Record Reviews

MARION BROWN ~ GESPRÄCHSFETZEN / MARION BROWN IN SOMMERHAUSEN MOOSICUS 1219 (Barcode: 885513121929) ~ USA ~ Free Jazz / Improvised Music Recorded: 1968 - 1969 Released: 2023 This is a reissue / remaster of two live albums by American saxophonist / composer Marion BrownFind albums by this artist, recorded in Germany with American and German musicians. “GesprächsfetzenFind albums with this title” was recorded in 1968 with American trumpeter Ambrose JacksonFind albums by this artist and drummer Steve McCallFind albums by this artist and German vibraphonist / bass clarinetist Gunter HampelFind albums by this artist and bassist Buschi NiebergallFind albums by this artist. It presents five tracks, three of which are originals by Brown and one each by McCall and Hampel. “Marion Brown In SommerhausenFind albums with this title” was recorded in 1969 with Jackson, McCall, Hampel, French bassist Daniel LalouxFind albums by this artist and brilliant American vocalist Jeanne LeeFind albums by this artist (Hampel’s wife). It presents six tracks, all credited to the performing musicians. Both albums were originally released on the legendary German CaligFind albums on this label label. This album is a companion release to the 2CD live archive album “Mary AnnFind albums with this title”, recorded by Brown in 1969 and also released on the MoosicusFind albums on this label label, which is highly interesting as well. The music is absolutely sensational, a great example of classic Free Jazz in the best spirit of John Coltrane. Brown’s European recordings are in many respects the highlights of his entire career, and therefore are essential listening to all Free Jazz enthusiasts. It is also a great document of the exploding early European Free Jazz scene, which flourished in Germany at the time. Overall, this is a superb reminder of the Free Jazz at its peak, captured live in a perfect sound quality, which only the Germans could provide at the time. It is an obvious “must have” to the Free Jazz / Improvising Music enthusiasts and a proud addition to every serious record collection. Both these albums have been highly sought-after rarities for decades.

Updated: 28/11/2025Posted: 28/11/2025

CD 1 Remastered Recommend To A Friend

MARION BROWN ~ MARY ANN MOOSICUS 1221 (Barcode: 885513122124) ~ USA ~ Free Jazz / Improvised Music Recorded: 1969 Released: 2023 This is an archival live album by American saxophonist / composer Marion BrownFind albums by this artist, recorded in a quartet setting with German trombonist Ed KrogerFind albums by this artist, bassist Sigi BuschFind albums by this artist and American drummer Steve McCallFind albums by this artist. The 2CD album presents eight lengthy tracks, six of which last around twenty minutes and up each. The music was recorded by Radio Bremen during a performance at the legendary local “Lila Eule” club and offers a superb sound quality. At the time the music was recorded, both Brown and McCall lived in Europe and played with many European Jazz musicians, contributing to the rapid development of the European Free Jazz / Improvising Music scene. Brown and McCall recorded two live albums with Gunter HampelFind albums by this artist, “GesprächsfetzenFind albums with this title” and “Marion Brown In SommerhausenFind albums with this title”, for the legendary CaligFind albums on this label label, which were also reissued on the MoosicusFind albums on this label label and are of course a must. The music is absolutely sensational, a great example of classic Free Jazz in the best tradition of John ColtraneFind albums by this artist, and with some European accents, especially in the performances by Kroger, who was of course strongly influenced by his countryman Albert MangelsdorffFind albums by this artist, who almost singlehandedly defined the role of the trombone in European Jazz. Brown’s European recordings are in many respects the highlights of his entire career, and therefore are essential listening to Free Jazz enthusiasts. Overall, this is a superb reminder of the Free Jazz at its peak, captured live in a perfect sound quality, which only the Germans could provide at the time. This is another treasure from the bottomless archives of the Radio Bremen vaults, which is always a guaranteed perfect listening experience. It is an obvious “must have” to the Free Jazz / Improvising Music enthusiasts and a proud addition to every serious record collection.

Updated: 19/09/2025Posted: 19/09/2025

CD 2 Remastered Recommend To A Friend