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  | VIKLICKY / BUKOVSKY / MACKEY ~ WANGARATTA
GALEN 21 186 (Barcode: 8594042902016) ~ CZECH REPUBLIC ~ Jazz
Recorded: 2018 Released: 2021
This is an album by a trio consisting of Czech pianist / composer Emil ViklickyFind albums by this artist, Czech (living in Australia) trumpeter / composer Miroslav BukovskyFind albums by this artist and Australian saxophonist John MackeyFind albums by this artist. The music was recorded live during a festival held in the Australian town of Wangaratta, hence the title. The album presents seven tracks, two originals each by Viklicky and Bukovsky, and two Folk tunes and one Classical piece arranged by Viklicky. Despite being a live recording, the album offers a superb sound quality and separation, which enables the listener to enjoy all the intricate nuances.
The music is all within the modern mainstream Jazz idiom, but the wonderfully melodic compositions and the Folklore / Classical references / influences add multiple layers of complexity and as a result the music offers a highly coherent continuum, which is an uplifting listening experience, beautifully put together and masterly executed.
The highly unusual instrumentation the trio, which is playing without a rhythm section, is obviously challenging and demanding. The three players must work together closely to balance out the delicate structures they create on the fly, which they manage to do splendidly. Viklicky is constantly changing the role form accompanist to soloist, which of course he also manages seamlessly thanks to his enormous experience and great talent behind him.
Overall this is one of those albums that you don’t expect to turn out to be as good as they really are. The minimalism of it and the obvious respect, spontaneity and intimacy between these players manages to do the charm needed to make the music really special. On the other hand, in so many years since I have known Emil, I have never been let down by his musical magic, so I am not really surprised this album is as good as it is. Wholeheartedly recommended and thank you for the music my Friend!
| | Updated: 01/08/2021Posted: 01/08/2021 | CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend |
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