Record Reviews

FREE ORBIT ~ FREE JAZZ GOES UNDERGROUND MPS 4029759097433 (Barcode: 4029759097433) ~ GERMANY ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 1969 Released: 2014 This is a reissue of a little known album by German Jazz-Rock ensemble Free OrbitFind albums by this artist, formed in Hamburg by vocalist / drummer Udo LindenbergFind albums by this artist, trumpeter Fred ChristmannFind albums by this artist and American saxophonist Frank St. PeterFind albums by this artist. The final lineup, which recorded this album, also included vocalist Mike BrooksFind albums by this artist, trumpeter Heinz HabermannFind albums by this artist, trombonist Peter HerbolzheimerFind albums by this artist, saxophonist Emil WursterFind albums by this artist and bassists Hans HartmannFind albums by this artist (who also played the sitar) and Reiner VogeleiFind albums by this artist. There are also guitar parts and female vocals present on the album, but their contributors remain anonymous. The album presents ten original songs, all written or composed or co-composed by Lindenberg and feature lyrics in English. Contrary to the ensemble´s name or the album´s title, the music has absolutely nothing to do with Free Jazz and is all Jazz-Rock Fusion / Brass Rock with a touch of Psychedelics and Funk, quite delightful and nostalgic. The brass arrangements (by St. Peters) are all excellent and a bit a la Blood, Sweat & Tears. In retrospect this is a delightful gem, almost completely forgotten and definitely worth discovering. Apart from some British Brass Rock ensembles, Free Orbit was one of the very few representatives of the genre in Europe. European early Jazz-Rock Fusion and Brass Rock fans should not miss this little gem in their collections. 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: 27/05/2018Posted: 14/07/2016

CD 1 Slipcase Remastered Recommend To A Friend

STEVE HILLAGE ~ FOR TO NEXT / AND NOT OR (EXPANDED EDITION) VIRGIN 373463 (Barcode: 094637346327) ~ UK ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 1982 Released: 2007 8th album by Steve HillageFind albums by this artist and the last one released on the VirginFind albums on this label label. Following the release of OpenFind albums with this title and a few concerts in late 1979 Hillage disbanded this band for good this time and plunged into the world of producing, putting his own music aside for a while. It was almost 3 years later when he fulfilled his contractual obligation with Virgin, recording the last album for them. The album called For To NextFind albums with this title was recorded as a duo, with Miquette GiraudyFind albums by this artist as the only other participating musician. Strongly influenced by the “New Wave” genre Steve was involved with as a producer (Robyn HitchcockFind albums by this artist, Simple MindsFind albums by this artist and others) the album was a prime example of the genre. Dominated by synthesizers and electronic sounds with Hillage’s guitar ornamenting the proceedings. The music stands the test of time formidably and although the album is not considered a classic of the genre, it definitely deserves it. The album was released as a 2 LPs set, with the second album including instrumental music recorded at the same sessions (called And Or NotFind albums with this title). It included music that was more typical of what Hillage and Giraudy were really into and what would be later developed by their work with The OrbFind albums by this artist and with their group System 7Find albums by this artist, which is active to this very day. The album is a great document of the era and even if the 80’s electronic sound is not one’s cup of tea, the quality and musicianship displayed here is definitely worth listening to.

CD 1 Remastered Recommend To A Friend

LIONNI / CORBINI / FRANCESCHINI ~ ACTIONREACTION 2 SLAM 2118 (Barcode: 5052442029946) ~ ITALY ~ Free Jazz / Improvised Music Recorded: 2017 - 2024 Released: 2025 This is an album by American (resident in Italy) painter / abstract Art activist Pippo LionniFind albums by this artist and Italian musicians: pianist Sergio CorbiniFind albums by this artist and saxophonist Stefano FranceschiniFind albums by this artist. It presents a collaboration between a Visual Artist and Jazz musicians, which consists of events, where an Artists is creating Art (painting for example), while he is accompanied by musicians improvising alongside his work. This is not actually that rare, especially in Europe, but such events are rarely recorded, so this album is a tangible document, recorded during several live and studio sessions. The 2CD album presents twelve tracks, which were recorded over a period on several years between 2017 and 2024, with a full performance captured on CD1 and other recordings on CD2. The music is of course spontaneously improvised. Despite the fact that these multimedia events are obviously intended to be attended and experienced by a live audience, which is exposed to all the elements of the event, in this case visual and aural, the “soundtrack” of these events presented on this album is also a viable, although only partial, document of the proceedings. The music, although performed by the two musicians, with some percussive effects created by Lionni using his tools, and on one track only by the bassist Silvia BolognesiFind albums by this artist, is very expressive, constantly changing and developing and altogether quite fascinating. Like all Improvised Music, it has a limited appeal to the general audience, but connoisseurs of this particular genre should find it delightful, especially since it offers many melodic elements, which makes it more digestible than extreme Free Jazz recordings. Overall, this is a very interesting document of an Artistic multimedia genus, which offers demanding, but not extremely out worldly music, which can be truly enjoyed. Well, these Artists are Italians (or of Italian descent), so melody is in their genes ;) Side Note The small independent label called SlamFind albums on this label Records, which was founded and operated by British saxophonist George HaslamFind albums by this artist in 1989, released some of the most fascinating Avant-Garde music recorded on the British Isles by local and international Artists. The label released some 250 albums and in 2021 Haslam announced his retirement. However, in 2023, 34 years after the label was founded, it was announced that the ownership and running of the label has been taken over by Jon GriffithsFind albums by this artist, the owner of My Only DesireFind albums on this label Records, who continues to release new albums.

Updated: 11/04/2026Posted: 11/04/2026

CD 2 Digisleeve Recommend To A Friend