Record Reviews

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

KEITH JARRETT ~ LIVE IN HAMBURG 1972 JAZZ LIPS 761 (Barcode: 8436019587614) ~ USA ~ Jazz Recorded: 1972 - 1974 Released: 2008 This is an unofficial (politically correct alias for good old bootleg) album by the great American pianist / composer Keith JarrettFind albums by this artist, recorded live in June 14, 1972 with his trio, which also included bassist Charlie HadenFind albums by this artist and drummer Paul MotianFind albums by this artist. The trio performs twelve original compositions, all composed by Jarrett. Jarrett also plays saxophone, flute and percussion on some of these tracks. The album also includes four live tracks recorded a couple of years later in NY, this time with a quintet that includes trumpeter Chet BakerFind albums by this artist, saxophonist Lee KonitzFind albums by this artist, Haden on bass and drummer Beaver HarrisFind albums by this artist, all of which are standards. Also included are two solo piano pieces recorded in 1974, both original compositions / improvisations by Jarrett. Listeners familiar with Jarrett´s discography can easily pinpoint these tracks as trio versions of the tracks recorded by the so called American Quartet, which included this trio and saxophonist Dewey RedmanFind albums by this artist. They appeared on the album "El JuicioFind albums with this title", recorded in 1971 but released only in 1975 on AtlanticFind albums on this label and on the album "ExpectationsFind albums with this title" recorded in October 1972, i.e. after this live performance, and released on ColumbiaFind albums on this label. The full genealogy of all the tracks is described in the album´s booklet. The bonus tracks with the quintet are quite unusual, as Jarrett rarely ever played standards at that time and it is the only recording meeting between him and Baker or Konitz. Jarrett enthusiasts should find this album fascinating at least, as it offers almost two hours of previously unavailable material from the pianist career, which, as usual, is not only excellent musically, but also reveals his performance style and mannerisms in his early period, especially in view of the fact that the American Quartet or the trio did not release any official live material. The sound quality is a bit Lo-Fi here and there, but considering the historical importance of this music and its rarity, this can be easily forgiven. It would have been nicer to have this music officially released, but considering the revolting politics of the music industry and the nasty habit of keeping unreleased treasures hidden in the vaults, such treasures are bound to pop up sooner and later. If you can get it (which I doubt) grab it with both hands and cherish it!

Updated: 01/06/2018Posted: 30/10/2016

CD 2 Recommend To A Friend

HANS KOLLER ~ KOLLER PLAYS KOVAC EMARCY 013961 ~ AUSTRIA ~ Jazz This is a reissue of an ultra-rare 1957 LP released on the Austrian Amadeo label by Hans Koller and his New Jazz Stars, recorded live in 1955. By the time this material was recorded, Koller was already world famous, with his 1952 release on the US Discovery label receiving a five star rating in “down beat”, an unprecedented event for an European recording, considering the fact that European jazz was “non-existent” to most American critics (and still is to this very day to some extent). Following the departure of German pianist Jutta HippFind albums by this artist from Koller’s quintet, she was replaced by the Austrian composer / arranger / pianist Roland KovacFind albums by this artist, who was to become the source of most of the material the new quintet would play – hence the name of the album. The quintet perfected the “cool” jazz idiom, which was influenced by American players like Lee KonitzFind albums by this artist, Chet BakerFind albums by this artist and Gerry MulliganFind albums by this artist (Kovac played with them all when they visited Europe) and expanded it by adding classically influenced compositions and European scales and harmonies. This “transfigured“ cool jazz should be fascinating to true connoisseurs of the genre and the album is a most important document of the development of European jazz in general.

Updated: 28/05/2016Posted:

CD 1 Digipak Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend

KONITZ / MEHLDAU / HADEN / MOTIAN ~ LIVE AT BIRDLAND ECM 2162 (Barcode: 602527369877) ~ USA ~ Jazz Recorded: 2009 Released: 2011 This is a live recording made at the legendary NY Jazz club Birdland by a quartet comprising of four legendary American Jazz musicians: saxophonist Lee KonitzFind albums by this artist (born 1927), pianist Brad MehldauFind albums by this artist (born 1970), bassist Charlie HadenFind albums by this artist (born 1937) and drummer Paul MotianFind albums by this artist (born 1931) – which of course makes Mehldau about half the age of the other players. The quartet plays six standards, keeping the music at a slow and contemplative mood, as appropriate for the occasion but also quite free and stretched out, way beyond what one might have expected. Obviously none of these Masters needs to prove anything to anybody any more and they obviously enjoy themselves immensely throughout. Mehldau is playing perhaps a bit more forcefully than the others, but not aggressively and Haden appears to be at his full might, playing brilliantly. Considering the sad reality that this might be the last recording by any of these veterans, this is something to be definitely well remembered by. Respect! Visitors' Comments Christopher  Brice I have to say I found this album very difficult, not just on first playing but for many playings; it sounded to me as if the four musicians were playing in different recording studios, and just happened to be recorded onto one disc - stretched out indeed! I was very surprised because I have heard and loved many recordings of the three veterans playing together live. But the CD player in my car broke down and would not let it out, so I heard the album many more times than I would have bothered with otherwise, and suddenly two days ago it all came together as I listened, and now I would not want to take it out if i could! Truly masterful!!

CD 1 Slipcase Recommend To A Friend

LEE KONITZ ~ THE COMPLETE REMASTERED RECORDINGS ON BLACK SAINT & SOUL NOTE CAM JAZZ 1011 (Barcode: 8052405140074) ~ USA ~ Jazz Recorded: 1984 - 1992 Released: 2011 This superb Box Set collects all the albums recorded by the legendary US saxophonist / composer Lee KonitzFind albums by this artist on the twin Italian independent labels: Black SaintFind albums on this label and Soul NoteFind albums on this label. Konitz needs no introduction to any serious Jazz connoisseur; suffice to say that from the early days with Lennie TristanoFind albums by this artist and than Miles DavisFind albums by this artist to this very day he never stopped developing and astounding his audiences. Being a very prolific musician and bandleader, Konitz recorded a vast number of albums over the years cooperating with the most distinguished Jazz musicians around the globe. His virtuosic sax playing and excellent compositions are always a source of great musical joy. The musicians playing on these five albums include: drummer Billy HartFind albums by this artist, pianist Kenny WernerFind albums by this artist, bassist Ron McClureFind albums by this artist, bassist Marc JohnsonFind albums by this artist, drummer Adam NussbaumFind 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! Visitors' Comments Christopher  Brice Lovely - led me to areas of Konitz´s work I did not know

Updated: 12/04/2020Posted:

CD 5 Mini-Sleeve Box Set Remastered Recommend To A Friend

LEE KONITZ / KENNY WHEELER ~ OLDEN TIMES – LIVE AT BIRDLAND NEUBURG CHALLENGE 71146 (Barcode: 608917114621) ~ USA ~ Jazz Recorded: 1999 Released: 2016 This is a reissue / remaster of a live album by the quartet co-led by American saxophonist / composer Lee KonitzFind albums by this artist and British trumpeter / composer Kenny WheelerFind albums by this artist, with a German rhythm section comprising of pianist Frank WunschFind albums by this artist and bassist Gunnar PlumerFind albums by this artist. The album presents ten tracks (one of which is a bonus on this new edition), three of which are composed by Konitz, four by Wheeler, two by Wunsch and one by Plumer. The album offers a beautiful sound quality and ambience. The music is all highly melodic mainstream Jazz, superbly performed by these great musicians. The absence of drums aids the gentle, intimate atmosphere, and shifts the responsibility of keeping time to the bassist, who stands up to the challenge formidably. The interplay between Konitz and Wheeler is simply marvelous, both being lost romantics and highly sensitive songweavers, which results in truly heartwarming music. Although this is one of the least known albums in Wheeler’s discography, it is one of most wonderful examples of his sublime trumpet / flugelhorn work, and is a must to all his many followers. Konitz also plays as sweetly and seductively as he is able, and together they are simply irresistible. Overall, this is a wonderful piece of music, seemingly unpretentious and subdued, but full of artistry and elegance, which is only rarely achieved to such degree. In short, this is an absolute must for true Jazz lovers and an indispensable piece for all Wheeler collectors!

Updated: 14/12/2024Posted: 14/12/2024

CD 1 Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend

ROLF KUHN ~ INSIDE OUT INTUITION 750447327627 (Barcode: 750447327627) ~ GERMANY ~ Jazz Recorded: 1999 Released: 1999 This is an exquisite album by German clarinetist / composer Rolf KuhnFind albums by this artist, one of my all time favorite musicians, recorded in several different lineups and including American guest stars: saxophonists Michael BreckerFind albums by this artist and Lee KonitzFind albums by this artist and also Rolf´s younger brother pianist Joachim KuhnFind albums by this artist. The rest of the musicians are members of the younger generation of the German Jazz scene. Together they perform nine tunes, four of which are originals by Rolf Kuhn, three are by Joachim Kuhn, one is by Konitz and the remaining one is a Duke EllingtonFind albums by this artist standard. The album was recorded by the legendary sound engineer / producer Walter QuintusFind albums by this artist, owner of CMPFind albums on this label Records, and the sound quality is simply breathtaking. Kuhn´s clarinet sound, which has been his trademark for decades, is absolutely unique, combining the traditional Jazz approach originating in the early Jazz days and European modernism. Kuhn, who often joins forces with his pianist brother, produced a substantial and consistently excellent body of recorded work over time, which in retrospect is an integral part of the European Jazz and one of its finest facets. This album is full of beautiful melodies, mostly reflecting the European lyricism and melancholy, superbly executed by all the participants, with many splendid solos and outstanding ensemble playing. The younger musicians seem to have no problem whatsoever to stand shoulder to shoulder with the veterans. Considering the fact that Kuhn was seventy years old when this music was recorded, he manages miraculously to keep his head and soul eternally young! This album is a classic example of the elegance, sophistication, panache and stylish flair, which characterize European Jazz at its best, and which manage to present relatively mainstream Jazz in a fresh and challenging way. I can´t imagine any true Jazz fan not enjoying this fantastic music, and therefore recommend it wholeheartedly. For clarinet lovers this album is simply beyond essential!

Updated: 05/02/2016Posted: 05/02/2016

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

DAVE LIEBMAN / ELLERY ESKELIN ~ DIFFERENT BUT THE SAME HATOLOGY 615 (Barcode: 752156061526) ~ USA ~ Jazz Recorded: 2004 Released: 2005 1st album by the excellent quartet co-led by legendary US saxophonist Dave LiebmanFind albums by this artist and his somewhat younger colleague saxophonist Ellery EskelinFind albums by this artist, with bassist Tony MarinoFind albums by this artist and drummer Jim BlackFind albums by this artist. The two saxophonists share the leadership on equal footing, playing both individually and collectively with passion and almost telepathic rapport. The material, which includes a mixture of tunes written by Liebman and Eskelin with standards composed by Wayne ShorterFind albums by this artist, Tadd DameronFind albums by this artist, Lee KonitzFind albums by this artist and Cole PorterFind albums by this artist, all freshly arranged, is truly inspiring and moves freely between "straightforward" modern jazz and free improvisation. The technical skills of the musicians are astounding and the collective performances breathtaking. The album is a perfect example of superb contemporary Jazz, which successfully avoids the traps of trying to be "likeable" and stays faithful to the principles of artistic expression and exploration. Liebman´s career is an example of dedication to one´s true vocation and his consistently excellent work over the years is a beacon for future generations of Jazz players, with this album being no exception. A must for any experienced Jazz listener armed with a pair of open ears and adventurous spirit!

CD 1 Mini-Sleeve Oversampling Recommend To A Friend

ALBERT MANGELSDORFF ~ AND HIS FRIENDS MPS 4029759119616 (Barcode: 4029759119616) ~ GERMANY ~ Free Jazz / Improvised Music Recorded: 1967 - 1969 Released: 2017 This is a reissue of the MPSFind albums on this label album by legendary German Jazz trombonist / composer Albert MangelsdorffFind albums by this artist. It presents six improvised duos, each with another Jazz player, which are: Americans - trumpeter Don CherryFind albums by this artist, drummer Elvin JonesFind albums by this artist, saxophonist Lee KonitzFind albums by this artist, Hungarian born resident in US guitarist Attila ZollerFind albums by this artist and German born resident in US vibraphonist Karl BergerFind albums by this artist and finally German pianist Wolfgang DaunerFind albums by this artist. Four of the compositions are credited to the members of the duo performing them and two are credited to Mangelsdorff. Mangelsdorff was one of the Father figures of the German and then European jazz for decades. Since the late 1940’s he and his older brother Emil MangelsdorffFind albums by this artist led numerous ensembles, always on the vanguard of the ever-changing Jazz scene. He was one of the greatest trombone players in the history and single-handedly changed the status of this instrument from a background / support role to the front line position, proving that when in hands of a virtuoso player the trombone can be as fascinating any other instrument. By the end of the 1960’s Mangelsdorff gradually moved towards Free Jazz and concentrated on playing in intimate settings like the duo and later even on completely solo performances. His revolutionary solo trombone album “Trombirds” (recorded 1971) was the first solo trombone album. Albert Mangelsdorff died in 2005 at the age of 77, leaving a tremendous legacy of recorded music, as revolutionary and groundbreaking as one can only expect from a true Jazz Master. This album, recorded between 1967 and 1969, presents the early Mangelsdorff duo recordings with some of the most important Jazz musicians of the period. Each and every one of these duo performances is completely different and yet they all create a cohesive musical vision of a genius. Not for a casual Jazz listener, but a delight for connoisseurs with a refined Jazz ear, this album also brought forth the "Art of the Duo" idiom, often used to describe European Jazz duo recordings of the highest class. 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: 22/02/2018

CD 1 Mini-Sleeve Remastered Recommend To A Friend

ALBERT MANGELSDORFF ~ AND HIS FRIENDS (MOST PERFECT SOUND EDITION) MPS 0673752 (Barcode: 044006737522) ~ GERMANY ~ Jazz Recorded: 1967 - 1969 Released: 2003 German trombonist Albert MangelsdorffFind albums by this artist was one of the Father figures of the German and then European jazz for decades. Since the late 1940’s he and his older brother Emil MangelsdorffFind albums by this artist led numerous ensembles, always on the vanguard of the ever-changing jazz scene. He was one of the greatest trombone players in the history and single-handedly changed the status of this instrument from a background / support role to the front line position, proving that when in hands of a virtuoso player the trombone can be as fascinating any other instrument. By the end of the 1960’s Mangelsdorff gradually moved towards free jazz and concentrated on playing in intimate settings like the duo and later even on completely solo performances. His revolutionary solo trombone album “Trombirds” (recorded 1971) was the first solo trombone album. Albert Mangelsdorff died in 2005 at the age of 77, leaving a tremendous legacy of recorded music, as revolutionary and groundbreaking as one can only expect from a jazz Master. This album, recorded between 1967 and 1969, presents the early Mangelsdorff duo recordings with some of the most important jazz musicians of the period: Don CherryFind albums by this artist (trumpet), Elvin JonesFind albums by this artist (drums), Karl BergerFind albums by this artist (vibraphone), Attila ZollerFind albums by this artist (guitar), Lee KonitzFind albums by this artist (alto sax) and Wolfgang DaunerFind albums by this artist (piano). Each and every one of these duo performances is completely different and yet they all create a cohesive musical vision of a genius. Not for a casual jazz listener, but a delight for connoisseurs with a refined jazz ear. 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: 27/05/2018Posted:

CD 1 Digipak Oversampling Remastered 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

DAVE PIKE ~ THE DOORS OF PERCEPTION WOUNDED BIRD 2007 (Barcode: 664140200722) ~ USA ~ Jazz Recorded: 1967 Released: 2007 When this little gem was finally released by the adventurous VortexFind albums on this label label (a subsidiary of AtlanticFind albums on this label), after being recorded a few years earlier, US vibraphonist Dave PikeFind albums by this artist had already moved to Europe, following the footsteps of many US Jazz players who felt stifled by the local scene, which was nonresponsive to innovation and outright hostile to forward musical ideas. In Europe Pike formed the wonderful Dave Pike SetFind albums by this artist and recorded a series of superb albums for the legendary MPSFind albums on this label label. This is the last album he recorded before leaving for Europe and it is weird in every sense as much as it is revolutionary. The use of electronic effects and studio trickery, overlaid on top of straightforward (more or less) Jazz playing was surely quite innovative at the time. He assembled a wonderful team of musicians with saxophonist Lee KonitzFind albums by this artist, saxophonist / clarinetist Eddie DanielsFind albums by this artist, pianist Don FriedmanFind albums by this artist, bassist Chuck IsraelFind albums by this artist and drummer Arnie WiseFind albums by this artist. Pike wrote all the music performed here, which is quite diverse, including (among others) early Jazz-Rock attempts, improvised moments and ballads – all quite excellent and interesting. Although quite obscure, this is a great album, highly worth investigating, which will probably surprise even the most knowledgeable Jazz freaks.

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

MAX ROACH ~ THE COMPLETE REMASTERED RECORDINGS ON BLACK SAINT & SOUL NOTE VOLUME 2 CAM JAZZ 1044 (Barcode: 8052405142535) ~ USA ~ Jazz Recorded: 1979 - 1985 Released: 2016 This superb Box Set collects recordings by the iconic American drummer / composer Max RoachFind albums by this artist released on the Black SaintFind albums on this label and Soul NoteFind albums on this label labels. It includes six albums, which present Roach leading his quartet with trumpeter Cecil BridgewaterFind albums by this artist, saxophonist Odean PopeFind albums by this artist and bassists Calvin HillFind albums by this artist or Tyrone BrownFind albums by this artist ("Pictures In A FrameFind albums with this title", "In The LightFind albums with this title" and "Scott FreeFind albums with this title") and his double quartet which included a string quartet ("Live At Vielharmonie MunichFind albums with this title" and "Easy WinnersFind albums with this title"), and finally a Jazz And Poetry project based on the poems by Bruce WrightFind albums by this artist, (Afro-American poet and jurist), which features his quartet expanded to a septet by saxophonist Lee KonitzFind albums by this artist, clarinetist Tony ScottFind albums by this artist and guitarist Tommaso LamaFind albums by this artist ("It`s Christmas AgainFind albums with this title"). Almost all the music was composed by Roach or Bridgewater. Together these albums present the most productive period (late 1970s to mid 1980s) of the Post-bop career of Max Roach, while leading a stable quartet, recording frequently and composing constantly new music. His brilliant technique and innovative rhythmic approach are well documented here, proving his unique status in the history of American Jazz and his awareness of the social / political issues of the day. 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: 11/04/2020Posted: 11/04/2020

CD 6 Mini-Sleeve Box Set Remastered Recommend To A Friend

VARIOUS ARTISTS ~ JAZZ ON VOGUE SONY 887254437727 (Barcode: 887254437727) ~ USA ~ Jazz Recorded: 1947 - 1957 Released: 2013 This incredible Box Set collects 35 early Jazz albums released on the legendary French Jazz labels: Disques VogueFind albums on this label founded in 1947 and its subsidiary SwingFind albums on this label, which was originally established in Paris in 1937 by Charles DelaunayFind albums by this artist and passed to Vogue in 1948. The music was recorded during the first post WWII decade (1947-1957) and features both American Jazz artists, who visited France or lived in France at the time as well as European Jazz artists. Paris was at the time the European Jazz center, which corresponded splendidly with its status as the European intellectual center, which produced dramatic and groundbreaking developments in European Philosophy, Plastic Arts, Cinema, Literature and of course music. Most of these albums were originally released on 10-inch LPs, which had a time limit under half an hour, and therefore they are arranged here to span over 20 CDs, each well over an hour long. The music was beautifully remastered and sounds remarkably fresh and vibrant. The list of the performers reads like a who´s who of American Jazz at the time: Dizzy GillespieFind albums by this artist, Roy EldridgeFind albums by this artist, Sidney BechetFind albums by this artist, Mary Lou WilliamsFind albums by this artist, Lee KonitzFind albums by this artist, Lionel HamptonFind albums by this artist, Clifford BrownFind albums by this artist, Jimmy RaneyFind albums by this artist, Oscar PettifordFind albums by this artist, Gerry MulliganFind albums by this artist, Thelonious MonkFind albums by this artist, Roy HaynesFind albums by this artist, Lalo SchifrinFind albums by this artist and many others. The Europeans (French and Belgian in this case) are represented by Django ReinhardtFind albums by this artist, Martial SolalFind albums by this artist, Bobby JasparFind albums by this artist, Henri RenaudFind albums by this artist, Rene ThomasFind albums by this artist, Andre HodeirFind albums by this artist, Barney WilenFind albums by this artist and many others. Stylistically the music spans quite a wide range of Jazz sub-genres, from New Orleans via Swing, Bee Bop, Cool and Early European Modern Jazz. Of course all of it is absolutely classic stuff as far as Jazz history is concerned and is essentially timeless. The most astonishing discovery, in retrospect, is the fact that the European musicians at that early stage already hold their ground opposite the Americans, showing early signs of a much more open-minded approach and a will to step beyond the American dominated Jazz conventions of the time. Many of these albums were never before released on CD; some of them are ultra-rare collectors´ items since decades. For example the three early Martial Solal releases (collected on CD number 6) are absolutely stunning examples of modern European piano trio recordings, which is decades ahead of its time, as are several other albums in this set. This is an essential collection for any serious Jazz connoisseur, which covers a huge void in many record collections. This box is worth its price (which is very reasonable) in gold and should serve as an example of how reissue projects should be produced. An absolute must!

Updated: 26/01/2019Posted:

CD 20 Mini-Sleeve Box Set Remastered Recommend To A Friend

KENNY WHEELER ~ ANGEL SONG ECM 1607 (Barcode: 731453309821) ~ UK ~ Jazz Recorded: 1996 Released: 1997 This is a painfully beautiful album by British trumpeter / composer Kenny WheelerFind albums by this artist, one the most creative and artistically perfect Jazz musicians on this planet. Here in a drum-less quartet with veteran US saxophonist Lee KonitzFind albums by this artist, guitarist Bill FrisellFind albums by this artist and British genius bass player Dave HollandFind albums by this artist. The album presents nine new original compositions by Wheeler, all quite lyrical and exquisitely melodic, as always. It is very interesting to hear Konitz and Frisell play here in a serene and somewhat subdued way, contrary to their usual expressive and more energetic approach. Holland is truly amazing, taking the rhythmic duties all upon him and still managing to add some melody lines as well. This is angelic music indeed, in every respect, a perfect piece of music from start to finish and a must to any serious Jazz connoisseur. Wholeheartedly recommended!

CD 1 Slipcase Recommend To A Friend

ATTILA ZOLLER / LEE KONITZ / ALBERT MANGELSDORFF ~ ZO-KO-MA MPS 602517797482 (Barcode: 602517797482) ~ GERMANY ~ Jazz Recorded: 1968 Released: 2008 This is a reissue / remaster of an album by three brilliant Jazz musicians, Hungarian (resident in Germany at the time) guitarist / composer Attila ZollerFind albums by this artist, American saxophonist / composer Lee KonitzFind albums by this artist and German trombonist / composer Albert MangelsdorffFind albums by this artist, who are accompanied by the rhythm section comprising of American bassist Barre PhillipsFind albums by this artist and drummer Stu MartinFind albums by this artist. The album presents nine tracks, which include quintet, trio duo and solo tracks by the participating musicians, all original compositions by them. The album was produced by my Friend and Mentor Joachim BerendtFind albums by this artist and the booklet include his original liner notes (sadly only in German). Berendt often sized the opportunity to put visiting or resident musicians into the recording studio, creating some of the most exciting lineups ever. The music is a brilliant example of the European Jazz, which was being forged by mixing the American traditions with local new approaches, and although three of the musicians on this album are Americans and only two Europeans, the music is miles ahead already from the source. Eventually Zoller, who was the most “mainstream” musician herein, settled in the US, whereas Phillips and Martin became part of the European scene for many years. Although the music offers still some mainstream tendencies, especially on the tunes composed by Zoller, the rest of the tracks, especially the trio/duo/solo parts, are way more Free oriented. Obviously all the musicians perform brilliantly, as expected, and the music lost absolutely nothing of its power and originality over time. Overall, this is another great example of albums produced by Berendt, which pushed the boundaries of Jazz and shaped the face of European Jazz. This is a part of the MPSFind albums on this label legacy and a must in every decent Jazz collection, albeit not easy to find these days. 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: 30/09/2024Posted: 30/09/2024

CD 1 Oversampling Remastered Recommend To A Friend