Record Reviews
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  | LARRY CORYELL ~ BAREFOOT MAN: SANPAKU
PURPLE PYRAMID 0460 (Barcode: 889466046025) ~ USA ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion
Recorded: 2015 Released: 2016
This is an album by the iconic American guitarist / composer / bandleader Larry CoryellFind albums by this artist, recorded in a quintet setting with saxophonist Dan JordanFind albums by this artist, pianist Lynne ArrialeFind albums by this artist, bassist John LeeFind albums by this artist and drummer Lee PiersonFind albums by this artist. The album presents seven original compositions, all composed by the leader. Although the album’s packaging gives no information about the place and date of recording, the music was most probably recorded in late 2015, which makes this one before last studio album by Coryell, who died in early 2017.
It is a bit puzzling why Coryell returned to the Fusion oriented music shortly before his death, after he spent over a decade playing almost straightforward Jazz, but whatever the reason might be, he was not only one of the American Fusion Godfathers but also definitely one of the genre’s best ever guitarists. Since the early days with Gary BurtonFind albums by this artist in the late 1960s, when his playing basically marked the origin of American Fusion, followed by his sensational work as leader of the Eleventh HouseFind albums by this artist, and countless other recordings with musicians from all over the world, his guitar playing was always a beacon of originality and talent. His last studio album “Seven SecretsFind albums with this title”, recorded with a reformed Eleventh House, was obviously a beautiful closure to his career, which lasted for six decades.
This album is also a beautiful example of Coryell’s music making, both as a composer of delicious tunes, a virtuosic guitar player and a leader, who always knew how to assemble a great team. Veteran bassist Lee, who goes back to the early days of Eleventh House, is in great form, but the decisive tone of this album is set by the superb acoustic piano playing by Arriale, whose lyricism is a great balance to the Funky atmosphere set by the rhythm section.
Overall, this is a wonderful tribute to Coryell’s career, which proves he was a sublime guitar player till the very end of his days. The music flows happily and the Funky / Fusion feel prevails, providing the perfect background for first class soloing by all the participants. This is what one can call “going in style”. Wholeheartedly recommended!
| | Updated: 11/05/2023Posted: 11/05/2023 | CD 1 Recommend To A Friend |
  | JOACHIM KUHN ~ HIP ELEGY (MOST PERFECT SOUND EDITION)
MPS 9808186 ~ GERMANY ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion
Joachim KuhnFind albums by this artist ranks among the most famous European jazz musicians. Brilliant pianist and composer, he has been active on the German jazz scene since the mid-1960’s, first playing with his older brother Ralf KuhnFind albums by this artist (a superb jazz clarinet player – see their excellent album on the American Impulse!Find albums on this label label, if you can find it) and later enjoyed a spectacular solo career, playing and recording with all the best jazz musicians around the world. As many of his German colleagues he played mostly free jazz in his early days and later expanded also to Jazz-Rock.
For this 1975 recording Kuhn assembled a stellar group of musicians: Japanese trumpeter Terumasa HinoFind albums by this artist, Belgian guitarist extraordinare Philip CatherineFind albums by this artist, Brazilian percussionist Nana VasconcelosFind albums by this artist and an all-American rhythm section with John LeeFind albums by this artist on bass and Alphonse MouzonFind albums by this artist on drums. Together they play a set of Kuhn’s superb compositions, executed with elegance and virtuosity rarely heard elsewhere. Kuhn’s superb piano technique, of the classical concert hall scale, sets the tone, but he also uses electronic keyboards to paint layers of atmospheric backgrounds. Everybody enjoys plenty of space to improvise and the result is a Fusion fan’s dream come-true.
On a side note: the album was produced by Joachim BerendtFind albums by this artist and the music was first played at the jubilee concerts celebrating his 5,000th radio jazz program on the Sudwestfunk network – where Berendt worked for many years.
Side Note
The legendary German MPSFind albums on this label (Musik Produktion Schwarzwald) label, founded by Hans Georg Brunner-SchwerFind albums by this artist (HGBS) in 1963, first as SABAFind albums on this label Records and later on from 1968 as MPS Records, was the most important independent European record label, which had an enormous contribution to the development of European Jazz. For many years MPS cooperated with the legendary German producer / author Joachim BerendtFind albums by this artist, my Friend and Mentor, whose visionary approach and open-mindedness brought the crème de la crème of the Jazz (in the broadest meaning of the word) musicians from all over the world to the label. Between 1963 and 1983 MPS produced about five hundred albums, many of which are among the most important Jazz recordings on this planet.
In 1983 the MPS catalog was sold to UniversalFind albums on this label, which sadly resulted in all those artistic treasures to almost disappear from the face of the earth – a situation not only tragic but culturally criminal. Universal reissued a part of the MPS albums (probably 128 titles) on CD between 1999 and 2011 under the "Most Perfect Sound Edition" moniker.
Since 2008 the German Promising MusicFind albums on this label label released some of the MPS recordings, but at a very slow pace.
In 2014 the German company Edel AG bought the MPS catalogue from Universal and released a series of 25 MPS albums on CD with a new slipcase graphic design, which brought all those excellent albums back to life. In 2015 Edel AG started to record and release new albums under the MPS moniker. In 2016 Edel AG released a series of 10 classic MPS albums on CD, which were beautifully remastered and re-packaged, presenting the original artwork and liner notes, as well as new liner notes and photographs. An obvious labor of love, these reissues are what the MPS catalogue truly deserves. This project was continued in 2017 with another series of 10 classic MPS albums released on CD. In later years some new reissues were released sporadically.
Over the years many SABA / MPS albums were reissued in Japan, which is often the only available source for these albums today, but that is a story in itself.
| | Updated: 28/05/2018Posted: | CD 1 Digipak Oversampling Remastered Recommend To A Friend |
  | JOACHIM KUHN ~ SPRINGFEVER
WOUNDED BIRD 1695 (Barcode: 664140169524) ~ GERMANY ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion
Recorded: 1976 Released: 2008
Virtuoso German keyboardist Joachim KuhnFind albums by this artist is one of the greatest representatives of European Jazz and his illustrious career and numerous recordings are a source of inspiration for any true music lover. Strongly influenced by his older brother Rolf KuhnFind albums by this artist, an exquisite clarinetist, Joachim started to play Jazz professionally in the 1960s and was one of the founding fathers of the great modern German Jazz scene. In his early days Kuhn played mostly modern Free Jazz. But by the 1970s he flirted extensively with Jazz-Rock Fusion recording a series of wonderful albums in that genre first for the legendary MPSFind albums on this label label and later for AtlanticFind albums on this label. This album finds Kuhn in a quartet setting with brilliant Belgian guitarist Philip CatherineFind albums by this artist, bassist John LeeFind albums by this artist and drummer Gerald BrownFind albums by this artist. Polish virtuoso violinist Zbigniew SeifertFind albums by this artist guest on several tracks. All the music was written by Kuhn and it is absolutely stunning, with strong Jazz and Classical influences, performed with passion and exquisite taste by all the musicians. Kuhn´s extended acoustic piano solos are breathtaking and the entire album is an absolute must to any serious Jazz-Rock Fusion fan, especially those open to the European branch of the genre. Essential stuff!
| | Updated: 18/07/2020Posted: | CD 1 Recommend To A Friend |
  | WOLFGANG LACKERSCHMID ~ LAKE GENEVA
HIPJAZZ 015 (Barcode: 4250095882845) ~ GERMANY ~ Smooth Jazz
Recorded: 1995 Released: 2018
This is a reissue of an album by German Jazz vibraphonist / composer Wolfgang LackerschmidFind albums by this artist, recorded in a quartet setting with American guitarist Chuck LoebFind albums by this artist and bassist John LeeFind albums by this artist and Danish percussionist Marilyn MazurFind albums by this artist. The album presents ten original compositions, three each by Lackerschmid, Loeb and Lee and one by Mazur. This remastered edition adds one bonus track.
The music is a typical American influenced Fusion, which resembles music played by other ensembles at the time, especially Steps AheadFind albums by this artist led by American vibraphonist Mike MainieriFind albums by this artist, of which Loeb was a member. The music is very melodic and easy on the ear, bordering on Smooth Jazz, but always elegant and solid. The compositions are kept within a defined harmonic framework, serving as basis for lengthy improvisations, mostly by Loeb. Of course the performances are highly professional, as appropriate of musicians of this class.
Overall this is a very pleasant album, enjoyable like an afternoon breeze, but not very ambitious musically. A nice groove and a relaxed mood are the main elements this music stands for. This is ideal for listeners who like American Fusion / Groove music with a lot of gentle guitar work up front. Although this music is over two decades old, it is still perfectly valid within the Smooth Jazz framework.
| | Updated: 08/07/2018Posted: 08/07/2018 | CD 1 Digipak Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend |
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