Record Reviews

JAROMIR HONZAK ~ A QUESTION TO ALL YOUR ANSWERS ANIMAL MUSIC 005 (Barcode: 8594155996551) ~ CZECH REPUBLIC ~ Jazz Recorded: 2006 Released: 2007 This is the fourth album as a leader by Czech Jazz bassist / composer Jaromir HonzakFind albums by this artist and his first release on the excellent Czech label Animal MusicFind albums on this label. The album was recorded by a Czech / Polish quartet which also included Czech guitarist David DoruzkaFind albums by this artist and Polish pianist Michal TokajFind albums by this artist and drummer Lukasz ZytaFind albums by this artist, both of which played with him on this album´s predecessor "Present PastFind albums with this title". Clarinetist Tomas CisteckyFind albums by this artist, flautist Lucie CisteckaFind albums by this artist and pianist Vojtech ProchazkaFind albums by this artist appear as guests. The album presents eight original compositions, all by Honzak. Seven of the tracks were recorded at the excellent Studio Tokarnia and engineered by Jan SmoczynskiFind albums by this artist, with the usual superb sound quality. The last track was recorded at the Czech Radio and features the a.m. guests. Honzak, whom I have been watching closely since many years, proudly continues the Czech Jazz Bass tradition, established by internationally known bassists like George MrazFind albums by this artist (really Jiri MrazFind albums by this artist) and Miroslav VitousFind albums by this artist, but also less known outside of their homeland like Ludek HulanFind albums by this artist, Frantisek UhlirFind albums by this artist, Karel VejvodaFind albums by this artist, Petr KorinekFind albums by this artist and others. His beautifully round notes and chronometric pulsations are always a guarantee of a perfect rhythm section anchor in the numerous recording he took part in. But on this album Honzak great forte are his wonderful compositions, which are beautifully woven, versatile and most importantly open enough to be stretched and explored by the quartet members, often towards unexpected directions. As a result this album is a superb ride into the unforeseen, with each track taking the listener on a new adventure. Not losing the sense of melody and coherence, the music has so much freedom and breathing space that the flexibility is endless. Of course the leader gets fantastic support from the quartet members; Doruzka, here fourteen years younger than today, is already a bright star on the European scale, while Tokaj and Zyta, despite their relatively young age at the time were already seasoned veterans, capable of playing virtually anything. Together the quartet sounds like an organic unit and in retrospect I´d love to hear this experience repeated again. Overall this is a brilliant album from start to finish, a perfect reflection of 21st Century European Jazz at its best. Fourteen years later it still sounds perfectly fresh and sparkling with ingenuity, like a gem it is. Absolutely not to be missed!

Updated: 14/11/2020Posted: 28/08/2020

CD 1 Mini-Sleeve Recommend To A Friend

LUDEK HULAN ~ JAZZ IN MY SOUL INDIES HAPPY TRAILS 774 (Barcode: 8595026677425) ~ CZECH REPUBLIC ~ Jazz Recorded: 1962 - 1964 Released: 2018 This is a reissue of the debut album as a leader by Czech Jazz bassist / composer and occasional vocalist Ludek HulanFind albums by this artist, one of the pioneers of modern Jazz in Czechoslovakia and a founding member of the Studio 5Find albums by this artist ensemble. The album compiles music that was recorded over a span of two years with various lineups, mostly with a trio which included pianist Rudolf RoklFind albums by this artist or guitarist Vladimir TomekFind albums by this artist and drummer Ivan DominakFind albums by this artist, or a quintet / sextet which added to the trio musicians like: trumpeter Richard KubernatFind albums by this artist, trombonist Artur HolitzerFind albums by this artist, clarinetist / saxophonist Karel KrautgartnerFind albums by this artist or flautist Zdenek ZikaFind albums by this artist. The album presents eleven tracks, ten of which are original compositions by Hulan and one is a standard. Three tracks, which were a part of a Jazz & Poetry project, include recitation. All the music is beautifully remastered and the album comes with extensive liner notes, extremely well researched and full of discographical information, sadly only in Czech language (which works fine for me, but probably less so for other enthusiasts who also might be interested). The music is all melody based modern mainstream Jazz, which moves between Bebop and Cool, with wonderfully structured harmonies and sophisticated multiple melody lines, which easily stand shoulder to shoulder with what was happening in Jazz across the pond. The performances also don´t disappoint and are a showcase of professionalism and talent, with perfect interplay between the musicians and excellent soloing. Hulan, who is the focus of this album, proves to be not only a wonderful composer, but also a virtuosic bassist, which is plainly evident from his performances captured herein. Hulan sadly managed to record only one additional album, called "Mila SpolecnostFind albums with this title" in 1977 before his tragically early departure before the age of fifty. For fans of European Jazz and its history, reissues of this kind are an absolute must, and the fact that this music is available on CD for the first time makes it a wonderful treasure. Brilliant stuff! My personal thanks to Jaromir KratochvilFind albums by this artist, the owner of Indies Happy TrailsFind albums on this label, for his friendship and the incredible job he is doing to keep this music alive! Side Note Since the 1950s Czechoslovakia had a highly developed Jazz scene, certainly in proportion to its population, which included many successful ensembles and even Big Bands, as well as Jazz clubs, festivals and publications, all this in spite of state censorship and political limitations. The similar situation existed since the 1960s as far as Rock (including Progressive Rock and Jazz-Rock Fusion) was concerned, resulting in many excellent, interesting and innovative ensembles. The music was relatively well documented by the three state owned record labels: SupraphonFind albums on this label (founded in 1927), PantonFind albums on this label (founded in 1968) and OpusFind albums on this label (founded in 1971 and based in Bratislava, created on the base of Slovak division of Supraphon). Following the "Velvet Revolution" in 1989, the state owned record labels were privatized, with Supraphon dominating the local market. However, Supraphon was quite reluctant as far as exploring its vast back catalogue is concerned, and this is where the small independent Indies Happy TrailsFind albums on this label Records, a reissue label dedicated to the preservation of the recorded legacy of Czechoslovak music, owned and run by the devoted enthusiast / historian Jaromir KratochvilFind albums by this artist, founded in 2007, comes in. Over the years the label released a plethora of brilliant music, reissuing long deleted LPs and extensively exploring the archives in search of bonus material. The quest of Indies Happy Trails is similar to what the GADFind albums on this label Records label, run by Michal WilczynskiFind albums by this artist, is doing for Polish music, with similar consistency and praiseworthy dedication.

Updated: 02/03/2020Posted: 02/03/2020

CD 1 Remastered Recommend To A Friend

STUDIO 5 ENSEMBLE ~ MODERN JAZZ INDIES HAPPY TRAILS 728 (Barcode: 8595026672826) ~ CZECH REPUBLIC ~ Jazz Recorded: 1958 - 1963 Released: 2016 This is the first of a series of eight reissue / archival albums presenting the recorded legacy of one of the Godfathers of Czechoslovak modern Jazz, vibraphonist / saxophonist / composer / bandleader Karel VelebnyFind albums by this artist and his SHQFind albums by this artist ensemble. All the music is beautifully remastered and the album comes with extensive liner notes, extremely well researched and full of discographical information, sadly only in Czech language (which works fine for me, but probably less so for other enthusiasts who also might be interested). This album presents early recordings involving Velebny, before SHQ was formed in 1961, performed mostly by the Studio 5Find albums by this artist ensemble, formed in 1958, which included alongside Velebny many of the Czechoslovak Jazz pioneers, such as baritone saxophonist / flautist Jan KonopasekFind albums by this artist, trombonist Artur HolitzerFind albums by this artist, guitarist Vladimir TomekFind albums by this artist, bassist Ludek HulanFind albums by this artist and drummer Ivan DominakFind albums by this artist. The first twelve tracks on the album, recorded by Studio 5 (in various lineups from quintet to octet) between 1958 and 1961, are an expanded version of the original 10" LP by Studio 5 released in 1961 and called "Modern JazzFind albums with this title". The album also includes five bonus tracks, recorded between 1961 and 1963, which originate from the same session as other tracks recorded by Studio 5 but do not involve Velebny, or from a later session which involves Velebny and Konopasek, the founders of SHQ. The music, although clearly influenced by American Jazz from that era, is by far not an attempt to copy American Jazz but to use it as an influence and inspiration. As early as by the end of the 1950s Czech Jazz already had its own sound and character. Thirteen of the seventeen compositions on this album are originals and only four are American standards, which again exemplifies the extremely high Jazz awareness and deep knowledge of the idiom, which of course was characteristic not only of Czechoslovak Jazz, but also of Jazz being created behind the Iron Curtain in countries like Poland, and DDR (East Germany), and to lesser extent Hungary, Rumania, Bulgaria and others. The brilliant performances testify to the high level of professionalism, despite the young age (late 20s early 30s) of the musicians involved and their familiarity with the contemporary Jazz conventions, as well as highly developed improvisation skills and compositional quality. For fans of European Jazz and its history, the entire series is an absolute must, and the fact that most of this music is available on CD for the first time makes it an absolute treasure. Absolutely brilliant! My personal thanks to Jaromir KratochvilFind albums by this artist, the owner of Indies Happy TrailsFind albums on this label, for his friendship and the incredible job he is doing to keep this music alive! Side Note Since the 1950s Czechoslovakia had a highly developed Jazz scene, certainly in proportion to its population, which included many successful ensembles and even Big Bands, as well as Jazz clubs, festivals and publications, all this in spite of state censorship and political limitations. The similar situation existed since the 1960s as far as Rock (including Progressive Rock and Jazz-Rock Fusion) was concerned, resulting in many excellent, interesting and innovative ensembles. The music was relatively well documented by the three state owned record labels: SupraphonFind albums on this label (founded in 1927), PantonFind albums on this label (founded in 1968) and OpusFind albums on this label (founded in 1971 and based in Bratislava, created on the base of Slovak division of Supraphon). Following the "Velvet Revolution" in 1989, the state owned record labels were privatized, with Supraphon dominating the local market. However, Supraphon was quite reluctant as far as exploring its vast back catalogue is concerned, and this is where the small independent Indies Happy TrailsFind albums on this label Records, a reissue label dedicated to the preservation of the recorded legacy of Czechoslovak music, owned and run by the devoted enthusiast / historian Jaromir KratochvilFind albums by this artist, founded in 2007, comes in. Over the years the label released a plethora of brilliant music, reissuing long deleted LPs and extensively exploring the archives in search of bonus material. The quest of Indies Happy Trails is similar to what the GADFind albums on this label Records label, run by Michal WilczynskiFind albums by this artist, is doing for Polish music, with similar consistency and praiseworthy dedication.

Updated: 02/03/2020Posted: 24/02/2020

CD 1 Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend