Record Reviews

JAZZ Q ~ ELEGIE (ELEGY) (EXPANDED EDITION) GAD 045 (Barcode: 5901549197594) ~ CZECHOSLOVAKIA ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 1975 - 1976 Released: 2016 This is a reissue of the 4th album by the legendary Czechoslovak Jazz-Rock Fusion band Jazz QFind albums by this artist, led by keyboardist / composer Martin KratochvilFind albums by this artist, which also included guitarist Frantisek FranclFind albums by this artist, bassist Premysl FauknerFind albums by this artist and drummer Libor LaunFind albums by this artist. Several guest musicians also participated on selected tracks. The original album comprised of eight original compositions, all by Kratochvil, which are presented here in their remastered form on the first CD of the 2CD set. The second CD collects live recordings by the group, which were previously released on two festival compilations, a couple of radio recordings, which are previously unreleased and fourteen tracks which were recorded as a soundtrack to the movie entitled "Hriste", all also previously unreleased. This album is undoubtedly one of the best Jazz-Rock Fusion albums ever recorded, not only behind the Iron Curtain, but worldwide. It offers the essence of the most advanced Fusion "spirit", which reached its apogee in the mid 1970s, defined by recordings by Chick CoreaFind albums by this artist (Return To ForeverFind albums by this artist), John McLaughlinFind albums by this artist (Mahavishnu OrchestraFind albums by this artist), Joe ZawinulFind albums by this artist (Weather ReportFind albums by this artist) and of course countless lesser known musicians, who contributed to the genre´s rapid development. Kratochvil and his Jazz Q ensemble managed to distill the Fusion elements and incorporate them within European aesthetics, which resulted in a much calmer and more lyrical form. Based on beautiful melodic themes, with solid harmonic structures and sophisticated expanded suite-like structures, this music is as good as Fusion ever got in its lifespan, with most of what has been offered under the genre´s banner later on was a sad imitation of the past. Kratochvil´s brilliant compositions, combined with his virtuosic keyboards technique and deep musical sensitivity and elegance, are simply irresistible. Supported by an excellent team of band members and guests, each of whom contributed his own layer to the final result, he was able to create a masterpiece, which has a few rivals to this day and sound as good today as it did at the time it was released. It is definitely one of the most well aging Fusion albums out there. The bonus material on this album is every step as good as the original album and offers a wonderful opportunity to get better and deeper acquainted with Kratochvil and his band at the time. The diversity and richness of his compositions is fully exposed here, and the fact that this music is finally available for us to enjoy is a miracle in every sense. This album is an absolute must to every Fusion fan on this planet (and perhaps beyond), especially since at the time of its release most music fans living on the West side of the Iron Curtain were completely oblivious as to what was happening on the East side. Now is the time to finally discover what was missed. Essential stuff!

Updated: 13/01/2025Posted: 18/03/2017

CD 2 Remastered Bonus Tracks Essential Recommend To A Friend

JAZZ Q ~ ZIVI SE DIVI GAD 010 (Barcode: 5901549197105) ~ CZECHOSLOVAKIA ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 1975 Released: 2013 This is a real treat! The Czechoslovak band Jazz QFind albums by this artist was always one of my favorites since the time they first arrived on the scene in the early 1970 and I loved their albums to bits. The band epitomized the Eastern European Jazz-Rock Fusion better than any other singular band of their time and had absolutely no competition, neither in their own country nor in any other Eastern European countries, although the competition was very fierce with some excellent Polish, Hungarian and other local bands. A few years ago the Czech SupraphonFind albums on this label label (which was a State monopoly during the Socialist regime when the group was active) released a wonderful Box Set, which included all the albums and some additional material Jazz Q recorded for the label. Those eight CDs spun on my player for weeks on end and I was blissfully happy to have the "complete" Jazz Q legacy at my disposal. But as we all know, nothing is ever truly "complete" as this CD proves and a beautiful piece of the puzzle was missing for all these years, now available at last. Jazz Q were unique in every respect; the founder and principal composer keyboardist Martin KratochvilFind albums by this artist was an absolute genius, light-years ahead of everything that what was happening on the East European Fusion scene at the time and a musician that could easily stand shoulder to shoulder with the top movers and shakers of the worldwide Fusion scene, including the John McLaughlinFind albums by this artist´s Mahavishnu OrchestraFind albums by this artist, which was the model for his band. Kratochvil skillfully surrounded himself with other brilliant players, such as the ones appearing on this album: guitarist Frantisek FranclFind albums by this artist, saxophonist / violinist Jan MartinecFind albums by this artist, bassist Premysl FauknerFind albums by this artist and drummer Libor LaunFind albums by this artist. The band also featured the female vocalist (and Francl´s wife at the time) Joan DugganFind albums by this artist. All these musicians were virtuosi players, as is plainly evident to anyone listening to this album, and they were an ideal vehicle to present Kratochvil´s extraordinary music, which was often devilishly clever and complex. This live recording presents Jazz Q performing nine pieces, five of which are Kratochvil´s original composition, one is credited to the entire band and the remaining ones are composed by Eddie HarrisFind albums by this artist, Billy CobhamFind albums by this artist and John McLaughlinFind albums by this artist respectively, which is hardly surprising again as these the names associated with Fusion at the time. All these composition receive as extended treatment, which allow lengthy improvisations by the principal soloists (guitar, keyboards and violin), which are all breathtaking. The music lost absolutely nothing of its vitality, sophistication and honesty over the years and emphasizes the fact that music of such quality is almost never played today, a sad reflection of our times. If it was in my power, I´d make this album an obligatory part of every musical curriculum, hoping that it would open some people´s eyes and make them see the difference between senseless doodling and real music. Although criminally overdue, this is nevertheless a wonderful breath of fresh (albeit actually only well preserved) air, which makes life worth living.

Updated: 26/01/2019Posted:

CD 1 Remastered Essential Recommend To A Friend

MARTIN KRATOCHVIL / JAZZ Q ~ TEMNE SLUNCE GAD 018 (Barcode: 5901549197204) ~ CZECH REPUBLIC ~ Soundtracks Recorded: 1979 - 1980 Released: 2014 This album presents the music by Czech composer / keyboardist Martin KratochvilFind albums by this artist, leader of the legendary ensemble Jazz QFind albums by this artist, which served as the soundtrack of the controversial movie "Temne Slunce", which was based on a novel by famous Czech novelist Karel CapekFind albums by this artist entitled "Krakatit". The novel (written in 1922) prophesizes the invention of nuclear weapons and is one of many prophetic science fiction works written by Capek, who belongs to the same category of science fiction giants as George OrwellFind albums by this artist and Aldous HuxleyFind albums by this artist. "Temne Slunce" was in fact a second redemption of a film based on the same novel and made by the same legendary Czech director Otakar VavraFind albums by this artist. The first, black and white version of the film from 1948 had the original title of the book and the second, color version from 1981 was entitled "Temne Slunce" ("Dark Sun"). Vavra, who used mostly the famous Czech cinematic composer Zdenek LiskaFind albums by this artist to create the soundtracks for the films he directed, entrusted the creation of the soundtrack in the hands of Kratochvil, following a recommendation by Liska, who spotted and appreciated the incredible talents of Kratochvil. The album includes thirty two, mostly short pieces, which are split into three groups: part one (eleven tracks) part two (fourteen tracks) and bonus material (the last seven tracks). The music is performed mostly by Kratochvil playing synthesizers with occasional participation of the Jazz Q members (guitarist Frantisek FranclFind albums by this artist, bassist Vladimir PadrunekFind albums by this artist and drummer Libor LaunFind albums by this artist) and other guest musicians. This is the first appearance of the film soundtrack on record. The music sounds astonishingly contemporary today, some three and a half decades after it was recorded, and in comparison to other ambient / electronic / atmospheric music created today it is much more intelligent and advanced than most of what is produced today. Kratochvil brilliantly explores the possibilities offered by the synthesizers, without moving into extreme territory and keeping melody, harmony and rhythm present even when the music is entirely ambient. His feel for the drama and the film´s context is equally masterful. In retrospect the film is mostly remembered as a propaganda piece presenting the Socialist side of the Cold War conflict (not less ridiculous than similar propaganda pieces produced on the other side of the Iron Curtain), which does great injustice to the original novel it is based on. At least the film´s soundtrack remains as superb example of film music, which is likely to stay with us for eternity. Remastered from the original master tapes the album sounds spectacularly and is another great tribute to the legacy of Martin Kratochvil and Jazz Q brought to us by GADFind albums on this label Records, for which we are, as usual, grateful.

CD 1 Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend