN
ECM 1751 (Barcode: 601215992427) ~ UK ~ Jazz
Recorded: 2002 Released: 2003
Despite the fact that British pianist / composer John TaylorFind albums by this artist appears on dozens of albums released by the German ECMFind albums on this label label, this is the only one released under his name. Recorded in a classic Jazz piano trio setting with American bassist Marc JohnsonFind albums by this artist and drummer Joey BaronFind albums by this artist. It is the trio’s only recording, captured at the fabulous Rainbow Studio in Oslo and engineered by Jan Erik KongshaugFind albums by this artist, offering a stunning sound quality. The album presents seven tracks, five of which are original compositions by Taylor, one is by his lifetime brother in arms Kenny WheelerFind albums by this artist and finally one is a standard.
The music presents mostly the poetic, deeply lyrical side of Taylor’s personality, both as composer and performer. The compositions are mostly melody based, but offer a long stretches of open space, which allow less rigor and allows creative freedom.
Taylor is ab absolute focus of the album, with the rhythm section being utterly respective and restrained, accompanying the piano delicately, but with great thoughtfulness and taste. This approach adds to the delicate atmosphere, which is almost meditative at times, emphasizing the “less is more” approach.
The album celebrated Taylor’s 60th birthday and was perhaps one of his most reflective moments in his long standing career, with every note perfectly articulated and the melodies full of the unique Englishness, which always characterized Taylor’s music. In retrospect it is definitely one of his best recordings of all time, and an absolute must in any decent British Jazz collection.
Overall this is an absolute classic Jazz album in every respects and an absolute ultimate Jazz piano trio recording in many respects, which should serve as an example of what Jazz is all about, and the perfect combination of melody and freedom. Absolutely essential!
| | Updated: 02/04/2021Posted: 02/04/2021 | CD 1 Slipcase Essential Recommend To A Friend |
  | ERIC VLOEIMANS ~ BITCHES AND FAIRY TALES
CHALLENGE 70061 (Barcode: 608917006124) ~ NETHERLANDS ~ Jazz
Recorded: 1998 Released: 2010
This is the third album as a leader by Dutch trumpeter / composer Eric VloeimansFind albums by this artist recorded with the dreamy trio comprising of British pianist John TaylorFind albums by this artist and American bassist Marc JohnsonFind albums by this artist and drummer Joey BaronFind albums by this artist, which recorded the great album "RosslynFind albums with this title" for ECMFind albums on this label a few years later. The album presents thirteen original compositions, ten composed by Vloeimans and three short interludes co-composed by him and Taylor.
The music is brilliant modern European Jazz, based on open compositions, which allow the quartet to improvise intensively, at times quite freely, and to utilize polyrhythmic structures, which the rhythm section wizardly carries on. The music is diverse and highly interesting from start to finish, and in retrospect this is one of the most interesting European Jazz recordings of the 1990s.
Vloeimans and Taylor manage to create a superb synergy, which also characterized the work of Taylor with Kenny WheelerFind albums by this artist, and Vloeimans´ trumpet playing bears many similarities to the idiosyncratic style of Wheeler.
Interestingly the American rhythm section displays completely non-American aesthetics, which sets it apart from most rhythm sections originating in the US, and which enables the sublime musical atmosphere created on this album, ideally suited to the two Europeans on board. Of course they are not the only example of American rhythm sections free of the decades-long clichés cemented by Bebop, but they are certainly a most welcome exception.
This music lost absolutely nothing of its power and originality over time and still sounds as interesting and fresh as it did at the time it was recorded. Taylor´s enthusiasts will wind his work here as brilliant as ever and since the album seems to be still available, it´s about time to grab a copy – satisfaction guaranteed!
| | Updated: 02/10/2020Posted: 02/10/2020 | CD 1 Recommend To A Friend |
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