Record Reviews
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  | ROLF KUHN ~ ROLF KUHN FEATURING KLAUS DOLDINGER (MOST PERFECT SOUND EDITION)
UNIVERSAL 602527224770 (Barcode: 602527224770) ~ GERMANY ~ Jazz
Recorded: 1962 Released: 2009
This is a reissue of a fabulous album recorded by German clarinetist / composer Rolf KuhnFind albums by this artist upon his return to Germany from his stint in the US, where he achieved his international recognition. He is joined by another upcoming (at the time) German Jazz musician, saxophonist Klaus DoldingerFind albums by this artist, who like Kuhn would be playing one of the leading roles on the German Jazz scene in the years to come. The two soloists are accompanied by German organist Ingfried HoffmannFind albums by this artist and a Dutch rhythm section comprising of bassist Hermann SchoonderwaltFind albums by this artist and drummer Cees SeeFind albums by this artist. Together the quintet performs twelve tunes, one of which is an original composition by Kuhn and the rest are compositions by German Jazz composers (no American standards are used).
The music is almost completely within the Swing idiom, which Kuhn perfected during the years he played in the US, but the sound is somewhat different from the American model: the improvisations are less constrained to the basic melody lines and the combined sound of the clarinet, saxophone and organ is more modern than the sound of typical American Swing combos at the time. There are traces of Bebop on one hand and Rhythm And Blues on the other, and the overall feel of the quintet is fresh and wonderfully sparkling.
Although recorded well over half a Century ago, this music lost absolutely nothing of its charm and intrinsic beauty. The performances are perfect in every way and the wonderful melodies are evergreens, which withstand the passing of time effortlessly. This album is an extraordinary document of the time of its making, beautifully preserved and even enhanced by today´s remastering techniques.
Overall this album is a superb piece of music, which documents the early days of German / European Jazz and enables the listeners to discover the early work of Rolf Kuhn and Klaus Doldinger, two of the brightest European Jazz stars, who made an enormous contribution to the genre over the years. This album is a must for all Kuhn fans and listeners interested in the history of European Jazz, not to mention of course Swing lovers, many if which are still among us, even if they don´t admit it.
| | Updated: 08/05/2023Posted: 10/01/2017 | CD 1 Oversampling Remastered Recommend To A Friend |
  | PASSPORT ~ HAND MADE
WOUNDED BIRD 0483 (Barcode: 664140048324) ~ GERMANY ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion
Recorded: 1973 Released: 2008
3rd album by the brilliant German Jazz-Rock Fusion ensemble PassportFind albums by this artist founded and led by reedman / composer Klaus DoldingerFind albums by this artist, a veteran German Jazz musician and a brilliant composer. The band was one of the best European Fusion ensembles in the 1970s and continues to exist and perform now in its fourth decade under Doldinger´s leadership. On this album the group´s members are Doldinger on saxophones and keyboards, keyboardist Frank RobertsFind albums by this artist, bassist Wolfgang SchmidFind albums by this artist and drummer Curt CressFind albums by this artist. The music is absolutely brilliant from start to finish, stylistically similar to other European Fusion ensembles at the time, like the British ensemble IfFind albums by this artist, with funky but uneven rhythms and superb melody lines. The players are all excellent musicians and their performances spotless. Overall this is a classic European Jazz-Rock album, a great document of the genre at the time and a timeless piece of excellent music. Highly recommended!
| | | CD 1 Recommend To A Friend |
  | PASSPORT ~ LIFELIKE
WOUNDED BIRD 0478 (Barcode: 664140047822) ~ GERMANY ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion
Recorded: 1977 - 1980 Released: 2008
Live album by the wonderful German Fusion band PassportFind albums by this artist, led by the veteran saxophonist / composed Klaus DoldingerFind albums by this artist, recorded in the late 1970s and early 1980 in Europe (Montreux Festival and concerts in Germany). Three of the original four sides of the double LP were recorded by Passport and the fourth by a huge group of musicians including some of Fusion´s most famous players at the time. Passport´s fans need no encouragement to grab this instantly and it is indeed one of their best live recordings. Classic stuff!
| | | CD 2 Recommend To A Friend |
  | PASSPORT ~ LOOKING THRU
WOUNDED BIRD 7042 (Barcode: 664140704220) ~ GERMANY ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion
Recorded: 1974 Released: 2001
4th album by this brilliant German Jazz-Rock Fusion band PassportFind albums by this artist. Passport`s leader is the veteran jazz musician Klaus DoldingerFind albums by this artist, who started his career in the post WWII Germany playing Dixieland, but soon moved to the modern jazz genre playing with the best musicians in Europe. He founded Passport in the early 70`s to serve as a vehicle for his numerous projects, which continued well into the 90`s. This is an early quartet version of the group with all-German line up, playing some of the best and most sophisticated Fusion ever made. In contrast to the US fusion, which was much based on funk and groove, the European variety is more about intricate interplays and complex compositions. Amazing!
| | | CD 1 Essential Recommend To A Friend |
  | PASSPORT ~ PASSPORT
WOUNDED BIRD 0299 (Barcode: 664140029927) ~ GERMANY ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion
Recorded: 1971 Released: 2008
1st album by one of the most important European Jazz-Rock Fusion ensembles, German band PassportFind albums by this artist, founded and led by reedman / composer Klaus DoldingerFind albums by this artist. By the early 1970s the German Jazz scene was bursting with talent and excitement with the new generation of players slowly taking their place among the veteran musicians. The European Jazz, which went through a process of rapid development in the previous decade, freeing itself form the rigid constrains of American Jazz tradition, created a completely new universe of music. With the entry to the new decade many of the European musicians crossed over from modern and Free Jazz into Jazz-Rock Fusion, with s feverish rush of activity in that field. Passport was one of many German bands appearing for the first time on the scene at the time, but it proved to be one of the most inventive and in retrospect most influential band of the era, lasting for decades with many personnel changes, but always inventive and musically fulfilling. This album, recorded by the first lineup of the band, includes Doldinger on saxophones and keyboards with another saxophonist / flautist Olaf KüblerFind albums by this artist, organist Jimmy JacksonFind albums by this artist, bassist Lothar MeidFind albums by this artist and drummer Udo LindenbergFind albums by this artist. The music, all written by Doldinger, is a superb example of the European strain of Jazz-Rock Fusion, with strong melody lines and excellent lengthy improvisations by the band members. Both stylistically and sound-wise it is quite similar to the great British Jazz-Rock band IfFind albums by this artist. Definitely one of the great classic recordings of the genre and an essential item in any serious Jazz-Rock collection!
| | | CD 1 Essential Recommend To A Friend |
  | PASSPORT ~ SECOND PASSPORT
WOUNDED BIRD 0417 (Barcode: 664140041721) ~ GERMANY ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion
Recorded: 1972 Released: 2008
2nd album by one of the most important European Jazz-Rock Fusion ensembles, German band PassportFind albums by this artist, founded and led by reedman / composer Klaus DoldingerFind albums by this artist. By the early 1970s the German Jazz scene was bursting with talent and excitement with the new generation of players slowly taking their place among the veteran musicians. The European Jazz, which went through a process of rapid development in the previous decade, freeing itself form the rigid constrains of American Jazz tradition, created a completely new universe of music. With the entry to the new decade many of the European musicians crossed over from modern and Free Jazz into Jazz-Rock Fusion, with s feverish rush of activity in that field. Passport was one of many German bands appearing for the first time on the scene at the time, but it proved to be one of the most inventive and in retrospect most influential band of the era, lasting for decades with many personnel changes, but always inventive and musically fulfilling. This album, recorded by the second lineup of the band, includes Doldinger on saxophones and keyboards with British keyboardist John MealingFind albums by this artist (a former IfFind albums by this artist member), German bassist Wolfgang SchmidFind albums by this artist and British drummer Bryan SpringFind albums by this artist. The music, all written by Doldinger, is a superb example of the European strain of Jazz-Rock Fusion, with strong melody lines and excellent lengthy improvisations by the band members. Both stylistically and sound-wise it is quite similar to the great British Jazz-Rock band If. Definitely one of the great classic recordings of the genre and an essential item in any serious Jazz-Rock collection!
| | | CD 1 Essential Recommend To A Friend |
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