Record Reviews
21 Reviews Found. Use search to find more reviews or follow the links in the review text.
  | AGA TAURA CONFAB / ENRICO RAVA ~ EL CONVIDADO
SVART / MONDO 381 (Barcode: 6430065589419) ~ ARGENTINA ~ Jazz-World Fusion
Recorded: 1975 Released: 2019
In June of 1975 Italian trumpeter / composer Enrico RavaFind albums by this artist recorded his debut album for the prestigious German ECMFind albums on this label label, entitled "The Pilgrim And The StarsFind albums with this title", which upon its release later that year kick-started his solo career. The album was recorded with an international lineup of ECM stable musicians: American guitarists John AbercrombieFind albums by this artist (who also released his ECM debut the same year) and a marvelous Scandinavian rhythm section consisting of Swedish bassist Palle DanielssonFind albums by this artist and Norwegian drummer Jon ChristensenFind albums by this artist.
A trumpet virtuoso and an exceptionally gifted composer, Rava established himself on the international scene during the entire decade earlier, playing and recording with the elite of Avant-Garde Jazz players of that period both in Europe and in America, which included Steve LacyFind albums by this artist, Roswell RuddFind albums by this artist, Charlie HadenFind albums by this artist, Don CherryFind albums by this artist, Argentinean Gato BarbieriFind albums by this artist (during his stint in Italy), Lee KonitzFind albums by this artist and others. By the early 1970s Rava embraced a more melodic approach to Jazz and started to cooperate with Fusion musicians, a path common to many of his European contemporaries. This led to his participation in the recording of the seminal Jazz-Rock opera "Escalator Over The HillFind albums with this title" by Carla BleyFind albums by this artist as well as the recording of the little known album for the legendary German MPSFind albums on this label label called "Katcharpari RavaFind albums with this title", where he played vis-à-vis Abercrombie and which, when first heard by ECM owner Manfred EicherFind albums by this artist, led to inviting them both to record for ECM in the first place.
What led Enrico Rava to take part in the recording of the obscure album you are holding in your hand, which took place in December of 1975 in Buenos Aires, the Capital of Argentina, you ask? Well it turns out Rava had some family in Buenos Aires, which he was visiting at the time and which is hardly surprising considering the fact that most of Argentina´s inhabitants are descendants of European ethnic groups, with more than 55% of them having Italian origins. Therefore being Italian and having family in Argentina is a highly probable outcome. Quite accidently, Rava already visited Buenos Aires almost a decade earlier, when playing there with the Steve Lacy quartet. A performance by that quartet recorded in Buenos Aires in November of 1966 was released as the album "The Forest And The ZooFind albums with this title" on the ESPFind albums on this label label.
The rest of the story, however, is pure Jazz "improvisation". Upon learning that Rava is in town, local Jazz aficionados swiftly decided to size the day and hook him up with local musician and record an album. It is difficult to know today if Rava and the Argentineans realized that he was already under ECM contract and they needed to ask Eicher to give them permission to make this recording, which was highly unlikely he would. But considering South American attitude towards rules and regulations nobody probably cared too much about it, which of course in retrospect should make us thankful.
The team selected to accompany Rava, named as "Aga Taura ConfabFind albums by this artist", included three Argentinean Jazz musicians: pianist Fernando GelbardFind albums by this artist, bassist Adalberto CevascoFind albums by this artist and drummer Nestor AstaritaFind albums by this artist and an Argentinean Folk percussionist Farias GómezFind albums by this artist, who also contributed vocalese parts. Although less experienced and with no international exposure at the time, they stood their ground formidably and performed alongside Rava without any inferiority complex. Of the five tunes on the album, four are performed by the quintet, where Gelbard plays the Fender Rhodes electric piano, and one is a duet consisting of Rava and Gelbard, who plays acoustic piano. Not surprisingly Rava´s performances are the absolute pinnacle of the session, encompassing different styles and approaches moving between melodic lyricism and Free Form explorations. He knowingly pays tribute to his idols: Miles Davis and Chet Baker, but avoids copying any explicit phrasing and crafts his distinctly own voice.
The spontaneous recording session lasted for a few hours, just long enough to capture five tracks totaling in about forty two minutes of music. The sound quality of the recording turned out to be better than one might expect, with clear, crispy tone and excellent separation, which suited the music perfectly. The music includes a Rava original, which appears only on this album, a standard, a composition by the Brazilian composer João DonatoFind albums by this artist, a composition by Argentinean saxophonist / composer Horacio BorraroFind albums by this artist and finally a composition by the quintet´s percussionist Farias Gómez – a mixed bag which offers a strong World Music influence and plenty of opportunities for the musicians to show their chops.
In retrospect this is definitely a piece of music that deserves to be revisited, not only for nostalgic reasons, but primarily as a historical document of the period, as well as proof of the fact that music knows no boundaries. Due to its rarity the original LP release is a highly sought after collectors item to Jazz aficionados all over the world, not only connoisseurs of Enrico Rava, but also enthusiasts of early Jazz-World Fusion.
Side Note
The above are my liner notes included on this album's artwork.
I am honored when asked by the Artists to write liner notes for their albums, always hoping that my words reflect the true spirit of the music. This is also a symbol of our mutual respect and friendship developed over the years.
The same is also true when Record Labels ask me to write liner notes for their releases, mostly in the case of reissues of archival albums, which is a symbol of their appreciation of my knowledge and historical perspective and my recognition of their dedication to the preservation of the history of recorded music and the effort to keep human Culture and Aesthetics alive.
| | Updated: 22/05/2020Posted: 22/05/2020 | CD 1 Mini-Sleeve Remastered Recommend To A Friend |
  | MISHA ALPERIN ~ NORTH STORY
ECM 1596 (Barcode: 731453102224) ~ RUSSIA ~ Jazz
Recorded: 1995 Released: 1997
The Soviet Union produced some truly amazing Jazz musicians, including Avant-Garde pioneers and prophetic innovators, who were almost completely unknown outside of the empire´s borders. The fate of the Soviet Jazz is a fascinating chapter in the music´s history. Following the collapse of the Soviet regime, many of the musicians, who were active on the local scene, left the country, including pianist / composer Misha AlperinFind albums by this artist, who now lives in Norway. His recordings for the ECMFind albums on this label label, starting with the "Wave Of SorrowFind albums with this title" album (the first album by Soviet musicians to be released on ECM) brought his wonderful music to the attention of a much wider audience, which of course is well deserved. This is Alperin´s 2nd album on ECM, released almost a decade after the debut. He is accompanied by his life-long friend and musical partner Arkady ShilkloperFind albums by this artist, who plays French horn and flugelhorn, and three Norwegian musicians: saxophonist Tore BrunborgFind albums by this artist, bassist Terje GeweltFind albums by this artist and Master drummer Jon ChristensenFind albums by this artist. Alperin´s music is contemplative and deeply moving, complex but also melodic, reminiscent of some contemporary Classical music but with a distinct Jazz connection. It is devilishly difficult to perform and the musicians present here are obviously all virtuosi. I can´t imagine any serious music connoisseur not falling in love with this music immediately and if you´re not familiar with it, now is the time!
Visitors' Comments
Christopher Brice
I came to Alperin via his collaboration with John Surman on "First Impression," which is highly recommended; and I am grateful to Adam for pushing me to try more of his work, starting here. Tore Brunborg is uncannily like Jan Garbarek at first hearing; is this a Norwegian national style?
Christopher Brice
PS: On this album, ECM breaks with the habit of putting a larger version of the cover photo on the slip case: the cover and slip case give us four different photos of what seems to be the same event; but as ever, there are no details given
| | Updated: 12/04/2019Posted: | CD 1 Slipcase Recommend To A Friend |
  | JAN GARBAREK ~ DANSERE
ECM 2146/48 (Barcode: 602527551784) ~ NORWAY ~ Jazz
Recorded: 1971 - 1975 Released: 2012
This wonderful Box Set contains three early albums by the legendary Norwegian saxophonist Jan GarbarekFind albums by this artist, the first of which was recorded by a quintet with guitarist Terje RypdalFind albums by this artist, pianist Bobo StensonFind albums by this artist, bassist Arild AndersonFind albums by this artist and drummer Jon ChristensenFind albums by this artist and the other two were recorded by a quartet with Stenson, bassist Palle DanielssonFind albums by this artist and Christensen, recorded in early 1970s and released on the ECMFind albums on this label label, which are "SartFind albums with this title" (ECM 1015) recorded in 1971, "Witchi-Tai-ToFind albums with this title" (ECM 1041) recorded in 1973 and "DansereFind albums with this title" (ECM 1075) recorded 1975.
These albums are magnificent examples of early modern Scandinavian Jazz, which after years of copying American Jazz finally emerged as a new identity, leaving the tradition where it respectfully belongs. These six young (at that time) musicians emerged in time as some of the most creative and influential Jazz figures, producing groundbreaking music and expanding the realms of Jazz way beyond their original scope. They also defined the Scandinavian Sound, which to this day is a strong characteristic many recordings by Scandinavian musicians and some other trying to imitate them.
This music lost absolutely nothing of its original charm and fascination and sounds every bit as enchanting as it did at the time of the recording. Listening to it again after quite a few years makes a very strong impression and brings on waves of nostalgia to the times when music was constantly breaking new ground and was full of wonderful surprises. This is definitely worth re-visiting and re-discovering! Brilliant stuff!
Side Note: These albums are not available on CD individually, so this is the only way to obtain them in CD form.
| | Updated: 26/01/2019Posted: | CD 3 Mini-Sleeve Box Set Recommend To A Friend |
  | KEITH JARRETT ~ BELONGING
ECM 1050 (Barcode: 042282911520) ~ USA ~ Jazz
Recorded: 1974 Released: 2000
During the 1970s, the legendary US pianist / composer Keith JarrettFind albums by this artist was leading a "double life", recording in parallel as a leader of two quartets: The recordings of the US quartet were released on ImpulseFind albums on this label and those of the Scandinavian quartet on ECMFind albums on this label, a relatively new (at the time) small European (German) label, which in time was destined to become the world´s leading record label associated with the most important musicians active in the late 20th Century. This album was the first recording of the Scandinavian quartet, which consisted of Norwegian saxophonist Jan GarbarekFind albums by this artist, Swedish bassist Palle DanielssonFind albums by this artist and Norwegian drummer Jon ChristensenFind albums by this artist. Jarrett explored completely two different musical idioms with his two quartets: The US quartet, firmly based in the US Jazz tradition, boldly expanded the borders of the genre, whereas the Scandinavian quartet plunged head-on into the European Jazz universe, which was revolutionizing the Jazz language by moving away from the restriction set by American Jazz and amalgamating previously untouched musical areas, which included, among others, the European Classical tradition and Folklore. Jarrett was amongst the first US Jazz musicians to discover the new universe and crossed over the Atlantic pond to take part in the "new thing" without hesitation. For this album Jarrett composed a set of brilliant composition, completely different from his work in the US, and these composition performed by the Scandinavian quartet emerged as one of the greatest moments of his career. The album is simply stunning, with beautifully melodic, contemplative and atmospheric music, which charms the listener immediately, basically transforming him into a new universe. The "Scandinavian sound" of this album was about to become a point of reference for future recordings and an integral part of the "ECM sound", forever associated with the label´s output. A work of pure genius, this is an essential and everlasting piece of heavenly music!
| | | CD 1 Essential Recommend To A Friend |
  | KEITH JARRETT ~ PERSONAL MOUNTAINS
ECM 1382 (Barcode: 042283736122) ~ USA ~ Jazz
Recorded: 1979 Released: 1989
This monumental album is the only live recording by the legendary Scandinavian Quartet led by US pianist / composer Keith JarrettFind albums by this artist, with Norwegian saxophonist Jan GarbarekFind albums by this artist, Swedish bassist Palle DanielssonFind albums by this artist and Norwegian drummer Jon ChristensenFind albums by this artist. Starting with the 1974 album "BelongingFind albums with this title" this quartet recorded a series of brilliant albums released on the ECMFind albums on this label label, which to a large extent defined the "Scandinavian sound" as well as the "ECM sound", but also revolutionized the entire Jazz idiom. Unrestricted by the American Jazz limitations, Jarrett was able to discover new musical universes, which he did with passion and determination, always excelling himself both as a player and a composer. This album was recorded at the absolute artistic peak of the quartet, which after playing and recording together for half a decade, developed truly telepathic unity and perfect harmony. Although released only a decade after it was recorded, this album is a brilliant "time capsule", which remains a source of admiration and inspiration. Absolutely brilliant stuff!
| | | CD 1 Recommend To A Friend |
  | KEITH JARRETT ~ SLEEPER
ECM 2290/91 (Barcode: 602537055708) ~ USA ~ Jazz
Recorded: 1979 Released: 2012
This album contains the recording of the April 1979 Tokyo concert by the pianist / composer Keith JarrettFind albums by this artist and his European quartet with saxophonist Jan GarbarekFind albums by this artist, bassist Palle DanielssonFind albums by this artist and drummer Jon ChristensenFind albums by this artist, which was recorded some 23 years before the date of its release. It comprises of seven original compositions by Jarrett, spread over two CDs with a total playing time close to two hours. The sonic quality of this live recording is breathtaking and considering that the quartet was at that time at the absolute artistic peak having just released the studio album "Personal MountainsFind albums with this title", the album is simply an icon of contemporary music, Jazz and way beyond.
It makes no sense to repeat statements about Jarrett and his quartet and their music, since so much has already been written on the subject. Obviously this is some of the best music ever created on this planet and an absolute "must hear" for every person, who is a true a music lover. Although recorded almost a quartet of a century ago, this music stays completely timeless and even more relevant today than at the time it was recorded, considering the state of music today.
This release makes one wonder how much more music is stored in the ECMFind albums on this label vaults and if keeping it hidden from the audiences is moral? Of course there are economic considerations involved, which raises the question as to this release´s full price status; after all it is an archival release, with the material already recorded and no new investment considered necessary, except for the manufacturing and copyright costs? Times are difficult for everybody, and even more so for music lovers, and if people can´t afford to buy this album they will, yet again, obtain an illegal download. An error of judgment, as far as I can tell, by a label that is usually a beacon of excellence.
But earthly considerations aside, this is Godly music and should be treated as such. Ergo, essential stuff!
| | | CD 2 Slipcase Essential Recommend To A Friend |
  | KARIN KROG ~ GERSHWIN WITH KARIN KROG
MEANTIME 04 (Barcode: 7051070000042) ~ NORWAY ~ Jazz
Recorded: 1973 - 1989 Released: 1993
This is a reissue / remaster of the sixth album by the Norwegian Jazz singer Karin KrogFind albums by this artist, recorded in 1973 and 1974 with a fabulous quartet of Norwegian musicians: saxophonist Bjarne NeremFind albums by this artist, pianist Egil KapstadFind albums by this artist, bassist Arild AndersenFind albums by this artist and drummer Jon ChristensenFind albums by this artist. The original album presented nine tracks, all standards composed by George GershwinFind albums by this artist, and this edition adds three tracks recorded in 1989 in a duet with Kapstad on electric piano.
This album is a wonderful document of the early days of Krog’s career, with her idiosyncratic approach and style already well in place. It also documents the Scandinavian Jazz scene in the 1970s, which was developing rapidly, partly due to the fact that many American Jazz musicians settled in Scandinavia at the time, escaping the racist discrimination from which they suffered at home.
Krog was always a sublime interpreter of the Great American Songbook, and her highly personal treatment of the standards was always absolutely unique, which is clearly evident on this early album. She was also a great lover of Gershwin’s songs and performed those often during her career. Of course the performances by the Norwegian players are also exceptional.
Overall, this is a wonderful trip down the memory line, taking the listener fifty years back in time to the steaming Norwegian Jazz scene, which was exploding with talent and left a sublime legacy, which sounds as good today as it did then. For Jazz singers, this is a highly educational exposure of the Artistry of vocal Jazz.
| | Updated: 03/10/2023Posted: 03/10/2023 | CD 1 Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend |
  | KARIN KROG ~ JAZZ MOMENTS
MEANTIME 12 (Barcode: 7051070000127) ~ NORWAY ~ Jazz
Recorded: 1966 Released: 2006
This is a reissue / remaster of the second album by the Norwegian Jazz singer Karin KrogFind albums by this artist, recorded in 1966 with a fabulous trio: American pianist Kenny DrewFind albums by this artist (resident in Denmark at the time), Danish bassist Niels-Henning Orsted PedersenFind albums by this artist and Norwegian drummer Jon ChristensenFind albums by this artist. Norwegian saxophonist Jan GarbarekFind albums by this artist guests on three tracks. The original album presented nine tracks, all standards, and this edition adds one alternate take as a bonus track.
This album is a wonderful document of the early days of Krog’s career, with her idiosyncratic approach and style already well in place. It also documents the Scandinavian Jazz scene in the mid-1960s, which was developing rapidly, partly due to the fact that many American Jazz musicians settled in Scandinavia at the time, escaping the racist discrimination from which they suffered at home.
Krog was always a sublime interpreter of the Great American Songbook, and her highly personal treatment of the standards was always absolutely unique, which is clearly evident on this early album. Of course the performances by the young Scandinavian players are also exceptional.
Overall, this is a wonderful trip down the memory line, taking the listener almost sixty years back in time to the steaming Scandinavian Jazz scene, which was exploding with talent and left a sublime legacy, which sounds as good today as it did then. For Jazz singers, this is a highly educational exposure of the Artistry of vocal Jazz.
| | Updated: 25/03/2024Posted: 16/08/2023 | CD 1 Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend |
  | KARIN KROG ~ JOY
MEANTIME 15 (Barcode: 7051070000158) ~ NORWAY ~ Jazz
Recorded: 1968 - 1969 Released: 2008
This is a reissue of the third album by legendary Norwegian vocalist / composer Karin KrogFind albums by this artist recorded with young Norwegian musicians, who would soon become some of Europe’s Jazz icons: saxophonist Jan GarbarekFind albums by this artist, pianist Terje BjorklundFind albums by this artist, bassist Arild AndersenFind albums by this artist, drummer Svein ChristiansenFind albums by this artist and percussionist Espen RudFind albums by this artist. This lineup recorded four of the tracks on this album, and the remaining track is a live recording with Swedish bassist Palle DanielssonFind albums by this artist, who joins Andersen to form a bass duo. The original album was expanded for this reissue by two live tracks recorded with a different lineup, which includes American (resident in Scandinavia at the time) trumpeter Ted CursonFind albums by this artist and drummer Jon ChristensenFind albums by this artist. The album was beautifully remastered by Jan Erik KongshaugFind albums by this artist at the Rainbow Studio in Oslo.
In the liner notes written for the original album by American composer / bandleader George RussellFind albums by this artist, who was one of the very few musicians at the time beyond the pond to discover the European Jazz revolution, he recognizes Krog as one of the most innovative Jazz vocalists, of the class of Sheila Jordan and Jeanne Lee, and this album clearly shows why. Her approach to singing in particular and Jazz in general was already at that time completely innovative, using vocalese, electronics and unconventional timbre.
Although the music is still partly rooted in traditional American Jazz, these young Norwegians show no inferiority complex whatsoever, already clearly seeing the path ahead. The almost completely freely improvised track is already deeply ahead of the tradition of course.
Krog’s vocal performances and her idiosyncratic voice are delightful from start to finish and the superb instrumental performances by all the musicians involved sound absolutely fresh despite the fact that this music was recorded over five decades ago.
It is great to see Karin reissuing her recorded legacy on her own MeantimeFind albums on this label label, as this music obviously deserves to be remembered and even today can teach the new generations of Jazz musicians, how important it is to step forward boldly.
Since today is Karen’s Birthday, I wish her many more years of music!
| | Updated: 15/05/2021Posted: 15/05/2021 | CD 1 Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend |
  | JOACHIM KUHN ~ BIRTHDAY EDITION
ACT 6017 (Barcode: 614427601728) ~ GERMANY ~ Jazz
Recorded: 1987 - 1995 Released: 2014
This album celebrates the 70th Birthday of the German Jazz pianist / composer Joachim KuhnFind albums by this artist. The first album of this 2CD set presents recordings by the Kuhn trio with French bassist Jean-Francois Jenny-ClarkFind albums by this artist and Swiss drummer Daniel HumairFind albums by this artist, recorded live at the Jazzfest Berlin in 1987 and 1995. The second album is a re-edition of the brilliant Jazz symphony "EuropeanaFind albums with this title", composed by the renowned British composer Michael GibbsFind albums by this artist and performed by a dream team of European Jazz musicians, including Kuhn´s trio with Jenny-Clark and Norwegian drummer Jon ChristensenFind albums by this artist and many soloists like German trombonist Albert MangelsdorffFind albums by this artist, French accordionist Richard GallianoFind albums by this artist and others, with the NDR Philharmonic Orchestra. This album was originally recorded in 1994 and released in 1995.
Kuhn, who left East Germany in 1966 to join his older brother Rolf KuhnFind albums by this artist, who was already living in West Germany, became in time one of the most prolific and influential German and European Jazz musicians. Kuhn, who started as an avant-gardist and Free Jazz enthusiast went through a Jazz-Rock Fusion phase during the 1970s, being one of the pioneers of that genre at the time, returned to advanced Jazz explorations later on, and is to this day considered as one of the top European Jazz artists.
The piano trio album is a superb example of the modern approach to this seemingly simple setting, which treats the instruments on an absolutely equal level, giving them the same opportunity to express their ideas. Of course every trio is only as good as the cooperation between its members, and this particular trio has very few competitors in that department. Of the six pieces the trio plays, four are originals by Kuhn, one is a Humair / Kuhn collaboration and one was composed by the great French Jazz clarinetist Michel PortalFind albums by this artist. It is fascinating to see how the music, which was recorded eight years apart, appears to be as if recorded during the same concert. Such level of perfect integration and telepathic interplay is only achieved by the very best musicians out there and it´s great that ACTFind albums on this label released these live recordings as they are simply too good to be forgotten.
The Jazz symphony is of course as different form the trio recordings as the Jazz idiom permits; from an intimate trio into a symphonic grandeur. It is no secret that I have been a loyal follower of the works by Michael Gibbs ever since he appeared on the British scene, and in retrospect his orchestral works have been some of my fondest experiences not only as Jazz pieces, but as examples of grand music in general. The concept of this extraordinary work is to take a musical tour of Western Europe, from the northern Scandinavian countries, via central Europe and then south west to Spain. The symphony is divided into thirteen separate fragments, each one featuring different soloists, which are loosely connected to specific European countries but overall present the diversity of the Continent´s Cultural heritage and aesthetic values as expressed by music.
Although these two albums have seemingly almost nothing in common on the surface, they do represent simply a different facets of the same Cultural attitude, based on tradition and grooming as many new ideas as possible, ignoring incompatibilities and obstacles. Gibbs proves again that his exquisite melodies are perfect vehicles for Jazz improvisations, and the superb team gathered to perform this music stands up to the challenge with flying colors.
Overall this is a great tribute to the life and music of Joachim Kuhn, but includes also many other aspects of the music we love so much. Even if one already has a copy of "Europeana", it´s still worth to get a copy of this set just for the trio album, which will probably lead to another listening of the Gibbs work as well. Great stuff!
| | Updated: 13/08/2016Posted: 05/04/2016 | CD 2 Digipak Recommend To A Friend |
  | CHARLES LLOYD ~ FISH OUT OF WATER
ECM 1398 (Barcode: 042284108829) ~ USA ~ Jazz
Recorded: 1989 Released: 1990
This is the first album on the iconic German ECMFind albums on this label label by American Jazz saxophonist / flautist / composer Charles LloydFind albums by this artist, recorded in a quartet setting with the dreamy Scandinavian rhythm section comprising of pianist Bobo StensonFind albums by this artist, bassist Palle DanielssonFind albums by this artist and drummer Jon ChristensenFind albums by this artist. The music was recorded at the legendary Rainbow Studio in Oslo, engineered by Jan Erik KongshaugFind albums by this artist. This, the CD version of the album, includes one bonus track not included on the LP version, totaling in seven original compositions, all by Lloyd.
The music offers a set of melodic, bluesy and wistful compositions, which spiritually are much way closer to the European / Nordic Jazz usually performed by the Scandinavian musicians taking part in this recording than what one might expect form an American Jazz musician, so deeply rooted in the Jazz tradition. But Lloyd was never a typical American Jazz musician and his exposure to European Jazz music and musicians during his career as well as his interest in World Music already proved that he can be quite unexpected and not following any particular trends.
The album´s mellow and melancholic tunes flow gently in the air, caressing the listener´s ear, splendidly performed by the quartet members. Lloyd´s soloing is beautifully fluid and tender. Bobo´s piano parts are in full harmony with the leader´s melodic approach and his soloing takes the music towards more spacey planes. The bass and drums, which have a limited straightforward rhythmic role in this setting, ornament the music with pulsation and accents, always perfectly suited with the melodic flow.
The album was, not surprisingly, received quite coldly by American critics and audiences, which at the time (late 1980s / early 1990s) approached the "ECM sound" with extreme caution and called it by the derogatory term "Euro Jazz", which proves that America was then still completely stuck in the conservative / retarded Jazz approach. Although in the three decades that passed since that time ECM managed to crack the American Jazz establishment, and even became somewhat fashionable, sadly partly due to the label´s conformism, most Americans still don´t get the quintessence of European Jazz.
Although this album offers very little innovation or groundbreaking musical exploration, in retrospect it remains a solid mainstream statement, full of great melodies and virtuosic performances, which should please most contemporary Jazz connoisseurs. It lost nothing of its charm over time and probably will never do so, and since it is rather sadly forgotten today, my recommendation is to revisit it – satisfaction guaranteed! Although it is very difficult to get hold of lately, it was reissued by ECM as part of the "Old And New Masters Series", as one of the first five albums Lloyd recorded for ECM, combined in the Charles Lloyd "QuartetsFind albums with this title" Box Set.
| | Updated: 06/08/2019Posted: 06/08/2019 | CD 1 Recommend To A Friend |
  | ADAM MAKOWICZ ~ INTERFACE
SONET 963 ~ POLAND ~ Jazz
Recorded: 1986 Released: 1987
This is an album by Polish Jazz pianist / composer Adam MakowiczFind albums by this artist, who left Poland in the late 1970s and lived first in NY and later moved to Toronto, Canada. This album, recorded in Sweden, on which Makowicz is accompanied by one of the most celebrated European rhythm sections: Swedish bassist Palle DanielssonFind albums by this artist and Norwegian drummer Jon ChristensenFind albums by this artist, presents eight original compositions, all by Makowicz.
The album is a wonderful testimony both of the technical brilliance of Makowicz as a pianist and his superb talents as a composer. His seemingly endless arpeggios and other impressive ornamentations are a continuous joy to the listener and the wonderful melodies float one after another with ease and charm. The rhythm section obviously enjoys this session as much as the leader and both musicians support him amicably and elegantly.
Sadly this album managed to pass under the radar of most Polish Jazz fans and is today quite difficult to find. I definitely recommend getting a copy as long as it is still possible, as no Polish Jazz discography is complete without this album!
| | Updated: 14/07/2017Posted: 14/07/2017 | CD 1 Recommend To A Friend |
  | ENRICO RAVA ~ THE PILGRIM AND THE STARS
ECM 1063 (Barcode: 602517758544) ~ ITALY ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion
Recorded: 1975 Released: 2008
This was the first album on the legendary ECMFind albums on this label label by Italian trumpeter / composer Enrico RavaFind albums by this artist, one of the most important representatives of modern European Jazz. A trumpet virtuoso and an exceptionally gifted composer, Rava established himself on the international scene by the late 1960s / early 1970s, playing mostly with the elite of Avant-Garde players of that period, both in Europe and in America. Later on Rava returned to more melodic approach via a stint with Fusion, a path similar to many of his young European contemporaries. This brilliant album presents him in a quartet setting with US guitarist John AbercrombieFind albums by this artist, Swedish bassist Palle DanielssonFind albums by this artist and Norwegian drummer Jon ChristensenFind albums by this artist. The music moves freely between freely improvised passages and melodic interludes, with the overall sound close to Fusion due to Abercrombie´s electric guitar. Full of fire and passion, this is a prime example of the musical climate at the time and in retrospective the music lost absolutely nothing of its strength and beauty. Brilliant stuff!
| | Updated: 12/04/2019Posted: | CD 1 Mini-Sleeve Recommend To A Friend |
  | GEORGE RUSSELL ~ THE COMPLETE REMASTERED RECORDINGS ON BLACK SAINT & SOUL NOTE
CAM JAZZ 1005 (Barcode: 8024709113221) ~ USA ~ Jazz
Recorded: 1966 - 1983 Released: 2010
This superb Box Set collects all the albums recorded by the legendary American keyboardist / composer George RussellFind albums by this artist on the twin Italian independent labels: Black SaintFind albums on this label and Soul NoteFind albums on this label. The recordings span a period of almost 20 years and present Russell in many different settings, from a sextet to a big Jazz Orchestra, his preferred weapon of choice. His brilliant compositions are the focal point of these recordings and present a most impressive volume of brilliant work, which earn him an honorable place in the history of the genre. Most of these recordings are with European and in particular Scandinavian musicians and the list of names reads like a who´s who of the European Jazz scene: Jan GarbarekFind albums by this artist, Bernt RosengrenFind albums by this artist, Jon ChristensenFind albums by this artist, Terje RypdalFind albums by this artist, Arild AndersenFind albums by this artist and many others. Russell resided in Europe in the mid to late 1960s and after returning to the US he often visited Europe and continued to record there. His music was accepted and appreciated in Europe much more that in his native US, which is the case with many American Jazzmen in the 1960s and 1970s, many of which resided in Europe for extended periods of time. The contents of this Box Set is a great tribute to the great composer´s life and work and includes some of the most interesting music recorded in the 20th Century. A must!
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: 12/04/2020Posted: | CD 9 Mini-Sleeve Box Set Remastered Recommend To A Friend |
  | TOMASZ STANKO ~ FROM THE GREEN HILL
ECM 1680 (Barcode: 731454733625) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-World Fusion
Recorded: 1998 Released: 1999
Polish trumpeter / composer Tomasz StankoFind albums by this artist, one of the great Lions of European Jazz, now in his fifth decade of the tireless journey dedicated to discovering uncharted territory. This album, perhaps the most atypical one ever recorded by Stanko so far, presents his music somewhat away from the usual Jazz setting, with strong contemporary Classical and World Music influences. Not only the music, but also the choice of the musicians participating in this recording, is quite different from everything he attempted before. British saxophone Giant John SurmanFind albums by this artist, Argentinean bandoneon player Dino SaluzziFind albums by this artist, American violinist Michelle MakarskiFind albums by this artist, Swedish bassist Anders JorminFind albums by this artist and Norwegian drummer Jon ChristensenFind albums by this artist create an amazing amalgam of sounds and musical ventures, travelling along Stanko´s vision. Of the fourteen relatively short pieces on this album nine were composed by Stanko, two by his Mentor Krzysztof Komeda and three by Surman. The overall effect is like a strange and enchanted sound voyage, which moves around the globe oblivious of borders and distances. Although quite demanding and less glamorous than other Stanko albums, it is full of beauty and charm and definitely worthy of admiration, like everything Stanko ever recorded. Superb stuff!
Visitors' Comments
Christopher Brice
Who would have thought that an accordion (OK, bandoneon) could be a major enhancement of a Stanko album or a Surman album? But it is - and Messrs S&S are a fabulous partnership.
| | | CD 1 Slipcase Recommend To A Friend |
  | TOMASZ STANKO ~ LITANIA – MUSIC OF KRZYSZTOF KOMEDA
ECM 1636 (Barcode: 731453755123) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz
Recorded: 1997 Released: 1997
Polish trumpeter / composer Tomasz StankoFind albums by this artist, one of the great Lions of European Jazz, now in his fifth decade of the tireless journey dedicated to discovering uncharted territory. Anybody familiar with the history of European Jazz is of course aware of the fact that Stanko was a member of the early modern Polish Jazz group led by his Mentor pianist / composer Krzysztof KomedaFind albums by this artist, one of world´s most important Jazz personalities, a Godfather of Polish Jazz and a phenomenal composer, in retrospect perhaps one of the greatest composers in Jazz history. Stanko´s musical personality was obviously formed and shaped by his association with Komeda, a fact that he often openly admits. Although Stanko occasionally paid homage to Komeda on his recordings over the years, it was only a matter of time until Stanko would produce a full-scope project as a tribute to Komeda´s music (and Komeda the man), and this is it. Stanko carefully arranged a series of composition by Komeda, ranging from his early works to his latest ones, and presents them here, performed by a septet comprising of Scandinavian musicians. Of course this is not a coincidence, as Komeda´s music was first recognized and acknowledged as exceptional outside his native country in Scandinavia (Sweden in particular), Poland´s northern neighbors, where Komeda performed during his lifetime, played and recorded with local musician and befriended many of them. The lineup includes Swedish saxophonists Bernt ResengrenFind albums by this artist (a veteran player of Komeda´s generation) and Joakim MilderFind albums by this artist, pianist Bobo StensonFind albums by this artist, bassist Palle DanielssonFind albums by this artist, and Norwegian drummer Jon ChristensenFind albums by this artist and guitarist Terje RypdalFind albums by this artist (present on three tracks only). Since I´ve already written extensively about Komeda´s music, I will only say that these performances manage both to preserve the original beauty and depth of it, as well as transform is successfully into the present Jazz idiom, with grace, intelligence and deep respect. The performances are stellar from start to finish, the solos breathtaking, the rhythm session imaginative, yet solid like a rock – in other words this is perfect in every sense one can associate with music. This is a worthy and fitting tribute to the great Genius by the best and most sensitive musicians around and an absolute must in any music library, regardless of genre preferences. Beyond essential!
| | | CD 1 Slipcase Essential Recommend To A Friend |
  | RALPH TOWNER ~ SOLSTICE
ECM 1060 (Barcode: 602517758575) ~ USA ~ Jazz-World Fusion
Recorded: 1974 Released: 2008
This is a reissue of the 3rd solo album by American guitarist / pianist / composer Ralph TownerFind albums by this artist, recorded in a quartet setting with European musicians: Norwegian saxophonist Jan GarbarekFind albums by this artist, German bassist Eberhard WeberFind albums by this artist and Norwegian drummer Jon ChristensenFind albums by this artist. The album presents eight tracks, seven composed by Towner and one by Weber. The music was recorded at the legendary Arne BendiksenFind albums by this artist Studio in Oslo, often called the birthplace of ECMFind albums on this label, with Jan Erik KongshaugFind albums by this artist presiding behind the console. Kongshaug was the manager and chief sound engineer of the studio between 1967 and 1974, and he is the creator of the iconic “ECM sound” of the early ECM releases.
The music is absolutely magnificent, a sophisticated mixture of influences from different World Music traditions, Scandinavian melancholy and Jazz improvisation, exquisitely performed by these Master musicians. In parallel to his solo recordings, Towner was of course a member of the legendary OregonFind albums by this artist quartet, which created music somewhat similar to what can be heard here, but the European / Nordic influences are much stronger on this album, taking the music into another “orbit”.
Recorded in December of 1974 (50 years ago!), this music is light-years ahead of its time, and reflects the enormous influence that the early ECM albums had both on European and much later also on American Jazz. The incredible freedom the musicians were allowed to pursue, unrestricted by any commercial considerations, created an atmosphere of unlimited creativity, experimentation and milestone development of contemporary music, which lasted for a couple of decades, making a lasting impact, and which ripples can be felt even today.
Towner’s extensive recorded legacy, which spans well over fifty albums as leader and sideman, is a treasure trove of brilliant music and his integrity and immense talent never failed him over the years. I feel privileged for having the opportunity to meet him in person and even having him as a guest in my home.
Overall, this is an absolutely everlasting gem of an album, which stands as a beacon of the early ECM recordings, full of brilliant and touching music, counting every second of its duration. It should be a part of every decent album collection, reaching far beyond any genre classification – it is simply Godly music.
| | Updated: 17/01/2025Posted: 17/01/2025 | CD 1 Mini-Sleeve Essential Recommend To A Friend |
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