Record Reviews

DON CHERRY / KRZYSZTOF PENDERECKI ~ ACTIONS INTUITION 3606 (Barcode: 750447360624) ~ USA ~ Free Jazz / Improvised Music Recorded: 1971 Released: 2001 This is a reissue / remaster of one of the most iconic Jazz / Improvised Music recordings ever, recorded live during the 1971 Donaueshingen New Music Festival in 1971. It presents the American trumpeter / composer Don CherryFind albums by this artist accompanied by a large international orchestra, called The New Eternal Rhythm OrchestraFind albums by this artist, comprised of the crème de la crème of European Jazz musicians - trumpeters: Manfred SchoofFind albums by this artist (Germany), Kenny WheelerFind albums by this artist (UK), Tomasz StankoFind albums by this artist (Poland), guitarist Terje RypdalFind albums by this artist (Norway), trombonists: Paul RutherfordFind albums by this artist (UK), Albert MangelsdorffFind albums by this artist (Germany), saxophonists: Gerd DudekFind albums by this artist (Germany), Peter BrotzmannFind albums by this artist (Germany), Willem BreukerFind albums by this artist (Holland), flautist Gunter HampelFind albums by this artist (Germany), keyboardist Fred van HoveFind albums by this artist (Holland), bassists: Buschi NiebergallFind albums by this artist (Germany), Peter WarrenFind albums by this artist (US) and drummer Han BennikFind albums by this artist (Holland). The central piece of music performed here was composed and conducted by Polish Classical composer Krzysztof PendereckiFind albums by this artist. The album includes extensive bilingual liner notes, which describe the circumstances of the recording and include an interview with Penderecki. The project was a brainchild of my Friend and Mentor Joachim BerendtFind albums by this artist, who was in charge of the Jazz section of the Donaueschingen New Music Festival at the time and presented some of most challenging and groundbreaking music of the era. Penderecki was a frequent guest at the festival and following a concert of the Globe Unity OrchestraFind albums by this artist during the 1967 season of the concerts, decided to write a piece for a Free Jazz ensemble, which came into fruition four years later. The music is of course as brilliant as one might expect and sounds still completely innovative and fresh as it did at the time of the performance, losing nothing of its splendor over time. I discussed this recording with Maestro Penderecki during my last meeting with him before his passing, and he remembered the occasion very well. He respected Berendt for his tremendous knowledge and work towards expanding the Jazz genre’s recognition, as well as for his help to Polish musicians / composers during the Socialist era. We both mourned Berendt’s demise. Overall, this is a superb piece of music, which although composed, is performed by an orchestra of Improvising Musicians, which makes it pretty unique, especially since it was recorded well over half a Century ago. If you are able to find a copy, this is a must have in every serious Jazz records collection.

Updated: 02/09/2025Posted: 02/09/2025

CD 1 Remastered Recommend To A Friend

GRAHAM COLLIER ~ HOARDED DREAMS CUNEIFORM 252 (Barcode: 045775025223) ~ UK ~ Jazz Recorded: 1983 Released: 2007 This extraordinary album contains a previously unreleased recording of Graham CollierFind albums by this artist’s Big Band performance of his suite “Hoarded Dreams”. The music was commissioned by the Arts Council of Great Britain (UK Government body that over the years faithfully supported UK Jazz scene and provided endless opportunities for UK musicians to compose and record) for the 1983 edition of the Bracknell Jazz Festival. For the occasion Collier assembled a spectacular Big Band (including 19 musicians), which he conducted. The players are a multi-national creme de la creme of European Jazz, with such distinguished names as Tomasz StankoFind albums by this artist (Poland), Juhani AaltonenFind albums by this artist (Finland), John SurmanFind albums by this artist, Kenny WheelerFind albums by this artist (UK), Manfred SchoofFind albums by this artist (Germany), etc. This awesome personnel ensures that the performance is truly stellar, with soaring solos and endless display of virtuosity and collective interplay. The brilliant music, suiting elegantly and perfectly the purpose of providing solo space for such a broad group of instrumentalist proves again that Collier is undoubtedly one of the true Giants composers of Modern Jazz of the caliber of Charles MingusFind albums by this artist. Absolutely stunning! See also the Garahm Collier album released on Jazzis Records

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EUROPEAN JAZZ ENSEMBLE ~ 20TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR KONNEX 5078 (Barcode: 718751297425) ~ GERMANY ~ Big Band Jazz Recorded: 1996 Released: 1997 This is a live recording by the European Jazz EnsembleFind albums by this artist, a collective of European Jazz musicians run by German bassist Ali HaurandFind albums by this artist since 1976, which included in its ranks the absolute crème de la crème of instrumentalists, like German saxophonists Ernst-Ludwig PetrowskyFind albums by this artist and Gerd DudekFind albums by this artist, British saxophonist Stan SulzmannFind albums by this artist, Dutch trumpeter Jarmo HoogendijkFind albums by this artist, Danish trumpeter Allan BotschinskyFind albums by this artist, German trumpeter Thomas HebererFind albums by this artist, Dutch pianist Rob van den BroeckFind albums by this artist and British drummer Tony LevinFind albums by this artist. For the 20th anniversary Tour the nonet was expanded by nine additional musicians: American (resident in Europe) saxophonist Charlie MarianoFind albums by this artist, German pianist Joachim KuhnFind albums by this artist, Italian trumpeter Enrico RavaFind albums by this artist, German trombonist Conrad BauerFind albums by this artist, Czech flautist Jiri StivinFind albums by this artist, German trumpeter Manfred SchoofFind albums by this artist, Swiss drummer Daniel HumairFind albums by this artist, Hungarian saxophonist Tony LakatosFind albums by this artist and German clarinetist Rolf KuhnFind albums by this artist. Just reading these names should make any Jazz enthusiast dizzy, and I have had the pleasure to know all of them and attend this gig. The album presents just four lengthy tracks, featuring a long series of dazzling solos. The music is kept in the form of a typical at the time European Big Band, which took a basic melodic theme and expended it, allowing many individual solos as well as collective improvisation, which of course was but a breeze for these superb musicians, who could find themselves at any musical environment with ease and elegance, and who respected each other immensely at all time. What could have developed into a cacophonic catastrophe, turned out to be a beautiful, completely well behaved display of Modern Jazz, which inspired all the musicians and the audience alike. Sadly, such meetings of musicians of this scale are hardly possible any more, with the constantly diminishing public support for music in Europe and the decline of the appreciation of Art and Culture and a constant race after basic survival, which many of today’s musicians experience at all time. I have been lucky to live through the 1970s / 1980s / and to some extent 1990s, where public financial support enabled many musical (and other artistic) happenings, like the one captured on this album. Overall, this is a brilliant and quite unique album, which presents an all-star (although nobody felt like a star) Jazz gathering of sublime talent, which produced heavenly music, captured herein. O tempora, o mores! – those were the days and “to se ne vrati…”

Updated: 17/04/2025Posted: 17/04/2025

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EUROPEAN JAZZ ENSEMBLE ~ 30TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR 2006 KONNEX 5225 (Barcode: 4017867031876) ~ GERMANY ~ Jazz Recorded: 2006 Released: 2009 The European Jazz EnsembleFind albums by this artist is a "cooperative" group of top European Jazz musicians, which tours and records together for the last 30 years. Over time, an incredible parade of talent passed through the ranks of this group, each of the musicians being a leader and acknowledged instrumentalist / composer of the highest statue. The list of the players on this album, for example, is truly scary for anyone familiar with European Jazz: Alan SkidmoreFind albums by this artist, Stan SulzmannFind albums by this artist, Gerd DudekFind albums by this artist and Charlie MarianoFind albums by this artist (the only non-European by birth but very much so by spirit) on saxophone, Jiri StivinFind albums by this artist on flute, Manfred SchoofFind albums by this artist and Pino MinafraFind albums by this artist on trumpet, Joachim KuhnFind albums by this artist on piano, Ali HaurandFind albums by this artist on bass, and Daniel HumairFind albums by this artist and Tony LevinFind albums by this artist on drums. These brilliant musicians perform a set of no less brilliant compositions, with predictably brilliant arrangements – what can I say, the album is just one nasty piece of superb music, kicking badly from start to finish. Although basically the performances are by a big band, in truth the individual soloist are given plenty of opportunity to stretch out, backed up only by the rhythm section, which makes this album likeable even for people, who have a slight adversity to big band albums (God only knows why). Regardless of ones specific likes and dislikes might be, this is a kind of recording that any true Jazz fan can not ignore. The subtle musical trickery, known only by the European Jazzers, is so obvious here, that I´d recommend this album to every American big band fan, to learn what really can be achieved with such potent "instrument". Brilliant! (Oh yes, I already said so…).

Updated: 18/07/2020Posted:

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EUROPEAN JAZZ ENSEMBLE ~ MEETS THE KHAN FAMILY M.A MUSIC 807 ~ GERMANY ~ Jazz-World Fusion Recorded: 1992 Released: 1992 This is a live album by the European Jazz EnsembleFind albums by this artist, a collective of Jazz musicians led by German bassist Ali HaurandFind albums by this artist (who died in 2018), which included in its various configurations since 1976 the absolute crème de la crème of European Jazz representatives. The lineup on this album comprises, in addition to Haurand, of trumpeters Thomas HebererFind albums by this artist, Manfred SchoofFind albums by this artist and Rainer WinterschladenFind albums by this artist, saxophonists Ernst-Ludwig PetrowskyFind albums by this artist, Gerd DudekFind albums by this artist and Stan SulzmannFind albums by this artist, guitarist Philip CatherineFind albums by this artist, pianists Joachim KuhnFind albums by this artist and Rob van den BroeckFind albums by this artist, vocalist Uschi BruningFind albums by this artist and drummer Tony LevinFind albums by this artist (of the twelve musicians two are British, one Belgian and one Dutch, and the rest are Germans). On this album they invited three Indian musicians, members of the extended Khan family: Ustad Zamir Ahmed KhanFind albums by this artist on sitar, Irshad Hussain KhanFind albums by this artist on tabla and Ustad Munir KhanFind albums by this artist on sarangi. The album presents four tracks, two lasing over fifteen minutes and two over twenty minutes, one each composed by Danish trumpeter Allan BotschinskyFind albums by this artist (a former member of the ensemble), Sultzmann, Kuhn and Schoof. The music is a wonderful example of Jazz-World Fusion, with the entire ensemble and the guests offer a group improvisation based on pre-composed themes, but expanding the music way beyond the original melodies, as expected. The ensemble plays some parts in a Big Band manner, but most of the time the music involves group improvisations between the ensemble members and the guests, often flying far and away from the initial source. Since all the musicians on this album are superb instrumentalists, the level of the performances is nothing short of stunning. All the albums by this ensemble are excellent documents of the diversity and complexity of the European scene, and here they are able to create new cross-genre musical explorations. Overall, this is a very interesting and rather unique Jazz-World Music album, which presents a meeting between Big Band Jazz and Indian traditional music, which usually is performed in a much more intimate lineup. These musicians prove again that music has no stylistic borders, and gifted musicians are able to communicate within any musical environment without any obstacles. Wholeheartedly recommended!

Updated: 17/08/2024Posted: 16/08/2024

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STAN GETZ / KENNY CLARKE / FRANCY BOLAND BIG BAND ~ CHANGE OF SCENES VERVE 600753805732 (Barcode: 600753805732) ~ USA ~ Big Band Jazz Recorded: 1971 Released: 2017 This is a reissue of a fantastic album recorded by the American saxophonist Stan GetzFind albums by this artist with the international / resident in Europe Big Band, co-led by American drummer / bandleader Kenny ClarkeFind albums by this artist and Belgian pianist / composer / arranger / bandleader Francy BolandFind albums by this artist. It was originally recorded in Germany in 1971. The album presents six tracks, all composed / arranged by Boland, which are some of his most complex and advanced works. The sound quality is perfect and the music is exceptional, as always. The Big Band includes some of the best European Jazz musicians active at the time, like British saxophonists Ronnie ScottFind albums by this artist, Stan SulzmannFind albums by this artist and Tony CoeFind albums by this artist, German trumpeter Manfred SchoofFind albums by this artist, Dutch trumpeter Ack van RooyenFind albums by this artist, German trombonist Albert MangelsdorffFind albums by this artist and many American expatriates: saxophonists Sahib ShihabFind albums by this artist and Herb GellerFind albums by this artist, trumpeters Benny BaileyFind albums by this artist and Art FarmerFind albums by this artist and many other excellent musicians. Clarke and Boland co-led the Big Band between 1960 and 1972, which was one of the most formidable European Jazz Big Bands with an extensive recording legacy, with several notable releases also on the MPSFind albums on this label label. Boland composed and arranged for the most important American Jazz Big Bands in the 1950s, like those of Benny GoodmanFind albums by this artist, Woody HermanFind albums by this artist and Count BasieFind albums by this artist, before returning to Europe and starting his work with legendary German Big Band leader Kurt EdelhagenFind albums by this artist. The music is all within the modern mainstream Jazz idiom, but the sublime arrangements make it absolute timeless and distinctly different from the American Jazz Big Band tradition, with a much more complex orchestral sound and refined European aesthetics. There are plenty of wonderful soli by the orchestra members, as expected, but as usual in the European Big Band environment, the accent is on the entire orchestra sound, with the soloing being mostly the icing on the cake. Every note played here is simply exceptional. Overall, for Big Band / Orchestral Jazz fans this album is an absolute must of course, a true school book example of what Big Band music is all about. Holy Grail! Stan Getz fans should find his soloing here also highly noteworthy.

Updated: 27/08/2025Posted: 27/08/2025

CD 1 Mini-Sleeve Recommend To A Friend

MANFRED SCHOOF ~ RESONANCE ECM 2093/94 (Barcode: 602517804531) ~ GERMANY ~ Jazz Recorded: 1976 - 1979 Released: 2009 This album collects music recorded by the quintets led by German trumpeter / composer Manfred SchoofFind albums by this artist, entitled "ScalesFind albums with this title", "Light LinesFind albums with this title" and "HorizonsFind albums with this title", which were originally released on the JAPOFind albums on this label label, a subsidiary of ECMFind albums on this label. The first two are included here in their entirety and the last one is two tracks short, which is a pity, but considering this is the only CD edition of these albums, it´s infinitely better than nothing, especially in view of the quality of the music. Schoof was one of the most important figures on the European modern Jazz scene since the late 1960s and his contribution to the genre is enormous. A brilliant trumpeter and a great composer, he was always in the epicenter of the scene, playing with musicians from many countries as well as leading his own groups. His 1970s quintet, which recorded the three albums included here, was particularly exquisite, playing some of the most intelligent and adventurous, albeit quite melodic and well organized music created at the time. Of course the element of musical freedom is in the centre of the musical creation, as captured on these albums, but it is pre-composed and retains strong melodic continuity. In retrospect these are truly amazing musical achievements, which have not been repeated successfully since. The musicians present here include: bass clarinetist Michel PilzFind albums by this artist, Dutch keyboardist Jasper van`t HofFind albums by this artist (on the first two albums) and German keyboardist Rainer BruninghausFind albums by this artist (on the last one), bassist Gunter LenzFind albums by this artist and drummer Ralf HubnerFind albums by this artist. People familiar with European Jazz scene will of course recognize these names instantly. This is an absolute must to connoisseurs of European Jazz at its absolute best. Stupendous stuff! Visitors' Comments Christopher  Brice Love that bass clarinet (on YouTube - CDs not yet received)

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MANFRED SCHOOF QUINTET ~ LIVE IN BREMEN 1978 MOOSICUS 1316 (Barcode: 885513131621) ~ GERMANY ~ Jazz Recorded: 1978 Released: 2022 This is an archival live album by the great German Jazz trumpeter / composer / bandleader Manfred SchoofFind albums by this artist, one of the Godfathers of the modern German / European Jazz. The 2CD album was recorded by Radio Bremen and features Schoof’s second quintet, with bass clarinetist Michel PilzFind albums by this artist, keyboardist Rainer BruninghausFind albums by this artist, bassist Gunter LenzFind albums by this artist and drummer Ralf HubnerFind albums by this artist. The album presents nine tracks, eight of which are extended pieces lasting between ten and twenty minutes. Six of the tracks are original compositions by Schoof, two are by Hubner and one is co-composed by Schoof with two other musicians. Bruninghaus is familiar as a member of Volker KriegelFind albums by this artist´s bands and the Lenz / Hubner rhythm section was, among others, also the first rhythm section of Albert MangelsdorffFind albums by this artist’s quintet. This quintet recorded three albums for the JAPOFind albums on this label label, a subsidiary of ECMFind albums on this label, between 1976 and 1979 (“ScalesFind albums with this title”, “Light LinesFind albums with this title” and “HorizonsFind albums with this title”), reissued in 2009 as the Box Set “ResonanceFind albums with this title”, with Dutch keyboardist Jasper van`t HofFind albums by this artist on the first two albums and Bruninghaus on the third. Much of the material on this live album originates from these albums, but gets an expanded treatment herein. The music is absolutely Godly, a beautiful amalgam of melodic, almost ambient themes with widely improvised Free parts by the bass clarinet, trumpet and piano on top, a brilliant example of the European Jazz aesthetics at its best. The music develops slowly and takes the listener on a hypnotic carpet ride, which is delight incarnate. This was definitely one of the best European Jazz quintets of the late 1970s, and this live album is a perfect companion to the three studio albums mentioned above. Overall, this is a brilliant European Jazz from the late 1970s, with first-class musicians, performing exquisite music, which remains as relevant today as it was at the time. Lovers of bass clarinet will find this jaw-dropping and absolutely essential, but all European Jazz lovers should find this music irresistible. Those German radio stations have so much incredible music in their vaults, and we can be only grateful for labels like MoosicusFind albums on this label for bringing it out on records. A must!

Updated: 26/06/2025Posted: 21/06/2025

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IRENE SCHWEIZER ~ JAZZ MEETS INDIA PROMISING MUSIC 44114 (Barcode: 602527326238) ~ SWITZERLAND ~ Jazz-World Fusion Recorded: 1967 Released: 2010 This extraordinary album is one of the earliest Jazz-World Fusion excursions, in general and Jazz / Indian music in particular, preceded mainly by the British recording with the Joe HarriottFind albums by this artist / John MayerFind albums by this artist ensembles. This meeting, conceived by the legendary producer Joachim BerendtFind albums by this artist and originally released on the MPSFind albums on this label label, brings together the trio led by the Swiss pianist / composer Irene SchweizerFind albums by this artist, with bassist Uli TrepteFind albums by this artist and drummer Mani NeumeierFind albums by this artist with an Indian trio led by sitar player Dewan MotiharFind albums by this artist, tabla player Keshav SatheFind albums by this artist and tambura player Kusum ThakurFind albums by this artist. Two guest musicians are also present: trumpeter Manfred SchoofFind albums by this artist and saxophonist Barney WilenFind albums by this artist. Contrary to the above mentioned British encounters, which were more about improvising on Indian melodic themes, this meeting is based on Free Jazz, which makes everything much more intense and complex, but also interesting of course. Considering the fact that this music was conceived and recorded 45 years ago emphasizes Berendt´s visionary approach to music and his pivotal role in the development of European Jazz. This is not easy-listening material, but open-minded people will find this fascinating for sure. Not available for decades, this new edition is a momentous event for non-mainstream music. Not to be missed!

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VARIOUS ARTISTS ~ POLISH RADIO JAZZ ARCHIVES VOL.33 POLSKIE RADIO 2182 (Barcode: 5907812241223) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 1967 Released: 2021 This is the thirty-third installment in the series of releases initiated by the Polish Radio, which presents archive Jazz recordings from the radio vaults. 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. The tracks presented here were recorded live in October 1967 during the tenth Jazz Jamboree Festival in Warsaw and are the first volume of a collection of tracks from that event. The first five tracks present the American multi-reed player Roland KirkFind albums by this artist and his quartet, which included pianist Ron BurtonFind albums by this artist (a.k.a. Rahn BurtonFind albums by this artist), bassist Steve NovoselFind albums by this artist and drummer Jimmy HoppsFind albums by this artist. The quartet performs two original compositions by Kirk and three standards, all pretty standard American Bebop, which at the time was already considered somewhat passé in comparison to the work done by the great American Jazz innovators headed by John ColtraneFind albums by this artist, who died just a few months before these tracks were recorded. The next track presents the quintet led by great Polish pianist / composer Andrzej TrzaskowskiFind albums by this artist with saxophonists Janusz MuniakFind albums by this artist and Wlodzimierz NahornyFind albums by this artist, bassist Jacek OstaszewskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Sergiusz PerkowskiFind albums by this artist (mistakenly listed as Sergiusz Piotrowski). The quintet performs one lengthy version of an original composition by Trzaskowski, clearly showing that already at that time Polish Jazz was as good as anything originating across the pond and frankly the composition is light-years ahead of Bebop, somewhat on the thin line between composed and improvised music. The next two tracks present the German quintet led by trumpeter Manfred SchoofFind albums by this artist with saxophonist Gerd DudekFind albums by this artist, pianist Alexander von SchlippenbachFind albums by this artist, bassist Buschi NiebergallFind albums by this artist and drummer Jaki LiebezeitFind albums by this artist (mistakenly listed as Liebezeit Jaki). The quintet performs two lengthy medleys, each of two compositions, all original by the members of the quintet. The music is a superb example of early European Free Jazz, which was exploding at the time across Europe, with Germany being one of the epicenters of the new direction. The music is absolutely sensational and sounds today as fresh as it was at the time of the recording, perfectly illustrating the notion that Free Jazz can make sense and be aesthetically viable. It also sadly proves that the genre did not move an inch ahead in the fifty-four years that passed since. The series, which was brought back to life after three years of absence, offers an upgraded packaging, which finally offers liner notes, albeit those could have been better, considering the importance of this music. The beautifully restored sound quality is excellent and the warm ambience of the analog recording is a true joy. Overall this is an absolutely essential piece of Jazz history which every Jazz fan should consider as a must.

Updated: 23/07/2021Posted: 23/07/2021

CD 1 Digipak Remastered Recommend To A Friend