Record Reviews

JAN AKKERMAN ~ A TOUCH OF CLASS VOICEPRINT 017 (Barcode: 604388663224) ~ NETHERLANDS ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 1973 - 1983 Released: 2005 Dutch guitar virtuoso Jan AkkermanFind albums by this artist is most widely known as the co-leader of the legendary band FocusFind albums by this artist. However, after leaving Focus, Akkerman developed a splendid solo career, which now spans over 30 years of activity. As a soloist, Akkerman proved to be a most versatile musician, playing both acoustic guitar (and many other acoustic guitar-related instruments) and electric guitar, all this in different genres, from classical music, early music, blues, jazz and fusion. His exceptional technique and highly developed musical taste place him in a class of his own. This excellent DVD brings to light some archival material not seen in many years. The main part of the DVD includes a 1983 TV special, filmed in London for the BBC. It includes his then current group performing material from Jan’s albums: Can`t Stand NoiseFind albums with this title and TabernakelFind albums with this title, interviews with Akkerman and BBC footage of Focus from 1973. The bonus material includes footage filmed 18 month later and capturing a rare performance of Akkerman using the guitar synthesizer. For many Akkerman / Focus fans this is an absolute must and a most enjoyable musical experience. NTSC

DVD 1 Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend

JAN AKKERMAN ~ ARANJUEZ GOTT DISCS 009 ~ NETHERLANDS ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 1978 7th album by the Dutch guitar virtuoso Jan AkkermanFind albums by this artist and ex-member of FocusFind albums by this artist. The fascination with classical music was eveident on all Akkerman`s early solo albums and his excellent acoustic guitar playing of classical material served as an alter ego to his energetic electric rock accomplishments. This is a splendid album, beautifully arranged by Claus OgermanFind albums by this artist, who also conducts the classical orchestra accompanying the guitarist and who also worked with other Focus memeber Thijs van LeerFind albums by this artist on his classical solo albums. Akkerman performs mostly classical material by Rodrigo, Villa-Lobos, Ravel and others, with just one composition of his own. This is a gentle, delicate work of passion - not for everybody, but those with the classical streak in them will enjoy this one immensly.

CD 1 Slipcase Remastered Recommend To A Friend

	JAN AKKERMAN ~ FROM THE BASEMENT HUX 012 ~ NETHERLANDS ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 1984 14th solo album by Jan AkkermanFind albums by this artist, remastered and with a load of bonus tracks. Jazz-rock fusion style with a trio and solo solo guitar offerings.
	CD 1 Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend

	JAN AKKERMAN ~ HEARTWARE HUX 016 ~ NETHERLANDS ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 1987 15th solo album by Jan AkkermanFind albums by this artist, remastered and with a load of bonus tracks. Similar to the previous album.
	CD 1 Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend

JAN AKKERMAN ~ JAN AKKERMAN WEA 242360 (Barcode: 022924236020) ~ NETHERLANDS ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 1976 Released: 2000 5th album by the eclectic Dutch guitar genius Jan AkkermanFind albums by this artist recorded at the same sessions that produced the album EliFind albums with this title, but using a set of different players. This was Akkerman’s first step into the world of Fusion, which would be his main area of activity for the next few years. He invited the phenomenal German keyboards player Joachim KuhnFind albums by this artist (a friendship and cooperation that was to last for many years), the Italian drummer Bruno CastelucciFind albums by this artist and percussionist Neppie NoyaFind albums by this artist – all three were very active on the European Fusion scene – to take part in the recording and the result was a mixture of instrumental Prog and Fusion with brilliant soloing all over. Akkerman wrote all the music, which includes some of his best fine crafted melodies. The album also served as a basis for creation of the Jan Akkerman Band, which performed all across Europe and was later recorded live at the Montreux Jazz Festival (his next release). Essential for Akkerman and FocusFind albums by this artist fans.

Updated: 18/07/2020Posted:

CD 1 Remastered Recommend To A Friend

JAN AKKERMAN ~ LIVE WOUNDED BIRD 9241 (Barcode: 664140924123) ~ NETHERLANDS ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 1978 Released: 2009 6th album by Dutch guitarist / composer Jan AkkermanFind albums by this artist, recorded live at the Montreux Jazz Festival shortly after the release of the eponymous predecessor. Backed by an excellent band, which includes the Dutch keyboardist Jasper van`t HofFind albums by this artist, drummer Bruno CastelucciFind albums by this artist, percussionist Neppie NoyaFind albums by this artist and others, Akkerman delivers a blistering set of Jazz-Rock Fusion displaying his amazing technique and energy. Three of the six tunes played are composed by Akkerman and the others are contributions by his band members. Akkerman was at the peak of his powers at the time and this overall excellent album is a great reminder of that period. Definitely a must for all his loyal fans, but of interest also to all Fusion buffs. Recommended!

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

	JAN AKKERMAN ~ PLEASURE POINT HUX 011 ~ NETHERLANDS ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 1981 11th album by the legendary Dutch guitarist Jan AkkermanFind albums by this artist, who came to fame as a member of FocusFind albums by this artist, here in a solo album, remastered and with a load of bonus tracks. Quite jazzy offering with stellar backup band.
	CD 1 Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend

JAN AKKERMAN ~ PROFILE BGO 490 (Barcode: 5017261204905) ~ NETHERLANDS ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 1972 Released: 2000 2nd album by the legendary FocusFind albums by this artist guitarist Jan AkkermanFind albums by this artist recorded while he was still with the group. It showcases Akkerman`s brilliant playing, both as an electric Fusion player and as acoustic classical one. Backed by the cream of contemporary Dutch musicians (some fellow Focus members and some members of other groups like TraceFind albums by this artist) he shines throughout. The 20+ minutes opening track is a Fusion suite a la Mahavishnu. A classic!

CD 1 Remastered Recommend To A Friend

JAN AKKERMAN ~ TABERNAKEL WOUNDED BIRD 7032 (Barcode: 664140703223) ~ NETHERLANDS ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 1974 Released: 2001 3rd album by Dutch guitar virtuoso Jan AkkermanFind albums by this artist. This is a true masterpiece and a real shock for FocusFind albums by this artist fans, as Akkerman chose to play on this album almost only classical music using acoustic instruments, showing his mastery of the ancient lute as well as his unbelievable guitar playing. The material includes pieces from 16th century Tudor England and some original compositions. Akkerman`s cohots on this album come from the US rock scene (Tim BogertFind albums by this artist & Carmine AppiceFind albums by this artist from CactusFind albums by this artist!), but they fill in seamlessly. The result is both intellectually challenging and full of beauty!

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

JAN AKKERMAN / KAZ LUX ~ ELI WEA 242361 (Barcode: 022924236129) ~ NETHERLANDS ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 1976 Released: 2000 4th album by the eclectic Dutch guitar genius Jan AkkermanFind albums by this artist recorded shortly after he left FocusFind albums by this artist in early 1976. For this album Akkerman teamed up with his old friends from BrainboxFind albums by this artist (his pre-Focus band) singer Kaz LuxFind albums by this artist (Kaz was the shorter and easier to pronounce version of his full Polish name Kazimierz) and drummer Pierre van der LindenFind albums by this artist (who was also a member of Focus). He also invited two prominent Dutch keyboards players Jasper van`t HofFind albums by this artist (from the Jazz circles) and Rick van der LindenFind albums by this artist (from the Prog circles, founder and leader of the Dutch Prog bands EkseptionFind albums by this artist and TraceFind albums by this artist – the Dutch answer to NiceFind albums by this artist and Emerson, Lake & PalmerFind albums by this artist – and not relater to Pierre). The result of these sessions produced a great Prog concept album based on a story by Lux. The stellar personnel and the superb vocal performance make it as strong as any parallel Prog concept album, but unfortunately it received very little attention at the time and remains mostly forgotten. For the followers of Akkerman’s work over the years this is quite a revelation and his exceptional work as a composer and guitarists are fully featured here. Essential for Akkerman and Focus fans.

CD 1 Remastered Recommend To A Friend

ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND ~ AMERICAN UNIVERSITY WASHINGTON, D.C. 12/13/70 CASTLE 1186 (Barcode: 5050749411860) ~ USA ~ Classic Rock Recorded: 1970 Released: 2005 Every piece of recorded legacy by the classic Allman Brothers BandFind albums by this artist is always welcome, especially is it as well recorded as this one. The Allmans go through their well known material with vigor and passion and the 15+ minutes "You Don`t Love Me" and 20+ minutes "Whippin` Post" are superb showcases of Duane`s mastery of guitar genius. Even if you already own other ABB live recordings, there is never enough of this AFAIAC!

Updated: 20/12/2024Posted:

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND ~ AT FILLMORE EAST (DELUXE EDITION) MERCURY 077353 (Barcode: 044007735329) ~ USA ~ Classic Rock Recorded: 1971 Released: 2003 3rd album, recorded live in 1971 when the Allman Brothers BandFind albums by this artist were at the peak of their creative powers and before a long chain of tragic events that seemed to haunt them later. Considered by many as one of the best Rock / Blues albums ever recorded, certainly one of the best ever live albums. Featuring the dual guitar leads by Duane AllmanFind albums by this artist and Dickey BettsFind albums by this artist exchanging licks of heartbreaking beauty. This edition includes for the first time the entire material recorded at Fillmore with `Mountain Jam` expanded to the original 33+ minutes version. Over 2 and a half hours of pure, unadelturated musical pleasure!

Updated: 18/01/2016Posted:

CD 2 Digipak Remastered Bonus Tracks Essential Recommend To A Friend

ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND ~ DOWN IN TEXAS `71 ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND 821229000219 (Barcode: 821229000219) ~ USA ~ Blues-Rock Recorded: 1971 Released: 2021 This is an archival live album by the iconic American Rock band The Allman Brothers BandFind albums by this artist, recorded on September 28, 1971 at the Austin, TX Municipal Auditorium just a month before the tragic death of Duane Allman. It presents the first lineup of the group, which included the six founding members: guitarist Duane AllmanFind albums by this artist, vocalist / keyboardist Gregg AllmanFind albums by this artist, guitarist Dickey BettsFind albums by this artist, bassist Berry OakleyFind albums by this artist, drummer / percussionist Jai Johanny JohansonFind albums by this artist (a.k.a. JaimoeFind albums by this artist) and drummer Butch TrucksFind albums by this artist. Saxophonist Juicy CarterFind albums by this artist guests on six tracks. The album presents the band’s “usual” set played at the time, with nine tracks, one of which is over fifteen minutes long, and a bonus track with a radio interview with Duane Allman and Berry Oakley, recorded in Huston, TX on June 6, 1971. The music was carefully restored form the original tapes and the sound quality, albeit not nearly perfect, is definitely good enough to enjoy the music. The imminent comparison between this album and the “At Fillmore EastFind albums with this title” is pretty redundant. Each and every performance by the band was completely unique, even if the setlist was pretty stable. The presence of Carter had only a marginal influence on the overall sound and his contributions are hardly audible. The Allman Brothers Band was at the absolute peak of its form, following many concerts and common experiences, and as such produced the ultimate Rock album of all times just a few months earlier. They were an exceptionally gifted group of musicians, who played their hearts out and all this is evident herein. As far as Blues-Rock is concerned, this is simply a brilliant live album. And no, I never get enough of this band… Overall, this is another document of an exceptional band, and the times, when Rock was King and Gods were smiling at the gifted musicians, who produced timeless anthems, such as this. Rock improvisation, which is the name of the game here, never sounded better and is still light-years ahead of anything played today.

Updated: 11/01/2025Posted: 11/01/2025

CD 1 Mini-Sleeve Recommend To A Friend

ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND ~ EAT A PEACH CAPRICORN 531261 ~ USA ~ Classic Rock 4th album (recorded 1971-72) and the first release following Duane AllmanFind albums by this artist´s tragic death. Originally released as a double LP, it contains 3 different sessions: studio recordings completed while Duane was still alive, studio recordings completed by the band without Duane and live recordings from the Fillmore East (included also on the DeLuxe edition of the Fillmore East album). In retrospect it is a magnificent album, full of brilliant performances and vital energy with a drop of bitter sadness. Classic stuff!

Updated: 18/01/2016Posted:

CD 1 Remastered Recommend To A Friend

ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND ~ EAT A PEACH (DELUXE EDITION) MERCURY 987784 (Barcode: 602498778494) ~ USA ~ Classic Rock Recorded: 1971 Released: 2006 4th album by Allman Brothers BandFind albums by this artist and the first release following Duane AllmanFind albums by this artist´s tragic death. Originally released as a double LP, it contains 4 different sessions: studio recordings completed while Duane was still alive, studio recordings completed by the band without Duane, live recordings at the Fillmore East, recorded in March 1971 and included also on the Deluxe edition of the Fillmore East album and finally live recordings at Fillmore East, recorded in June 1971, which was Duane’s last live recording. In retrospect it is a magnificent album, full of brilliant performances and vital energy with a drop of bitter sadness of course. This is classic stuff, which deserves a permanent position in any decent music library. The new exquisite edition includes the entire June 1971 Fillmore East concert, released here for the first time. As the Allmans were first a foremost a live band, this new material is, as usual, a gold mine of musical thrills. Essential!

Updated: 18/01/2016Posted:

CD 2 Digipak Remastered Bonus Tracks Essential Recommend To A Friend

ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND ~ FILLMORE EAST, FEBRUARY 1970 (DELUXE EDITION) ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND 821229000011 (Barcode: 821229000011) ~ USA ~ Blues-Rock Recorded: 1970 Released: 2018 This is an expanded reissue / remaster of the live album by the iconic American Rock group The Allman Brothers BandFind albums by this artist, released originally as a single CD in 1996. It presents the first lineup of the group, which included the six founding members: guitarist Duane AllmanFind albums by this artist, vocalist / keyboardist Gregg AllmanFind albums by this artist, guitarist Dickey BettsFind albums by this artist, bassist Berry OakleyFind albums by this artist, drummer / percussionist Jai Johanny JohansonFind albums by this artist (a.k.a. JaimoeFind albums by this artist) and drummer Butch TrucksFind albums by this artist. The album was recorded at the Fillmore East in NY almost exactly one year before the iconic live album “At Fillmore EastFind albums with this title” album was recorded. The music was recorded by the great soundman Owsley StanleyFind albums by this artist (a.k.a. Owsley “Bear” StanleyFind albums by this artist), who was Grateful DeadFind albums by this artist’s soundman for many years, and his recordings were released under the “Bear’s Sonic Journals” moniker, including this album. The original 1996 edition, which is a compilation of material recorded during the three nights Allmans played at the Fillmore East, February 11,13 and 14, 1970, was expanded by additional 2 CDs with the entire surviving material from those three nights, all restored and remastered, offering a superb sound quality. The imminent comparison between this album and the “At Fillmore East” is pretty redundant. One year later the band was at the absolute peak of its form, following many concerts and common experiences, and as such produced the ultimate Rock album of all times. But already at the time this music was recorded, Allman Brothers Band were an exceptionally gifted group of musicians, who played their hearts out and all this is evident herein. As far as Blues-Rock is concerned, this is simply a brilliant live album. And no, I never get enough of this band… Overall, this is a brilliant document of an exceptional band, and the times, when Rock was King and Gods were smiling at the gifted musicians, who produced timeless anthems, such as this. Rock improvisation, which was the name of the game here, never sounded better and is still light-years ahead of anything played today.

Updated: 24/03/2023Posted: 20/02/2023

CD 3 Digipak Remastered Recommend To A Friend

ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND ~ FILLMORE WEST `71 ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND 821229000042 (Barcode: 821229000042) ~ USA ~ Blues-Rock Recorded: 1971 Released: 2019 This is an archival live album by the iconic American Rock group The Allman Brothers BandFind albums by this artist, recorded during their weekend (three nights) residence at the San Francisco’s Fillmore West on January 29, 30 and 31, 1971, just six weeks before the band recorded their seminal / iconic live album “At Fillmore EastFind albums with this title”. It presents the first lineup of the group, which included the six founding members: guitarist Duane AllmanFind albums by this artist, vocalist / keyboardist Gregg AllmanFind albums by this artist, guitarist Dickey BettsFind albums by this artist, bassist Berry OakleyFind albums by this artist, drummer / percussionist Jai Johanny JohansonFind albums by this artist (a.k.a. JaimoeFind albums by this artist) and drummer Butch TrucksFind albums by this artist. The album presents the entire sets of each night, with the first night on CD 1, the second on CD 2 and the third on CD 3 & 4, which also includes a 45 minutes long version of “Mountain Jam” recorded almost a year earlier (March 13, 1970) at The Warehouse in New Orleans. The music was carefully restored form the original tapes and the sound quality, albeit not perfect, is definitely good enough to enjoy the music without any hitch. The imminent comparison between this album and the “At Fillmore East” is pretty redundant. Each and every performance by the band was completely unique, even if the setlist was pretty stable. The Allman Brothers Band was at the absolute peak of its form, following many concerts and common experiences, and as such produced the ultimate Rock album of all times just a few weeks later. They were an exceptionally gifted group of musicians, who played their hearts out and all this is evident herein. As far as Blues-Rock is concerned, this is simply a brilliant live album. And no, I never get enough of this band… Overall, this is a dazzling document of an exceptional band, and the times, when Rock was King and Gods were smiling at the gifted musicians, who produced timeless anthems, such as this. Rock improvisation, which is the name of the game here, never sounded better and is still light-years ahead of anything played today.

Updated: 24/03/2023Posted: 24/03/2023

CD 4 Mini-Sleeve Remastered Recommend To A Friend

ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND ~ IDLEWILD SOUTH (45TH ANNIVERSARY SUPER DELUXE EDITION) MERCURY 602547346476 (Barcode: 602547346476) ~ USA ~ Pop & Rock Recorded: 1970 Released: 2015 This is a remastered / expanded reissue of "Idlewild SouthFind albums with this title", the second studio album by The Allman Brothers BandFind albums by this artist, originally released in September 1970. The Allman Brothers Band was America´s greatest ever Rock band, which combined superb songwriting, instrumental virtuosity and Rock improvisation in a way that no other American band was able to reiterate ever since. This edition adds five bonus tracks (two outtakes and two alternate takes, all previously unreleased, and a mono single version of one of the album´s songs). In addition this edition also includes the monumental live album "Live At Ludlow Garage 1970Find albums with this title", expanded by one previously unreleased track, which lasts about fifteen minutes. Considering the fact that the live album, recorded on April 11, 1970 (it was released only in 1990), was captured for posterity during the recording sessions of "Idlewild South", which lasted between February and July of 1970, produced by the legendary Tom DowdFind albums by this artist, it is an integral part of the band´s musical statement at that point of time and combining these two albums here makes perfect sense. The personnel on both albums features guitarist Duane AllmanFind albums by this artist, guitarist Dickey BettsFind albums by this artist, keyboardist / vocalist Gregg AllmanFind albums by this artist, bassist Berry OakleyFind albums by this artist, drummer Jai Johanny JohansonFind albums by this artist (a.k.a. JaimoeFind albums by this artist) and drummer Butch TrucksFind albums by this artist. The studio album also features harmonica / percussion player Thom DoucetteFind albums by this artist. Most of the material performed by the band was written by Gregg Allman, Duane Allman and Betts, but included also the band´s versions of classic Blues anthems. In addition to the studio and live albums, this set also includes a Blu-Ray Pure Audio disc, with high definition sound mixes of the studio album and the four unreleased outtakes / alternate takes. Also included is an in-depth essay about the band by John LynskeyFind albums by this artist, with many photographs and detailed information about this set´s contents. This set in only the second best piece of music by The Allman Brothers Band, next to the celebrated "The 1971 Fillmore East RecordingsFind albums with this title", the recently expanded live album, which is absolutely the best live Rock album of all times. They don´t make music like that any more, that is a fact, and therefore the best we can do is listen for what the past left us as a legacy of our generation´s Culture. Thanks to the miracle of sound recording, even if music (and our Culture) continues to disintegrate as it does now, there is enough great music already recorded to last for eternity. This is just one of the eternal treasures.

Updated: 29/01/2019Posted: 30/05/2016

3CD+DVD 4 Mini-Sleeve Remastered Bonus Tracks Essential Recommend To A Friend

ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND ~ LIVE AT THE ATLANTA INTERNATIONAL POP FESTIVAL EPIC 510100 (Barcode: 5099751010029) ~ USA ~ Classic Rock Recorded just a few months (July 1970) before the legendary Fillmore gig, this is the Allman Brothers BandFind albums by this artist at the peak of their powers, playing their hearts out. Amazingly these two sets remained unreleased for such a long time, as in retrospect they rival the legendary Fillmore recordings both in sound and material quality. As a bonus, the almost half hour long Mountain Jam features a third guitarist - one Johnny WinterFind albums by this artist - which turnes this piece into an anthem of 1970`s guitar rock at its best. Absolutely essential not only for Allmans` fans, but in memoriam of the great times that are gone forever!

Updated: 18/01/2016Posted:

CD 2 Digipak Remastered Essential Recommend To A Friend

ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND ~ LIVE FROM A&R STUDIOS ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND 821229111625 (Barcode: 821229111625) ~ USA ~ Blues-Rock Recorded: 1971 Released: 2016 This is an archival live album by the iconic American Rock group The Allman Brothers BandFind albums by this artist, recorded for a radio broadcast on August 26, 1971 at the A&R Studios in NY. The Allmans were in top form, following the explosive success of their seminal / iconic live album “At Fillmore EastFind albums with this title” recorded half a year earlier, and of course completely oblivious of the forthcoming tragedy which was about to strike with the death of Duane AllmanFind albums by this artist just two months later. It presents the first lineup of the group, which included the six founding members: guitarist Duane Allman, vocalist / keyboardist Gregg AllmanFind albums by this artist, guitarist Dickey BettsFind albums by this artist, bassist Berry OakleyFind albums by this artist, drummer / percussionist Jai Johanny JohansonFind albums by this artist (a.k.a. JaimoeFind albums by this artist) and drummer Butch TrucksFind albums by this artist. The album presents the entire set of that recording session, nine tracks of superb playing by the band, with two extended tracks running eleven and nineteen minutes respectively. The music was carefully restored form the original tapes and the sound quality is as perfect, as the forty-five years old tapes were able to capture it at the time, which is definitely good enough to enjoy the music without any hitch. During the performance the band pay tribute to their friend, saxophonist King CurtisFind albums by this artist, who was tragically murdered just a few days earlier. They included a medley of two songs in his memory, which is the longest track on this album and which includes what can be considered as the most monumental guitar solo by Duane Allman. As far as Blues-Rock is concerned, this is simply a brilliant live album. And no, I never get enough of this band… Overall, this is a dazzling document of an exceptional band, and the times, when Rock was King and Gods were smiling at the gifted musicians, who produced timeless anthems, such as this. Rock improvisation, which is the name of the game here, never sounded better and is still light-years ahead of anything played today.

Updated: 26/03/2023Posted: 26/03/2023

CD 1 Remastered Recommend To A Friend

ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND ~ MANLEY FIELD HOUSE, SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY, APRIL 7, 1972 ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND 821229000394 (Barcode: 821229000394) ~ USA ~ Blues-Rock Recorded: 1972 Released: 2023 This is an archival live 2CD album by the iconic American Rock group The Allman Brothers BandFind albums by this artist, recorded some five month following the tragic Death of Duane AllmanFind albums by this artist, with the group following heroically as a quintet, led by keyboardist / vocalist Gregg AllmanFind albums by this artist and including the original members: guitarist Dickey BettsFind albums by this artist, bassist Berry OakleyFind albums by this artist, drummer / percussionist Jai Johanny JohansonFind albums by this artist (a.k.a. JaimoeFind albums by this artist) and drummer Butch TrucksFind albums by this artist. The album presents the entire set including an introduction and eleven tracks with the classic material that the group played at all gigs at the time. Two tracks last for over fifteen minutes and one for over twenty minutes, offering extensive instrumental improvisations, which characterized the live performances of the group. Obviously the loss of Duane makes its mark, but the quintet lineup performs remarkably well, displaying the usual high energy and dedication, which makes this music completely time resistant. The recording quality is absolutely fabulous, and allows the listener to enjoy the atmosphere and excitement of the event in full. Although this album does not add anything that the Allman Brother Band followers were not exposed to previously, but the character of the group and the individual talents were such a unique phenomenon that in retrospect every second of music performed by them is absolutely worth being remembered for posterity, and perhaps even studied by contemporary musicians, who have a hard time trying to create anything as remarkable and lasting as what can be heard here. Overall, this is another precious time capsule of Rock history, which captures music created by some of the greatest heroes of the genre, which over five decades after it was recorded sounds infinitely better that anything created today. It is a superb example of Rock improvisation at its best, as well as sublime songwriting and Blues-Rock tradition. An obvious must to all ABB aficionados, but all music lovers should find this enormously entertaining.

Updated: 26/03/2024Posted: 26/03/2024

CD 2 Mini-Sleeve Remastered Recommend To A Friend

ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND ~ SYRIA MOSQUE, PITTSBURGH, PA JANUARY 17, 1971 ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND 821229000363 (Barcode: 821229000363) ~ USA ~ Blues-Rock Recorded: 1971 Released: 2022 This is an archival live album by the iconic American Rock band The Allman Brothers BandFind albums by this artist, recorded just a couple om months before the band recorded their seminal / iconic live album “At Fillmore EastFind albums with this title”. It presents the first lineup of the group, which included the six founding members: guitarist Duane AllmanFind albums by this artist, vocalist / keyboardist Gregg AllmanFind albums by this artist, guitarist Dickey BettsFind albums by this artist, bassist Berry OakleyFind albums by this artist, drummer / percussionist Jai Johanny JohansonFind albums by this artist (a.k.a. JaimoeFind albums by this artist) and drummer Butch TrucksFind albums by this artist. The album presents the band’s “usual” set played at the time, with eight tracks, two of which are over fourteen minutes long and one is over twenty minutes long. The music was carefully restored form the original tapes and the sound quality, albeit not perfect, is definitely good enough to enjoy the music without any hitch. The imminent comparison between this album and the “At Fillmore East” is pretty redundant. Each and every performance by the band was completely unique, even if the setlist was pretty stable. The Allman Brothers Band was at the absolute peak of its form, following many concerts and common experiences, and as such produced the ultimate Rock album of all times just a few weeks later. They were an exceptionally gifted group of musicians, who played their hearts out and all this is evident herein. As far as Blues-Rock is concerned, this is simply a brilliant live album. And no, I never get enough of this band… Overall, this is a dazzling document of an exceptional band, and the times, when Rock was King and Gods were smiling at the gifted musicians, who produced timeless anthems, such as this. Rock improvisation, which is the name of the game here, never sounded better and is still light-years ahead of anything played today.

Updated: 20/12/2024Posted: 20/12/2024

CD 1 Mini-Sleeve Recommend To A Friend

ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND ~ THE 1971 FILLMORE EAST RECORDINGS MERCURY 602537736935 (Barcode: 602537736935) ~ USA ~ Blues-Rock Recorded: 1971 Released: 2014 How does one take the best ever live Rock album and make it even better? This sensational set is the answer and the proof that is can be done. The music by Allman Brothers BandFind albums by this artist at their absolute peak, recorded live at the Fillmore East on March 12 & 13, 1971 (two shows each day) and again on June 27, 1971 produced initially the legendary "At Fillmore EastFind albums with this title" double LP, their third album, which in time earned the title of the best live album of all times, which is fully justified to this very day. The deluxe edition form 2003 expanded the contents to include about two and a half hours of music, but this edition takes it to the max, spread over six CDs and presenting the full five Fillmore concerts that served as the source of the earlier releases. At the time of the recording Allman Brothers Band consisted of guitarist Duane AllmanFind albums by this artist, guitarist / vocalist Dickey BettsFind albums by this artist, keyboardist / vocalist Gregg AllmanFind albums by this artist, bassist Berry OakleyFind albums by this artist, drummer Butch TrucksFind albums by this artist and drummer / percussionist Jai Johanny JohansonFind albums by this artist (a.k.a. JaimoeFind albums by this artist). Duane Allman died in a motorcycle accident on October 29, 1971 and Berry Oakley followed him a year later on November 11, 1972 in similar circumstances, which closed that chapter of this seminal band. The great thing about this set is of course the possibility to hear the music in a complete unabridged and unspoiled form, and then be able to compare the different versions of the same tunes. The set lists are very similar which results in same of the tunes to appear in five different versions. Of course in the case of Allman Brothers Band the extensive instrumental improvised passages differ considerably between each other and are a superb document of the role of improvisation in the Rock idiom. Duane Allman, who shortly before these shows completed his part in recording the seminal album "Layla And Other Assorted Love SongsFind albums with this title" with Eric ClaptonFind albums by this artist, was familiar with the extensive improvisational style, which Clapton developed during his Cream days. The two exchanged licks for hours, which can be heard on the 20th Anniversary Edition and the 40th Anniversary Super Deluxe Editions of "Layla" and obviously adopted them as part of the Allman Brothers Band routine. Listening to this music in depth allows the listener to be metaphysically transported a few decades back, when music was all about music and nothing else mattered. Every note played here is a statement of musical truth that these musicians wanted to share with their audiences. That required total dedication and commitment, which are sadly completely absent form today´s music scene. Luckily this set was not contaminated by various high-resolution bullshit remixes and other atrocities of the music industry´s confusion, simply giving the listener the naked truth, as captured at the time, for people who have two ears. For people who love Blues and Rock, this set is beyond essential!

Updated: 18/01/2016Posted: 18/01/2016

CD 6 Digibook Box Set Remastered Bonus Tracks Essential Recommend To A Friend

ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND ~ WIPE THE WINDOWS, CHECK THE OIL, DOLLAR GAS MUSIC ON CD 14192 (Barcode: 600753959527) ~ USA ~ Classic Rock Recorded: 1972 - 1975 Released: 2022 This is a reissue / remaster of the live album by the iconic American Rock group The Allman Brothers BandFind albums by this artist, released originally as a 2LP in 1976. It presents the group in the first years following the tragic deaths of their guitarist Duane AllmanFind albums by this artist and bassist Berry OakleyFind albums by this artist. The lineup of the band included the four founding members: vocalist / keyboardist / guitarist Gregg AllmanFind albums by this artist, vocalist / lead guitarist Dickey BettsFind albums by this artist, drummer / percussionist Jai Johanny JohansonFind albums by this artist (a.k.a. JaimoeFind albums by this artist) and drummer Butch TrucksFind albums by this artist, and new members: keyboardist Chuck LeavellFind albums by this artist and bassist Lamar WilliamsFind albums by this artist. The album presents eleven tracks, taken from their album “Brothers And SistersFind albums with this title” and earlier albums. The newly remaster album offer a far superior sound quality to the original release. The album was poorly received at the time of its initial release, mainly due to the imminent comparison to the legendary “At Fillmore East” live album, which remains as one of the undisputable best live Rock albums of all time. However, the music and the performances on this album are all first class, as was always the case with The Allman Brothers Band and additionally it is a great document of the miraculous survival of the band, following their disastrous / catastrophic fate earlier on. Overall, this is superb live Classic Rock album in every respect, which emphasizes both the Blues roots of the group and their sublime Rock improvisations, which are most evident on the expanded tracks. No less important are the great songwriting abilities of Greg Allman and Betts, who wrote most of the material the group performed. This is a wonderful ride down the memory lane, which again and again states that “they don’t make music like this anymore”. Pure gold for Classic Rock and Allman Brothers Band fans!

Updated: 20/01/2023Posted: 20/01/2023

CD 1 Remastered Recommend To A Friend

GREGG ALLMAN ~ GREGG ALLMAN LIVE: BACK TO MACON, GA ROUNDER 888072353411 (Barcode: 888072353411) ~ USA ~ Classic Rock Recorded: 2014 Released: 2015 This is the 2nd (and last) live solo album by the American keyboardist / vocalist / songwriter / bandleader Gregg AllmanFind albums by this artist, recorded at the Grand Opera House, Macon, GA, on January 14, 2014 with a nine-piece band, which includes a three-piece horn section. Gregg’s son, guitarist Devon AllmanFind albums by this artist, guests on several tracks. The 2CD album presents sixteen tracks and the accompanying DVD includes all of those and adds four interviews, two bonus tracks and a feature documentary. Recorded just a couple of years before his tragically premature demise, this amazing album presents Gregg Allman is superb form, with a heartbreakingly clear and powerful voice, full of expression and remarkable sensitivity. The material spans his entire career, including well-known songs from the Allman Brothers BandFind albums by this artist and his solo albums, carefully selected and superbly arranged. In many respects this album is a recorded legacy of his musical achievements, captured while he was still able to give his audience the absolute best, perhaps foreseeing the troubles brewing ahead. The material reflects the musical environment Gregg represented throughout his life, ranging between Blues, Blues-Rock, Southern Rock, Country, Soul and everything that stands behind American popular music, which he was able to remarkably consolidate and amalgamate in his music during the course of his life, with his involvement with the ABB was just one chapter, which he managed to leave behind and move forward to other pastures. This live album should not be compared to the iconic ABB live albums, like “At Fillmore EastFind albums with this title” for example, which represent an entirely different musical universe, full of Rock improvisation and Blues influences. Without a doubt, this album is every way as fulfilling and full of sublime music, as everything Gregg did with the ABB, and beyond. Overall, this is a superb live album, one of the best of its kind, which summarizes his musical career at the best possible way. Full of beautiful songs, excellent performances, great atmosphere, and above a heartfelt “give it all you can” attitude, this is an icon of American Rock music,

Updated: 28/06/2024Posted: 28/06/2024

2CD+DVD 3 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

GREGG ALLMAN ~ I`M NO ANGEL / JUST BEFORE THE BULLETS FLY FLOATING WORLD 6246 (Barcode: 805772624627) ~ USA ~ Classic Rock Recorded: 1987 - 1988 Released: 2015 This is a reissue of the 3rd and 4th solo studio albums by American Rock keyboardist / vocalist / songwriter Gregg AllmanFind albums by this artist, recorded in 1987 and 1988 respectively. The albums were recorded with the same lineup, which includes guitarist Dan TolerFind albums by this artist, keyboardist Tim HedingFind albums by this artist, bassist Bruce WaibelFind albums by this artist, drummer David TolerFind albums by this artist and percussionist Chaz TrippyFind albums by this artist. Each albums presents ten songs, mostly written by Allman with contributions by other songwriters also included. Often overshadowed by the fame of his older brother Duane AllmanFind albums by this artist, his partner in one the greatest Rock bands of all time, The Allman Brothers BandFind albums by this artist, Duane was an incredibly talented musician, brilliant Hammond organ player and incredible vocalist. Following the death of Duane and later the collapse of their band Gregg started a solo career, recording seven solo studio albums, which were divided by lengthy gaps in recording activity. His private life was a troubled and sadly often tragic, but he remained an incredible Artist till the very end. These two albums are full of great Rock songs and excellent musicianship, which deserves to be remembered. The Southern Rock tradition, which Gregg impersonated perhaps more than any other Artist of the genre, produced some incredible and probably most genuine American Rock. Overall, it is great to have these albums back in circulation, and listening to them almost four decades later, is still a great thrill. Great music lasts forever, which this two albums prove beyond any doubt.

Updated: 02/01/2024Posted: 02/01/2024

CD 2 Recommend To A Friend

GREGG ALLMAN ~ LAID BACK (DELUXE EDITION) MERCURY 602577427510 (Barcode: 602577427510) ~ USA ~ Classic Rock Recorded: 1973 Released: 2019 This is an expanded reissue / remaster of the 1st solo album by the American keyboardist / vocalist / songwriter / bandleader Gregg AllmanFind albums by this artist, recorded while he was still a member of the Allman Brothers BandFind albums by this artist. None of the members of the ABB play on the album and it was by a large group of studio musicians, all first rate players. The original album presented eight tracks, three of which were Allman originals. This 2CD Deluxe edition presents the remastered original album and adds eight early mixes on CD1 and eighteen demos, outtakes and alternate versions on CD2. The album is an absolute marvel from start to finish, with beautiful, moistly romantic songs, brilliantly performed and sung, with lush instrumental arrangements. Full of Blues, Soul and even quite a few swinging Jazzy moments, it is a timeless joy and one of the best American Rock albums produced in the early 1970s. It is, however, quite different from what most ABB expected it to be, and was received mostly with mix feelings at the time. Listening to it today truly depicts Gregg’s full talent as a songwriter and performer, which stands the test of time without a hitch. The bonus tracks on the Deluxe edition reflect the process of the album’s production step by step, until it reached its final polished / perfect form, and are of course priceless to true music lovers and a great historic document. Overall, this is a timeless piece of music, which presents the softer side of the Southern Rock image, which Allman Brother Band presented during their epic live concerts. Gregg was undoubtedly one of the best American Rock vocalists and a sublime keyboardist, all of which is fully documented on this expanded version of the album, which is an absolute must in any decent Rock record collection. Not to be missed!

Updated: 25/06/2024Posted: 25/06/2024

CD 2 Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend

GREGG ALLMAN ~ LOW COUNTRY BLUES ROUNDER 8595 (Barcode: 011661859524) ~ USA ~ Blues-Rock Recorded: 2011 Released: 2011 Following en extended period of silence, which lasted for a decade and a half, legendary singer / organist Gregg AllmanFind albums by this artist released this, his 6th solo studio album, which is full of fantastic new arrangements of classic Blues (and some Rhythm And Blues) songs. Age and experience are evident here, as Allman really takes a very relaxed and laidback approach to this material, avoiding any attempts to imitate the Allman Brothers BandFind albums by this artist powerful sound and energetic approach in favor of this new and elegant attitude. His voice still in excellent form and amicable support from some exquisite players the overall result is simply heart melting. Every Blues lover will find these interpretations very interesting, as they combine a respectful treatment of the original tunes with innovative ideas. Produced by T Bone BurnettFind albums by this artist, who is considered as one of the top contemporary music producers, the album has a unique sound, which moves between small combo and a larger brass ensemble. A long list of great musicians participate, among them Dr. JohnFind albums by this artist (a.k.a. Mac RebennackFind albums by this artist) on piano. Most warmly recommended!

Updated: 02/01/2024Posted:

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

GREGG ALLMAN ~ PLAYIN` UP A STORM POLYDOR 042283194229 (Barcode: 042283194229) ~ USA ~ Classic Rock Recorded: 1977 Released: 2001 This is a reissue / remaster of the 2nd solo album by the American keyboardist / vocalist / songwriter / bandleader Gregg AllmanFind albums by this artist, recorded following the breakup of the Allman Brothers BandFind albums by this artist in 1976. Allman is accompanied by his group and several studio musicians, including a brass and string section, all first rate players. The album presents nine tracks, three of which are Allman originals and one is co-composed with Dr. JohnFind albums by this artist (a.k.a. Mac RebennackFind albums by this artist), who also plays on the album. The rest of the tracks are interpretations of songs by other songwriters. The album is excellent from start to finish, with beautiful songs, brilliantly performed and sung, with lush instrumental arrangements. Full of Blues, Soul and even quite a few swinging Jazzy moments, it is a timeless joy and a proper follow up to the debut album released four years earlier. It is, however, again quite different from what most ABB fans expected it to be, and was received mostly with mix feelings at the time. Listening to it today truly depicts Gregg’s full talent as a songwriter and performer, which stands the test of time without a hitch. Overall, this is a timeless piece of music, which presents the softer side of the Southern Rock image, which Allman Brothers Band presented during their epic live concerts. Gregg was undoubtedly one of the best American Rock vocalists and a sublime keyboardist, all of which is fully documented on this album, which is an absolute must in any decent Rock record collection. Not to be missed!

Updated: 18/07/2024Posted: 18/07/2024

CD 1 Remastered Recommend To A Friend

GREGG ALLMAN ~ SOUTHERN BLOOD (DELUXE EDITION) ROUNDER 888072033689 (Barcode: 888072033689) ~ USA ~ Blues-Rock Recorded: 2016 Released: 2017 This is the 7th and last studio album by American keyboardist / vocalist / songwriter Gregg AllmanFind albums by this artist, recorded in 2016 and released posthumously shortly after his death. The album presents ten songs, only one of which was co-written by Allman and the guitarist Scott SharrardFind albums by this artist. The rest are covers by other American songwriters, including Jackson BrowneFind albums by this artist, who guests on one track. A brass section and several background vocalists appear as well. This Deluxe Edition includes a couple of live bonus tracks and a bonus DVD, which presents a documentary about the recording of this album, entitled “Back To The Swamp”. Despite the fact that Allman was gravely ill by the time this album was recorded, his vocals are still in perfect form and he sings his heart out, creating a remarkable result. The music is typical Southern Rock, as well as Country and Blues influenced Rock, which was Allman’s home turf, and he performs it with great feeling and panache. Allman’s life story depicts the fate of many American Rock musicians, including long episodes of drug addiction and alcoholism, which tragically robbed them from a chance to achieve much more in their careers and finally costed them their lives. But Gregg Allman’s recorded legacy, both with the Allman Brothers BandFind albums by this artist and as a solo artist, is some of the best American Rock ever produced, and is worth being remembered. Overall, this is the last chapter of a long and troubled career, which left us with some incredible music, which still sound better today that most of contemporary efforts. American Blues-Rock fans should definitely have this one in their collections, as it does not get any better elsewhere. Wholeheartedly recommended!

Updated: 10/07/2024Posted: 14/05/2024

CD+DVD 2 Mini-Sleeve Recommend To A Friend

GREGG ALLMAN ~ THE GREGG ALLMAN TOUR MUSIC ON CD 14359 (Barcode: 600753986189) ~ USA ~ Classic Rock Recorded: 1974 Released: 2023 This is the reissue of the 1st live solo album by the American keyboardist / vocalist / songwriter / bandleader Gregg AllmanFind albums by this artist, recorded at the Carnegie Hall in NYC and Capitol Theatre, Passaic, NJ in 1974, during the tour following the release of his debut album “Laid BackFind albums with this title”. It was recorded with a 24-piece orchestra and features the band CowboyFind albums by this artist, who perform two of their songs. The album presents twelve tracks and was originally released as a 2LP album. Several of the songs here appear, as expected, on the debut album. The album is a great example of what live music sounded like in the early 1970s, with superb sound, intricate arrangements, careful production, etc., everything which could contribute to the pleasure of the listeners. The music is of course familiar to those who know Gregg’s debut album, but here they appear in a sublime Big Band arrangements with a strong Brass Rock feel, much less dominant on the studio album. In any case this album is a perfect companion to the debut album, and they are simply inseparable musically. Overall, this is a true gem of an album, full of great music, heated and heartfelt live performances, great musicianship and of course a great tribute to Gregg Allman’s many talents, reflecting American Rock as its best period. A superb piece of Rock history – and yes they don’t make music like that anymore since a very long time!

Updated: 30/06/2024Posted: 30/06/2024

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

MISHA ALPERIN / JOHN SURMAN ~ FIRST IMPRESSION ECM 1664 (Barcode: 731455765021) ~ RUSSIA ~ Jazz Recorded: 1997 Released: 1999 This is the 3rd album on ECMFind albums on this label by ex-Soviet (now living in Norway) brilliant pianist / composer Misha AlperinFind albums by this artist, which finds his joining forces with British Master saxophonist / composer John SurmanFind albums by this artist, who accepts the role of a band member here, which is a measure of respect he holds for Alperin´s compositions. They are accompanied by Alperin´s life-long friend and musical partner Arkady ShilkloperFind albums by this artist, who plays French horn and flugelhorn, and three Norwegian musicians: bassist Terje GeweltFind albums by this artist, Master drummer Jon ChristensenFind albums by this artist and percussionist Hans-Kristian Kjos SorensenFind 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!

CD 1 Slipcase Recommend To A Friend

AYMAN ~ DANCING WITH MY SOUL REAL MUSIC 1234 ~ UK ~ Electronic & Ambient Born in Lebanon and living in UK, Ayman is one of the keyboards wizards of the class of Wakeman, Arkenstone, Jeremy a.m.o., who create beautiful soundscapes with a plethora of electronic instruments. What makes Ayman unique is his elegant way to incorporate Middle-Eastern motiffs into his music, which gives it a special dimention. The music is very melodic but never boring. 1 last copy in stock!

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

AYMAN ~ MOON SHINES LAST REAL MUSIC 1233 ~ UK ~ Progressive Rock Born in Lebanon and living in UK, Ayman is one of the keyboards wizards of the class of Wakeman, Arkenstone, Jeremy a.m.o., who create beautiful soundscapes with a plethora of electronic instruments. What makes Ayman unique is his elegant way to incorporate Middle-Eastern motiffs into his music, which gives it a special dimention. The music is very melodic but never boring.

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

BABYSZKA / LEMANCZYK / GOLICKI ~ LUTOSIA NOT ON LABEL ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2020 Released: 2023 This is the debut album by the Polish Jazz trio consisting of pianist Maja BabyszkaFind albums by this artist, bassist Piotr LemanczykFind albums by this artist and drummer Adam GolickiFind albums by this artist. The album presents eight tracks, six of which are original compositions by Lemanczyk, one is an arrangement of a Classical piece by Polish composer Witold LutoslawskiFind albums by this artist and one is a John ColtraneFind albums by this artist composition. The music is brilliant modern European Jazz, sparkling with freshness and inventiveness, which never ceases to amaze. The trio offers a unique atmosphere of tranquility, even on the up-tempo pieces, and intimate interplay between the trio members. Lemanczyk, who is undoubtedly one of the finest European Jazz bass virtuosi, dominates the album with his steadfast lead and amazing technique, both on the acoustic bass and the bass guitar, which seems to be his preferred arme de choix lately. Since most of the music features his excellent lyrical compositions, he is the obvious trailblazer here, which of course does not weaken the contributions by the other members of the trio. Babyszka, despite her tender age and novice status, appears as an excellent player, with tons of potential, which means she is surely going to take us all by surprise, assuming her studies in the US will not extinguish her talent. Golicki, an already established name on the Polish Jazz scene, also performs spotlessly and passionately, as appropriate for the occasion. The album recorded three years ago during an unexpected short studio session, offers not only great music, but also a beautiful sound quality, which allows the listener to enjoy every nuance of the delightful music. Overall, although almost a spur of the moment session, this is one of the nicest and most inspiring Polish Classic Jazz piano trio recordings in the last few years, which is an absolute delight from start to finish. I have no idea if this trio has any plans to repeat this experience, but one can always hope. This is Polish / European Jazz at its absolute best, making this little gem an essential listening!

Updated: 17/11/2023Posted: 17/11/2023

CD 1 Mini-Sleeve Recommend To A Friend

ADAM BALDYCH & YARON HERMAN ~ THE NEW TRADITION ACT 9626 (Barcode: 614427962621) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2013 Released: 2014 This is the debut album by Polish / Israeli duo comprising of violinist Adam BaldychFind albums by this artist and pianist Yaron HermanFind albums by this artist. The album presents nine tracks, five of which were composed by Baldych, two are Classical pieces and the remaining two are Polish Jazz standards. Baldych arranged all the music, except for the closing piece which was co-arranged by him and Herman. It is pretty clear from the very onset of the album that this music is only marginally Jazzy and the intention is to take a few steps back and examine the sources of contemporary music, regardless of their stylistic origins. Both players follow a rather minor and minimalistic approach, stating the melodies and improvising delicately and non-aggressively. One can interpret the album´s title in many ways of course; personally I believe that music fuses all its elements developed over time in a continuous process, and therefore "The New TraditionFind albums with this title" is simply an amalgam of all the traditions that existed beforehand, as this music clearly demonstrates to be possible. Tradition simply re-invents itself inside every Artist anew. Since all the original music on this album was composed by Baldych, he points out the musical direction of this album and therefore the tradition in this case involves his sources: European Classical music, Polish Folklore and of course Polish Jazz. Baldych pays tribute to the Godfather of Polish Jazz, Krzysztof KomedaFind albums by this artist as well as the great Polish Jazz violinist Zbigniew SeifertFind albums by this artist. Thanks to the great musicality of Herman, he plays along splendidly, not only on the obvious sonic level, but way beyond proving to be a "twin spirit" in every way. Of course we have two great virtuosi players here, so the individual performances are also important, but the musicians clearly try to avoid flashy exhibitionism, sticking to the "less is more" approach at all times. This is no doubt "pretty" music, but it manages not to cross over to the kitschy domain, which always looms in the background of all Jazz-Classical Fusion projects. As usual it is all a matter of personal integrity of the musicians involved. This album should be easily accessible to quite a wide audience, as most Classical music lovers should find it appealing no less than the Jazz buffs. In any case this is music for connoisseurs and those few, who still listen to music seriously and passionately. Our Culture might be in a retreat, but as long as we have people like Adam & Yaron making music, not all is lost.

Updated: 01/03/2019Posted:

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

BAN / SURMAN / MANERI ~ TRANSYLVANIAN FOLK SONGS SUNNYSIDE 1580 (Barcode: 016728158022) ~ ROMANIA ~ Jazz-World Fusion Recorded: 2018 Released: 2020 This is an album by the international trio comprising of Romanian pianist Lucian BanFind albums by this artist, British saxophonist / bass clarinetist John SurmanFind albums by this artist and American violist Mat ManeriFind albums by this artist. The trio performs nine Transylvanian Folk songs originally transcribed by the great Hungarian composer Bela BartokFind albums by this artist during his ethnomusicological studies in the early 20th Century, during which he transcribed thousands of Folk pieces. The beautiful Folk melodies are gently treated by the trio members, somewhere between their original melodic core interpretations and improvised vistas, mostly explored by Surman, who is the main soloist and who’s playing here is a tour de force of Jazz improvisation. The interplay between the three musicians is very intimate and the sound of the trio is perfectly balanced, which produces a highly aesthetical journey through an amalgam of East European / Balkan music and Jazz improvisation, which should delight all true Jazz lovers. This album received relatively little coverage on the international Jazz scene, perhaps due to the pandemics or the fact that most journalists did not know how to “swallow” this multilayered, complex but beautiful music. Perhaps the most important aspect of this music is its universality, proving again that music knows no borders, and any music created by people can be loved and accepted by all people, regardless of their Cultural backgrounds. Overall, this is a stunning piece of music, which deserves to be heard all over the world, and which despite its initial “peculiarity” can easily break all barriers, creating a true intellectual pleasure storm. Not to be missed under any circumstances!

Updated: 30/04/2022Posted: 30/04/2022

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

MAYA BELSITZMAN / URIEL HERMAN ~ PAUSES IN SHADES UBUNTU MUSIC 5060451221046 (Barcode: 5060451221046) ~ ISRAEL ~ Pop-Classical Fusion Recorded: 2023 Released: 2024 This is a debut duo album by Israeli cellist Maya BelsitzmanFind albums by this artist and pianist Uriel HermanFind albums by this artist. The album presents ten tracks, all of which are original compositions by the duo. The album offers excellent sound quality and the playing time is slightly over half an hour, which makes it an EP rather than a full-fledged album. The music is strongly melody based, with notable Classical affiliations, but also offers some delicate ambient and World music hints. The prevailing atmosphere is deeply lyrical and at times almost romantic. Some subtle vocal effects and other studio trickery is also employed, but it does not change the mostly purely acoustic ambience of the music. The album has a strong Jazzy undercurrent and obviously involves improvisation, but it can be hardly considered a mainstream Jazz outing, but rather a sophisticated cross-genre offering, which should appeal to listeners who are not bound to a specific genre conventions and like unexpected changes of mood and out of the box creativity. Since this is the duo’s first project, I hope to hear more from them in the future, as they surely show great potential herein. Overall, this is an excellent debut effort, which offers some remarkable and highly potent music and elegant performances, which are definitely worth exploring.

Updated: 03/10/2024Posted: 03/10/2024

CD 1 Mini-Sleeve Recommend To A Friend

JERRY BERGONZI / JACEK KOCHAN / PIOTR LEMANCZYK ~ THREE POINT SHOT INTUITION 71302 (Barcode: 608917130225) ~ USA ~ Jazz Recorded: 2009 Released: 2010 This is an album by a trio comprising of American saxophonist / composer Jerry BergonziFind albums by this artist and a Polish rhythm section with bassist Piotr LemanczykFind albums by this artist and drummer Jacek KochanFind albums by this artist. The album presents eight tracks, three composed by Bergonzi, two each by Lemanczyk and Kochan and one by Finnish saxophonist Joonatan RautioFind albums by this artist. The music is modern Jazz, quite remote from the American tradition, despite the fact that Bergonzi played with many top American Jazz musicians for many years. The two Poles have a strong influence on the proceedings, both as composers and performers, and are both up to the challenge playing with Bergonzi without any inferiority feelings involved. The intimate trio format allows all three musicians to show their skills and talents, which of course are very impressive. Lemanczyk is definitely one of the top Polish Jazz bassists and a very able composer, and Kochan is utterly unique and original drummer, who follows his own rules and desires. Combined with Bergonzi’s refined skills and great experience, the trio is able to weave some very inspiring moments, which border on Free but never quite leave the melodic and rhythmic threads. Overall, this is a very impressive saxophone trio recording, which is not an easy listening experience but offers musical depth and incredible instrumental abilities by these excellent musicians. Jazz listeners, who love their music served with some challenge, should find this album most rewarding.

Updated: 17/02/2025Posted: 17/02/2025

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

BLUE MAN GROUP ~ THE COMPLEX (DVD-A) DTS 01120 ~ USA ~ Classic Rock Debut album from 2004 by one of the strangest and most Avant-Garde US bands, which originated 15 years ealier as a stage show which had little to do with music. This is weird stuff, which proves how relative the term `commercial` can be (this is what the group defines this album as). This is a mix of some conventional and some unconventional sounds, with some guest vocalist jumping in to help. It is surprising that in the age of total banalism stuff like that still comes out. For all you sound adventurers.

Updated: 12/04/2019Posted:

CD 1 DVD-A Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend

	BRAKAMAN ~ BRAKAMAN RCA 177962 ~ SPAIN ~ Progressive Rock Only album from 1977 by this Spanish Prog band. Melodic tunes and strong lead guitar work are the main charecteristics of this fine work, which unfortunately is very little known to Prog fans. If you like other Spanish Prog offerings, this is definitely something you´ll enjoy a lot.
	CD 1 Remastered Recommend To A Friend

URI BREITMAN ~ PROGRESSIVE ROCK-FROM THE 60S TILL NOW (HEBREW) MAPA 965-521-006-5 ~ ISRAEL ~ Progressive Rock First ever book in Hebrew about Prog, which calls for a cellebration! Breitman, a young and avid Prog enthusiast, has been active as a publicist on the Israeli Prog scene since a few years and his web site (www.mitkadem.co.il) has been a major source of information for the Hebrew speaking fans, especially the young ones. In his book Breitman gives a comprehensive overview of the genre based on a historical journey from the 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s till now. There is a chapter about Prog in Israel, the new global Prog community based on the Net and a chapter devoted to a musicological analysis of the genre. All in all a fine introductory work, which can definitely serve as a source of information for the young generation of people, who discover the magic of Prog now and need some enlightement on the subject. Highly recommended, provided one can read in Hebrew of course.

BOOK 1 Recommend To A Friend

BROTZMANN / AALTONEN / KOWALD / VESALA ~ HOT LOTTA SVART 253 (Barcode: 6430065584575) ~ FINLAND ~ Free Jazz / Improvised Music Recorded: 1973 Released: 2018 This is a reissue of the iconic album by the German / Finnish Free Jazz quartet, a one time cooperation formed as a result of a Finnish tour organized by the Goethe Institut for the two German musicians: saxophonist Peter BrotzmannFind albums by this artist and bassist Peter KowaldFind albums by this artist, joined by Finnish Free Jazz pioneers: saxophonist / flautist Juhani AaltonenFind albums by this artist and drummer Edward VesalaFind albums by this artist. The original album, which offered just four tracks, is remastered and expanded by a sensational and previously unavailable live radio session, adding five tracks and almost doubling the original album´s playing time. All the music is of course original, and although credited to individual quartet members, it is mostly spontaneously created by the players. At the time of the recording the German musicians were already Free Jazz "veterans", with the German Avant-Garde already flourishing for a few good years, and Brotzmann gaining already a legendary status with his brazing innovations and complete disregard of conventions. Aaltonen and Vesala started to play Free Jazz just about a couple years earlier, recording the first Finnish Free Jazz album "NanaFind albums with this title". When the tour and the recording of this album happened, Vesala already recorded the "TriptyconFind albums with this title" album with Jan GarbarekFind albums by this artist for the ECMFind albums on this label label and a year later would record "Nan MadolFind albums with this title", his first ECM release. The music is, as expected, absolutely stunning and completely fresh, sounding better than most Free Jazz played five decades later, which is not able to reproduce the spontaneity, group improvisation and telepathic communication between the musicians. Aaltonen´s flute parts are especially interesting, as flute is relatively rarely used in Improvised Music, surely at the time. The unusual double saxophone lineup is also a factor in making this album so outstanding. Overall this is a quintessential piece of European Avant-Garde / Free Jazz history, which is sadly little known due to the obscurity of this album, which reaches astronomical prices on the vinyl market these days. Therefore this reissue is an absolute marvel and again kudos is due to the SvartFind albums on this label label for their amazing work in keeping the Cultural legacy alive. Obviously this is an absolute must to all European Free Jazz connoisseurs anywhere on this planet. Essential listening!

Updated: 28/06/2020Posted: 28/06/2020

CD 1 Digipak Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend

IDO BUKELMAN ~ CRACKED SONG OUTNOW 001 (Barcode: 7290011216955) ~ ISRAEL ~ Jazz Recorded: 2010 Released: 2011 Israeli guitarist / composer Ido BukelmanFind albums by this artist is one of the most prolific musicians on the local Free Jazz / Improvised Music scene. In addition to his musical activities Bukelman recently combined forces with two other Israeli musicians (saxophonist Yoni KretzmerFind albums by this artist and guitarist Yair YonaFind albums by this artist) and together they launched a new Israeli record label, called OutNowFind albums on this label Recordings, dedicated to releasing their own music and other more ambitious and less commercial musical ventures, which otherwise would have very little (if any) chances to see the light of day at all. The label released its first six albums recently, of which this is the first one. Bukelman, who plays both acoustic and electric guitar, records in various settings, which include both solo and ensemble performances. This album finds him as a leader of a quartet, which includes his regular trio members: bassist Assaf HakimiFind albums by this artist and drummer Udi ShlomoFind albums by this artist. Cellist Yuval MesnerFind albums by this artist joins them to form a quartet. The music, all composed by Bukelman, is surprisingly "well behaved" relatively to a Free Jazz setting, with clear melody lines stated throughout the improvisations. Although there´s plenty of freedom for the musicians to express their personal statements, the compositions are noticeably structured, which of course makes the music more accessible to a less experienced listener. In spite its free-spirit character, this music is far from being alienated from the Jazz tradition, which is one of its merits. The level of performances, interplay and personal statements is truly excellent throughout. Bukelman´s electric guitar sometimes ventures into Jazz-Rock territory with a slight scent of the free side of John McLaughlin, which I mean as a compliment considering my well known sympathy towards McLaughlin artistry. Mesner´s cello, excellent as always, paints a calmer atmospheric background and the rhythm section makes a superb effort to glue everything together, which is successful indeed. Altogether this is a first rate Free Jazz album, which most "regular" Jazz enthusiasts should enjoy as well. This level of musicianship, personal courage and dedication to the music is a heartwarming and one can hope that the future of noncommercial and artistic music in Israel has a new perspective in the hands of a new generation, which will take it further. This is brilliant stuff, not to be missed!

CD 1 Mini-Sleeve Recommend To A Friend

IDO BUKELMAN ~ SOLO OUTNOW 005 (Barcode: 7290011216962) ~ ISRAEL ~ Jazz Recorded: 2010 Released: 2011 This is the debut solo recording by Israeli guitarist / composer Ido BukelmanFind albums by this artist, one of the most prolific musicians on the local Free Jazz / Improvised Music scene. In contrast to his ensemble recordings or those with the EFTFind albums by this artist trio (also released on the great OutNowFind albums on this label Recording label) where he mostly plays electric guitar, on this album Bukelman opts for the acoustic guitar, except for one track on which he adds electronics. The music is very difficult to describe and belongs to the extreme Avant-Garde personal statements, which are incredibly difficult to access and assess. If anybody reading this is familiar with the work of the great British guitarist Derek BaileyFind albums by this artist, one of the Godfathers of the Improvised Music movement, then this might be a starting point. This does not mean of course that Bukelman is imitating Bailey´s work, as that would be an oxymoron, but stylistically and sonically the content of this album belongs in the same sphere. Obviously this is a very personal music and the question if it is communicative and transferable to the listener remains open and is largely up to the listener himself. Improvised Music is, after all, a very individual expression of a momentary inspiration. One should of course commend the Artist first for making such individual and unconventional statement and that for bringing it out in the open for others to experience. Hopefully there will be others open-minded enough to enjoy and appreciate this music.

Updated: 12/04/2019Posted:

CD 1 Mini-Sleeve Recommend To A Friend

IDO BUKELMAN ~ THE DOOR KADIMA COLLECTIVE 33 (Barcode: 7290011216009) ~ ISRAEL ~ Jazz Recorded: 2011 Released: 2011 This is the second solo recording by Israeli guitarist / composer Ido BukelmanFind albums by this artist, one of the most prolific musicians on the local Free Jazz / Improvised Music scene. In contrast to his ensemble recordings or those with the EFTFind albums by this artist trio, where he mostly plays electric guitar, on his solo albums Bukelman opts for the acoustic guitar, adding also banjo and some percussion on this one. Of the eleven tracks on this album, all composed by him, the last six are connected into a suite, which gives the album its title. In comparison to his previous solo album ("SoloFind albums with this title"), recorded just a few months earlier, this album is much more relaxed and "well behaved", with clear melodic content popping out between and behind the freely improvised passages. Of course this is still very much Improvised Music, very personal and complex, which presents quite a challenge to the listener, but the overall effect of this album is definitely less stressful and estranging. With four albums recorded and released in less than a year Bukelman emerges as a major talent of the local scene, one that deserves to be followed carefully, open-mindedly and openheartedly as a source of some serious musical experiences. Hopefully there will be an audience open-minded enough to enjoy and appreciate this music.

CD 1 Mini-Sleeve Recommend To A Friend

BUSHMAN`S REVENGE ~ ALL THE BETTER FOR SEEING YOU IS IT JAZZ? 264 (Barcode: 7073317000318) ~ NORWAY ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 2022 Released: 2023 This is the 11th album by Norwegian Jazz / Fusion power trio Bushman`s RevengeFind albums by this artist, which comprises of guitarist Even Helte HermansenFind albums by this artist, bassist Rune NergaardFind albums by this artist and drummer Gard NilssenFind albums by this artist. The album presents six tracks, all of which are original compositions by Hermansen. The album’s release marks the trio’s 20th Anniversary. The music is quite unique, based on solid melodic tunes and featuring lengthy guitar improvisations backed up by a “heavy” sound created by the rhythm section. The tunes are rather lethargic and develop slowly, which results in something that might be considered as Nordic Fusion. The discrepancy between the lyrical melodies and the intense heavy, almost Metal sound, creates a strange feeling of tension and anxiety, which is very rarely achieved by music, and therefore makes this music very special. Of course it is pretty far from conventional Jazz, but Fusion listeners should find it quite intriguing, if not fascinating, and of course some Prog fans should also be interested. Overall, this is an interesting amalgam between Jazzy improvisation and heavy guitar oriented Rock sound, which is unique and uncommon. Recommended for the brave hearted and open-minded listeners, who are ready to explore uncharted territory, sort of Hendrix meets Coltrane in a dark alley in Oslo.

Updated: 05/02/2024Posted: 05/02/2024

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

	JOHN CARSON / HYPERMANIA ~ DOWN TO BIRTH CYCLONE 001 ~ UK ~ Progressive Rock Debut album from 1999 by Carson and his new group, after he left Arena as their lead singer. Classic symphonic Prog with strong vocals by the leader and very good musicianship of his peers, especially the strong rocky guitar. Strong melodic songs, written mostly by Carson.
	CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

ROGER CHAPMAN ~ CHAPPO / LIVE IN HAMBURG BGO 824 (Barcode: 5017261208248) ~ UK ~ Classic Rock Recorded: 1979 Released: 2008 1st and 2nd albums by UK singer Roger ChapmanFind albums by this artist, recorded following the demise of FamilyFind albums by this artist and later StreetwalkersFind albums by this artist, the two bands he led since the late 1960s and up to the late 1970s. Chapman´s decision to go solo was a logical move following his experiences with bands, which failed to gain large following, despite the fact that they played some of the best music recorded in the 1970s, both Prog and later Classic Rock. He was at the top of his vocal powers and idiosyncratic showmanship and unique throaty voice had no equals, neither at the time nor later. Chapman selected an excellent band to accompany him on his debut studio album, which included Henry SpinnettiFind albums by this artist on drums, Geoff WhitehornFind albums by this artist on guitar and the legendary Brian OdgersFind albums by this artist on bass. Ex-Family cohort Poly PalmerFind albums by this artist also participated on several tracks. Following the release of the studio album Chapman formed a touring band, christened ShortlistFind albums by this artist, which included some of the musicians who played on the studio album and added Ex-King CrimsonFind albums by this artist saxophonist Mel CollinsFind albums by this artist, which was recorded live in Germany a few month later and released as the second album. Both albums absolutely kick butt are superb examples of Classic Rock, even when recorded relatively late, when Rock was already dying. Chapman still enjoys quite a lot of popularity, especially in Europe, and continues to perform and record. For his fans these albums are an absolute must!

CD 2 Slipcase Remastered Recommend To A Friend

CLAMAN / STRYCHARSKI / CHOJNACKI / PRATS ~ QUARTETT NON LOCALITY MULTIKULTI MPSMT 015 (Barcode: 5903068683336) ~ SPAIN ~ Free Jazz / Improvised Music Recorded: 2018 Released: 2019 This is an album by international Improvising Music ensemble Quartett Non LocalityFind albums by this artist consisting of New Zealand (resident in Barcelona) violinist Sarah ClamanFind albums by this artist, Polish flautist Dominik StrycharskiFind albums by this artist and accordionist Zbigniew ChojnackiFind albums by this artist and Catalan drummer Ramon PratsFind albums by this artist. The album presents seven improvised pieces not attributed to specific composers. The album is a part of the "Spontaneous Music Tribune Series" dedicated to Iberian Free Improvised Music, curated by my friend and colleague Maciej LewensteinFind albums by this artist, who lives in Barcelona since many years and who is a passionate music lover in parallel to his scientific career. The music is a typical Improvised Music experience, which sadly suffers from the characteristic recorded Improvised Music malady, which haunts most albums of the genre. This music might have been highly interesting for the musicians to play, and perhaps might have been a fascinating live experience, but is much less interesting to listen to at home from a record and is unable, at least to me, to recreate that potential excitement, closed in a recorded time capsule. Sadly since making a recording and releasing albums have become accessible and inexpensive in the last two decades, there is a deluge of Improvised Music albums on the market, which only under rare circumstances make a lasting statement and deserve repeated listening. Strycharski and Chojnacki are both formidable musicians and have already created numerous excellent recordings, but sadly on this album one can hardly find significant evidence of their individual abilities. Although I painstakingly listened to this music, enjoying some fragments, I don´t envisage myself doing it again. Overall this is perhaps of interest to the hardened Improvised Music enthusiasts, who are deeply enthralled by the intricacies of the genre, but for listeners beyond that intimate circle it is most probably impenetrable.

Updated: 12/01/2020Posted: 09/01/2020

CD 1 Mini-Sleeve Recommend To A Friend

CLARVIS / SULZMANN / HYMAS ~ FOR ALL THE SAINTS VILLAGE LIFE 97123 (Barcode: 5024777971238) ~ UK ~ Jazz-World Fusion Recorded: 1996 Released: 1997 This is the debut album by British Jazz trio called For All The SaintsFind albums by this artist, which comprises of pianist Tony HymasFind albums by this artist, saxophonist / flautist Stan SulzmannFind albums by this artist and drummer Paul ClarvisFind albums by this artist. The album presents twelve tracks, seven of which are improvisations on traditional tunes from different Cultural spheres, and five are original compositions by the trio members. The music is a wonderful amalgam of Jazz and World Music elements, treated with a lot of Freedom and recorded in a relaxed atmosphere, which allows the three musicians to exchange ideas without any pressure. The album offers a very unique spacey sound as a result of the recording being captured at a church (All Saints Church in Petersham), which also gave the trio / album its name / title. The result is mostly quite removed from the original traditional sources, so one must not expect to hear exact quotes, but just hints and most of all the atmosphere and perhaps a rhythmic characteristic of the source, rather than explicit World Music vistas. On the other hand, the music is definitely not completely Freely Improvised, which results in a perfect balance between familiar elements and Free improvisations, making it accessible to relatively wide audiences. The album was released on the Village LifeFind albums on this label label, owned by Clarvis, and is sadly pretty obscure among the British Jazz enthusiasts, like most of the excellent releases on that label, all of which deserve a much wider recognition. My friendly advice is to grab anything still available on that label, before they are all sold out. Overall, this is an excellent Jazz-World Fusion, emphasizing the Free / Improvised Music influences. This is definitely one of Sultzmann’s most Free oriented recordings and since everything recorded by him deserves of course special attention to the British Jazz community, as he is still grossly underrated, despite his contribution lasting decades. This is another true gem!

Updated: 05/07/2023Posted: 05/07/2023

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

ORNETTE COLEMAN ~ BEAUTY IS A RARE THING: THE COMPLETE ATLANTIC RECORDINGS RHINO 71410 (Barcode: 081227141028) ~ USA ~ Jazz Recorded: 1959 - 1961 Released: 1993 This magnificent Box Set includes some of the most revolutionary music ever recorded on this planet. Ornette ColemanFind albums by this artist’s music dropped on the jazz scene with the force of an atom bomb by the end of the 1950s. Although other great jazz pioneers, especially John ColtraneFind albums by this artist and Miles DavisFind albums by this artist, were already slowly approaching the free / Avant-Garde jazz idiom, Coleman’s bold and fearless attack on the conventional jazz form was completely radical and innovative, splitting the jazz community immediately into the pro and contra camps, with discussions as heated as they can get. Coleman was ridiculed and called bad names by critics and listeners alike, who failed to comprehend his prophetic statement, and it took many years before this music was widely accepted into the jazz canon and treated with the proper esteem. Recorded between May 1959 and March 1961 (less than 2 years!) this music includes all 9 Coleman’s albums released on Atlantic (The Shape Of Jazz To ComeFind albums with this title, Change Of The CenturyFind albums with this title, This Is Our MusicFind albums with this title, Free JazzFind albums with this title, Ornette!Find albums with this title, Ornette On TenorFind albums with this title, The Art Of The ImprovisersFind albums with this title, TwinsFind albums with this title and To Whom Who Keeps A RecordFind albums with this title), as well as previously unreleased material and selections from Gunther SchullerFind albums by this artist’s Jazz AbstractionsFind albums with this title featuring Coleman. As usual in such Box Sets, the music is presented in chronological recording order. As to the musicians, most of the music was recorded in quartet setting, with Coleman and trumpeter Don CherryFind albums by this artist as the permanent core of the group and various bass / drums rhythm sections, which included Charlie HadenFind albums by this artist, Scott LaFaroFind albums by this artist and Jimmy GarrisonFind albums by this artist on bass and Billy HigginsFind albums by this artist and Ed BlackwellFind albums by this artist on drums. The legendary “Free Jazz” session features a double quartet and includes Eric DolphyFind albums by this artist on bass clarinet and Freddie HubbardFind albums by this artist on trumpet. There is hardly any need to go into the description of the music itself - whole books have been written on the subject and the music is indescribable anyway. What is important however, is the fact that any respectable jazz collection could never be considered comprehensive if it didn’t include this music. Absolutely essential!

Updated: 12/04/2019Posted:

CD 6 Box Set Remastered Bonus Tracks Essential Recommend To A Friend

ORNETTE COLEMAN / JOACHIM KUHN ~ COLORS HARMOLODIC 731453778924 (Barcode: 731453778924) ~ USA ~ Free Jazz / Improvised Music Recorded: 1996 Released: 1997 This is a live album by the duo of American saxophonist / composer Ornette ColemanFind albums by this artist and German pianist / composer Joachim KuhnFind albums by this artist. The album presents eight tracks, all of which were composed by Coleman. The album presents a truly epic meeting between two great representatives of the Free Jazz / Improvised Music idiom, who although separated by the Euro-American cultural gap and a generation gap seem to be performing as if they knew each other since birth. Kuhn (born 1944) admits that Coleman (born 1930) was one of his greatest musical inspirations when his perception of the Jazz idiom was first formed, much more than other Jazz musicians who are traditionally considered as Jazz influencers, and who are supposed to have inspired everything that is considered as Jazz music. Well, of course neither Coleman nor Kuhn are in any sense “typical” Jazz musicians, and thank God for that. The symbiosis between the two Giants is completely natural and the music they create flows smoothly and organically. Coleman plays trumpet and violin in addition to the alto saxophone, switching instruments at will, and Kuhn races all over the keyboard like the Wizard of Oz, and the wall of sound they create sounds perfectly logical and even melodic (or rather harmolodic), with the duo sounding as a one four-handed persona, inseparable and entirely of one mind. This album is one of the most dramatic examples of the “Art of the Duo” in its purest and most perfect form. Overall, this is a stunning album, which no Improvising Music connoisseur should miss in their record collection. The sound quality of the recording is perfect and brilliantly clear, which allows for all the nuances in this complex music to be perfectly audible. It is beyond recommendation…

Updated: 14/02/2025Posted: 14/02/2025

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

COMMAND ALL STARS ~ CURIOSITIES 1972 REEL RECORDINGS 010 (Barcode: 676868178023) ~ UK ~ Jazz Recorded: 1972 Released: 2008 This album is a great example of what the Canadian Reel RecordingsFind albums on this label label is all about: unearthing recorded documents of the British Jazz / Avant-Garde scene dating back to the 1960s, which have been so far completely lost and (sadly) often forgotten. Considering the fact that the Golden Decade (1965-1975) was Britain´s most illustrious contribution to music, any recorded document from that period has an immense historical value and therefore the work done by this label is truly a quest worth following. The music contained herein was recorded with the intention to be released as a double album, presenting the Art of spontaneous improvisation, performed by a collective of young (at the time) but experienced British players, who spearheaded the local Free Jazz / Improvised Music scene and certainly deserved the "stardom" status in spite of the oxymoron such epithet might imply: pianist Keith TippettFind albums by this artist, saxophonist Elton DeanFind albums by this artist, trombonist Nick EvansFind albums by this artist, trumpeter Mark CharigFind albums by this artist, bassists Harry MillerFind albums by this artist and Johnny DyaniFind albums by this artist and drummer Keith BaileyFind albums by this artist. These musicians often played with each other in various ensembles, of which they were members, but never collectively as one group, hence the one-time opportunity to hear them improvise collectively is so attractive. Unfortunately, as it often happened at the time, even with Jazz labels as the one for which these recordings were made, the label found this music to be "too much to swallow" and the project was discarded, including whipping out the original master tapes (a crime, without a doubt). Fortunately two copies of the original four reels were recently discovered by Evans and here we are being able to finally listen to this music. The music itself needs little elucidation to people familiar with the recorded output of the protagonists – it is what they always did best, play whatever their hearts dictated at the moment, carefully listening to each other and together creating a whole, which is much bigger than its parts. The album also includes two tracks recorded later the same year (for the BBC? as the recording premises might suggest) by a sextet including Dean, Evans and Charig with guitarist Jeff GreenFind albums by this artist, bassist Neville WhiteheadFind albums by this artist and drummer Louis MoholoFind albums by this artist. This is a true "blast from the past" and an absolute must for any British Jazz / Avant-Garde fan, wholeheartedly recommended!

Updated: 12/04/2019Posted:

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

CUATRO MANOS ~ WAY HOME SJ 069 (Barcode: 5902596066826) ~ POLAND ~ Smooth Jazz Recorded: 2022 Released: 2022 This is an album by Polish acoustic guitar duo Cuatro ManosFind albums by this artist, which comprises of Jakub KotyniaFind albums by this artist and Michal LewartowiczFind albums by this artist. They are supported by a rhythm section, which includes bassists Mariusz BogdanowiczFind albums by this artist or Andrzej SwiesFind albums by this artist and drummers Sebastian KuchczynskiFind albums by this artist or Pawel NowakFind albums by this artist. Violinist Dawid LubowiczFind albums by this artist plays on two tracks. The album presents seven original compositions, four by Lewartowicz and three by Kotynia. The music is very melodic, with a slight Jazzy touch and a tinge of Folkloristic / Latin themes. For a lack of a better classification, it could be counted as Smooth Jazz, or just guitar instrumental music. Although personally this kind of music is not really my cup of tea, I can appreciate the obvious skills of the guitarists and of course I am very familiar with the rhythm section, as those are very able Polish Jazz musicians. The guitar performances are very capable and the guitarists obviously enjoy their interplay, which is full of grace and wonderful melodicism. Overall, this is a very pleasant listening experience, on the very light flank of the Jazz spectrum, but nevertheless full of highly skilled performances and deeply melodic flow, which obviously has many fans. This is a perfectly valid statement for those who enjoy the entertaining facet of Jazz music.

Updated: 02/02/2023Posted: 02/02/2023

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

AMANCIO D`SILVA ~ KONKAN DANCE VOCALION 8420 (Barcode: 765387842024) ~ UK ~ Jazz-World Fusion Recorded: 1974 Released: 2006 Guitarist / composer Amancio D`SilvaFind albums by this artist was born in Goa, India and arrived in London in 1967, where he was immediately absorbed by the burgeoning local Jazz scene. Similarly to many other musicians, who arrived in the ex-Empire’s Capital from the colonial countries (but mostly from India), D`Silva was already “armed” with a vast musical tradition of his native county. The liberal cultural atmosphere of the London scene and the openness to other cultural influences where a major factor in creating a cultural amalgam between the Western Jazz tradition and the Eastern musical treasures. Several players practiced the new Jazz-World Fusion direction, like the John MayerFind albums by this artist / Joe HarriottFind albums by this artist ensemble with the revolutionary Indo-Jazz FusionsFind albums with this title recordings. Although D`Silva participated in a wide variety of sessions, his unique guitar voice always included a subtle Eastern undertone. However, on his solo recording projects, where his own compositions were mainly featured, this influence was much more apparent. He recorded five brilliant solo albums, of which this was the last. For some strange reason the last album was never released at the time and this is the first time this great music can be heard, which of course is a reason to celebrate, as anything recorded by this brilliant musician is an important heritage and a document of the era. The musicians participating in this recording come from the ranks of legendary British Jazz scene: Don RendellFind albums by this artist – saxophone, Stan TraceyFind albums by this artist – piano and Alan BranscombeFind albums by this artist – flute, vibes and electric piano. A sitar and two tabla players add the Indian flavor to the music, which flows beautifully like a river of sound in an enchanted garden. Absolute must!

CD 1 Remastered Recommend To A Friend

ELTON DEAN / SOPHIA DOMANCICH ~ AVANT HUX 063 (Barcode: 682970000633) ~ UK ~ Canterbury Scene Recorded: 2004 Released: 2005 Elton DeanFind albums by this artist and Sophia DomancichFind albums by this artist are both members of Pip PyleFind albums by this artist`s band Equip OutFind albums by this artist, where they met many years ago. This recording is their first performance as a duo and is completely improvised. It is a beautiful example of Avant-Garde music (as the title so appropiately states), be it avant-jazz or avant-rock - the labels are meaningless and the music transcendents them. The level of interplay between them is truly phenomenal and the material, although improvised, has parts which could be even described as romantic. A must for avant-heads.

Updated: 12/04/2019Posted:

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

SÉRGIO DIAS` JAZZ MANIA ~ LIVE EDITIO PRINCEPS 02 ~ BRAZIL ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 1986 Recorded live, this album presents the Fusion oriented performances by the legendary Brazilian guitarist / composer Sérgio DiasFind albums by this artist and his group Jazz ManiaFind albums by this artist. Dias was the leader of the legendary Brazilian group Os MutantesFind albums by this artist, which was the most important Brazilian Rock group in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s. After the group disbanded at the end of the 1970’s, Dias left for the US, where he pursued mostly Jazz / Fusion music, playing extensively with his Brazilian expatriates Airto MoreiraFind albums by this artist and Flora PurimFind albums by this artist and with such giants as John McLaughlinFind albums by this artist and Jaco PastoriusFind albums by this artist. Upon his return to Brazil in the mid-1980’s he formed the group Jazz Mania with some of the best local players at the time, which is documented on this album and heard for the first time after almost 20 years. The music and the performances are excellent and any Fusion fan will have a feast listening to this album, which easily compares to the work of Pat MethenyFind albums by this artist of Weather ReportFind albums by this artist.

CD 1 Remastered Recommend To A Friend

DORUZKA / FISCHMANN / NOVAK ~ GILGUL ANIMAL MUSIC 119 (Barcode: 8594211850261) ~ CZECH REPUBLIC ~ Jazz-World Fusion Recorded: 2023 Released: 2023 This is an album by the Czech Jazz trio comprising of guitarist / composer David DoruzkaFind albums by this artist, flautist / vocalist / composer Robert FischmannFind albums by this artist and drummer / percussionist Martin NovakFind albums by this artist. Three additional players participate on selected tracks: clarinetist / saxophonist Lubos SoukupFind albums by this artist, bass clarinetist / saxophonist Marcel BartaFind albums by this artist and trombonist Stepan JanousekFind albums by this artist. The album presents thirteen tracks, which include a four-part suite and a three-part suite, six of which are traditional Jewish / Hassidic melodies arranged by Fischmann, four are original compositions by Fischmann, two are by Doruzka and one is co-composed by all three trio members. Jewish music has been an important source of inspiration in contemporary Jazz, which I had an opportunity to witness closely as the Musical Director of the Singer Jazz Festival hold in Warsaw during the last decade. Some of those attempts to combine the genres were truly inspirational and impressive, others often suffered from opportunism and chalturism due to complete lack of understanding of the Cultural background and spirituality of the Jewish and Hassidic traditions. I an extremely happy to see that this beautiful album belongs to the former category. The music offers an intimate, completely acoustic and delicate treatments of traditional material, intertwined with original compositions, which match the overall atmosphere and spirit of the entire project. Most of the tracks are performed by the trio, but five offer an extended sextet arrangement, which is somewhat more Jazz oriented than the rest of the pieces, but again stay within the intimate and highly lyrical mood. There is definitely a strong dose of Easter European lyricism and melancholy involved as well. Although there are plenty of individual solos, the music is definitely more about the concept and overall message than about display of instrumental virtuosity. Fischmann’s flute work dominates the proceedings, as the leading melodic compass, with Doruzka supplying the harmonic layers and soloing occasionally, and the wonderfully sensitive drumming by Novak keeps the music flowing gently but firmly from one tune to another. The album offers a written essay by Fischmann, which explains the sources and inspirations for the individual songs, as well as the religious concept of transmigration of souls, which gives the album its title, and which is not unique to the Jewish tradition, but plays an important role in some of the Hassidic streams. On a personal note, I’d like to mention that this music is somewhat in the same spiritual sphere as the music by the excellent Polish Jazz trio BastardaFind albums by this artist, which I wholeheartedly recommend. Overall, this is beautiful and deeply moving album, which deserves to be heard by all music lovers, also those beyond the strict Jazz circles. As usual, the superb sound quality and production by the Animal MusicFind albums on this label label is as perfect as one might hope for, for which I am, as usual, grateful. Grab a copy as soon as possible!

Updated: 18/10/2023Posted: 18/10/2023

CD 1 Mini-Sleeve Recommend To A Friend

DYS / JORGENSMANN / MARCUS ~ ELEMENTS IN CANDOR FOR TUNE 0086 (Barcode: 5902768701869) ~ POLAND ~ Free Jazz / Improvised Music Recorded: 2014 Released: 2015 This is an album by a Jazz quintet fronted by Polish pianist Krzysztof DysFind albums by this artist, German clarinetist Theo JorgensmannFind albums by this artist and American clarinetist Michael MarcusFind albums by this artist, with a Polish rhythm section: bassist Andrzej SwiesFind albums by this artist and drummer Krzysztof SzmandaFind albums by this artist. Together they perform thirteen original pieces, four composed by Marcus, three by Jorgensmann and one by Dys and the remaining five were co-composed by various combinations of the quintet members. Although based on some pre-composed phrases, the music is predominantly freely improvised and belongs to the radical Improvised Music idiom, which of curse is loved by a tiny group of enthusiasts but fails to reach a wider audience. Although the double clarinet front line has a wonderful potential of interplay between these two players, that potential is not realized herein and the music simply makes little if any aesthetic impact. As already stated many times, Improvised Music might make sense when listened to live, due to the emotional involvement and interaction between the players and the listeners, but only very rarely it is able to carry over that interaction into a recorded document, like an album. This album is a typical case where the music simply fails to communicate and remains remote and cold, as if the musicians were playing to each other, leaving the rest of the world outside. Even the fact that the clarinet is an instrument I truly love and the musicians involved have all made formidable recordings earlier on, this album simply does not cut it for me. Of course this is only my opinion and others might be able to enjoy this music. Dys, who is one of the most talented and important young Jazz musicians on the Polish scene plays very little on this album, which is another reason why this is a missed opportunity. If the whole album was anything like the last track, the story would have been completely different. Oh well, you can´t win them all.

Updated: 10/05/2016Posted: 10/05/2016

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

DUKE ELLINGTON / BENNY GOODMAN ~ POLISH RADIO JAZZ ARCHIVES VOL.17 POLSKIE RADIO 1667 (Barcode: 5907812246679) ~ USA ~ Jazz Recorded: 1934 - 1949 Released: 2014 This is the seventeenth installment in the new series of releases initiated by the Polish Radio, which presents archive Jazz recordings. Radio recordings are always a fabulous source of remarkable material, and as far as Polish Jazz history is concerned, the Polish Radio, which was a state monopoly for 45 years, recorded over time a plethora of invaluable material, which apart from the albums released by the Polskie Nagrania record company (also a state monopoly), is the only available additional source of Polish Jazz recordings. For many years Polish Radio recorded concerts presented during Poland´s most important Jazz venues, including the annual Jazz Jamboree Festival and many other festivals as well. This album presents music recorded by the Duke EllingtonFind albums by this artist Orchestra and several different ensembles and orchestra led by Benny GoodmanFind albums by this artist, recorded in the 1930s and 1940s and released on various labels (HMVFind albums on this label, ColumbiaFind albums on this label, CapitolFind albums on this label and RCAFind albums on this label) on 78 RPM shellac discs, which are part of the Polish Radio archives. The music was remastered from these original discs by Anna RutkowskaFind albums by this artist. I must admit that I find this release quite surprising and consider its place in this series as purely accidental, as none of these recordings present music recorded in Poland by the Polish Radio nor does it feature any Polish Jazz musicians, and as such defies the purpose of the so far excellent effort to make this series special. The fact that these shellacs are part of the Polish Radio archive is definitely not a good enough reason for being included in this series. And additionally of course all this material is already available in the US and in Europe, after being remastered by the labels which released this music originally, in my higher quality, often in lavish Box Sets with extensive historical notes, etc. In short this effort is nothing short of bizarre and a sad waste of resources, especially in view of the fact that many other superb recordings in the Polish Radio vaults are still waiting to be released. One can only hope that future releases of this series will return to the already established pattern, which served its purpose splendidly.

Updated: 26/01/2019Posted:

CD 1 Digipak Remastered Recommend To A Friend

FORMAN, MITCHEL ~ HAND MADE LIPSTICK 89010 ~ USA ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Keyboards player Mitchel Forman is one of the most sophisticated representatives of modern Fusion. Proficient both on acoustic piano and electronic keyboards, he has excellent technique and formidable compositional skills. After stints with the re-formed Mahavishnu Orchestra and other famous bands, he now concentrates on solo career. This album is an excellent example of modern Fusion, with plenty of rhythms and fire as well as elegant solos.

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

MICHAEL FORMANEK ~ THE RUB AND THE SPARE CHANGE ECM 2167 (Barcode: 602527395142) ~ USA ~ Jazz Recorded: 2009 Released: 2010 This is the debut album for the prestigious ECMFind albums on this label label by American bassist Michael FormanekFind albums by this artist. It was recorded with a brilliant all-American quartet, which includes saxophonist Tim BerneFind albums by this artist, pianist Craig TabornFind albums by this artist and drummer Gerald CleaverFind albums by this artist, all three belonging to the top class of American musicians today. All the music was composed by Formanek and the quartet performs it brilliantly, from start to finish. Both Berne and Taborn have distinctive voices of their own and their contributions are superb throughout. Formanek and Cleaver work together harmoniously and brilliantly as a rhythms section, turning this quartet into a splendid music-making unit, with very few rivals around. The music is strongly influenced by European aesthetics, which is unusual for American Jazz musicians, but common (not surprisingly) to those recording for ECM. This is a very strong album, which should appeal to all Jazz connoisseurs. Highly recommended!

CD 1 Slipcase Recommend To A Friend

GRANT GEISSMAN ~ BLOOZ FUTURISM 2765 (Barcode: 899653002765) ~ USA ~ Smooth Jazz Recorded: 2022 Released: 2022 This is an album by veteran American guitarist / composer Grant GeissmanFind albums by this artist, recoded with many well-known Jazz / Blues musicians, like trumpeter Randy BreckerFind albums by this artist, pianists David GarfieldFind albums by this artist and Russell FerranteFind albums by this artist, saxophonist Tom ScottFind albums by this artist, guitarists Robben FordFind albums by this artist, Josh SmithFind albums by this artist, Joe BonamassaFind albums by this artist and John JorgensonFind albums by this artist, as well as a rhythm section comprising of keyboardist Jim CoxFind albums by this artist, bassist Trey HenryFind albums by this artist and drummer Ray BrinkerFind albums by this artist and a few others. The album presents twelve original compositions, all by the leader. The music is all Smooth Jazz oriented, with a Blues tinge but not really Blues in the classic meaning of the idiom. It is all very well played, with no risks taken, and the presence of the invited guests is not able to infuse any real fire. Geissman is obviously a very professional guitar player, and shows his chops along the way, but his compositions are quite forgettable and although pleasant on the ear, leave no lasting impression. Overall, this is a nice Smooth Jazz album, with some good guitar parts and a Bluesy feel, which might be great for driving, but calling it “Blooz” is misleading in the least.

Updated: 29/10/2022Posted: 29/10/2022

CD 1 Mini-Sleeve Recommend To A Friend

BOB GLUCK / ANDREW STERMAN ~ TROPELETS ICTUS 173 (Barcode: 748252698520) ~ USA ~ Jazz Recorded: 2012 Released: 2014 This is an album by the duo comprising of American pianist / electronic music performer / composer Bob GluckFind albums by this artist and saxophonist Andrew StermanFind albums by this artist. Gluck, a former Rabbi, revisits on this album traditional Jewish Biblical chants, which he arranged for the duo, using also some vocal parts by guest participants. The album presents twelve pieces, based on the laments of Profit Jeremiah, which are dedicated to the memory of Gluck´s father. As expected, the music is somber and deeply reflective, but the duo treats the traditional elements with respect and originality. The Jewish mysticism and intrinsic melancholy are all there but for listeners not familiar with the background of this music, it makes perfect sense by itself, which is a remarkable achievement. Obviously not an easy listening material, this music requires concentration and patience, but is eventually as rewarding as it is challenging. This music should be viewed in perspective of the so called "New Jewish Music", which is enjoying an astounding Renaissance in Europe and especially in Poland, which after all was the homeland of the Ashkenazi Jewish Culture for the thousand years before the Holocaust. With several Jewish Culture festivals (Krakow, Warsaw and many smaller towns in Poland) Jewish music, in an incredible diversity, from Medieval chants, via the Klezmer tradition and up to Avant-Garde Contemporary Music and Jazz is alive and kicking almost like never before. As the Artistic Director of the Warsaw Singer Jazz Festival, I am exposed to this miraculous phenomenon in its full glory. Of course there are manifestations of the New Jewish Music also in the US, as this album shows. People interested in the Jewish tradition and Avant-Garde Jazz should be able to enjoy this music to the fullest extent, but even without the Jewish background, this is fascinating music, which adventurous listeners should like very much. Definitely worth being discovered!

Updated: 12/04/2019Posted: 16/05/2016

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

JERRY GOODMAN / JAN HAMMER ~ LIKE CHILDREN WOUNDED BIRD 0430 (Barcode: 664140043022) ~ USA ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 1974 Released: 2006 Only album by this duo, formed following the demise of John McLaughlinFind albums by this artist’s Mahavishnu OrchestraFind albums by this artist Mk. I in 1973. Jerry GoodmanFind albums by this artist and Jan HammerFind albums by this artist were the founding members of MO and played on the seminal three first albums by the group. This album is quite different from the fiery pyrotechnics used in MO and concentrates on presenting a gentler and more personal side of both musicians. Hammer composed most of the music for this album (with Goodman contributing on three tracks), which varies a lot stylistically between Funk, Fusion and Progressive. Between the two of them they play a myriad of instruments, with Hammer handling all keyboards and percussion and Goodman playing electric and acoustic violins and guitars. Hammer shines on the moog synthesizer, his main solo instrument, and Goodman displays again his amazing violin technique, which resembles his work with FlockFind albums by this artist (before MO). The album lost none of its charm in time and is still a prime example of well-played and sophisticated Fusion music. Since Goodman’s recording heritage is rather sparse, it’s great to see this album back in circulation. Recommended!

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

GROHMAN ORCHESTRA ~ KLASYKA POLSKIEJ ROZRYWKI 4Q4 004 (Barcode: 5901844920330) ~ POLAND ~ Pop-Classical Fusion Recorded: 2017 Released: 2017 This is the debut album by the Polish Grohman OrchestraFind albums by this artist, a thirteen-piece ensemble of classically trained musicians, which exists since several years. On this album they present arrangements of seventeen Polish Pop evergreens, arranged by pianist / composer / arranger Krzysztof HerdzinFind albums by this artist. The music is a collection of carefully arranged melodies, which originally appeared as Polish Pop songs and achieved enormous popularity over the years. Herdzin also weaved fragments of well-known Classical themes with his arrangements of the songs. The overall result is a very pleasant piece of instrumental music, which is extremely accessible to a wide range of (most probably) older listeners, who might recognize the original songs and at the same time enjoy the new approach. Herdzin´s arrangements are, as usual, perfectly structured and the highly professional orchestra executes them without a hitch. One might wonder what the main purpose of this music is: to popularize and bring the audience closer to Classical music or to bring new audiences to semi-classical environment, using the Pop songs as a hook. In either case the music should be able to achieve the result. Some of the selected songs work better in the new arrangements than others, but the overall result manages to avoid the kitsch trap, which projects like this are usually destined for. Of course this is more entertainment than a serious musical statement, but entertainment that defends its own aesthetical values. In addition to its purely entertainment value, the album is also a tribute to the Polish Pop songwriting, which is a very valuable piece of the overall Polish Culture and this cross-genre approach is a very appropriate step for such an undertaking.

Updated: 26/09/2017Posted: 26/09/2017

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

GARY GUTHMAN ~ HARP CONCERTO / TRUMPET CONCERTO / MARGARITA DUX 1873 (Barcode: 5902547018737) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Classical Fusion Recorded: 2022 Released: 2022 This is a great love story worth of a movie: “An American In Warsaw”. My Friend and buddy, American Jazz trumpeter / composer Gary GuthmanFind albums by this artist meets a beautiful Polish harpist Malgorzata ZalewskaFind albums by this artist (Gosia as we call her) and his heart is lost forever, resulting in his relocation to Warsaw and a process of building not only a new life but also a new career, mostly as a composer. This wonderful album documents some of his prolific output in the last years: a three-part harp concerto, which features Gosia as the soloist, a three-part trumpet concerto, which features Gary as the soloist, and finally a short piece for harp, trumpet and orchestra, which features the love birds together. They are accompanied by the Podlasie Opera & Philharmonic OrchestraFind albums by this artist, conducted my Miroslaw Jacek BlaszczykFind albums by this artist. The music is absolutely lovely, sort of Jazz-Classical Fusion, but sounding more like a superb cinematic scores, which might have been composed at the heyday of the Hollywood era, when music played a much more important role as part of the film industry, which is sadly not the case these days. Guthman the composer, is deeply soaked in the Jazz tradition, and his music swings at all times, as well as being full of wonderfully crafted melody lines, similar to the modus operandi of all great American composers of musicals and cinematic music. Of course Gosia and Gary are able to show their chops as excellent instrumentalists as well, each in his own capacity. Gosia brings her Classical Music expertise and Gary his Jazz Big Band spark, all in superbly elegant class and aesthetic aura. It’s great to have a husband, who can write music for you, says Gosia, but honestly this music is way more than a family affair and offers an uncompromising Artistic value. Overall, this is a truly splendid musical experience, full of beautiful melodic music, great instrumental work by the soloists and the orchestra, which is wonderfully amicable in this case, and a strong feeling of nostalgia, when this kind of music was at the helm. What can I do, I am after all a lost romantic… A pleasure to be your Friend, my Dears, and I am proud of you!

Updated: 10/03/2023Posted: 10/03/2023

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

GARY GUTHMAN ~ SALUTE TO SWING! SOLITON 802 (Barcode: 5901571098029) ~ USA ~ Smooth Jazz Recorded: 1999 - 2004 Released: 2018 This is a compiled reissue of two albums by the American (resident in Warsaw) trumpeter / composer / arranger Gary GuthmanFind albums by this artist. The albums, recorded and initially released in Canada, are: "Sing, Sing, SingFind albums with this title" from 2005 and "Love TalkFind albums with this title" from 1999. Guthman leads professional Big Bands and is responsible for most of the arrangements, as well as for writing three original pieces on "Love Talk". The rest of the music comprises of well known Swing standards. As the title suggests, the music is a loving tribute to the Swing period in America, which lasted for over two decades between 1930s and early 1950s. The music was mostly played by a plethora of Big Bands and Jazz Orchestras, led by such celebrated composers / bandleaders as Benny GoodmanFind albums by this artist, Duke EllingtonFind albums by this artist, Harry JamesFind albums by this artist, Glenn MillerFind albums by this artist, Count BasieFind albums by this artist, Woody HermanFind albums by this artist, Tommy DorseyFind albums by this artist and numerous others. Although considered as one of the Jazz genres and certainly playing an important role in the development of the idiom, Swing was also a form of popular music and at its peak "the" popular music in the US and to some extent worldwide. Based on solid melodies, many of which became Jazz standards, Swing definitely also included and encouraged improvisation, although limited to relatively short and strictly melodic, but often masterly constructed and incredibly cleverly executed solos. Guthman is not only a great trumpet player, but first and foremost an incredibly sensitive musician in the broadest meaning of the word. He writes absolutely brilliant music, which sounds instantly as good as any Jazz standard from the "fake book", but he is also able to compose contemporary Classical music or entire musicals. He has a pair of great ears, which makes him a skillful arranger able to make the most of any setting, from a quartet to a Big Band or an Orchestra. And he is also a great person, a perfect Gentlemen and a Friend! The two albums presented here are very dissimilar, which makes this compilation even more attractive that it originally appears to be. "Sing, Sing, Sing" is a straightforward tribute to Swing, featuring all the big Swing "hits" that many people are familiar with, without even knowing what Swing means. As such it is a perfect trip down the memory lane for elderly people like yours truly, who still remember their parents dancing while these melodies were being played on the bandstand or on the radio. Guthman delivers several scorching trumpet solos and the music swings like there is no tomorrow. "Love Talk" is a completely different story. It is an exquisite showcase of Jazz arrangement, kept within the general Swing aura, but superbly orchestrated, with the full power of an Orchestra, featuring lush string layers, which is on the whole a piece of elegant, masterly woven musical delight. Guthman´s trumpet playing on this album is much softer, lyrical and Jazz oriented. Overall this album presents the charm and splendor of Swing for everybody. Less experienced listeners will enjoy the evergreens on the first album, which is basically quite danceable, while connoisseurs will delight in the seductive enticement and sophistication of the second album in this set, which is much more suitable for the intimacy a bedroom than the swish of a dancing floor. Since nobody makes music like this anymore, I am not surprised by the fact that this album was so warmly embraced by the listeners. It is after all a piece of musical history, which is still fondly remembered. Way to go, my Friend!

Updated: 01/08/2019Posted: 09/06/2018

CD 2 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

NORMAN HAINES BAND ~ DEN OF INIQUITY ESOTERIC 2301 (Barcode: 5013929431041) ~ UK ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 1971 Released: 2011 This is the only album recorded by the excellent British keyboardist / vocalist / composer Norman HainesFind albums by this artist and his band, which although being completely unnoticed at the time of its release, later achieved a legendary status, and rightly as it is really a lost gem. Haines, who was the leader of an earlier legendary band (with also had only one album), called LocomotiveFind albums by this artist, formed this band after Locomotive fell apart. It included guitarist Neil ClarkeFind albums by this artist, bassist Andy HughesFind albums by this artist and drummer Jimmy SkidmoreFind albums by this artist. Together they recorded this gem, which is a classic proto-Prog / Psychedelic minor masterpiece, with lengthy instrumental improvisations, great vocals and above all excellent melodies. An absolute must to all early Prog fans!

CD 1 Oversampling Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend

	HAPPY THE MAN ~ 3RD / BETTER LATE... CUNEIFORM 55001 (Barcode: 045775500126) ~ USA ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 1979 Released: 1990 3rd and last album by this great group, which sadly was short lived. This is a reissue of the original album with some bonus tracks added. Many fans consider this to be their best ever.
	CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

	HAPPY THE MAN ~ BEGINNINGS CUNEIFORM 55003 ~ USA ~ Progressive Rock Early recordings and demos by the US Prog band considered by many the best symphonic band to come from the US. This material was recorded before the first album and shows the strength and inventivness of the musicians.
	CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

	HAPPY THE MAN ~ CRAFTY HANDS MUSEA 4314 (Barcode: 3426300043146) ~ USA ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 1978 Released: 2000 2nd album by the seminal US group Happy The ManFind albums by this artist, which sadly was short lived. More of the same brilliant musicianship and fascinating compositions make it another classic.
	CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

	HAPPY THE MAN ~ DEATH`S CROWN CUNEIFORM 55015 ~ USA ~ Progressive Rock First time on record, Death`s Crown presents a multi-media show composed and performed by the band in 1994. Written as a collaborative work with dancers, actors, lightning and coordinated slide shows, the music is very much in the usual Prog vein similar to other HTM material.
	CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

HAPPY THE MAN ~ HAPPY THE MAN MUSEA 4323 (Barcode: 3426300043238) ~ USA ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 1976 Released: 2000 1st album by this US group, which is still considered today the best American Prog outfit ever. Well based in the roots of British early classic Prog, yet very innovative as well, this music shattered the opinion that US bands can never play proper Prog. One of the great classics of all times.

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

	HAPPY THE MAN ~ LIVE CUNEIFORM 55014 ~ USA ~ Progressive Rock Recently discovered live recordings from 1978 present the group at their peak playing extended versions of tunes from their first 2 albums and some new ones. Great sound and a must for all HTM fans.
	CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

JOE HARRIOTT / AMANCIO D`SILVA ~ HUM DONO VOCALION 8505 (Barcode: 765387850524) ~ UK ~ Jazz-World Fusion Recorded: 1969 Released: 2015 This is a long overdue reissue of the only album recorded by the quartet co-led by two of modern British Jazz pioneers: saxophonist Joe HarriottFind albums by this artist and guitarist Amancio D`SilvaFind albums by this artist, which also included bassist Dave GreenFind albums by this artist and drummer Bryan SpringFind albums by this artist. Vocalist Norma WinstoneFind albums by this artist and trumpeter Ian CarrFind albums by this artist appear as guest. The album consists of six tracks, five of which are original compositions by D`Silva and one is a standard. The original album was produced by the celebrated producer Denis PrestonFind albums by this artist and was recorded at the legendary Lansdowne Studios. This reissue was remastered by Michael J. DuttonFind albums by this artist and the sound quality and clarity are simply stunning. The liner notes include a reprint of the original liner notes printed on the album´s sleeve and a retrospective essay by Stephano D`SilvaFind albums by this artist, Amancio´s son. Of the many British Jazz albums released by the end of the 1960s, this one is surely one of the most significant and prophetic in so many ways. The exploding British Jazz scene went through a rapid revolutionary movement towards independence from the American Jazz legacy, spearheading the birth of European Jazz, which would become the next evolutionary step for the Jazz Art Form. There are many reasons why Britain proved to be the most fertile ground for this quantum leap, but one of the most significant of these reasons was certainly the fact that Britain (and London in particular) became a natural harbor for immigrants arriving from all corners of the former Empire, making it the first, as we now call it, multiculti environments, amalgamating cultural influences originating from many different locations around the globe. Music, of course, would be one of the most profoundly influenced element of the British culture, to be touched by the influx of those sounds and rhythms and by the end of the 1960s World Music was alive and kicking in Britain, long before the actual term was coined. Joe Harriott, born in Jamaica and Amancio D`Silva, born in India, were just two of many prominent British Jazz musicians, who were integrated into the local scene upon their arrival in Britain and naturally put in their own cultural heritage into the amalgam, which eventually emerged as modern British Jazz. This album is a splendid example of early Jazz-World Fusion, but certainly not the first of its kind. Harriott recorded a series of brilliant and revolutionary albums with another Indian immigrant, John Mayer, in the years preceding this recording. D`Silva recorded his debut album a few months earlier, which displayed similar World-Music influences. There were many other examples telling a similar story of integration and mutual inspiration. Harriott, who is primarily hailed as one of Free Jazz pioneers / inventors displays the gentler side of his musical personality on this album. His solos are of course much more developed and free-spirited than those performed by conventional Jazz players, but he stays well within the melodic and harmonic boundaries outlined by D`Silva´s compositions. The brief standard, which features Harriott in a duet with Spring, is the only reference to Harriott´s free style abilities. D`Silva showcases his highly individual style as a guitarist, which is clearly influenced by a plethora of Indian music characteristics. His compositions, which are all exceptionally beautiful, exemplify a perfect marriage between European lyricism and harmony and Indian spirituality and rhythmic trance. This will be also heard on his later recordings, all of which are classics in their own right. Green, one of British Jazz most prolific and respected bassists, contributes his strong and steady pulsations, which keep the music well anchored and balanced. Spring, a brilliant and original player, performs some true drum magic on this album, which is both intelligent and inspired, especially in view of the rhythmic challenges and odd tempi he needs to deal with. Winstone, the absolute Diva of British Jazz, adds some lovely wordless vocals, which complete the compositions with a veil of mystery and sensuality. She participates on three of the tracks and her contribution is simply invaluable. The great Carr, who plays on just a couple of tracks, adds his superb solos, which are like gleaming jewels; something that happens every time he blows his flugelhorn. All in all this is a most welcome reissue of a monumental milestone in the British Jazz history, which should be a part of every serious record collection owned by people who truly love Jazz. Hopefully VocalionFind albums on this label will release all the other albums recorded by D`Silva at that crucial period, which are all criminally forgotten and unavailable on the market. Oliver & Michael, please!

CD 1 Remastered Recommend To A Friend

GILAD HEKSELMAN ~ HEARTS WIDE OPEN LE CHANT DU MONDE 2037 (Barcode: 3149024203725) ~ ISRAEL ~ Jazz Recorded: 2010 Released: 2011 This is the 3rd album by the sensational Israeli guitarist / composer Gilad HekselmanFind albums by this artist, who resides in NY since 2004, as do many other Israeli Jazz players. Hekselman quickly established himself as one of the top guitar players on the NY scene, a fact that is not a result of any publicity stunts but simply his incredible talent. With his tone very similar to early Pat MethenyFind albums by this artist, he is often compared to Metheny, but that kind of comparison is somewhat superficial. Hekselman is much more Jazz oriented than Metheny ever was in fact. Critics and more importantly fellow musicians agree unanimously that Hekselman was blessed with exceptional talent and his meteoric rise to fame is fully justified. This album, recorded with Hekselman´s regular trio: bassist Joe MartinFind albums by this artist and drummer Marcus GilmoreFind albums by this artist and with guest appearance on four tracks by saxophonist Mark TurnerFind albums by this artist, presents eight original compositions, which are all ideal vehicles for the leader´s display of his guitar magic, which is pretty amazing from start to finish. Clear, elegant, pure and melodic, his playing is always right on top of what is best for the music at any particular moment. Never clotted or overcrowded by too many notes, which usually plagues guitar players, he dances on his strings like leaves on a spring breeze, as if fingers and brain commands had nothing to do with it. But honestly, and most importantly, this is 100% unadulterated Jazz, free of any attempts whatsoever to become a neck-breaking Fusion trip, another plague of today´s guitar players. If this is what Hekselman is capable of at the tender age of 28, his future seems to be laid out for him on a golden path to stardom. Hopefully his head is not lost in the process. Hats off to you, Gilad and God Bless!

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

JON HISEMAN ~ A NIGHT IN THE SUN BLACK SUN 15043 (Barcode: 013711504224) ~ UK ~ Jazz-Rock-World Fusion Recorded: 1981 Released: 2012 This is a reissue / remaster of an obscure album by British drummer / composer / bandleader Jon HisemanFind albums by this artist, recorded in Brazil with a group of local musicians, led by trumpeter Marcio MontarroyosFind albums by this artist with guitarist Sergio DiasFind albums by this artist, keyboardist Lincoln OlivettiFind albums by this artist, bassist Jamil JoanesFind albums by this artist and several others. The album presents seven tracks, which are original compositions by Montarroyos and Dias (two each), Olivetti and Joanes (one each) and finally one by Barbara ThompsonFind albums by this artist (Jon’s wife). The music is a wonderful amalgam of melodic themes, spiced with Brazilian rhythmic influences and arranged with a Brass-Rock, Funky and Groovy accents, led by Hiseman’s dynamic drumming and featuring great soloing by the local musicians. Although on the lighter side of the Jazz spectrum, the album is full of excellent music and a great trip down the memory lane, as well as another musical treasure in Hiseman’s recorded legacy. The album was produced by Eckart RahnFind albums by this artist, who founded the legendary German label KuckuckFind albums on this label Records in the late 1960s, which released this album originally in 1981. Overall, this is a most welcome reissue of a forgotten little gem, recorded by one of the most important figures on the British Jazz and Jaz-Rock scene, the late Jon Hiseman, whom I had the pleasure to know for many years. We miss you, my Friend!

Updated: 30/01/2024Posted: 30/01/2024

CD 1 Remastered Recommend To A Friend

JON HISEMAN ~ ABOUT TIME TOO! VERABRA 2014 (Barcode: 4011687201426) ~ UK ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 1985 Released: 1991 This must be one of the most unique albums ever released, as it consists entirely of drum solos by the legendary British drummer / composer / bandleader Jon HisemanFind albums by this artist, one of the pillars of modern British Jazz, Jazz-Rock Fusion and Progressive Rock. There is but a handful of British musicians who have managed to create such a gigantic musical legacy over time and Jon´s contribution to music is simply invaluable. The solos on this album were all recorded during live concerts played by the United Jazz + Rock EnsembleFind albums by this artist, an multinational collective of European Jazz musicians, of which Jon was a founding member, and concerts by the superb Barbara ThompsonFind albums by this artist´s ParaphernaliaFind albums by this artist ensemble (Barbara being of course Jon´s wife and life companion). The original LP edition of this album consisted of four tracks, two of which were full drum solos (lasting sixteen and eleven minutes respectively) and two part-solos included for their uniqueness. This CD version of the album was extended with one more full solo (also timing almost sixteen minutes). An album of drum solos might seem excessive (to say the least) at first, but anybody who appreciates the Art of music and the virtuosity involved in playing it will surely be able to appreciate the contents of this album. It is not only about Hiseman´s technical skills, but first and foremost about his musicality and his ability to "play" the drums rather than bang of them simply marking the tempi. Each of these solos is completely unique and tells a different story, with different moods, emotion and explorations involved. People who are experienced concert goers know that drum solos are usually just an opportunity to get the public excited with a seemingly dazzling display of drumming virtuosity, but in most cases have almost nothing to do with the actual music being played before and after the solo; in case of Hiseman´s solos there is as much music in them as when the full band is playing. These solos tell many stories about using the drum as an instrument on many different levels. They show how a melody can be played using drums, what polyrhythmic drumming means, how important controlling the dynamics is and finally how Rock, Jazz and Fusion merge together in the hands and legs of one fantastic drummer. In case you get completely bored and depressed by the bullshit you are exposed to on the Media on the day to day level, simply reach out and put this album in the player – I promise the world will instantly and inevitably turn into a better place. Thank you Jon for simply being there all those years!

Updated: 06/02/2016Posted: 06/02/2016

CD 1 Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend

TOBIAS HOFFMANN JAZZ ORCHESTRA ~ CONSPIRACY MONS 874757 (Barcode: 4260054557578) ~ GERMANY ~ Big Band Jazz Recorded: 2021 Released: 2022 This is the second album by German (resident in Austria) saxophonist / composer / bandleader Tobias HoffmannFind albums by this artist. Following the debut album “RetrospectiveFind albums with this title” from 2019, which was recorded with a nonet, this time Hoffmann conducts a full-fledged eighteen-piece strong Jazz Orchestra, which performs ten of his original compositions. The music emphasizes the wealth of possibilities a Jazz Orchestra is able to generate, based on excellent compositions, and featuring the full power of instrumental collaboration by the orchestra members. As usual in such circumstances, most of the orchestral performances feature soli by selected members of the orchestra. The album is mainly a testimony of Hoffmann’s development as a Jazz composer, which shows significant progress in comparison to his debut album. Although still within the mainstream milieu, the music is interesting, diverse and coherently constructed, superbly utilizing the potential of a Jazz Orchestra. Hoffmann continues the European approach to Jazz Orchestra, which cultivates an overall ensemble sound, rather than the American approach, where the band mostly accompanies soloists. Overall, this is an excellent Orchestral Jazz effort, with first class compositions flawlessly executed by the instrumentalists, which continues the splendid European Orchestral Jazz tradition, keeping it alive despite the difficulties involved with working and sustaining big ensembles in today’s climate. It seems that Austria manages to be the best environment in Europe for Orchestral Jazz these days. Well done indeed!

Updated: 02/10/2022Posted: 02/10/2022

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

TOBIAS HOFFMANN JAZZ ORCHESTRA ~ INNUENDO MONS 874873 (Barcode: 4260054558735) ~ GERMANY ~ Big Band Jazz Recorded: 2023 Released: 2024 This is the 3rd album by German saxophonist / composer / bandleader Tobias HoffmannFind albums by this artist and the 2nd album with his eighteen-piece Tobias Hoffmann Jazz OrchestraFind albums by this artist, which he conducts, released again on the Mons Records label. The album presents eight tracks, all original compositions by Hoffman. Hoffmann continues his musical path as a composer of music for Jazz Big Band / Orchestral environment, developing his skills rapidly, as this album proves. His music becomes more complex and sophisticated, without losing coherence and melodic continuance. He knows how to use the rich potential that a Big Band offers, and utilizes it to the max. His compositions ideally suit the European Jazz Big Band approach, which presents the entire Orchestra as one multi-headed (or rather multi-instrumental) body, which creates music together, in contrast to the American Big Band tradition, which mostly uses the Big Band to support leading soloist with rather simplistic arrangements. Although recorded just a couple of years following his previous album, Hoffmann uses this time a much wider and more imaginative palette of instrumental ingenuity, which adds spark and spirit to the resulting music. Overall, this is a wonderful Jazz Big Band album, splendidly performed and offering an excellent collection of first rate compositions, which should offer a delightful listening experience to Orchestral Jazz enthusiast the world over. Thanks for keeping me up to date with your achievements, my young Friend, following our brief meeting in Vienna a few years ago. God speed with your career!

Updated: 15/08/2024Posted: 15/08/2024

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

TOBIAS HOFFMANN NONET ~ RETROSPECTIVE ALESSA 1076 (Barcode: 9004501010767) ~ GERMANY ~ Jazz Recorded: 2018 Released: 2019 This is the debut album by German (resident in Austria) Jazz saxophonist / composer / bandleader Tobias HoffmannFind albums by this artist recorded with his nonet (five horns and four-piece rhythm section). It presents ten original compositions, all by Hoffmann. The music is melody based mainstream Jazz, excellently arranged and orchestrated for the nonet and sounding almost like a big band. The compositions are all well rounded and obviously created with this setting in mind. The music is performed passionately and spotlessly by the highly professional group of players, with many splendid soli and superb teamwork from start to finish. The nonet sounds great both when playing the highly energetic up tempo swinging numbers and the soulful ballads, which results in a well balanced and diverse collection of tunes. Although not particularly innovative or groundbreaking musically, this album is a splendid tribute to large Jazz ensembles and classic Jazz arrangements, which often get totally neglected these days. Hoffmann manages to bring back the full glory of a well arranged and splendidly executed classic sound of a large Jazz band, which of course is still an integral part of the Jazz tradition. One should appreciate the enormous commitment and time invested to conceive, produce and record an album like this one, crowned with such elegant and musically pleasing result, especially so in case of musicians of the young generation devoted to our beloved music. Well done indeed!

Updated: 02/10/2022Posted: 24/01/2020

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

ADAM HOLZMAN ~ OVERDRIVE LIPSTICK 89025 ~ USA ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Adam HolzmanFind albums by this artist (son of Jac HolzmanFind albums by this artist, the legendary ElektraFind albums on this label Records producer in the late 60s - DoorsFind albums by this artist, LoveFind albums by this artist, etc.) was exposed to music since his early childhood and it is no wonder that he grew up to be one of the most respected keyboards players in the US. He participated in a myriad recording sessions and for 4 years (1985-1989) was a member of the Miles DavisFind albums by this artist band as it`s musical director. This is his 2nd album as a leader and his many talents are evident here beyond any doubt.

Updated: 12/03/2022Posted:

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

JULIA HULSMANN ~ IN FULL VIEW ECM 2306 (Barcode: 602537177776) ~ GERMANY ~ Jazz Recorded: 2012 Released: 2013 This is the third album as a leader on the ECMFind albums on this label label by German pianist / composer Julia HulsmannFind albums by this artist, recorded in a quartet setting with British trumpeter Tom ArthursFind albums by this artist and German bassist Marc MuellbauerFind albums by this artist and drummer Heinrich KobberlingFind albums by this artist. The album presents thirteen relatively short compositions, four by Hulsmann, one by Arthurs, four by Muellbauer, one by Kobberling and the remaining three originating outside of the quartet lineup. The album was recorded at the legendary Rainbow Studio in Oslo with Jan Erik KongshaugFind albums by this artist presiding at the controls. The first and immediate impression the listener is exposed to on this album is the stunning trumpet / flugelhorn work by Arthurs, which brings on a potent resemblance to the work of the lamented British trumpeter Kenny WheelerFind albums by this artist. However, soon enough it becomes very apparent that Arthurs has his very own personal voice, and the Wheeler resemblance is simply our desire to find a successor who would continue Wheeler´s magic rather than what Arthurs in fact delivers herein. But obviously Arthurs is destined to suffer from the "Wheeler likeness" syndrome for a while But yes, Arthurs definitely steals the show on this album, as Hulsmann and the rhythm section are often reduced to an accompanying trio, which seems to suit everybody concerned just fine. Her solo work is mostly limited and she is happy to step back and leave the center stage to Arthurs, which is a very smart move under the circumstances. The music itself suffers from a lack of compositional coherence and continuity and sounds somewhat alike for the entire duration of the album, with just slight tempi changes and limited harmonic versatility. As a result this album is a classic example of what ECM critics call "much ado about nothing". So eventually it all boils down to this: an album that would have been altogether quite unremarkable is saved by the brilliant trumpet parts, which are fabulous but can´t really hide its flaws and weakness.

Updated: 11/09/2016Posted: 11/09/2016

CD 1 Slipcase Recommend To A Friend

HUMAN FACTORY ~ THE HUMAN FACTORY JAZZ972 001 (Barcode: 7293372462795) ~ ISRAEL ~ Jazz Recorded: 2006 Released: 2006 Human FactoryFind albums by this artist is an Israeli jazz quintet led by one of the veterans of the local scene – Amikam KimelmanFind albums by this artist. Kimelman has a long and distinguished record behind him. He belongs to the first generation of Israeli-born jazz musicians and began to practice his Art when jazz was a true underground scene. He was one of the founders and principal teachers of the Rimon School of Jazz and Contemporary Music, the fist such institution to undertake the jazz education of the Israeli youngsters. In time Rimon’s graduates became the foundation of the local music scene and many of them achieved international fame and success. Kimelman recorded several albums and led numerous ensembles, The Human Factory being the latest one. The release of the group’s album also marks the birth of a new record label, called Jazz972Find albums on this label, dedicated to the documentation of the flourishing local jazz scene (same as JazzisFind albums on this label Records 20 years earlier). The Human Factory is quite an unusual quintet, as the instruments include sax, trombone, guitar, bass and drums (reminiscent of some of the splendid Bob BrookmeyerFind albums by this artist’s groups). The guitarist is Aharoni BenariFind albums by this artist – past member of Israel’s excellent Jazz-Rock-Funk-Latin group AtrafFind albums by this artist – here playing mainstream jazz for the first time. The other musicians are: Idan WalishFind albums by this artist – trombone, Dima GrotskyFind albums by this artist – bass and Shai ZelmanFind albums by this artist – drums, all very talented and experienced players. Kimelman composed five of the seven compositions included on the album, Benari brings one of his own and the last tune is based on an Israeli folk melody. The album is a splendid example of how the Israeli jazz scene grew up in the last couple of decades from infancy to maturity. It can easily stand up to any jazz album recorded anywhere else in Europe or US. Recommended to all fans of Israeli jazz and modern jazz lovers all over the world.

Updated: 06/03/2025Posted:

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

NICK INGMAN ~ TERMINATOR VOCALION 8423 (Barcode: 765387842321) ~ UK ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 1976 Released: 2006 Keyboardist / composer / arranger Nick IngmanFind albums by this artist was one of the most important arrangers on the UK music market in the 1970s. As part of the Production Company run by ex-EMIFind albums on this label stuff producers George MartinFind albums by this artist and Norrie ParamorFind albums by this artist, he arranged albums for some of Britain’s most famous Pop and Rock stars. In parallel he released albums with his own compositions, which had a strong Jazz influence. Ingman studied with bassist / composer Graham CollierFind albums by this artist, who deeply influenced his approach to music, as well as at the Berklee School of Music in Boston. This is the last of the seven solo albums Ingman recorded and is the most Jazz influenced of them all. It’s a masterpiece of arrangement, which employs a large Big Band / Orchestra and a group of first rate session musicians and Jazz soloist. Ingman composed six of the eleven tracks on this album. Beautifully recorded and performed, this is a prime example of instrumental music, which is extremely difficult to categorize. The closest I can come up with is orchestral Jazz-Rock Fusion. Great stuff!

CD 1 Remastered Recommend To A Friend

JOHN, CLIVE ~ YOU ALWAYS KNOW WHERE YOU STAND WITH A BUZZARD ECLECTIC 1003 ~ UK ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 1975 Solo album from 1975 by founding member of the legendary Welsh Prog band Man, which produced a series of superb albums in the early 1970s. Clive John enlisted the help of ManFind albums by this artist members Martin AceFind albums by this artist and Phil RyanFind albums by this artist, and Andy Fairweather LowFind albums by this artist (another famous Welsh musician) to record a classic example of Welsh rock at its most inventive. Full of humor and great melodies, this is a most enjoyable trip back in time.

Updated: 23/12/2022Posted:

CD 1 Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend

THEO JORGENSMANN / CONTACT 4TETT ~ WUNDERTUTE JAZZWERKSTATT 224 (Barcode: 4250317420732) ~ GERMANY ~ Free Jazz / Improvised Music Recorded: 2022 Released: 2023 This is an album by the veteran German clarinetist / composer Theo JorgensmannFind albums by this artist and the Contact 4tettFind albums by this artist, which also includes guitarist Evert BrettschneiderFind albums by this artist, bass guitarist Kai KanthakFind albums by this artist and drummer Sascha SauerbornFind albums by this artist, who is also in charge of electronic effects. The album presents eleven tracks, three of which are original compositions by Jorgensmann, two by Brettschneider and the remaining six co-composed by all four members of the quartet. The music is a wonderful example of contemporary European Free Jazz / Improvised Music, literally electrified by the presence of electronics, electric guitar and bass, and the ever-young spirit of my Friend, Theo Jorgensmann, who seems to remain completely ageless and comfortable with whatever musical environment he is surrounded by. Although almost completely improvised and with little straightforward melodic continuity, the music is beautifully delicate and even intimate, shunning the “wall of sound” effect that many Improvised Music projects often indulge in. Jorgensmann’s fluid clarinet chant has the “Piper of Hamelin” effect, luring the listener into the intricacies of the abstract improvisations, which of course is as enchanting as music can be. The arrhythmic, but perfectly cohesive drumming drives the music forward, avoiding lethargic slipping off into the aural sphere, and the electronics, guitar soundscapes and bass pulsations keep everything alive on multiple planes, which offer a wonderful magic carpet sonic ride. Overall, this is a truly magical Improvised Music album, which is almost meditative / Ambient at times, and offers a relaxed, but not slack, musical experience of the highest aesthetic level. My sincere thanks to the musicians involved in creating this timid gem, which I can only wholeheartedly recommend to all true lovers of challenging beauty. Hats off!

Updated: 16/04/2023Posted: 16/04/2023

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

MANU KATCHÉ ~ MANU KATCHÉ ECM 2284 (Barcode: 602537094561) ~ FRANCE ~ Jazz Recorded: 2012 Released: 2012 This is the fourth album for the ECMFind albums on this label label by French / African (born in Ivory Coast) drummer / composer Manu KatchéFind albums by this artist, recorded with his quartet, which includes Norwegian trumpeter Nils Petter MolvaerFind albums by this artist and saxophonist Tore BrunborgFind albums by this artist (both members of the band MasqualeroFind albums by this artist in the past) and British keyboardist Jim WatsonFind albums by this artist. The album includes ten original compositions, all by Katché. This quartet returns to the trumpet / saxophone front line, which Katché used on his first two albums and which seems to fit best his musical concept, which is melodic mainstream Jazz supported by strong rhythmic riffs. His compositions are very lyrical and somewhat restrained, which is an ideal environment for the Scandinavian players. The keyboards are used also extensively as a tool to provide ambient soundscapes and overall atmospheric effects. The absence of bass creates a sharper contrast between the melodies and the rhythmic patterns. The entire album has a significant Scandinavian Jazz touch, spiced by the African based drumming, with work together wonderfully. There is little innovation here, but the music is aesthetically pleasing and wonderfully performed. All these players are very talented musicians and their individual statements as well as collective playing is simply spotless. As far as the compositions are concerned, it seems that this is the best set of original compositions by Katché so far and he obviously is getting better at this aspect of his career in time. For me Watson is the most interesting player on this album, with a truly chameleonic ability to move form one keyboard instrument to another, always being perfectly suitable for the specific piece of music. The sound quality and ambience are brilliant, as always with ECM recordings. This album should satisfy most connoisseurs of contemporary Jazz and for Katché fans this is another "must have" trophy. Recommended!

CD 1 Slipcase Recommend To A Friend

MANU KATCHÉ ~ NEIGHBOURHOOD ECM 1896 (Barcode: 602498698150) ~ FRANCE ~ Jazz Recorded: 2004 Released: 2005 First recording on the legendary ECMFind albums on this label label by French / African (born in Ivory Coast) drummer / composer Manu KatchéFind albums by this artist, who established his international career in the 1980s when he played with Peter GabrielFind albums by this artist, StingFind albums by this artist and many others Rock stars. However, his true vocation is Jazz, as this spectacular album shows. Accompanied by a dreamy team of musicians: Norwegian saxophonist Jan GarbarekFind albums by this artist and legendary Polish trumpeter Tomasz StankoFind albums by this artist with two young players from his quartet - pianist Marcin WasilewskiFind albums by this artist and bassist Slawomir KurkiewiczFind albums by this artist; Katché presents ten original compositions, all written by him. The music is brilliant from start to finish, superbly performed by all the participants with Katché´s drumming, as unusual as it is for Jazz, adding a new dimension. African rhythms and pulsations play a major role in Katché´s drumming, but they are not aggressive and overly dominating, which is all for the best. Altogether this is a superb piece of music, full of heavenly moments and surprises. An absolute must! Visitors' Comments Christopher  Brice The playing, recording and production are outstandingly good, including the interplay between these wonderful musicians; but I have to say that the composition is not as interesting as we would expect on a Stanko or Garbarek album Christopher  Brice Something keeps drawing me back to this album despite the partly negative comment above, and I have even been tempted to try MK´s later Playground; This album really does have a special sound, but those little repetitive parts do irritate.

CD 1 Slipcase Recommend To A Friend

MANU KATCHÉ ~ PLAYGROUND ECM 2016 (Barcode: 602517373211) ~ FRANCE ~ Jazz Recorded: 2007 Released: 2007 2nd recording on the legendary ECMFind albums on this label label by French / African (born in Ivory Coast) drummer / composer Manu KatchéFind albums by this artist, who established his international career in the 1980s when he played with Peter GabrielFind albums by this artist, StingFind albums by this artist and many others Rock stars. However, his true vocation is Jazz, as this spectacular album shows. Accompanied by a dreamy team of young musicians: Norwegian trumpeter Mathias EickFind albums by this artist and saxophonist Trygve SeimFind albums by this artist and Polish pianist Marcin WasilewskiFind albums by this artist and bassist Slawomir KurkiewiczFind albums by this artist; Katché presents ten original compositions, all written by him. The music is brilliant from start to finish, superbly performed by all the participants with Katché´s drumming, as unusual as it is for Jazz, adding a new dimension. African rhythms and pulsations play a major role in Katché´s drumming, but they are not aggressive and overly dominating, which is all for the best. Altogether this is a superb piece of music, full of heavenly moments and surprises. An absolute must! Visitors' Comments Christopher  Brice My comments on MK´s Neighbourhood apply equally here: Wonderful playing, and Mr Eick sounds sufficiently like Mr Stanko in subdued mood that I had to double check the line-up; but the writing is not quite good enough to justify to the musical skills on hand in the studio.

CD 1 Slipcase Recommend To A Friend

MANU KATCHÉ ~ THIRD ROUND ECM 2156 (Barcode: 602527321318) ~ FRANCE ~ Jazz Recorded: 2009 Released: 2010 This is the third album for ECMFind albums on this label by French (born in Ivory Coast) drummer / composer Manu KatchéFind albums by this artist, recorded with a quartet, which features saxophonist Tore BrunborgFind albums by this artist, keyboardist Jason RebelloFind albums by this artist and bassist Pino PalladinoFind albums by this artist and two additional musicians participating on selected tracks: guitarist Jacob YoungFind albums by this artist and female vocalist / trumpeter Kami LyleFind albums by this artist. The album comprises of eleven original compositions, all by Katché, one of which also includes lyrics, written by Lyle. It is pretty obvious from the very first instant of this album that it presents a new concept, different from the two preceding albums, being completely "song" / melody oriented and only marginally Jazzy per se. The eleven tracks are all quite short (around four minutes in duration), very melodic and with limited space for improvisation. I´d speculate that this is probably the most "easy listening" album ever recorded for ECM. But apart from the fact that this is not a Jazz album, all the other aspects of this recording are all positive: the melodies are excellent, the execution perfect and completely professional, as is the usual ECM sound quality. Therefore this album simply should not be judged by the "usual" standards of hard core Jazz and with a little open-mindedness this is a very enjoyable piece of music, which delivers exactly what it aims to do: musical joy and fun!

CD 1 Slipcase Recommend To A Friend

DAVE KERMAN / 5UU`S ~ ABANDONSHIP CUNEIFORM 158 (Barcode: 045775015828) ~ USA ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 2000 - 2001 Released: 2002 6th album featuring again a completely revamped version of the group consisting mostly of young Israeli musicians and recorded in Israel, where Kerman resides now. Only the vocal parts were done by Thinking Plague singer Deborah Perry. Kerman proves again that he`s one of the most important figures in contemporary music and the music is as beautiful as ever.

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

	DAVE KERMAN / 5UU`S ~ CRISIS IN CLAY RER 5UU2 ~ USA ~ Progressive Rock 4th album from 1997 with the same lineup as the previous one. Yet another masterly executed musical experience with artistic and intellectual approach so rare among other 90`s musicians. Sadly under-appreciated and under-exposed, this is some of the best 20th century music.
	CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

	DAVE KERMAN / 5UU`S ~ HUNGER`S TEETH RER 5UU1 ~ USA ~ Progressive Rock 3rd album from 1994 by the reformed 5uu`s and with Bob Drake on vocals. Another masterpiece, as expected, with a clear direction showing the development of the music into the 90`s with modern sound and usage of electronics.
	CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

DAVE KERMAN / 5UU`S ~ POINT OF VIEWS CUNEIFORM 085 (Barcode: 045775008523) ~ USA ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 1984 - 1986 Released: 1996 One of the leaders of the RIO movement, drummer Dave KermanFind albums by this artist and his group 5uu`sFind albums by this artist are one of the finest representatives of this stream. This CD is a reissue of their first 2 albums: `Bel Marduk & Tiamat` from 1984 and `Elements` from 1986 and even some additional material. Absolutely essential listening.

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

	DAVE KERMAN / 5UU`S ~ REGARDING PURGATORIES CUNEIFORM 135 (Barcode: 045775013527) ~ USA ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 2000 Released: 2000 5th album from 2000 featuring a completely revamped version of the group and sounding better and more interesting then ever. It marks the 3rd incarnation of the band and a fresher, more edgy sound and direction, amazing as always. A modern masterpiece.
	CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

FRANZ KOGLMANN ~ L`HEURE BLEUE HATOLOGY 571 (Barcode: 752156057123) ~ AUSTRIA ~ Jazz Recorded: 1991 Released: 2003 This is a long overdue reissue of the beautiful album by Austrian trumpeter / composer Franz KoglmannFind albums by this artist, one of the most important representatives of European Free Jazz scene. The album includes two separate sessions, one with a quartet, which includes the wonderful veteran British clarinetist Tony CoeFind albums by this artist (definitely one of top world clarinet players), guitarist Burkhard StanglFind albums by this artist and bassist Klaus KochFind albums by this artist, and the other a duet with pianist Misha MengelbergFind albums by this artist. Most of the music is composed by Koglmann with a few compositions by other arranged by him. The album presents a wonderful atmosphere of melodic approach to modern Jazz, mixed with improvised passages and highly individualistic soloing. All the musicians perform beautifully, especially Coe, who has been my favorite for decades. This album is accessible to most Jazz listeners, well beyond the Free Jazz genre, as its gentle approach and deep aesthetics transcendent musical borders. Superb stuff!

CD 1 Mini-Sleeve Oversampling Remastered Recommend To A Friend

MATEUSZ KOLAKOWSKI / DAVE LIEBMAN ~ LIVE AT JAZZ STANDARD, NEW YORK FENOMMEDIA 009 (Barcode: 5907604327098) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2008 Released: 2009 This is a live recording captured at the NY Jazz Standard club by a duo comprising of young Polish Jazz pianist Mateusz KolakowskiFind albums by this artist and legendary American saxophonist Dave LiebmanFind albums by this artist. Although Kolakowski and Liebman were email buddies for quite a while, they actually met in person just a few moments before this music was recorded, which explains why the majority of the material is based on Jazz standards. Of the six pieces on this album, five are standards (one is even repeated twice, taken from two different sets) and the remaining one is a free on the spot improvisation. Kolakowski was at the time a Classical Music student and his Jazz tendencies were all self cultivated, which is quite apparent when listening to the music. He not only quotes Classical music themes but his entire approach to harmony and rhythm is strongly based in Classical music. This dichotomy between Classical music and Improvised music has certain charm, but is also a hindrance, which is hard to ignore. Liebman, on the other hand, is Godly, as always, with every note just in the right place and his virtuosity, taste and spirit of cooperation being impeccable. Since this is a duo album, the decisive factor is the way the two musicians perform together, rather than their individual statements. It seems that the fact this music works out one way or another is due only to the enormous experience and musicality of Liebman, who is able to cope with Kolakowski´s limitations, rather than the duo´s spiritual unity. Nevertheless the overall result is certainly entertaining and worth being listened two, especially in view of its "one of its kind" setting, which can also be educational. The fact that Liebman is always open to work with young and less experienced musicians is truly commendable.

CD 1 Mini-Sleeve Recommend To A Friend

DAWID KOSTKA QUARTET & CHICO FREEMAN ~ LIVE AT AQUANET JAZZ FESTIVAL, POZNAN 2016 NOT ON LABEL ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2016 Released: 2016 This is a live recording by a young Polish Jazz quartet led by guitarist / composer Dawid KostkaFind albums by this artist, which also includes pianist Jacek SzwajFind albums by this artist, bassist Damian KostkaFind albums by this artist and drummer Mateusz BrzostowskiFind albums by this artist. The quartet plays just on one track, which is an original composition by the leader. On the other four tracks the pianist, bassist and drummer are joined by the veteran American saxophonist / composer Chico FreemanFind albums by this artist and play two Freeman originals and two standards. There is also a bonus video track with another Freeman original. The first track presents an interesting composition by Kostka, which is very promising, but since it is just a sample of the quartet´s ability not much can seriously be said about it. The four quartet tracks with Freeman are American Bebop, which is absolutely corny and presents zero intellectual challenge to the listeners. Freeman plays very well of curse and so does Szwaj, but that kind of music was exploited already ad nauseam, and makes no sense to be recorded today. Of course such music still has a wide following, especially in America, but it contributes nothing to the development of the Jazz idiom. What a pity this album does not present the entire performance by the Dawid Kostka quartet playing their own music, and was sacrificed to present young Polish musicians playing along a Big American Star, which did them no good whatsoever!

Updated: 01/01/2017Posted: 01/01/2017

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

KRATOCHVIL / KOUBKOVA / ACKERMAN / KUCERA ~ ZNENI & SNENI STUDIO BUDIKOV 037 (Barcode: 8594159980372) ~ CZECH REPUBLIC ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 2018 Released: 2020 This is an album by four veteran musicians associated with the Czech Jazz scene: keyboardist Martin KratochvilFind albums by this artist, vocalist Jana KoubkovaFind albums by this artist, American (resident in Czech Republic) guitarist Tony AckermanFind albums by this artist and Czech (resident in Berlin) saxophonist Joe KuceraFind albums by this artist. The album presents eight spontaneously improvised original compositions, recorded during an unexpected recording session, credited two each to the four participants, according to which musician initiated the specific tune. Although the music seems very hesitant and fragile at first, the magic atmosphere of the session and the wonderful feel of freedom and invention win over and the music turns out to be a wonderful listening experience in retrospect. In contrast to most Improvised Music recordings, this session was not a race between the participants to show off, but a respectful and highly sympathetic series of “conversations”, which include Blues, Rock and Jazz sources and manage to be highly melodic. Each of the four participants is of course a master musician, and the album includes many wonderful instrumental improvisations, but the vocal parts by Koubkova easily steal the show. She is absolutely delightful, regardless if she sings lyrics, vocalese or just randomized vocal phrases, and she is the glue that holds this album together. Although initially not meant to be released commercially on an album, I support the decision to finally have this music out for the listeners to enjoy, as it is definitely worth it. The comradeship and the empathy between these veterans is truly inspiring, and the age seems to be no hindrance, au contraire the vast experience is evidently a great asset. Thanks for sharing!

Updated: 12/03/2021Posted: 12/03/2021

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

KARIN KROG / BERGEN BIG BAND / JOHN SURMAN ~ SEAGULL GRAPPA 4212 (Barcode: 7033662042128) ~ NORWAY ~ Big Band Jazz Recorded: 2005 Released: 2005 This is a brilliant album by Norwegian vocalist / songwriter Karin KrogFind albums by this artist, accompanied by the excellent Bergen Big BandFind albums by this artist, conducted by British saxophonist / composer John SurmanFind albums by this artist, who also adds a few soli on several of the tracks. The album presents twelve tracks, two of which are written by Krog, five are co-written by Krog and Surman, and the rest are Jazz standards. The arrangements are mostly by Surman, but four of them are by another Brit (well, born in Canada) John WarrenFind albums by this artist. The album was recorded by my Friend Jan Erik KongshaugFind albums by this artist, and offers a spectacular sound quality. The album presents two separate European Jazz collaborations, the first between Surman and the Bergen Big Band, which also produced the superb “Another SkyFind albums with this title” album from 2014, also released on the GrappaFind albums on this label label, and the second between Krog and Surman, which started in 1976 and produced a long series of albums created oved many decades. Considering the fact that Krog and Surman are two of my all-time favorite musicians, and the Jazz Big Band is one of my favorite Jazz idioms, this album is for me an absolute delight from start to finish. Krog, as I have already stated many times previously, is one of the finest interpreters of Jazz standards, as well as a great songwriter of her own right, and she has been active since the mid-1960s, i.e. for almost six decades now, never singing a wrong note since, and her idiosyncratic vocals are one of European Jazz best known secrets. Surman is of course a true Jazz Master in every respect and his accumulated achievements are second to none. The Bergen Big Band is also a great representative of the European orchestral music approach, and all of their recordings are definitely worth being checked out for lovers of that particular Jazz sub-genre. Active since 1993, it is one of best European Big Bands around, featuring some of the best musicians in the country and often inviting guests from abroad. Overall, this a brilliant album, which combines Big Band Jazz and Jazz vocals, which can hardly get any better. It showcases the unique talents of Krog and Surman, here also as arranger / conductor, in short a splendid display of talent and virtuosity. Absolutely breathtaking!

Updated: 27/01/2024Posted: 27/01/2024

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

KARIN KROG / JOHN SURMAN ~ BLUESAND MEANTIME 09 (Barcode: 7051070000097) ~ NORWAY ~ Jazz Recorded: 1999 Released: 1999 This is wonderful duo album by Norwegian vocalist Karin KrogFind albums by this artist and British multi-instrumentalist / composer John SurmanFind albums by this artist, one of many albums they recorded together since their first meeting on stage in 1978, mostly released on the ECMFind albums on this label label and MeantimeFind albums on this label Records, like this one, which is owned by Krog. The album presents twelve original compositions, co-credited to them both with lyrics by Krog. The album was recorded at the legendary Rainbow Studio in Oslo and engineered by Jan Erik KongshaugFind albums by this artist. The music is a wonderful amalgam of Jazz, Blues, Electronics, Nordic moods and above else elegance and good taste, which results in a unique listening experience. Krog sings lyrics and uses electronic devices and loops and Surman as usual switches between soprano and baritone saxes, clarinets, piano and synthesizers, creating a rich tapestry of sounds and feelings. Each and every one of the compositions is a gem, combining Krog’s vocals with layers of instrumental improvisations by Surman, and although completely coherent as a whole the compositions present a diversity of musical capsules, each and every one as if originating in a different universe. Overall this is a masterly conceived and executed piece of music in the “Art of the Duo” idiom, which exemplifies the power of minimalism. In his work with Krog, Surman always displays a different personality than on his solo or ensemble works as a leader, showing the gentler, almost romantic facet of his musical charisma. For British Jazz enthusiasts, this album offers some of Surman’s best work, Norwegian Jazz fans need no introductions and the album is simply a sweet reminder of how superb music can become in hands if intelligent and highly talented musicians. Not to be missed and every bit as great as it was at the time of its release.

Updated: 29/08/2021Posted: 13/04/2021

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

KARIN KROG / JOHN SURMAN ~ CLOUD LINE BLUE MEANTIME 11 (Barcode: 7051070000110) ~ NORWAY ~ Jazz Recorded: 1976 Released: 2004 This is a reissue of the debut album by the fabulous duo of Norwegian vocalist / composer Karin KrogFind albums by this artist and British saxophonist / composer John SurmanFind albums by this artist. The music was recorded in London in 1976, with the participation of keyboardist Janet CookeFind albums by this artist and drummer Stu MartinFind albums by this artist. Surman composed or co-composed all the music with Krog and Martin and played a plethora of analog synthesizers in addition to playing saxophones. The album presents seven tracks, all featuring lyrics by Paul RowlandsFind albums by this artist. The music waited for another three years to be mixed, eventually done by Jan Erik KongshaugFind albums by this artist in Oslo and released in 1979. The album was also released in Poland on the PoljazzFind albums on this label label. The music is absolutely stunning, completely unique and revolutionary, so much so, that listening to it today, forty-five years after it was recorded, I experienced goosebumps. Krog’s idiosyncratic vocals and vocalese and Surman’s improvisations, are completely inimitable. The most astounding quality of the music is its deeply melodic feel despite the Avant-Garde exterior, which in retrospect characterizes both Krog and Surman for the entire duration of their respective careers. I vividly remember hearing this music live at the time, as well as haring the duo several times over time, always being completely taken over by the magic they managed to create together. Some musicians are obviously destined to play together, creating a result far greater than just the sum of its parts. This album, and the further recordings by this duo, are all gems and deserve to be heard, especially since they are all absolutely timeless. It is great that Karen manages to reissue all her recordings on her MeantimeFind albums on this label label, keeping them alive, as they would have disappeared into the depth of the abyss of forgotten music, if it was up to the Major labels. This album remains to be a giant step in European Jazz and deserves an honorable place in every serious record collection!

Updated: 07/06/2021Posted: 07/06/2021

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

KARIN KROG / JOHN SURMAN ~ INFINITE PATHS MEANTIME 23 (Barcode: 7041880102326) ~ NORWAY ~ Jazz Recorded: 2014 Released: 2015 This is the fourth album by the iconic Jazz duo comprising of Norwegian vocalist Karin KrogFind albums by this artist and British saxophonist John SurmanFind albums by this artist. John’s son Ben SurmanFind albums by this artist added some electronic effects and aural layers and made the live recording of a concert in Oslo, which was later mastered by the legendary sound engineer Jan Erik KongshaugFind albums by this artist. The album presents seven tracks, all original composition / improvisations by the duo. The music is absolutely stunning, moving between songs and improvisations and keeping a perfectly coherent musical atmosphere. The mixture of the Nordic climate and Surman’s highly ambient vistas, Krog’s idiosyncratic vocals and the electronically synthesized sounds works out perfectly, resulting in a wonderful flow of emotions, that is captivating and enchanting. Although highly improvised, the music maintains a highly melodic basis, which allows the listener to focus on the details without losing the thread and direction. In many respects this album revisits the early days of the Krog / Surman duo, which started some four decades earlier. Krog is definitely at her utmost best when improvising freely, which she does most of the time on this album. Overall, this is a brilliant example of the “Art of the Duo” idiom and one of the best albums in Krog’s long and impressive recorded legacy. Same goes for Surman of course, and his many fans will find him at his absolute top herein. European Jazz lovers should find this album absolutely essential piece of the puzzle!

Updated: 01/09/2021Posted: 01/09/2021

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

KARIN KROG / JOHN SURMAN ~ SONGS ABOUT THIS AND THAT MEANTIME 20 (Barcode: 7041880102029) ~ NORWAY ~ Jazz Recorded: 2013 Released: 2013 This is the third album (well third under the duo moniker but they recorded together many times over the years) by the fabulous duo of Norwegian vocalist / composer Karin KrogFind albums by this artist and British saxophonist / composer John SurmanFind albums by this artist. This time they are accompanied by Norwegian musicians: guitarist Bjorn KlakeggFind albums by this artist, vibraphonist Ivar KolveFind albums by this artist, bassist Terje GeweltFind albums by this artist and drummer Tom OlstadFind albums by this artist. The album presents nine tracks, all co-composed by Krog and Surman. The music was recorded by Jan Erik KongshaugFind albums by this artist at the Rainbow Studio in Oslo with the usual stunning sound quality. The music is wonderful, as always, but this time completely mainstream oriented. Krog sings the lyrics of the songs in a pretty straightforward manner, and Surman, who plays mostly baritone sax and bass clarinet, soloes beautifully, but conventionally, as do all the members of the band. For Krog and Surman followers this might come as a surprise, as their work together was mostly characterized by exploring the boundaries of the Jazz idiom. Having said that, this is still a most refined and wonderful musical experience, which offers a superb listening experience. All the instrumental performances are highly inspired and perfectly executed, and Krog’s idiosyncratic voice lost nothing of its beauty and charm over time, and she has few contenders as far as dramatic delivery is concerned. Overall the album is a beautiful gift of music, which is always welcome from these two great Artists. Back to the roots can be truly exciting, as this album convincingly proves!

Updated: 14/06/2021Posted: 14/06/2021

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

JOACHIM KUHN & JAN AKKERMAN ~ LIVE! IN-AKUSTIK 868 (Barcode: 4001985008681) ~ GERMANY ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 1979 Released: 2000 This is a reissue / remaster of a live album by a duo comprising of two legendary European musicians: German Jazz pianist / composer Joachim KuhnFind albums by this artist and Dutch Rock guitarist / composer Jan AkkermanFind albums by this artist (co-founder of FocusFind albums by this artist). The album presents just two tracks, which are different interpretations of the same composition by Kuhn, recorded several weeks apart during the duo’s 1979 European tour, twelve and twenty-one minutes in duration respectively. The music is a superb example of Improvised Music, which combines Jazz and Rock improvisation “under one roof”, which was quite popular in Europe the 1970s. Kuhn and Akkerman played together on various occasions earlier on, and the duo concerts were a culmination of their musical cooperation. The idea to present two versions of the same composition, separated by just a few weeks of playing the tune repeatedly, shows how music develops as a result of being performed and shared intimately, especially so if improvisation is at the focus. The album is also a great document of Rock Improvisation, which is quite different from Jazz-Rock Fusion, and which goes back to the 1960s, especially to British Rock, which included Rock Improvisation (unrelated to Jazz), for example in the concert recordings of groups like CreamFind albums by this artist or ColosseumFind albums by this artist. Overall, this is a fascinating and relatively little known album by two great musicians, who present inter-genre cooperation at its best. Both are virtuosos of their instruments, which is clearly evident herein, and the “Art of the Duo” idiom suits this beautiful album perfectly. Not easy to find by definitely worth finding a copy!

Updated: 16/08/2024Posted: 16/08/2024

CD 1 Remastered Recommend To A Friend

STEPHAN KURMANN / STRINGS ~ PLAY HERMETO PASCOAL NOT ON LABEL (Barcode: 725095020084) ~ SWITZERLAND ~ Jazz-World Fusion Recorded: 2006 - 2007 Released: 2008 5th album by the excellent Swiss ensemble StringsFind albums by this artist, led by bassist Stephan KurmannFind albums by this artist, which is a nonet with a Jazz quintet (saxophone, trombone, bass, drums and percussion) and a string quartet. The ensemble has a history of recording works of the highest quality, usually thematic, and this album is no exception. The entire album is dedicated to the music of the great Brazilian Master Hermeto PascoalFind albums by this artist, whose music is featured here exclusively. The arrangements were made by a long time Pascoal´s associate musician, Jovino Santos NetoFind albums by this artist, and Pascoal himself adds a guest appearance on one track. Pascoal´s music has been always one of my big favorites, but this new approach to the music adds a completely new angle and makes it even more fascinating. This is perfect marriage between the European, African and South / North American musical traditions, mixing Classical, Jazz and Samba / Bossa at their most glorious and eloquent epiphanies. I can hardly describe the thrill this music send down my spine, I guess experiencing it is the only way to go about it. If you love challenging, intelligent, far-reaching and unusual music, do yourself a favor and grab this beauty – satisfaction guaranteed!

CD 1 Mini-Sleeve Recommend To A Friend

KUTIMAN ~ KUTIMAN MELTING POT 047 (Barcode: 673793304725) ~ ISRAEL ~ Jazz-World Fusion Recorded: 2005 Released: 2007 1st album by young Israeli composer / multi-instrumentalist Ophir KutielFind albums by this artist a.k.a. KutimanFind albums by this artist. Although the young generation of Israeli musicians active in the 21st Century already proved time and again that they are capable of producing some amazing music in the Electronic, Rock, Prog and Jazz genres (as witnessed on the numerous CDs found on my site), most of them are deeply influenced by the European classical music tradition and American Rock and Jazz. What the local scene lacks (or rather lacked until this album) almost completely is music, which boasts groove, such as Funk, Soul or Afro-beat. Therefore this album comes as such a delightful surprise, filling the missing gap completely. This Jewish boychik has enough groove to shake the entire country’s butt and a soul as black as the heart of Africa. Of course it all didn’t come from thin air – Ophir did a lot of listening to the right kind of music, which can be traced (but only as influences, not as imitations) in his music: Sly & The Family StoneFind albums by this artist (There’s A Riot Goin’ OnFind albums with this title), Herbie HancockFind albums by this artist’s late 1970’s Funk explorations, late Miles DavisFind albums by this artist (TutuFind albums with this title), African Master musician Fela KutiFind albums by this artist (obvious name reference here) and a lot of Ambient, Lounge and Psychedelic music. All these influences come together, and Ophir’s individual approach glues them into a new and fascinating amalgam. This music although far from trivial or simplistic, hits you right in the place where your soul happens to be located and engulfs you completely, making your body to sway in the process. Although Ophir plays most of the instruments on the album, which BTW is also brilliantly produced, he invited some local musicians and vocalists to take part. These include members of the local Funk band Funk’n’steinFind albums by this artist and the local diva KarolinaFind albums by this artist. Whatever your musical preferences, this music just can’t leave you cold, and if it does (God forbid) then you probably have no soul at all. Absolutely great fun!

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

PIOTR LEMANCZYK ~ AMHRAN SOLITON 267 (Barcode: 5901571092676) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2013 Released: 2013 Polish Jazz bassist / composer Piotr LemanczykFind albums by this artist is a household name on the local scene and over the years he gained a considerable reputation as one of the most talented, versatile, dependable and imaginative bass players around. His numerous recordings in the last decade present a musician of many faces, who feels completely comfortable playing Free Jazz, melodic lyrical mainstream Jazz and anything in between. This album finds Lemanczyk in a trio setting, with US (British born) saxophonist Seamus BlakeFind albums by this artist and Polish drummer Jacek KochanFind albums by this artist, playing mostly music he composed. Of the eight compositions present on the album seven are by Lemanczyk and the remaining one is by Kochan. The music is free-spirited and open, not Free Jazz per se, as it is based on pre-composed themes, but it emphasizes the improvisations, focusing on them rather than on the melodic or even harmonic backbone. Naturally the saxophone stands in the centre of attention, but a careful listener will notice immediately that this is first and foremost a collective performance, which never falls back into a soloist / rhythm section situation, like most other saxophone trio recordings. Although Lemanczyk solos as well, his most significant contribution is simply playing along with his cohorts, demonstrating ears wide open and undivided attention and respect towards his partners. The drums often take a step back on this album, which leaves the dialog between the saxophone and bass as the centerpiece of this beautiful music. I wonder if other listeners will share my view that this album is largely atypical as far as Polish Jazz is concerned. That omnipresent lyricism / intrinsic melancholy, that is the trademark of Polish Jazz, is almost completely gone herein. If I listened to this music blindfolded, I´d most probably deduce that this is an American album. It is difficult to pinpoint exactly why, but the way the saxophonist improvises and Lemanczyk / Kochan respond is a classic example of contemporary American Jazz characteristics. Any way one looks at (or rather listens to) this music, one thing is apparent: this is masterly conceived and superbly executed stuff, which has so much to offer that even an experienced Jazz connoisseur will need to contemplate and absorb this music for a while in order to fully comprehend it. There is simply to much aesthetic beauty here to be taken in at one go. One can only hope this music will reach as many appreciative listeners as it truly deserves. This album is an absolute must for all Polish Jazz fans and any serious Jazz buff anywhere on this planet should be able to enjoy this music to the fullest, even if it will take more than one listening session to get there. Wholeheartedly recommended!

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

PIOTR LEMANCZYK ~ FOLLOW THE SOUL ALLEGRO 006 ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2002 Released: 2003 This is the debut album as a leader by Polish Jazz bassist / composer Piotr LemanczykFind albums by this artist. It was recorded by several different lineups, mostly quartets, with the following participants: saxophonists Janusz MuniakFind albums by this artist, Przemek DyakowskiFind albums by this artist, Wojciech StaroniewiczFind albums by this artist, Maciej SikalaFind albums by this artist and Dariusz HerbaszFind albums by this artist, guitarist Maciej GrzywaczFind albums by this artist, vibraphonist Dominik BukowskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Tomasz SowinskiFind albums by this artist. Of the seven tracks on the album, six are original compositions by Lemanczyk and one is a standard. The music is kept well within the modern Jazz mainstream, but the excellent compositions and performances create a superb piece of Jazz music, which should satisfy every sensitive listener. The use of the vibraphone instead of the usual piano gives the entire recording a "cool" ambience, which suits the music perfectly. The leader gets several solo spots, which emphasize his beautiful tone and sensitivity, rather than needless pyrotechnics. As usual with Polish Jazz albums, the music is the center of the attention, in spite of the truly excellent playing, which is beyond reproach from start to finish. The melodic content and the rhythmic structures are simply incredible and a source of real joy. Overall this album is a perfect example of what mainstream Jazz is all about and should be greatly enjoyed by any Jazz connoisseur anywhere in the world. Highly recommended!

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

PIOTR LEMANCZYK ~ IN SIMPLICITY SOLITON 670 (Barcode: 5901571096704) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2019 Released: 2020 As hard as it is to believe, this is the first piano trio album by veteran Polish Jazz bass virtuoso / composer Piotr LemanczykFind albums by this artist. He combined forces with two top local musicians, pianist Dominik WaniaFind albums by this artist and drummer Michal MiskiewiczFind albums by this artist, and recorded eight original compositions, all created by him, which are presented here. The album offers superb sound quality, which for piano trio recordings is an essential part of the entire artistic experience. For people familiar with Lemanczyk´s recording career as a leader and sideman this album is about to change the entire perception of his musical persona. His traditional association with mainstream Jazz, always wonderfully creative and sublimely executed, is however completely shattered here, with his unforeseen venture into modern Jazz, very open and often startlingly full of Free Form vistas. The music is still very well behaved of course (admittedly to a trained ear), with distinct melody motifs and stable rhythmic backbone, but the piano parts float freely on the wings of the imagination, taking the listener on an emotional rollercoaster ride. It is probably not a wild guess to assume that Wania´s presence is the decisive factor influencing the character of this music. His charismatic, almost magical musical mastery turns everything he touches into instant musical gold, and this album is just one of many examples of Wania´s artistry. He is undoubtedly a force of Nature and a most significant Polish Jazz musician to arrive on the scene in the last decade. The piano playing on this album is an absolute pinnacle of modern Jazz. Lemanczyk not only offers his brilliant compositions, but also performs some hair-raising bass soli throughout the album´s duration, which combine his virtuosity, sublime feel of melody and improvisation aesthetics, which are very rarely found within one person. Since he is after all the leader, his bass parts are more frequent and expanded than one would usually find on a piano trio album, all for the best of course. Miskiewicz, assuredly a Master drummer, is one of the most diverse players on the Polish scene, with a most impressive recording legacy. But he is, to me, first and foremost an ideal "third leg" in a piano trio setting, which of course is already quite obvious to Jazz listeners familiar with his career so far. His performances are, as expected, nothing short of brilliant, full of inventiveness, and most importantly the precise dynamics, which is so important in the delicate piano trio setting. Overall this is an amazing album, a wonderful breath of fresh air, which makes one´s head dizzy at first but euphoric for the duration. Playing on "repeat" (happens very rarely in my case) this music gets better with every spin, as hard as it is to believe. It seems I already have my Polish Jazz album of the years for 2020. Don´t you dare to miss it!!!

Updated: 19/05/2020Posted: 19/05/2020

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

PIOTR LEMANCZYK ~ NAHA PEOPLE SOLITON 122 (Barcode: 5907577112233) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2009 Released: 2009 This is a wonderful album by Polish Jazz bassist / composer Piotr LemanczykFind albums by this artist, recorded in a quartet setting with American trumpeter Tim HagansFind albums by this artist and Polish vibraphonist Dominik BukowskiFind albums by this artist and veteran drummer Kazimierz JonkiszFind albums by this artist. On three tracks the lineup is expanded to a quintet with the inclusion of saxophonist Maciej SikalaFind albums by this artist. The album presents seven original compositions, all by Lemanczyk. The music is a brilliant example of modern Polish Jazz at its best, with superb compositions full of lyricism and elegance, as always in the case of Lemanczyk. Although within the mainstream idiom, the compositions allow for a degree of Freedom, which allows the soloists and the entire ensemble to float around the harmony and the rhythmic patterns, adding an element of surprise and curiosity. Although at the time of writing the album is nine years old, it sounds completely fresh and lost absolutely nothing of its vitality. The individual statements are all excellent, as appropriate for musicians of this class. Hagans plays amazing staccato phrases and his clear tone and articulation are exemplary. I am pretty sure that the unusual lineup and Lemanczyk´s brilliant compositions are able to squeeze more out of him than his work within an American environment, which explains why he tends to play extensively with Europeans. Bukowski stays mostly in the background, although of course his playing always deserves to be up front, setting the harmonic layer for the music. His almost brotherly cooperation with Lemanczyk is an obvious bond of respect and complementation. Jonkisz elegantly drives the quartet / quintet with a firm hand and a gentle, respectful attitude of a true. Sikala adds some superb soloing on the tracks he is featured. Lemanczyk´s playing is of course excellent as always, both as part of the rhythm section and as a soloist, and this album, as all his recordings, show why he is considered one of the absolute top Polish / European bassist. His compositions are equally impressive, beautifully woven and always coherent, with a touch of elegance and flair that only the most skillful Jazz composers are blessed with. Overall this is, in retrospect, a classic Polish Jazz album, which deserves much more respect and attention that it received at the time of its release. Wholeheartedly recommended for all Polish Jazz fans and European Jazz connoisseurs, as an essential piece of the puzzle called Polish Jazz!

Updated: 17/06/2018Posted: 17/06/2018

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

PIOTR LEMANCZYK ELECTRIC BAND ~ INHERITED DREAM NOT ON LABEL (Barcode: 198004805995) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 2022 Released: 2023 This is the second album by Polish Jazz bassist / composer Piotr LemanczykFind albums by this artist under the Electric BandFind albums by this artist moniker, this time as a basic trio with guitarist Marcin WadolowskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Tomasz LosowskiFind albums by this artist, expanded to a quartet with the addition of pianist Leszek MozdzerFind albums by this artist. Vocalists Hanna-Sosnowska-BillFind albums by this artist and Natalia Capelik MuiangaFind albums by this artist guest each on one track. The album presents eleven original compositions, ten composed by Lemanczyk and one co-composed with Mozdzer. In the last few years Lemanczyk seems to prefer the (six strings) electric bass guitar over the acoustic bass, and his recordings become consistently more Fusion oriented, leaving Jazz behind. This album continues this new direction and offers a series of melodic compositions, performed by the quartet, with the electric bass at the very epicenter of things. Lemanczyk is a great virtuoso beyond any doubt, and the only question remains if this is enough to keep things to hold water. There is no doubt that Wadolowski refined his guitar playing over time and he adds some excellent soloing on this album and Losowski is a superb drummer with great experience and technique, who keeps this album rhythmically together. But Mozdzer seems to have kidnapped the music completely, adding his piano parts, which are hardly appropriate to the Fusiony environment, with his usual “as many notes per second as humanly possible” approach. Mozdzer’s lyrics to the song he co-composed with Lemanczyk don’t help to clear the confusion as well. As a result, the music loses its focus time after time and sadly the album, despite its potential, does not manage to create a cohesive musical massage. Overall, although offering some amazing bass guitar performances by the leader and great support by the guitarist and drummer, the album succumbs to overproduction and studio manipulation, lack of artistic vison and way too many piano notes. I miss the old Lemanczyk…

Updated: 06/04/2023Posted: 06/04/2023

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

PIOTR LEMANCZYK QUART-ER ~ LIVE IN KLUB ZAK SOLITON 580 (Barcode: 5901571095806) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2016 Released: 2016 This is a live recording by a quartet led by Polish Jazz bassist / composer Piotr LemanczykFind albums by this artist, which features three American Jazz musicians: saxophonist Walter Smith IIIFind albums by this artist, pianist David KikoskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Colin StranahanFind albums by this artist. Polish trombonist Grzegorz NagorskiFind albums by this artist joins the quartet on three tracks, expanding the lineup to a quintet. The album presents seven tunes, six of which are original compositions by Lemanczyk and one is a standard. Although Lemanczyk is definitely one of my favorite contemporary Polish Jazz musicians / composers, this album leaves me with mixed feelings, especially in comparison to his earlier recordings as a leader or sideman. Obviously since the majority of the players on this album are American, the music has almost nothing to do with Polish Jazz and should not be considered as such. Even the compositions by Lemanczyk are not able to save the day, and overall this sounds as just like one of thousands of American Jazz recordings which flood the market and are then immediately forgotten. Of course these musicians can all play very well and have been doing so since many years, but on the other hand they have been playing the same post-Bebop stuff since their student days at the Berklee College of Music (well just two of the Americans studied there). This album might have been recorded anytime between now and fifty years ago, and we wouldn´t be able to tell the difference. In short I can understand the desire to play with renowned musicians, but the fact that those musicians come from the mainstream American scene might prove to be a drawback rather than an advantage. Of course fans of mainstream American Jazz will find this album as exciting as anything else in that genre, and the two Polish musicians play at least as good as the Americans, if not better. Considering the excellent recording quality and the nice tunes by Lemanczyk, this is still an album worth listening to, but hardly anything that will change the Jazz idiom.

Updated: 31/12/2016Posted: 31/12/2016

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

PIOTR LEMANCZYK / QUARTET NORTH ~ BALTIC DANCE SOLITON 387 (Barcode: 5901571093871) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2014 Released: 2014 Polish bassist / composer Piotr LemanczykFind albums by this artist keeps producing beautiful music with a staggering regularity, albeit constantly changing the lineups, the musicians and the instrumentation. This project finds him in a pianoless quartet with trumpeter Emil MiszkFind albums by this artist, saxophonist Szymon LukowskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Slawomir KoryznoFind albums by this artist. The album presents nine original compositions, all by Lemanczyk, three of which feature a string quartet accompanying the Jazz quartet. As the album´s title suggests, Lukowski is a proud representative of the Polish Jazz scene active on the shore of the Baltic Sea, mostly around Gdansk, as are all three of his partners in this project. Over the years the Baltic scene produced some of the finest Polish Jazz achievements. In my review of the previous album by Lemanczyk, called "AmhranFind albums with this title", I mentioned that the music sounded American, i.e. different from the typical Polish Jazz, which has rather strong identity easily recognizable by a trained ear. This time the music again sounds atypical as far as Polish Jazz is concerned, and sounds pretty much like Scandinavian Jazz, which after all is created around the Baltic Sea as well. Of course these regional similarities are not meant to suggest a lack of originality, au contraire, Lemanczyk creates completely original music, and it is only the overall atmosphere that suggests a mindset typical to Jazz produced outside of Poland. All these superb compositions are a wonderful vehicle for the players to show their abilities. Szymon Lukowski is the biggest surprise here, as his playing on other Polish Jazz recordings, including his debut eponymous album, was rather restrained and unremarkable, and here he sounds like a complete different person, with highly expressive and emotional solos and a beautiful affinity towards the music, including his excellent bass clarinet parts. Emil Miszk justified the position as one of the upcoming Polish Jazz trumpeters (although the competition in that department is unbelievably tough) and blows some truly impressive licks. Slawomir Koryzno stays mostly in the background, but keeps the music flowing steadily, with grace, with an occasional solo spot, which he manages quite well. Of course Lemanczyk is a power of Nature and his virtuosi bass lines are not only the backbone of this music but also its soul and intrinsic power. This is modern Jazz at its best, with great tunes wonderfully performed by gifted musicians, who have no reason to feel any less worthy than their counterparts anywhere else in the world. This is elegant, intelligent music, which flows slowly, but reaches the deepest corners of the listener´s soul. It’s a privilege to be able to enjoy this music, which deserves to be discovered and championed as much as any true piece of Art. Well done indeed!

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

DAVE LIEBMAN ~ BACK ON THE CORNER MASCOT 7219 (Barcode: 8712725721925) ~ USA ~ Jazz Recorded: 2006 Released: 2007 In June of 1972 Miles Davis entered the studio to record one of the most radical statements of his entire career – the legendary On The Corner album. Moving further away from conventional jazz, this music was all about funk and groove, based on hypnotic bass riffs. Miles used an extended group of musicians on this session, some of them “Miles veterans” (McLaughlin, Corea, Hancock) and others “Miles first-timers”, including the saxophonist Dave Liebman. Playing with Miles was of course an event, which would jump-start Liebman’s career, who was in time to become one of the finest American jazz players of all times. 34 years later Liebman returns to these sessions with fond memories and pays tribute to the Master by recording this excellent album. Using his regular quartet (Vic Juris – guitar, Tony Marino – bass and Marko Marcinko – drums) and strengthened by ex Miles Davis sideman Mike Stern and legendary bassist Anthony Jackson, Liebman recreates the atmosphere of the On The Corner sessions splendidly. Liebman wrote most of the music, but he also uses two Miles-penned tunes from that album (“Black Satin” and “Ife”) to emphasize the connection. Everything works like magic here: the music is beautiful, the musicians excellent and the grooves are able to wake the dead. It’s been quite a while since I had such a good time with a new jazz album. Do yourself a huge favor and grab this ASAP.

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

DAVE LIEBMAN ~ COLORS HATOLOGY 600 (Barcode: 752156060024) ~ USA ~ Jazz Recorded: 1998 Released: 2003 Although rarely in the limelight, American saxophonist / composer Dave LiebmanFind albums by this artist has been one of the most consistently outstanding Jazz musicians in the last four decades. From his recordings with Miles DavisFind albums by this artist in the early stages of his career and later on as a leader of his own groups, his outstanding contribution to modern music is unquestionable. His stylistic versatility, deeply aesthetic approach to music as an Art Form and obvious virtuosity, all these combined with his charming personality (which I´ve been privileged to witness first hand) amalgamate into a unique and exceptional Artist. This album presents Liebman "in flagrante delicto", metaphorically making love to his instrument while performing a set of solo pieces. Unaccompanied solo performances are always the "naked truth", which exposes the artist totally and is completely unforgiving towards any attempts to fake artistry. Liebman has nothing to hide of course; on the contrary his solo statements are even more powerful than his performances with other musicians. This is his second solo recording, preceded by the album "The TreeFind albums with this title" recorded in the early 1990s. As usual, Liebman forays into uncharted territory with his beautiful vistas, charming the listener like a snake trainer and keeping him in trace. This incredible music, in spite of being potentially difficult, works like a charm and I can´t imagine any sensitive listener not falling under its spell. Brilliant stuff!

CD 1 Mini-Sleeve Oversampling Recommend To A Friend

DAVE LIEBMAN ~ THE DISTANCE RUNNER HATOLOGY 628 (Barcode: 752156062820) ~ USA ~ Jazz Recorded: 2004 Released: 2005 Although rarely in the limelight, American saxophonist / composer Dave LiebmanFind albums by this artist has been one of the most consistently outstanding Jazz musicians in the last four decades. From his recordings with Miles DavisFind albums by this artist in the early stages of his career and later on as a leader of his own groups, his outstanding contribution to modern music is unquestionable. His stylistic versatility, deeply aesthetic approach to music as an Art Form and obvious virtuosity, all these combined with his charming personality (which I´ve been privileged to witness first hand) amalgamate into a unique and exceptional Artist. This album presents Liebman "in flagrante delicto", metaphorically making love to his instruments (soprano and tenor saxophones and flute) while performing a set of solo pieces live at the Willisau Jazz Festival (Switzerland). Unaccompanied solo performances are always the "naked truth", which exposes the artist totally and is completely unforgiving towards any attempts to fake artistry. Liebman has nothing to hide of course; on the contrary his solo statements are even more powerful than his performances with other musicians. This is his third solo recording, preceded by the album "The TreeFind albums with this title" recorded in the early 1990s and "ColorsFind albums with this title" recorded in 1998. As usual, Liebman forays into uncharted territory with his beautiful vistas, charming the listener like a snake trainer and keeping him in trace. This incredible music, in spite of being potentially difficult, works like a charm and I can´t imagine any sensitive listener not falling under its spell. Brilliant stuff!

CD 1 Mini-Sleeve Oversampling 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

DAVE LIEBMAN / ELLERY ESKELIN ~ RENEWAL HATOLOGY 654 (Barcode: 752156065425) ~ USA ~ Jazz Recorded: 2007 Released: 2008 2nd 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, mostly written by the ensemble members with the exception of one tune composed by Eric DolphyFind albums by this artist, 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

HANS LUDEMANN / TRANSEUROPEEXPRESS ENSEMBLE / MAJID BEKKAS ~ ON THE EDGES 1 BMC 292 (Barcode: 5998309302923) ~ GERMANY ~ Jazz-World Fusion Recorded: 2019 Released: 2022 This is an album by the French-German octet called TransEuropeExpress EnsembleFind albums by this artist, led by pianist Hans LudemannFind albums by this artist, which features the Moroccan musician / composer / singer / multi-instrumentalist Majid BekkasFind albums by this artist. The album presents ten tracks, six composed by Ludemann, one by Bekkas, two co-composed by Bekkas and Ludemann and once by saxophonist Alexandra GrimalFind albums by this artist. As the title suggests, this is the first of a series of recordings by the ensemble, which incorporate elements originating from outside, but bordering with the European cultural zone, this time from across the Mediterranean, the North African Gnawa tradition, which Master Bekkas impersonates with every aspect of his music making: vocals, oud, guembri or any other instrument he touches, as well as his compositions of course. The music manages to amalgamate the European musical tradition with the West African musical tradition in a most natural way imaginable, using the freedom and open-mindedness of Jazz and improvisation as a common ground. The resulting music sounds completely intuitive and genuine, which of course is a great success of this project. Ludemann’s compositions are all brilliant and the ensemble performs the music with finesse and gusto, which results in a wonderful aesthetic musical experience. Bekkas finds a way to incorporate his instrumental parts into the ensemble performances not only on his compositions, but also on the compositions by Ludemann, which is hardly surprising considering his vast experience of playing with European musicians. His flexibility and personality make him always an ideal partner in such mutual adventures. The album was released by the Hungarian BMCFind albums on this label Records, one of the most ambitious European Jazz / Improvised Music labels, which surely deserves a wider recognition among challenging music fans around the world with their solid catalogue build carefully over the years. Overall, this is a brilliant example of Jazz-World Fusion, which respectfully combines seeming alien musical traditions into a new amalgam, which proves that music is completely borderless and finding the common roots is only up to the musicians. Wholeheartedly recommended.

Updated: 09/03/2022Posted: 09/03/2022

CD 1 Mini-Sleeve Recommend To A Friend

MAMAN / JOHN GREAVES ~ IN AND OUT OF LIFE RESURGENCE 148 ~ FRANCE ~ Progressive Rock Veteran singer / writer John Greaves and the French Avant-Rock band Maman combine forces to create on of the most surprising and outstanding albums released recently (2005). Imagine a very dark KC with a dash of Anekdoten and mixed up with Henry Cow - this is as far this music can possibly be described. RIO fans should have a feast with this, but in fact every music loving person should be very stimulated by this. Definitely worth trying out!

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

MANAL ~ EL LEON SONY BMG 741539 (Barcode: 886974153924) ~ ARGENTINA ~ Blues-Rock Recorded: 1970 Released: 2008 This is the 2nd album by the great Argentinean Blues-Rock trio ManalFind albums by this artist, which consisted of guitarist Claudio GabisFind albums by this artist, bassist / vocalist Alejandro MedinaFind albums by this artist and drummer Javier MartinezFind albums by this artist. The group was one of the founders and pioneers of Argentinean Rock and was often referred to as the "Argentinean CreamFind albums by this artist" due to the stylistic similarity. The music, which was written mostly by Martinez, was performed with passion and a lot of technical skill. The guitar improvisations were quite Jazzy at times and always very imaginative. In retrospect this is a great gem, not only of the Argentinean scene but the entire early South American Rock history. Losing absolutely nothing of its magic and energy over time, this is till a great listen today, worthy of any serious album collection. A must!

CD 1 Digipak Remastered Recommend To A Friend

MANAL ~ MANAL SONY BMG 738049 (Barcode: 886973804926) ~ ARGENTINA ~ Blues-Rock Recorded: 1970 Released: 2008 This is the 1st album by the great Argentinean Blues-Rock trio ManalFind albums by this artist, which consisted of guitarist Claudio GabisFind albums by this artist, bassist / vocalist Alejandro MedinaFind albums by this artist and drummer Javier MartinezFind albums by this artist. The group was one of the founders and pioneers of Argentinean Rock and was often referred to as the "Argentinean CreamFind albums by this artist" due to the stylistic similarity. The music, which was written mostly by Martinez, was performed with passion and a lot of technical skill. The guitar improvisations were quite Jazzy at times and always very imaginative. In retrospect this is a great gem, not only of the Argentinean scene but the entire early South American Rock history. Losing absolutely nothing of its magic and energy over time, this is till a great listen today, worthy of any serious album collection. A must!

CD 1 Digipak Remastered Recommend To A Friend

MANDALABAND ~ THE EYE OF WENDOR: PROPHECIES ECLECTIC 1004 ~ UK ~ Progressive Rock A wonderful concept album by a `vistual` one-off group created especially for this project. Conceived and recorded at Strawberry Studios in Stockport between 1976 and 1977 by producer David Rohl, `The Eye of Wendor` features musical and vocal appearances by Barclay James Harvest, 10cc, Justin Hayward (The Moody Blues), Maddy Prior (Steeleye Span), Noel Redding (Jimi Hendrix Experience), Sad Café and the Hallé Orchestra. The Tolkein-esque conceptual work appeals to collectors of all the guest performers and is a long sought after rarity.

CD 1 Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend

HARVEY MANDEL ~ LIVE AT BROADWAY STUDIOS – SAN FRANCISCO ROCK BEAT 3366 (Barcode: 089353336622) ~ USA ~ Blues-Rock Recorded: 2001 Released: 2018 This is an archival live album by legendary American Blues guitarist / composer Harvey MandelFind albums by this artist, recorded with keyboardist Dave ScottFind albums by this artist, bassist Joe DevitoFind albums by this artist and drummer John UlenFind albums by this artist. The album presents ten tracks, all of which are original compositions by Mandel, including many of his signature tunes. Mandel enjoyed a meteoric career during his early days on the scene, playing with Canned HeatFind albums by this artist, John MayallFind albums by this artist’s BluesbreakersFind albums by this artist and even a brief stint with the Rolling StonesFind albums by this artist, which was followed by less prominent activity, which still continues to this very day. Mandel’s guitar sound and phrasing are completely unique and as such are highly admired by many other guitar players. He mixes several techniques he invented and perfected, that put him in his own category of guitar virtuosos. He really deserves to be discovered by the true guitar lovers of all ages, as his relative anonymity is a crying shame. This live recording offers relatively long explorations, full of brilliant guitar playing, which portrays Mandel’s abilities at their more explosive display, including a fourteen minutes long version of his composition “Wade In The Water”. The sound quality of this album is quite exceptional and offers an unedited document of the performance without any sound manipulation, which makes it very authentic. Overall, this is an excellent opportunity to get to know or revisit one of the lesser known heroes of the American Blues-Rock scene and hear some highly unusual guitar playing, with certain Jazz influences, which remains as fresh and enticing as it was fifty plus years ago, when he first appeared on the scene.

Updated: 08/06/2023Posted: 08/06/2023

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

HARVEY MANDEL ~ SNAKE BOX PURPLE PYRAMID 3014 (Barcode: 889466301421) ~ USA ~ Blues-Rock Recorded: 1968 - 1972 Released: 2022 This is a 6CD Box Set by American Blues-Rock guitarist / composer Harvey MandelFind albums by this artist, which collects his first five solo albums and a bonus CD with a previously unreleased 1968 live recording at the Matrix club. The albums are “Cristo RedentorFind albums with this title” (1968), “RighteousFind albums with this title” (1969), “Games Guitars PlayFind albums with this title” (1970), “Baby BatterFind albums with this title” (1971) and “The SnakeFind albums with this title” (1972). Mandel enjoyed a meteoric career during his early days on the scene, playing with Canned HeatFind albums by this artist, John MayallFind albums by this artist’s BluesbreakersFind albums by this artist and even a brief stint with the Rolling StonesFind albums by this artist, which was followed by less prominent activity, which still continues to this very day. The musicians who play alongside Mandel on these early albums include many legendary musicians of the period, including keyboardists Graham BondFind albums by this artist and Barry GoldbergFind albums by this artist, bassist Larry TaylorFind albums by this artist and others. Most of the music was composed by Mandel. Mandel’s guitar sound and phrasing are completely unique and as such highly admired by many other guitar players. He mixes several techniques he invented and perfected, that put him in his own category of guitar virtuosos. This Box Set is a reprint of the same Box Set released in 2015, offering no bonus tracks and very basic packaging and sketchy liner notes, as usual in such cases, but the music is brilliant from start to finish. Overall, this is an excellent opportunity to get to know one of the lesser known heroes of the American Blues-Rock scene and hear some highly unusual guitar playing, with certain Jazz influences, which remains as fresh and enticing as it was fifty plus years ago, when it was recorded.

Updated: 01/05/2022Posted: 01/05/2022

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

HARVEY MANDEL ~ SNAKE PIT TOMPKINS SQUARE 5296 (Barcode: 856225005296) ~ USA ~ Blues-Rock Recorded: 2016 Released: 2016 This is the fifteenth studio album by legendary American Blues-Rock guitarist / composer Harvey MandelFind albums by this artist, recorded with keyboardist Ben BoyeFind albums by this artist, bassist Anton HatwichFind albums by this artist, drummer Ryan JewellFind albums by this artist, guitarist Brian SulpizioFind albums by this artist and conga player Jose NajeraFind albums by this artist. The album presents eight tracks, seven of which are original compositions by Mandel. Mandel enjoyed a meteoric career during his early days on the scene, playing with Canned HeatFind albums by this artist, John MayallFind albums by this artist’s BluesbreakersFind albums by this artist and even a brief stint with the Rolling StonesFind albums by this artist, which was followed by less prominent activity, which still continues to this very day. Mandel’s guitar sound and phrasing are completely unique and as such are highly admired by many other guitar players. He mixes several techniques he invented and perfected, that put him in his own category of guitar virtuosos. He really deserves to be discovered by the true guitar lovers of all ages, as his relative anonymity is a crying shame. Overall, this is an excellent opportunity to get to know or revisit one of the lesser known heroes of the American Blues-Rock scene and hear some highly unusual guitar playing, with certain Jazz influences, which remains as fresh and enticing as it was fifty plus years ago, when he first appeared on the scene.

Updated: 24/02/2023Posted: 24/02/2023

CD 1 Mini-Sleeve Recommend To A Friend

HARVEY MANDEL ~ WHO`S CALLING TOMPKINS SQUARE 5920 (Barcode: 856225005920) ~ USA ~ Blues-Rock Recorded: 2022 Released: 2022 This is an album by legendary American Blues guitarist / composer Harvey MandelFind albums by this artist, recorded in a trio format with bassist Andy HessFind albums by this artist and drummer Ryan JewellFind albums by this artist. The album presents eight original compositions, all by Mandel. Mandel enjoyed a meteoric career during his early days on the scene, playing with Canned HeatFind albums by this artist, John MayallFind albums by this artist’s BluesbreakersFind albums by this artist and even a brief stint with the Rolling StonesFind albums by this artist, which was followed by less prominent activity, which still continues to this very day. Mandel’s guitar sound and phrasing are completely unique and as such are highly admired by many other guitar players. He mixes several techniques he invented and perfected, that put him in his own category of guitar virtuosos. Overall, this is an excellent opportunity to get to know or revisit one of the lesser known heroes of the American Blues-Rock scene and hear some highly unusual guitar playing, with certain Jazz influences, which remains as fresh and enticing as it was fifty plus years ago, when he first appeared on the scene

Updated: 21/01/2023Posted: 21/01/2023

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

MANDELRING QUARTETT ~ BERTHOLD GOLDSCHMIDT - FRUEHER & SPAETER LARGO 5117 ~ GERMANY ~ Classical Like Dmitri ShostakovichFind albums by this artist, Berthold GoldschmidtFind albums by this artist committed many of his innermost thoughts to his string quartets and related works. »Early« and »Late« tells of a composer whose early success was followed by fifty years of adversity and neglect, little of which disturb the almost Brahmsian mellowness of the Clarinet Quartet.

Updated: 18/10/2022Posted:

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

MANERI / KALMANOVITCH / JACOBSON / OSGOOD ~ VARIATIONS ON NO PARTICULAR THEME – PART 2 GOTTA LET IT OUT 50 ~ USA ~ Free Jazz / Improvised Music Recorded: 2021 Released: 2022 This is the second part of the “diptych” recorded by the international Improvised Music quartet, which comprises of American violist Mat ManeriFind albums by this artist, Canadian violist Tanya KalmanovitchFind albums by this artist, Polish bassist Tomo JacobsonFind albums by this artist and Danish drummer Kresten OsgoodFind albums by this artist. The album presents six improvised pieces, all called “variation” and numbered, probably according to the recording sequence (my guess). The music is as improvised as it gets, with no melodic continuity whatsoever, with everything happening in a spur of the moment, exactly as expected in such circumstances. However, the unusual instrumentation, which is a sort of string trio with drums, has a natural appeal and manages to attract the attention of listeners used to the Improvised Music ambience. There is no doubt that these are highly original musicians with a wide experience, which helps them to develop the crisscross conversations between them, which create a series of solo / duo / trio / quartet statements, weaved within the time continuity, and which eventually start to make sense to the open-minded listener. Overall, this is an almost “romantic” excursion within the Improvised Music scene, which might be able to reach a somewhat wider audience than most of such recordings eventually do. Kudos to Jacobson and his Gotta Let It OutFind albums on this label label, which is one of the most prolific independent Improvised Music labels active in Europe today.

Updated: 16/03/2023Posted: 04/10/2022

CD 1 Mini-Sleeve Recommend To A Friend

MANFRED MANN ~ DOWN THE ROAD APIECE: THEIR EMI RECORDINGS 1963-1966 EMI 094639721528 (Barcode: 094639721528) ~ UK ~ Classic Rock Recorded: 1963 - 1966 Released: 2007 This wonderful Box Set compiles all the recordings Manfred MannFind albums by this artist made for the EMIFind albums on this label label, documenting the first chapter of their illustrious career. The music covers everything from the first demo session they did as a group till the very last recordings done before the first lineup folded with the departure of their lead singer Paul JonesFind albums by this artist. The group would then continue with a new lead singer (Mike d`AboFind albums by this artist) and a new label (FontanaFind albums on this label), but that is another story. What is fascinating about this Box Set is the fact that is shows not only the historical development of one of the most important UK groups, but in fact the entire history of the early to mid 1960s UK music scene. It clearly shows the main influences that went into the incredible music of the Golden Era – Jazz, Blues, Rhythm And Blues and Rock And Roll. Most of the tracks include the stable lineup of the group, which includes the founding members Manfred MannFind albums by this artist (piano and organ), Mike HuggFind albums by this artist (drums and vibraphone), Mike VickersFind albums by this artist (guitar, saxophone and flute), Tom McGuinnessFind albums by this artist (bass) and Paul Jones (harmonica and vocals). Mann, Hugg and Vickers came from a solid jazz background, which is very evident throughout all their music and would eventually lead to the switch to Jazz-Rock Fusion in the late 1960s (Manfred Mann Chapter ThreeFind albums by this artist). The other members, especially Jones, had a solid Blues background. The result was a unique blend of Blues-Rock, which rather then featuring guitar as the lead instrument (as did most of the groups at the time) had the sax / flute / piano up-front. Jones was of course one of the most potent singers of the era, a serious competitor even to Mick JaggerFind albums by this artist. This was also the reason why the group recorded so many instrumental tracks, which were as important in their repertoire as the songs. Although the group managed to score quite a few major hits on the charts, it seems that they never made music, which was particularly ‘likeable” on purpose and their success was manly due to their talents rather than pursuit of popularity. There is so much great music on these CDs that I hardly feel a need to convince anybody to get them. This is a first class document of the music scene at the most interesting formative period and listening to it is not only a most pleasurable experience but also a fascinating course in music history. A must!

Updated: 08/05/2023Posted:

CD 4 Box Set Remastered Recommend To A Friend

MANFRED MANN ~ ORIGINAL ALBUM SERIES PARLOPHONE 825646285297 (Barcode: 825646285297) ~ UK ~ Classic Pop Recorded: 1963 - 1966 Released: 2014 This Box Set collects the four UK albums recorded by the first version of the British Pop group Manfred MannFind albums by this artist, released originally on the HMVFind albums on this label label, and the first solo album by their vocalist Paul JonesFind albums by this artist, and includes material recorded between 1963 and 1966, a period spanning just over three years. The original members of the group were: keyboardist / vibraphonist Manfred Mann, drummer Mike HuggFind albums by this artist, guitarist / saxophonist / flautist Mike VickersFind albums by this artist (all of them coming from a Jazz background), bassist Dave RichmondFind albums by this artist, soon to be replaced by Tom McGuinnessFind albums by this artist and vocalist / harmonica player Paul Jones. By autumn 1965 Vickers left, McGuinness moved to guitar and the band was joined by Jack BruceFind albums by this artist on bass, Henry LowtherFind albums by this artist on trumpet and Lyn DobsonFind albums by this artist on saxophone, all three being prominent members of the new generation of British Jazz players. Listening to these four albums (the Jones´ album is of secondary importance) clearly illustrates not only their many qualities but also their rapid progress from early American influenced Rhythm And Blues and Rock And Roll to their own individual style, which embraced sophisticated chord changes, complex rhythms, a tendency towards Jazz improvisation and a love of instrumental compositions, combined with exquisite sense of melody. In order to fully appreciate the group´s incredible journey it is recommended to get a copy of the incredible Manfred Mann anthology "Down The Road Apiece: Their EMI Recordings 1963-1966Find albums with this title", which includes absolutely everything they recorded during those early years. Of course also the second part of their output, released on the FontanaFind albums on this label label, which finds the band fronted by their second vocalist Mike d`AboFind albums by this artist, is equally fascinating and worth investigating. As I have been saying for decades, it is painfully obvious, especially now in retrospect that Manfred Mann were one of several British groups infinitely better musically than The BeatlesFind albums by this artist; a statement I have been bitterly criticized for, but which I am ready to repeat any time. This music simply proves my point to anybody who is willing to listen with an open mind. Wholeheartedly recommended! Side Note The "Original Album SeriesFind albums with this title" by Warner Bros.Find albums on this label, the "Original Album ClassicsFind albums with this title" by SonyFind albums on this label, the "5 Original AlbumsFind albums with this title" by UniversalFind albums on this label, the Box Sets by RhinoFind albums on this label and other similar releases 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 for the essence of cultural values and general sloppiness, contrary to human decency, which requires as to treat our Cultural Legacy with respect and loyalty. The Box Sets produced under these monikers have no discographical information whatsoever about the lineups, musician names, composers, lyricists, dates and places of recording, original release data and even basic copyright data (the last is strictly illegal BTW). Although the original LP sleeves are reproduced, they are often edited and information (which would be in most cases too small to be readable) is removed. Most importantly these Box Sets don't include any booklet offering a historical background and perspective about the Artists and the Music, which are extremely important and vital to the preservation of our Culture and passing the knowledge to the next generations. In short the fact that these Box Sets are meant to be inexpensive, does not mean that they have to be cheap. Considering the fact how many times this music has been sold over and over again by the labels, this is a crying shame!

Updated: 08/05/2023Posted:

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

MANFRED MANN ~ RADIO DAYS VOL. 1: THE PAUL JONES ERA EAST CENTRAL ONE 1 (Barcode: 5060051334467) ~ UK ~ Classic Rock Recorded: 1964 - 1966 Released: 2019 This is the first volume of an archive series collecting the BBC radio recordings by the various groups led by British keyboardist / composer / bandleader Manfred MannFind albums by this artist. This volume, recorded between 1964 and 1966 includes the recordings by the quintet lineup of Manfred Mann (the group not to be confused with the leader), which consisted of Mann on keyboards, Mike VickersFind albums by this artist on guitar, saxophone and flute, Tom McGuinnessFind albums by this artist on bass, Mike HuggFind albums by this artist on drums and vibraphone and finally the lead singer Paul JonesFind albums by this artist, who also played harmonica. The second CD of the 2CD set features the second lineup of the group formed when Vickers left and McGuinness switched to guitar, which includes the legendary bass player Jack BruceFind albums by this artist and two Jazz players: trumpeter Henry LowtherFind albums by this artist and saxophonist Lyn DobsonFind albums by this artist, which obviously has a much more Jazz oriented sound and is a rare example of the early (1966!) British Jazz-Rock Fusion. The album presents forty one tracks, which include songs, original announcements and interviews, altogether a superb historical glance at British Pop / Rock at its best. When Paul Jones decided to leave Manfred Mann to pursue a solo career, he was replaced by Mike d`AboFind albums by this artist, who is the hero of the next volume of this series. In contrast to most British Pop / Rock groups at the time, Manfred Mann had a very strong Jazz / Blues background and outstanding instrumental competence, which was clearly heard in everything they played. To a trained ear it was pretty obvious that the group would rather play a more Jazz oriented material, which the constraints of the Pop idiom did not allow them to do at the time, but they did record many instrumental pieces (included here) which were bona fide Jazz material. With the explosion of the Progressive Rock a few years later, it was no surprise that Manfred Mann would follow that way full-heartedly. The music included here is a fabulous proof that they don´t make music like this any more. The melodies, the playing and the superb BBC sound are all exactly right on the money and the joy of listening to this music goes way beyond a nostalgic glimpse at the past. Overall this is an absolute must for all Manfred Mann fans and connoisseurs of British Pop / Rock of the mid-1960s period and a stunning historical document of the period, which should not be missed! The music was compiled by Greg RussoFind albums by this artist, who also wrote the informative booklet accompanying this album – great job mate!

Updated: 26/08/2020Posted: 08/07/2019

CD 2 Remastered Recommend To A Friend

MANFRED MANN ~ RADIO DAYS VOL. 2: THE MIKE D`ABO ERA EAST CENTRAL ONE 2 (Barcode: 5060051334474) ~ UK ~ Classic Rock Recorded: 1966 - 1969 Released: 2019 This is the second volume of an archive series collecting the BBC radio recordings by the various groups led by British keyboardist / composer / bandleader Manfred MannFind albums by this artist. This volume, recorded between 1966 and 1969 includes the recordings by the quintet lineup of Manfred Mann (the group not to be confused with the leader), which consisted of Mann on keyboards, Tom McGuinnessFind albums by this artist on guitar, Klaus VoormanFind albums by this artist on bass, Mike HuggFind albums by this artist on drums and vibraphone and finally the lead singer Mike d`AboFind albums by this artist. The album presents forty five tracks, which include songs, original announcements and interviews, altogether a superb historical glance at British Pop / Rock at its best. By early 1969 the group Manfred Mann fell apart and Mann and Hugg continued with the newly founded Manfred Mann Chapter ThreeFind albums by this artist, which is featured on the next volume of this series. In contrast to most British Pop / Rock groups at the time, Manfred Mann had a very strong Jazz / Blues background and outstanding instrumental competence, which was clearly heard in everything they played. To a trained ear it was pretty obvious that the group would rather play a more Jazz oriented material, which the constraints of the Pop idiom did not allow them to do at the time, but they did record many instrumental pieces (included here) which were bona fide Jazz material. With the explosion of the Progressive Rock, it was no surprise that Manfred Mann would follow that way full-heartedly. The music included here is a fabulous proof that they don´t make music like this any more. The melodies, the playing and the superb BBC sound are all exactly right on the money and the joy of listening to this music goes way beyond a nostalgic glimpse at the past. Overall this is an absolute must for all Manfred Mann fans and connoisseurs of British Pop / Rock of the mid to late 1960s period and a stunning historical document of the period, which should not be missed! The music was compiled by Greg RussoFind albums by this artist, who also wrote the informative booklet accompanying this album – great job mate!

Updated: 12/07/2019Posted: 10/07/2019

CD 2 Remastered Recommend To A Friend

ALBERT MANGELSDORFF ~ A JAZZ TUNE I HOPE MPS 602517602359 (Barcode: 602517602359) ~ GERMANY ~ Jazz Recorded: 1978 Released: 2008 This is a reissue / remaster of an album by German trombonist / composer / bandleader Albert MangelsdorffFind albums by this artist, recorded in a quartet setting with German pianist Wolfgang DaunerFind albums by this artist and American rhythm section: bassist Eddie GomezFind albums by this artist and drummer Elvin JonesFind albums by this artist. The album presents eight tracks, all original compositions, seven by Mangelsdorff and one by Jones. Three of the tracks are duos, one each with all the three members of the quartet. The album was produced by my Friend and Mentor Joachim BerendtFind albums by this artist and the booklet includes his original liner notes. The music is stunningly brilliant and presents not only Mangelsdorff’s unique virtuosity, but also his sublime skills as a composer and his phenomenal ability to make contact with other musicians. In fact, he played with all these three musicians earlier on, but never together as a quartet. The three duos are beautiful examples of the “Art of the Duo” phenomenon, in which Mangelsdorff excelled throughout his career. The album is one of several outstanding recordings Mangelsdorff made for MPS, all of which are milestones of European Jazz, and surely also are some of the most important examples of the role of trombone in Jazz, of which he was the greatest Master ever, and who revolutionized its role in modern Jazz, breaking all the limitations of the instrument. Overall, this is a sublime example of the European Jazz achievements, which expanded the genre beyond its original boundaries and took it to new artistic levels, outgrowing the tradition beyond the imagination. A true gem deserving an honorable place in every serious Jazz record collection! 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: 10/03/2025Posted: 10/03/2025

CD 1 Oversampling Remastered Recommend To A Friend

ALBERT MANGELSDORFF ~ AND HIS FRIENDS 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: 02/04/2025Posted:

CD 1 Digipak Oversampling Remastered 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 “TrombirdsFind albums with this title” (recorded 1972) 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: 02/04/2025Posted: 22/02/2018

CD 1 Digipak Remastered Recommend To A Friend

ALBERT MANGELSDORFF ~ MUSIC FOR JAZZ ORCHESTRA SKIP 9039 (Barcode: 4037688903923) ~ GERMANY ~ Big Band Jazz Recorded: 2002 Released: 2003 This is an album by legendary German Jazz trombonist / composer / bandleader Albert MangelsdorffFind albums by this artist, recorded with the phenomenal NDR Big BandFind albums by this artist, which features some of the best German Jazz musicians, like trumpeter Ingolf BurkhardtFind albums by this artist, saxophonist Christof LauerFind albums by this artist and my Friend, Polish (resident in Germany) pianist Wladyslaw SendeckiFind albums by this artist. The album presents seven tracks, five of which are the movements of suite, which gives the album its title, and the other two are additional pieces selected for this recording, all composed by Mangelsdorff. This album, recorded in 2002, was the last recording by Mangelsdorff, before he died in 2005. The music is everything one might expect from Mangelsdorff and the NDR, superbly composed and executed, beautifully illustrating the European approach to Jazz Big Band, and featuring some outstanding soloing by Mangelsdorff and the NDR members. The music is complex and although based on coherent melodic themes, the arrangements call for extended multilayered interplays between the band sections, and the soloist improvise openly, often even Freely. This is about as sophisticated as Big Band Jazz gets and certainly quite different of the widespread perception of what a Jazz Big Band sound like. Mangelsdorff’s role as one of the founding Fathers of the European Jazz is invaluable and his collected recorded legacy is a reflection of his Genius captured for posterity. He always was an “out of the box” thinker and I consider myself lucky to have met him and enjoyed his company and knowledge, which deeply influenced me over the years. Overall, this is a brilliant and highly unique Jazz Big Band album, probably one of the best ever recorded in that format, featuring sensational performances by the band and the soloists, including Mangelsdorff, who was still at excellent form despite his age. For Jazz Big Band enthusiasts this is an absolutely essential recording, but all lovers of Mangelsdorff’s unique talent will find this album indispensable. Stunning stuff!

Updated: 06/09/2024Posted: 06/09/2024

CD 1 Digipak Essential Recommend To A Friend

ALBERT MANGELSDORFF ~ SOLO MPS 602517797437 (Barcode: 602517797437) ~ GERMANY ~ Jazz Recorded: 1972 - 1982 Released: 2008 This is a reissue / remaster of three solo trombone albums by the iconic German trombonist / composer / bandleader Albert MangelsdorffFind albums by this artist: “TrombirdsFind albums with this title” (1972), “TrombonelinessFind albums with this title” (1977) and “SoloFind albums with this title” (1982). The three albums, combined into a 2CD album, present twenty-seven tracks, all bar one composed by Mangelsdorff, and all played on trombone solo. The booklet includes an extensive interview with Mangelsdorff by my Friend and Mentor Joachim BerendtFind albums by this artist, who produced many of his albums for MPSFind albums on this label (sadly only in German). The concept of recording a solo trombone album was at the time completely revolutionary, which of course proves Mangelsdorff’s forward-thinking and his role as a bold innovator and leader on the European Jazz scene, in addition to his undeniable virtuosity and complete control of his instrument. He was of course encouraged by Berendt, who always stood behind his ideas and supported his career. Despite the fact that the music is performed by trombone only, it lacks absolutely nothing in melody, harmony and incredible expressiveness, as always with anything recorded by Mangelsdorff. In retrospect, these bold recordings stand out even more as incredible achievements, considering the fact that they were recorded half a Century ago, and still sound complete fresh and invigorating. Overall, this is a brilliant document of the strength of the European Jazz scene, which since the 1960s on raced forward with incredible vigor to rewrite the Jazz tradition into a new path, which saved the genre from stagnation and slow demise. It is an absolute must have for any Modern Jazz lover. 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: 02/04/2025Posted: 02/04/2025

CD 2 Oversampling Remastered Recommend To A Friend

ALBERT MANGELSDORFF ~ THREE ORIGINALS MPS 731451921322 (Barcode: 731451921322) ~ GERMANY ~ Free Jazz / Improvised Music Recorded: 1975 - 1980 Released: 1993 This is a reissue / remaster of three iconic albums by the Godfather of modern German Jazz, trombonist / composer / bandleader Albert MangelsdorffFind albums by this artist. All three albums were recorded for and released by the legendary German MPSFind albums on this label label and all were produced by my Friend and Mentor Joachim BerendtFind albums by this artist. I had the pleasure to be in the studio where the first album was recorded and at the Berlin Jazz Days venue where the second album was recorded. All three albums were recorded in a trio setting: trombone / bass / drums. The albums are: “The Wide PointFind albums with this title”, recorded in 1975 with Swedish bassist Palle DanielssonFind albums by this artist and American drummer Elvin JonesFind albums by this artist. “Trilogue - Live!Find albums with this title”, recorded in 1976 with American bassist Jaco PastoriusFind albums by this artist and drummer Alphonse MouzonFind albums by this artist. “Albert Live In MontreuxFind albums with this title”, recorded in 1980 with French bassist Jean-Francois Jenny-ClarkFind albums by this artist and American drummer Ronald Shannon JacksonFind albums by this artist. The music is absolutely stellar from start to finish and Mangelsdorff’s exceptional talent as musician, improviser and innovator is fully exposed here. Mangelsdorff proved that there are no limits to any instrument, only to human imagination. These intimate trios are a great display of Free Jazz / Improvised Music at their absolute best, not to mention the exposure of the trombone as a solo instrument. Mangelsdorff’s contribution to the development of modern German / European Jazz was absolutely crucial at the early post WWII years, with an independent view of the Jazz Artform, quite separate from the American tradition. The privilege of meeting Albert Mangelsdorff and his brother Emil MangelsdorffFind albums by this artist and spending time with them is a worm memory, which I cherish to this day. Overall, this is a brilliant package of three great albums on 2 CD, which holds some great performances by superb musicians, all of which, except Danielsson, are no longer with us. This music is an absolute must an any comprehensive collection of modern European Jazz and Improvised Music. 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: 29/12/2023Posted: 07/04/2023

CD 2 Remastered Recommend To A Friend

ALBERT MANGELSDORFF ~ TRIPLICITY SKIP 9052 (Barcode: 4037688905224) ~ GERMANY ~ Free Jazz / Improvised Music Recorded: 1979 Released: 2005 This is an archival live album by German trombonist / composer / band leader Albert MangelsdorffFind albums by this artist, recorded in a trio setting with Norwegian bassist Arild AndersenFind albums by this artist and Swiss drummer Pierre FavreFind albums by this artist. The album presents ten tracks, six by Mangelsdorff, two by Andersen and two co-composed by the trio members. The album offers a stunning sound quality. Although based on pre-composed themes, the music is an orgy of improvisation and startling virtuosity by the trio members. Mangelsdorff brought the trombone from the role of a rather limited backing instrument into the limelight of Jazz improvisation and his incredible technique enabled him to play sounds never previously intended to be played by that instrument, which is aptly proved herein. Anderson, who is an amazing bassist and one of my favorite Jazz musicians in the world, proves to be an ideal partner for Mangelsdorff, accompanying him amicably and telepathically, with a no less stunning virtuosity. Favre, a highly talented drummer and avid participant on the European Improvised Music scene, is also just the right person to add the rhythmic pulsations to this music, which he does with elegance and taste. Despite the fact that the music is largely improvised, it never loses its melodic touch and clear sense of direction. Obviously it is completely timeless and sounds as brilliant today as when it was recorded over four decades ago or released two decades ago. Overall, this is a stunning example of European Jazz / Improvised Music, which is elegant, wonderfully put together and completely timeless, exploding with creativity, virtuosity and vision. Mangelsdorff, who died in 2005, remains an icon of German / European Jazz and this, being the only recording by this particular trio, is a superb reminder of his genius. It is, of course, an absolute must, for trombone lovers.

Updated: 23/07/2024Posted: 23/07/2024

CD 1 Digipak Remastered Recommend To A Friend

ALBERT MANGELSDORFF / FRANCOIS JEANNEAU ~ SWISS RADIO DAYS TCB 02222 (Barcode: 725095022224) ~ GERMANY ~ Free Jazz / Improvised Music Recorded: 1972 - 1979 Released: 2010 This is a live archival album, which combines two sessions recorded by the Swiss Radio with a local Swiss rhythm section comprising of German (resident in Switzerland) pianist Klaus KoenigFind albums by this artist, bassist Peter FreiFind albums by this artist and drummers Peter SchmidlinFind albums by this artist or Pierre FavreFind albums by this artist and guest musicians: German trombonist / composer Albert MangelsdorffFind albums by this artist from 1972 and French saxophonist / composer Francois JeanneauFind albums by this artist from 1979. Each session presents two tracks, both composed by the guest musician. The Mangelsdorff session is completely freely improvised and magnificently portrays his abilities at the peak of his artistic abilities, with the rhythm section playing along splendidly, despite the fact that this was not their usual modus operandi. Since every second of Mangelsdorff’s performance is an absolute must to every European Jazz enthusiast, these almost forty minutes are a Holy Grail for his many enthusiasts and collectors. The Jeanneau session is shorter and somewhat more tamed, but also shows his him as a magnificent improviser, and one of the finest French Jazz musicians active on the scene since the 1970. His recording legacy offers many magnificent albums, and this rare recording from the early days of his career is an important snapshot of his career. Overall, this is a superb document of the European Jazz scene, especially important since the “Swiss Radio Days” series releases concentrated mostly on visiting American musicians, which seldom contributed interesting material.

Updated: 26/01/2025Posted: 26/01/2025

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

ALBERT MANGELSDORFF / PERCUSSION ORCHESTRA ~ LANAYA PLAINISPHARE 2209 (Barcode: 3561302220925) ~ GERMANY ~ Jazz-World Fusion Recorded: 1993 Released: 2001 This is a reissue of a live album by German trombonist / composer / bandleader Albert MangelsdorffFind albums by this artist recorded with the Percussion OrchestraFind albums by this artist, a quartet of percussion instrumentalists led by Swiss percussionist Reto WeberFind albums by this artist, Ghanaian African percussion Master Nana Twum NketiaFind albums by this artist, Iranian zarb player Djamchid ChemiraniFind albums by this artist and Adama DrameFind albums by this artist, a djembe player from Burkina Faso. The album presents seven tracks co-credited to Mangelsdorff and the percussionists. It is probably the least known recording by Mangelsdorff and shows his incredible versatility and interest in music originating from different location around the globe. The music is quite unusual and finds Mangelsdorff improvising on top of the rhythmic patterns performed by the percussionists, which is definitely quite different from the usual Jazz / Improvised Music environment usually associated with Mangelsdorff. But his devoted fans (like yours truly) and lovers of his trombone virtuosity, should find this album quite fascinating. Overall, this is a very atypical recording, which is of interest mostly to percussion lovers and devoted Mangelsdorff fans, who are open to hear him performing out of his usual musical environment.

Updated: 11/03/2025Posted: 11/03/2025

CD 1 Slipcase Recommend To A Friend

ALBERT MANGELSDORFF QUARTET ~ NEVER LET IT END MPS 602517060029 (Barcode: 602517060029) ~ GERMANY ~ Free Jazz / Improvised Music Recorded: 1970 Released: 2008 This is a reissue / remaster of an album by German trombonist / composer / bandleader Albert MangelsdorffFind albums by this artist, recorded with his all German quartet, which includes some of the finest European Jazz musicians active at the time: saxophonist Heinz SauerFind albums by this artist, bassist Gunter LenzFind albums by this artist and drummer Ralf HubnerFind albums by this artist. The album presents seven tracks, four composed by Mangelsdorff, two by Sauer and one by Hubner. The album was produced by my Friend and Mentor Joachim BerendtFind albums by this artist and his original liner notes (albeit only in German) are included on the album’s artwork. Mangelsdorff, and his brother Emil MangelsdorffFind albums by this artist, were the pillars of the modern German Jazz scene, which developed rapidly after WWII, both in West and East Germany, peaking in the late 1960s. Germany developed in time as an epicenter of the continental Jazz scene, with huge number of excellent musicians, brilliant club and festival scene and the strongest music recording industry, with legendary labels like MPSFind albums on this label, ECMFind albums on this label, EnjaFind albums on this label and many others, which produced the finest modern Jazz recordings in the world, leaving the US scene far beyond from that time on. Albert Mangelsdorff was one of the most vital figures on that scene and his ever changing groups pushed the Jazz limits at all times. His absolutely unique virtuosity on the trombone changed the role of that instrument to an equally important position in the Jazz ensemble as trumpet and saxophone. I was lucky to meet him and see / hear him play and record on numerous occasions and he always left an enormous impression as a person and a musician. His recorded legacy, which he managed to amass very prolifically, is one of the most important individual European Jazz legacies, which this album proudly represents. The music here presents a perfect amalgam of the Jazz tradition and the rapid development towards modern and Free Jazz. Overall, this is one of the most interesting Jazz albums in European Jazz, despite the fact that it is only known by relatively very few Jazz listeners. I have owned a copy since day one and listened to this album countless times in the almost fifty years since it was released, and each and every time I managed to discover something new in the music. I can only hope some more listeners will discover it one day, although admittedly it is quite difficult to find a copy. 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: 20/07/2024Posted: 20/07/2024

CD 1 Oversampling Remastered Recommend To A Friend

ALBERT MANGELSDORFF QUINTET ~ BIRDS OF UNDERGROUND MPS 602517175945 (Barcode: 602517175945) ~ GERMANY ~ Free Jazz / Improvised Music Recorded: 1972 Released: 2008 This is a reissue / remaster of an album by German trombonist / composer / bandleader Albert MangelsdorffFind albums by this artist, recorded with his all German quintet with saxophonists Heinz SauerFind albums by this artist and Gerd DudekFind albums by this artist (who also plays flute), bassist Buschi NiebergallFind albums by this artist and drummer Peter GigerFind albums by this artist. The album presents four lengthy tracks, three of which last for over ten minutes, two composed by Mangelsdorff and two co-composed by all five musicians. The music presents some of the finest German / European Free Jazz / Improvised Music, which by the time this music was recorded, was in full bloom, expanding the American Free Jazz of the earlier decade into a coherent, fully developed and aesthetically solidified artistic expression. Despite the total Freedom, enjoyed by the musicians, the music is perfectly structured and logically developed, sometimes based on a briefly stated theme, and at other times springing into the open as if from nowhere. All five musicians are true masters of their respective instruments, which results in breathtaking performances by them all. Most of the music is in a form of group improvisations, rather than soloing accompanied by the rest of the quintet, which results in a situation when all five musicians are soloing at the same time, which of course might be more difficult to follow, but is extremely potent musically. Mangelsdorff’s performances on this album are absolutely awe striking and his early 1970s output remains his most productive and revolutionary period, including his first solo trombone recording “TrombirdsFind albums with this title”, recorded and released shortly before this album, which remains one of the most iconic trombone albums in all time. Overall, this is an absolute gem of an album which aged beautifully with time and remains as one of the finest European Free Jazz recording in all time. Very few, if any, more impressive Free Jazz albums were recorded since, and it remains a brilliant reminder of Mangelsdorff’s genius and his pivotal role in European Jazz, as well as the greatest trombone virtuoso ever. Beyond essential! 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: 15/11/2024Posted: 15/11/2024

CD 1 Remastered Essential Recommend To A Friend

EMIL MANGELSDORFF & ALBERT MANGELSDORFF ~ EARLY DISCOVERIES SWR JAZZHAUS 459 (Barcode: 730099045957) ~ GERMANY ~ Jazz Recorded: 1953 - 1963 Released: 2018 This is a wonderful archive album by Godfathers of German Jazz, brothers Emil MangelsdorffFind albums by this artist (saxophone) and Albert MangelsdorffFind albums by this artist (trombone). The 2CD album presents live ad studio recordings from the vaults of the German SWR broadcasting corporation, captured between 1953 and 1963 and produced by my Friend and Mentor Joachim BerendtFind albums by this artist. The various combos include the who’s who of the pioneering German Jazz musicians of the post WWII era, such as saxophonists Joki FreundFind albums by this artist, Hans KollerFind albums by this artist (Austrian resident in Germany) and Heinz SauerFind albums by this artist, clarinetist Rolf KuhnFind albums by this artist, bassist Peter TrunkFind albums by this artist, drummer Joe NayFind albums by this artist and many others. The first CD presets twelve tracks recorded by the Albert Mangelsdorff quintet from 1961, which plays four original compositions by Albert Mangelsdorff and eight standards. The music offers the glimpse of how European Jazz musicians interpreted the American Jazz tradition, mostly Bebop influenced, nearing the inevitable departure towards the more advanced modern European Jazz. The second CD presents three tracks by the German All Stars twelve-piece band (with Mangelsdorff brothers as members), all composed by Freund, and one track by the Albert Mangelsdorff / Peter Trunk duo composed by Albert Mangelsdorff, all recorded in 1963. Next come four tracks by the Joki Freund sextet (with Mangelsdorff brothers as members) playing four original compositions by Freund, recorded in 1957. This is followed by a track by the 1956 version of the German All Stars band, followed by another duo track by Albert Mangelsdorff and Hungarian (resident in Germany) guitarist Attila ZollerFind albums by this artist, recorded in 1953. The last three tracks offer a super-rare appearance by the Austrian pianist Joe ZawinulFind albums by this artist recorded in 1957, before his departure to the US and world fame. All the music is excellently recorded and offers a superb glimpse at the German Jazz scene at the late 1950s / early 1960s, when the European Jazz scene was making its formative first steps towards the independence from the American tradition, after mastering its trademarks. There is a plethora of wonderful solos and ensemble performances present, as well as examples of Albert Mangelsdorff’s love of the duo format, which dominated his entire career. Overall this is a brilliant document of the era and a must to all European Jazz fans, interested in the history and the process of its development. Wholeheartedly recommended!

Updated: 29/12/2023Posted: 05/04/2021

CD 2 Digipak Remastered Recommend To A Friend

MANHATTAN TRANSFER ~ ORIGINAL ALBUM SERIES RHINO 081227983697 (Barcode: 081227983697) ~ USA ~ Pop & Rock Recorded: 1975 - 2000 Released: 2009 This Box Set collects five (seemingly randomly selected) albums recorded by the American vocal quartet The Manhattan TransferFind albums by this artist and released on the AtlanticFind albums on this label Records label between 1975 and 2000. The group was founded in 1969 by vocalist Tim HauserFind albums by this artist, who was the quartet´s leader for many years until his death in 2014. They recorded their debut in 1971 for CapitolFind albums on this label Records, which made little impact, and their career took off after switching to Atlantic Records and releasing their second eponymous album, included here. By 1978 the quartet´s stable lineup, which lasted until Hauser´s death, was established and included Hauser, Alan PaulFind albums by this artist, Janis SiegelFind albums by this artist and Cheryl BentyneFind albums by this artist. Israeli pianist Yaron GershovskyFind albums by this artist serves as the quartet´s musical director since the late 1970s. Although similar to the European vocal Jazz ensembles like the Les Double SixFind albums by this artist, The Swingle SingersFind albums by this artist or the Polish NOVIFind albums by this artist ensemble, which revolutionized the vocal Jazz scene in the late 1950s and 1960s, Manhattan Singers were much closer to the American vocal tradition, which includes Gospel and Soul, rather than Jazz. As a result their music was always closer to Pop than to Jazz, which is plainly evident by listening to the albums in this Box Set. Although they do use vocalese and some improvisation, their arrangements and performances are always polished and round, avoiding risks and exploration. Nevertheless they do what they do highly professionally and always sound exactly as what is expected of them, which makes them very popular worldwide. Overall this Box Set includes very nice vocal music, which is very easy to be loved, but has almost nothing to do with Jazz per se. It is of course great fun to listen to, especially while your brain is comfortably numb… Side Note The "Original Album SeriesFind albums with this title" by Warner Bros.Find albums on this label, the "Original Album ClassicsFind albums with this title" by SonyFind albums on this label, the "5 Original AlbumsFind albums with this title" by UniversalFind albums on this label, the Box Sets by RhinoFind albums on this label and other similar releases 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 for the essence of cultural values and general sloppiness, contrary to human decency, which requires as to treat our Cultural Legacy with respect and loyalty. The Box Sets produced under these monikers have no discographical information whatsoever about the lineups, musician names, composers, lyricists, dates and places of recording, original release data and even basic copyright data (the last is strictly illegal BTW). Although the original LP sleeves are reproduced, they are often edited and information (which would be in most cases too small to be readable) is removed. Most importantly these Box Sets don't include any booklet offering a historical background and perspective about the Artists and the Music, which are extremely important and vital to the preservation of our Culture and passing the knowledge to the next generations. In short the fact that these Box Sets are meant to be inexpensive, does not mean that they have to be cheap. Considering the fact how many times this music has been sold over and over again by the labels, this is a crying shame!

Updated: 05/04/2024Posted:

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

PAWEL MANKA SEMIOTIC QUINTET ~ KUBIZM SJ 055 (Barcode: 5902596066680) ~ POLAND ~ Avant-Garde Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 2021 Released: 2021 This is the debut album by Polish Jazz quintet, named Semiotic QuintetFind albums by this artist and led by guitarist / composer Pawel MankaFind albums by this artist, which also includes other young representatives of the local scene: saxophonist Robert WypasekFind albums by this artist, pianist Franciszek RaczkowskiFind albums by this artist, bassist Piotr NarajowskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Stefan RaczkowskiFind albums by this artist. The album presents nine tracks, which are all original compositions by the leader. The music was recorded at the excellent Monochrom Studio and engineered by Ignacy GruszeckiFind albums by this artist, with the usual superb sound quality. The music is quite adventurous and offers a mixture of Fusion and Avant-Garde Jazz, based on sketchy compositions, which are a basis for extended, often Free improvisations by the soloists, with solid, more well-behaved rhythm section support. The result achieves a somewhat chaotic, but certainly enthralling listening experience, with an end-result delivering more of seeking than achieving, but certainly being very absorbing along the way. The leader’s guitar playing is at times somewhat detached from the rest of the ensemble, emphasizing the electric Fusion guitar sound, which clashes with the acoustic Jazzy sound of the remaining quartet, but when kept in check it is able to coexist with the quartet more amicably. This is more a “sound” / ambience problem that a musical drawback, but for the best of the quintet has to be resolved in the future. Wypasek keeps the music down to earth, offering an almost traditional jazz approach, which leaves most of the glory around Raczkowski (the pianist), who is the true spark of this recording. His work on several albums he took part in during the last few years certainly marks him as a player worth watching, yet to emerge in full glory, but his playing here if pretty amazing. The rhythm section, as already mentioned, does a wonderful job to keep the music together, which without their heroic efforts, might have disintegrated at some moments. Overall, this is a very ambitious album, which is only partly successful, but is way more interesting than most “well behaved” recordings, which dominated to Polish Jazz scene this year, perhaps partly paralyzed by the Pandemic. The daring and ambition are highly appreciated and with some “fine tuning” and discipline this quintet can certainly get places. Kudos for the effort and all the best in the future!

Updated: 30/11/2021Posted: 30/11/2021

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

MANN, HERBIE ~ 65TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION LIGHTYEAR 54165 ~ USA ~ Jazz Recorded: 1995 Recorded live during Herbie`s 65th birthday celebration in New York`s Blue Note club with a stellar cast including such jazz greats as Paquito D`RiveraFind albums by this artist, Randy BreckerFind albums by this artist and Claudio RoditiFind albums by this artist. The material here is superb, and the playing top-notch. It includes some of the classic tunes that brought Herbie his fame, such as the funk-jazz Memphis Underground. Now that Herbie has sadly departed from us, this is a true celebration to his extraordinary skills.

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

MANN, HERBIE ~ AMERICA/BRASIL LIGHTYEAR 54233 ~ USA ~ Jazz Recorded: 1995 Recorded live during Herbie`s 65th birthday celebration in New York`s Blue Note club with a stellar cast including such jazz greats as Paquito D`RiveraFind albums by this artist, Randy BreckerFind albums by this artist and Claudio RoditiFind albums by this artist. The material here is superb, and the playing top-notch. The emphasis is on Brasilian music, but some jazz standards are also inlcuded (All Blues, Summertime). Now that Herbie has sadly departed from us, this is a true celebration to his extraordinary skills.

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

MANN, HERBIE ~ DEEP POCKET KOKOPELLI 1296 ~ USA ~ Jazz AMG Review: This is a decent set that could have been a great one. Flutist Herbie Mann had a reunion in 1992 with many of his former sidemen (tenorman David "Fathead" Newman, guitarist Cornell Dupree and keyboardist Richard Tee) along with his contemporary pianist/vocalist Les McCann and they play a wide ranging program of music (highlighted by "Moanin´," "Papa Was a Rolling Stone," "Sunny," "Mercy, Mercy, Mercy" and "Amazing Grace"). But somehow once one gets beyond the nostalgia, the performances seem workmanlike and surprisingly uninspired, unlike Herbie Mann´s live concerts with this group during the period.

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

MANN, MANFRED ~ THE EVOLUTION OF MANFRED MANN (DVD) COHESION MANFRED 1 ~ UK ~ Classic Rock A collection of clips documenting the outstanding career of Manfred Mann between 1964 and 2002. Rare and never before available footage is a delight to the many fans of this talented musicians and his various groups. Unfortunately only very few sources are available, so this DVD contains only 45 minutes of material.

DVD 1 Recommend To A Friend

MANFRED MANN CHAPTER THREE ~ RADIO DAYS VOL. 3 EAST CENTRAL ONE 3 (Barcode: 5060051334481) ~ UK ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 1968 - 1970 Released: 2019 This is the third volume of an archive series collecting the BBC radio recordings by the various groups led by British keyboardist / composer / bandleader Manfred MannFind albums by this artist. This volume, recorded between 1968 and 1970 includes the recordings by the short lived Manfred Mann Chapter ThreeFind albums by this artist, which consisted of Mann on keyboards and Mike HuggFind albums by this artist on vocals and piano (the only survivors from the Manfred Mann group), German saxophonist Bernie LivingFind albums by this artist, bassist Steve YorkFind albums by this artist (ex-East Of EdenFind albums by this artist) and drummer Craig CollingeFind albums by this artist (ex-ProcessionFind albums by this artist). A five piece brass section: saxophonists Clive StevensFind albums by this artist, Carl GriffithsFind albums by this artist and Dave CoxhillFind albums by this artist, trombonist Gerald DrewettFind albums by this artist and trumpeter Sonny CorbettFind albums by this artist completed the lineup. The album presents forty five tracks, which include radio, live and studio recordings, original announcements and interviews and even radio commercials, altogether a superb historical glance at British Jazz-Rock at its best. By late 1970 Manfred Mann Chapter Three fell apart and Mann continued with the newly founded Manfred Mann`s Earth BandFind albums by this artist, which is featured on the next volume of this series. Before Manfred Mann Chapter Three was officially launched, Mann and Hugg created a soundtrack to the "Venus In Furs" movie and twenty four excerpts from the soundtrack are included here (all previously unreleased). The radio recordings include not only BBC material but also Australian and Swedish radio recordings. Manfred Mann Chapter Three was a realization of a dream Mann kept in his mind since he started the group Manfred Mann in 1963. Finally liberated from the Pop / Rock image he was free to indulge in Jazz, which was always his preferred habitat. The group offered some of the most interesting British Jazz-Rock recordings on the two albums it managed to release before disbanding. Both the albums and the material presented here are a most welcome reminder of an Avant-Garde attempt to combine Free Form Jazz with Rock. Overall this is an absolute must for all Manfred Mann fans and connoisseurs of British Jazz-Rock of the mid to late 1960s period and a stunning historical document of the period, which should not be missed! The music was compiled by Greg RussoFind albums by this artist, who also wrote the informative booklet accompanying this album – great job mate!

Updated: 13/07/2019Posted: 12/07/2019

CD 2 Remastered Recommend To A Friend

	MANFRED MANN CHAPTER THREE ~ VOLUME ONE COHESION 001 ~ UK ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 1969 1st album from 1969. After many years of success in the Pop world, Mann decided to take things seriously and created a completely new band to play Prog music, with a considerable touch of Jazz-Rock. This fantastic album turned out to be a masterpiece and is one of the best examples of UK Fusion.
Updated: 13/07/2019Posted:	CD 1 Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend

	MANFRED MANN CHAPTER THREE ~ VOLUME TWO COHESION 002 ~ UK ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion 2nd album from 1970. A continuation of the same style and material as on the first album and another Prog masterpiece. This is very different then the next phase in Manfred`s musical ventures, which were more mainstream oriented, with some Prog elements still there.
Updated: 12/07/2019Posted:	CD 1 Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend

	MANFRED MANN`S EARTH BAND ~ ANGEL STATION COHESION 011 ~ UK ~ Classic Rock 9th album from 1979. As the decade comes to the close, the direction is more rock oriented than ever, but still in very good taste.
Updated: 12/07/2019Posted:	CD 1 Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend

	MANFRED MANN`S EARTH BAND ~ BEST OF COHESION 018 ~ UK ~ Classic Rock Fantastic collection of the greatests recordings by this group with many rare items added to spice up the contents even more, all previously unreleased. A true homage to this group.
Updated: 12/07/2019Posted:	CD 1 Remastered Recommend To A Friend

	MANFRED MANN`S EARTH BAND ~ BEST OF VOL.2 COHESION 020 ~ UK ~ Classic Rock Second volume of this fantastic collection of the greatests recordings by this group with many rare items added to spice up the contents even more, all previously unreleased. A true homage to this group.
Updated: 12/07/2019Posted:	CD 1 Remastered Recommend To A Friend

	MANFRED MANN`S EARTH BAND ~ BUDAPEST LIVE COHESION 014 ~ UK ~ Classic Rock 12th album from 1983. The first official live album by the band, recorded in the Hungarian capital. Includes live versions of well known greats in extended versions. Remastered and with bonus tracks.
Updated: 12/07/2019Posted:	CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

	MANFRED MANN`S EARTH BAND ~ CHANCE COHESION 012 ~ UK ~ Classic Rock 10th album from 1980. In his usual good form, a more contemporary oriented selection of Manfred`s original tunes, with many guest musicians, including Trevor Rabin from Yes.
Updated: 12/07/2019Posted:	CD 1 Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend

	MANFRED MANN`S EARTH BAND ~ CRIMINAL TANGO COHESION 015 ~ UK ~ Classic Rock 13th album from 1986. Back in great shape and with the original singer (Chris Thompson) this is another fine release by the band.
Updated: 12/07/2019Posted:	CD 1 Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend

	MANFRED MANN`S EARTH BAND ~ GLORIFIED MAGNIFIED COHESION 004 ~ UK ~ Classic Rock 2nd album from 1972. Same kind of material. If you like the Earth Band, you`ll get all of them anyway. Remastered and with bonus tracks.
Updated: 12/07/2019Posted:	CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

MANFRED MANN`S EARTH BAND ~ MANFRED MANN`S EARTH BAND COHESION 003 ~ UK ~ Classic Rock 1st album from 1971. Mann created this new band, which will be his vehicle for the years to come, in order to do his own thing - to play ambitious music free from commercial limitations. This album starts a long series of releases, all of witch are brilliant Prog music, slightly on the `lighter` and more melodic side. Remastered and with bonus tracks.

Updated: 12/07/2019Posted:

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

	MANFRED MANN`S EARTH BAND ~ MANN ALIVE COHESION 1 ~ UK ~ Classic Rock 16th album from 1998. A 2CD set recorded live by Manfred and the group during the `Soft Vengeance` tour. A great collection of tracks not only from that album but spanning the entire group`s history. Very vibrant and powerful.
Updated: 12/07/2019Posted:	CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

	MANFRED MANN`S EARTH BAND ~ MASQUE COHESION 016 ~ UK ~ Classic Rock 14th album from 1987. Includes Manfred`s ambitious project of rewriting parts of Gustav Holst`s `Planets Suite`. This was to be the last album before a break of almost 10 years occurred till the next album was released. Remastered and with bonus tracks.
Updated: 12/07/2019Posted:	CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

	MANFRED MANN`S EARTH BAND ~ MESSIN` COHESION 005 ~ UK ~ Classic Rock 3rd album from 1973. Mann is one of the first musicians who becomes aware of the environmental problems created by modern society and his albums deal with this issue.
Updated: 12/07/2019Posted:	CD 1 Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend

	MANFRED MANN`S EARTH BAND ~ NIGHTINGALES AND BOMBERS COHESION 008 ~ UK ~ Classic Rock 6th album from 1975. Another huge commercial success but contents as strong as ever with great melodies and elaborate arrangements.
Updated: 12/07/2019Posted:	CD 1 Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend

MANFRED MANN`S EARTH BAND ~ RADIO DAYS VOL. 4 EAST CENTRAL ONE 4 (Barcode: 5060051334498) ~ UK ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 1971 - 1973 Released: 2019 This is the fourth volume of an archive series collecting the BBC radio recordings by the various groups led by British keyboardist / composer / bandleader Manfred MannFind albums by this artist. This volume, recorded between 1971 and 1973 includes the recordings by the first incarnation of Manfred Mann`s Earth BandFind albums by this artist, which consisted of Mann on keyboards, Mick RogersFind albums by this artist on vocals and guitar, Colin PattendenFind albums by this artist on bass and Chris SladeFind albums by this artist on drums. The album presents twenty one tracks, which include radio recordings with original announcements, altogether a superb historical glance at British Progressive Rock at its best. The group is still alive and kicking today (2019), now in its fifth decade of activity and many wonderful album releases under the belt. The material included here comes mostly from the first four albums by the group: the eponymous debut ("Manfred Mann`s Earth BandFind albums with this title"), "Glorified MagnifiedFind albums with this title", "Messin`Find albums with this title", and "Solar FireFind albums with this title". Manfred Mann´s Earth Band was from its inception an integral part of the British Progressive Rock movement, although it operated within a unique outline dominated by Mann´s compositions and his Jazz influenced keyboards wizardry and imaginative improvisation skills. His pioneering keyboard technique and especially the wonderful usage of the Moog synthesizer established him as one of the most revered keyboards player on the scene. His extended keyboard extravaganzas, which can be heard here, are among the finest examples of Moog playing in Progressive Rock, way more advanced that what other synthesizer players at the time were doing. As appropriate for the genre, some of the tracks present here are extended versions of album tracks, running beyond the ten minutes mark and in one case almost reaching the twenty minutes mark. In contrast to many other attempts by Prog groups, which often resulted in boring excessive doodling, the music present here is exciting and fascinating all the way through. Overall this is an absolute must for all Manfred Mann fans and connoisseurs of British Progressive Rock of the early 1970s period and a stunning historical document of the period, which should not be missed! The music was compiled by Greg RussoFind albums by this artist, who also wrote the informative booklet accompanying this album – great job mate!

Updated: 13/07/2019Posted: 13/07/2019

CD 2 Remastered Recommend To A Friend

	MANFRED MANN`S EARTH BAND ~ SOFT VENGEANCE GRAPEVINE 213 ~ UK ~ Classic Rock 15th album from 1996. Manfred is back in his formidable form with a selection of great tunes and a powerful band. A concept album of sorts, includes a lengthy suite in the best Prog tradition.
Updated: 12/07/2019Posted:	CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

	MANFRED MANN`S EARTH BAND ~ SOLAR FIRE COHESION 006 ~ UK ~ Classic Rock 4th album from 1973. The most successful one which brought this band to a much wider audience.
Updated: 12/07/2019Posted:	CD 1 Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend

	MANFRED MANN`S EARTH BAND ~ SOMEWHERE IN AFRICA COHESION 013 ~ UK ~ Classic Rock 11th album from 1982. A great concept album, incorporating elements of World Music and for the first time female vocals on some of the tracks.
Updated: 12/07/2019Posted:	CD 1 Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend

	MANFRED MANN`S EARTH BAND ~ THE GOOD EARTH COHESION 007 ~ UK ~ Classic Rock 5th album from 1974. Again concerned with environment issues. The band is getting more polished and inventive all the time. Remastered and with bonus tracks.
Updated: 12/07/2019Posted:	CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

	MANFRED MANN`S EARTH BAND ~ THE ROARING SILENCE COHESION 009 ~ UK ~ Classic Rock 7th album from 1976. Considered one of the best by this group. Great melodies, vocals and instrumental performances.
Updated: 12/07/2019Posted:	CD 1 Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend

	MANFRED MANN`S EARTH BAND ~ WATCH COHESION 010 ~ UK ~ Classic Rock 8th album from 1978. Considered to be the finest of the later albums.
Updated: 12/07/2019Posted:	CD 1 Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend

	MANFRED MANN`S PLAIN MUSIC ~ MANFRED MANN`S PLAIN MUSIC COHESION 017 ~ UK ~ Classic Rock A very special project by Manfred from 1991, which incorporates World Music, jazz and many other influences. Kept separately from the Earth Band `line` to emphasize a new and different approach, but the band`s fans will surely like this one as well. Remastered and with bonus tracks.
Updated: 12/07/2019Posted:	CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

MATUSIK & GHOSTMAN ~ LIVE NOT ON LABEL ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2013 Released: 2013 This is a debut album by Polish duo, which pairs keyboardist / composer Piotr MatusikFind albums by this artist and vocalist GhostmanFind albums by this artist (Grzegorz LulekFind albums by this artist). The music was recorded live and it was the duo´s debut performance. The album presents nine original compositions / songs co-credited to both members of the duo. I have no idea why this album landed on my lap over two years after it was released, but better late than never. I must admit that I fell in love with this music from the first moment and I am still completely stunned by it. Mind you, it is only marginally Jazzy, but nevertheless it is one of the most original musical ventures on the Polish scene in the last few years. Matusik, who is a very gifted pianist and composer as evident from his other recording projects, uses a plethora of keyboards to accompany the vocalist and skillfully changes the sounds / samples / timbre of his instruments to support his partner amicably, playing on the way some truly beautiful solos. He manages to be a complete and sufficient "one man orchestra", utilizing a drum machine and other tricks of the trade, doing it all with taste and respect. But the real surprise for me is Ghostman, the vocalist. Not only is he blessed by a wonderful voice, which brings fond memories of the great Al JarreauFind albums by this artist, but he also manages to do something I never heard before and that is to improvise the songs´ lyrics inventing them in a gibberish language, which sounds as if spoken in a language, but in fact has no meaning whatsoever. The listener is convinced he is hearing Portuguese, Spanish, French or Italian but in fact this is all gibberish. Of course since most people do not speak many languages, they are convinced that they simply don´t understand the lyrics, but the devilish trick of fooling them all is Ghostman´s illusion. Honestly this can´t be accurately described by words and the only way to experience it is to hear it live, which I intend to do on the first opportunity arising. In the meantime listening to this superb music and absolutely stunning vocal shenanigans is all that I can do. If I´d received this album a couple of years earlier I´d have selected it among the top 10 albums of 2013, but alas this was no to happen. Buy I pay my respect now: hats off to both of you! And where is that studio album we all want to hear?

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

OREN NEIMAN ~ FROLIC AND DETOUR NOT ON LABEL (Barcode: 884501114257) ~ ISRAEL ~ Jazz Recorded: 2008 Released: 2009 2nd album by Israeli (resident in US) guitarist / composer Oren NeimanFind albums by this artist, a quartet recording with Neiman on guitar, Kenny WarrenFind albums by this artist on trumpet, Doug DrewesFind albums by this artist on bass and Kenny ShawFind albums by this artist on drums, featuring his original compositions. Neiman moved to NY in 2001, where he studied with some of the best Jazz players on the scene, including guitarist John AbercrombieFind albums by this artist, and soon becoming his protégé. Following the studies he formed his own quartet, recording a debut album in 2006. This new recording, with a new quartet, is quite a unique statement. Neiman concentrates here more on producing a musical statement rather than showing off his guitar playing. In fact it is the trumpeter, who plays most of the leads on the album, with Neiman more in the shadows playing only occasional solo parts, but sometimes they play amazing unisono passages, which remind me of the Larry CoryellFind albums by this artist / Randy BreckerFind albums by this artist excursions in Eleventh HouseFind albums by this artist, but which are stylistically remote from the Fusion played by Eleventh House. Neiman´s music is very difficult to characterize (which is a good thing), obviously influenced by many diverse sources. It is predominantly Jazzy, but it also touches upon ethnic themes and rhythmic patterns, often using odd meters and unusual harmony. Also the unusual sound blend of the guitar / trumpet combination gives the listener the impression of hearing something innovative and rarely attempted before. Warren is an impressive player, with great sensitivity, warm tone and good range, who is able to make his instrument aggressive and lyrical, whichever suits the music at the time. The rhythm section gives a perfect support to the soloists, handling the difficult tempi with ease and elegance. Neiman´s praise goes mainly to his composing abilities, as his instrumental duties here are not the main concern (as far as I perceive it), although his playing is obviously top notch. Overall this is an interesting and challenging album, absolutely worth investigating.

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

RANDY NEWMAN ~ ORIGINAL ALBUM SERIES WARNER BROS. 081227975395 (Barcode: 081227975395) ~ USA ~ Pop & Rock Recorded: 1968 - 1977 Released: 2011 This Box Set collects reissues of first five studio albums by the iconic American singer / songwriter / pianist Randy NewmanFind albums by this artist, originally released on RepriseFind albums on this label Records. label between 1968 and 1977. They are: “Randy NewmanFind albums with this title” (1968), “12 SongsFind albums with this title” (1970), “Sail AwayFind albums with this title” (1972), “Good Old BoysFind albums with this title” (1974) and “Little CriminalsFind albums with this title” (1977). Newman wrote some of the most beautiful Pop songs, which exhibit his idiosyncratic sense of melody and humor, some of which were hits when performed by him but more often became huge hits when sung by other Pop / Rock artists. He achieved also a great success as composer of cinematic soundtrack, and over time he became one of the most awarded American Artist, with scores of Grammies, Academy awards and Golden Globe awards. Newman’s highly unusual vocal performances and theatrical delivery make him stand out as one of the most unique singer / songwriter artists of the 20th Century and a superb storyteller (usually with a moral). He continues, despite his age and at a slower paste, to write new music and songs to this very day. Overall, this is an incredible collection of his early work, which has but a few parallels and lost absolutely nothing of its beauty and depth over time, and in fact seasoned in time, standing out as a perfect example of what songwriting is all about. Side Note The "Original Album SeriesFind albums with this title" by Warner Bros.Find albums on this label, the "Original Album ClassicsFind albums with this title" by SonyFind albums on this label, the "5 Original AlbumsFind albums with this title" by UniversalFind albums on this label, the Box Sets by RhinoFind albums on this label and other similar releases 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 for the essence of cultural values and general sloppiness, contrary to human decency, which requires as to treat our Cultural Legacy with respect and loyalty. The Box Sets produced under these monikers have no discographical information whatsoever about the lineups, musician names, composers, lyricists, dates and places of recording, original release data and even basic copyright data (the last is strictly illegal BTW). Although the original LP sleeves are reproduced, they are often edited and information (which would be in most cases too small to be readable) is removed. Most importantly these Box Sets don't include any booklet offering a historical background and perspective about the Artists and the Music, which are extremely important and vital to the preservation of our Culture and passing the knowledge to the next generations. In short the fact that these Box Sets are meant to be inexpensive, does not mean that they have to be cheap. Considering the fact how many times this music has been sold over and over again by the labels, this is a crying shame!

Updated: 23/09/2021Posted: 23/09/2021

CD 5 Mini-Sleeve Box Set Recommend To A Friend

	CLIVE NOLAN / OLIVER WAKEMAN ~ JABBERWOCKY VERGLAS 014 ~ UK ~ Progressive Rock Great concept album by two keyboard players Nolan & Wakeman (Rick`s oldest son) with help from stellar cast, including Daddy Wakeman. Based on famous Lewis Carroll`s poem. One of the best of such projects.
	CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

	CLIVE NOLAN / OLIVER WAKEMAN ~ THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES VERGLAS 022 ~ UK ~ Progressive Rock 2nd cooperation project by these two giant musicians based again on a litarary work, this time by Connan Doyle`s famous Sherlock Holmes story. Many guest musicians make this a real treat, similar in nature to `Jabberwocky`. Excellent music and great performances, a true gift of music.
	CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

OLES BROTHERS / THEO JORGENSMANN ~ ALCHEMIA HATOLOGY 646 (Barcode: 752156064626) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2006 Released: 2007 This is the fourth album by Polish Improvised Music heroes, brothers Marcin OlesFind albums by this artist (bass) and Bartlomiej OlesFind albums by this artist (drums) collectively know as Oles BrothersFind albums by this artist, with the German clarinetist / composer Theo JorgensmannFind albums by this artist. The music was recorded live at the legendary Alchemia club in Krakow, which in the first decade of the new Millennium served as one of the epicenters of the Polish Avant-Garde scene, and includes five original compositions: two composed by Jorgensmann, one each by Marcin Oles and Bartlomiej Oles and one co-composed by them both. This music was recorded just two months after the live recording that produced the "Live In Poznan 2006Find albums with this title" album and covers mostly the same material and yet these two dates are quite dramatically different. The Alchemia concert is a pinnacle of this trio´s cooperation at the time, summarizing a process of development from the first encounter to the close intimacy achieved herein. The relaxed and contemplative atmosphere of this session and the expanded versions of the compositions, which are present on this album, create a magic moment which was encapsulated for eternity. The special ambience of the club itself might be also responsible for the extraordinary amalgam achieved here by the trio. This music is also much more "organized" than that presented on the earlier recordings, with a clear emphasis on the compositions and structures rather than the on improvised parts that dominate the earlier recordings. Of course there is plenty of improvisation and wonderful expanded solo sections, but the music, at all times, stays within clearly defined melodic and rhythmic patterns, even at the very climax and up-tempo frenzy. This wonderful balance between the freedom of improvisation and the structure, mostly imposed by the rhythm section, is absolutely stunning. Of course the individual abilities of these extraordinary musicians are at full display throughout this album, as always. It´s worth to listen to this album several times, each time concentrating on just one of the participants in order to be able to fully absorb their individual contributions. But of course only the glorious threesome achieves the full synergy, and the proper way to listen is to try and absorb this synergy into our brains. This is surely one of the finest examples of the European Avant-Garde scene at the time it was recorded and a true gem of an album, which has but a few equals. The fact that the prestigious Swiss Hat HutFind albums on this label label decided to include it in its roster is surely an acknowledgment of eminence, which in this case was fully earned. The hearsay has it that Hat Hut has another Oles Brothers session in their vaults that remains unreleased – now that is a crying´ shame!

Updated: 12/04/2019Posted:

CD 1 Mini-Sleeve Oversampling Recommend To A Friend

OLES BROTHERS / THEO JORGENSMANN ~ DIRECTIONS FENOMMEDIA 002 (Barcode: 5907604327029) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2004 Released: 2005 This is the second album by Polish Jazz musicians / composers, brothers Marcin OlesFind albums by this artist (bass) and Bartlomiej OlesFind albums by this artist (drums) collectively know as Oles BrothersFind albums by this artist, with the German clarinetist / composer Theo JorgensmannFind albums by this artist. Recorded just one year after their debut recording "MiniaturesFind albums with this title", it signifies the incredible rapport these musicians are able to create together. The album presents nine original pieces, six of which were composed by Bartlomiej Oles, one by Marcin Oles and two by Theo Jorgensmann. The music is a logical and linear continuation of the ideas that were first developed on the preceding album, deepening the trio´s coherence and spiritual unity. There is no doubt that this music is significantly more "unchained", with a lot of breathing space and bolder experimentation, expanding the boundaries of the trio´s telepathic creative process. But miraculously the new degree of freedom does not impair the warmth, intimacy and melodic contents this music so wonderfully amalgamates. It is a superb example of the "less is more" approach, where each single note counts and subdued energies penetrate deeper than volume. Of course there are plenty of energetic and spirited moments, when the music reaches ecstatic levels, but even then everything happens in perfect harmony and intrinsic tidiness, which often is completely lost in the heat of Improvised Music created by others. The idea to play relatively short pieces with changing motifs, as opposed to expanded improvised passages lasting for long periods of time, works excellently herein. These great musicians do not need to prove anything and obviously play the music enjoying the aesthetics of creation a new expression of their inner selves, rather than showing off their talents. This is definitely one of my favorite Polish Jazz albums, which is after all hardly surprising, as my work as a producer with the Israeli clarinetist Harold Rubin is in many respects quite similar. The clarinet produces a heartwarming sound, which is simply irresistible and in the hands of a Master becomes an extension of the human voice. Combined with an intelligent and extremely musical rhythm section, like in this case, the result turns into some of the most moving and poignant music one can experience. This is a classic album in every respect, which should be included on the short "must hear" list anywhere on this planet where people still listen to meaningful music. The depth of the experience this music generates is of course very personal, but I can hardly imagine a music connoisseur left untouched by it. Respect!

Updated: 02/01/2017Posted:

CD 1 Mini-Sleeve Recommend To A Friend

OLES BROTHERS / THEO JORGENSMANN ~ LIVE IN POZNAN 2006 FENOMMEDIA 006 (Barcode: 5907604327067) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2006 Released: 2007 This is the third album by Polish Improvised Music heroes, brothers Marcin OlesFind albums by this artist (bass) and Bartlomiej OlesFind albums by this artist (drums) collectively known as Oles BrothersFind albums by this artist, with the German clarinetist / composer Theo JorgensmannFind albums by this artist. The music was recorded live and includes eight original compositions: four composed by Bartlomiej Oles and two each by Marcin Oles and Jorgensmann. The music presents a wonderful Free Jazz / Improvised Music setting, full of great melody lines, exciting improvisations, fiery displays of virtuosic abilities and telepathic conversation between the musicians involved. Jorgensmann is a very dynamic, but non-aggressive player, who sounds wonderfully melodic even if he improvises freely, which creates an exceptionally easy-going atmosphere, rarely present on Free Jazz albums. The Oles Brothers are famous for being the best Polish rhythm section in Free Jazz / Improvised Music environment and this album clearly shows why. They are not only technically perfect but more importantly superbly musical, and as a result the music doest not offer a soloist supported by a rhythm section setup but rather a trio of equally important parts playing together as one. Large part of the material included here is a live version of the same material recorded by this trio on their previous album "DirectionsFind albums with this title", which was recorded in a studio. Those two albums are a splendid manifestation of how music is influenced by circumstances, the presence of an audience and so on. Basically these two albums should be combined into a double CD release – perhaps when reissued at some later date. Overall this is one of those instant "classics" which simply leave nothing out and are pieces of Culture captured for posterity. Wonderful listening experience from start to finish!

Updated: 02/01/2017Posted:

CD 1 Mini-Sleeve Recommend To A Friend

OLES BROTHERS / THEO JORGENSMANN ~ MINIATURES NOT TWO 748 ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2003 Released: 2003 This is the first album by Polish Jazz musicians / composers, brothers Marcin OlesFind albums by this artist (bass) and Bartlomiej OlesFind albums by this artist (drums) collectively know as Oles BrothersFind albums by this artist, with the German clarinetist / composer Theo JorgensmannFind albums by this artist. They recorded several more wonderful albums as a trio following this debut recording. The album presents ten pieces, two of which are contemporary Classical compositions by Polish composers Jan KrenzFind albums by this artist and Artur MalawskiFind albums by this artist, five are by Bartlomiej Oles, two by Marcin Oles and one by Theo Jorgensmann. The music is an amalgam of Jazz tradition with Improvised Music, contemporary Classical forms and the individual statements by the musicians involved. Gently floating between melodic themes and improvised sections it is all about elegance, sophistication and mutual respect, that between the musicians and their audience and that between the musicians themselves. The term "miniatures" is perhaps not quite descriptive of the contents in the strict meaning of the term, but applies to the minimalism and tenderness of these pieces, which are able to create an impressive impact in contrast to their seemingly limited scale. Jorgensmann is able to join the legendary telepathic bond existing between the twin brothers and expand it into three-way collaboration, which of course is quite extraordinary. Together the trio carries out like one multilayered voice, which performs not only with remarkable unity but also seemingly without any limitations. Such close musical encounters are always a source of great joy and inspiration. This album is an instant "classic" of the European contemporary Jazz / Improvised Music collection, which deserves an honorable place in any serious music library and is definitely worth a serious investigation by serious music connoisseurs.

Updated: 02/01/2017Posted:

CD 1 Mini-Sleeve Recommend To A Friend

OLES BROTHERS / THEO JORGENSMANN ~ TRANSGRESSION FSR 2016/04 (Barcode: 5905279364103) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2010 Released: 2016 This is the fifth album by the trio which unites Polish Jazz and Improvised Music twin team of bassist / composer Marcin OlesFind albums by this artist and drummer / composer Bartlomiej OlesFind albums by this artist, collectively known as Oles BrothersFind albums by this artist, and German clarinetist / composer Theo JorgensmannFind albums by this artist. The music included on this album was recorded in 2010 and originally intended for release as their second album on the Swiss Hat HutFind albums on this label Records HatologyFind albums on this label Label, but for a variety of reason was delayed and eventually released on the Polish FSRFind albums on this label label. It includes eleven original compositions, three of which are by Marcin Oles and four each by Bartlomiej Oles and Jorgensmann. The album marks a culmination of a ten years period during which the trio recorded and performed together intensively. As a result their work here is remarkably coherent and organic and the musical unity they demonstrate is truly marvelous. The music flows flawlessly between solo, duo and trio statements, with the rhythm section being elevated to a status of frontline performers. The telepathic conversation between all three musicians is staggering, as usual, and the trio becomes a complete, undividable unit. The album also marks a path towards more composed and less freely improvised music, which has characterized the trio´s progression over time. That does not mean of course that the music is restrained in any way, but the composed structures are plainly hearable and strictly adhered to, notwithstanding the enormous degree of freedom applied in the performances themselves. In retrospect this is definitely a brilliant closing chapter to the trio´s activity, which was certainly one of the most interesting European Jazz units at the time. Of course for Oles Brothers this was definitely a period of establishing their position as one of the most talented leading European rhythm sections in parallel to their ever growing career as composers. It is great to have this album finally available, thanks to the persistence of the Oles Brothers and of course Maciej KarlowskiFind albums by this artist of FSR, who finally managed to bring this saga to a happy end. The album includes the liner notes by American critic Art Lange, which were written for the intended release on Hatology in 2011, so even that piece of the puzzle was saved. Enjoy!

Updated: 02/01/2017Posted: 02/01/2017

CD 1 Mini-Sleeve Recommend To A Friend

OLES BROTHERS / THEO JORGENSMANN / CHRISTOPHER DELL ~ FRAGMENTS & MOMENTS NOT ON LABEL ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2007 Released: 2012 This is a limited edition album celebrating the tenth anniversary of musical cooperation between Polish Jazz musicians: bassist Marcin OlesFind albums by this artist and drummer Bartlomiej OlesFind albums by this artist, collectively known as Oles BrothersFind albums by this artist and German clarinetists Theo JorgensmannFind albums by this artist. The album also features the German vibraphonist Christopher DellFind albums by this artist and together as a quartet they present eight original compositions: four of which are credited to all quartet members, two are by Jorgensmann and one each by the Oles brothers. The album follows the pattern set by the three earlier albums recorded by the Oles Brothers with Jorgensmann, but is also somewhat more "conventional" in a way, with clear melody lines and beautiful serene atmosphere, which turns the listening to this album into a truly relaxed experience. Jorgensmann plays beautifully, as always and the rhythm section accompanies him with superb sensitivity, with the bass taking the lead from time to time as well. Dell is the least dominant participant, which is pretty understandable considering the long and established understanding between the other three musicians, but his solos are perfectly suitable for the music as is his accompaniment behind the clarinet. Overall this is another example of the great music the Oles Brothers are always involved with, and a document of a fruitful musical cooperation between European musicians. Full of great music and perfect delivery this album should satisfy even the sternest Jazz connoisseurs and provide a listening experience worthy of being revisited.

Updated: 03/01/2017Posted:

CD-R 1 Mini-Sleeve Recommend To A Friend

PANTA / DYS / SZMANDA ~ PLAY BACH / BEETHOVEN / CHOPIN / MALECKI NOT ON LABEL (Barcode: 5902249020519) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Classical Fusion Recorded: 2012 - 2013 Released: 2015 This is a tribute album dedicated to the memory of the Polish Jazz pianist / composer Marcin MaleckiFind albums by this artist, who died in 2008 after losing the battle with cancer. The material on this album was intended to be recorded by Malecki on his second album, but sadly that recording never materialized. This album recreates the ideas from the remaining scores and the piano parts are played by Krzysztof DysFind albums by this artist, together with the original members of Malecki´s trio, bassist Pawel PantaFind albums by this artist and drummer Krzysztof SzmandaFind albums by this artist. As the title suggests, the album includes two original compositions by Malecki and five arrangements of classical pieces. The music was fabulously recorded at the Studio Tokarnia with Jan SmoczynskiFind albums by this artist at the helm, as always. The music is everything one might expect from a Jazz-Classical Fusion album, with clever arrangements of well known Classical pieces beautifully performed by first class musicians, who are amongst the best on the Polish Jazz scene. Kept well within the mainstream Jazz conventions, the music manages to keep the listener on his toes mainly due to the virtuosic performances by all three members of the trio. Dys reveals his Classical roots and his wonderful ability to swing, Panta plays complex yet natural bass lines and Szmanda vigorously keeps things swinging, with a great drums solo displaying his abilities. This is as good a classic Jazz piano trio album as they come and every fan of piano trio should enjoy this to the max, especially those people who like Jazzy interpretations of Classical music. It is also a beautiful example of friendship and honoring a friend´s memory, which is commendable, especially in a world where every man for himself seems to be the leading motto. Well done Gentlemen!

Updated: 22/02/2017Posted: 22/02/2017

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend