Record Reviews

JAZZ Q ~ HODOKVAS (FEAST) (EXPANDED EDITION) GAD 198 (Barcode: 5903068122972) ~ CZECHOSLOVAKIA ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 1978 - 1980 Released: 2022 This is a reissue of the 6th album by the original incarnation of the seminal Czechoslovak Jazz QFind albums by this artist ensemble, founded and led by keyboardist / composer Martin KratochvilFind albums by this artist. The music was recorded by a quartet version of the ensemble, which also included guitarist Frantisek FranclFind albums by this artist, bass guitarist Vladimir PadrunekFind albums by this artist and drummer Pavel TrnavskyFind albums by this artist. Two additional musicians took part on selected tracks. All the music was composed by Kratochvil. The music was recorded in 1979 and released on LP by SupraphonFind albums on this label the following year, in 1980. This remastered and expanded version of the album includes an entire second CD of bonus material, presenting twenty tracks of studio and live recordings made between 1978 and early 1980s, mostly by the same lineup and all but two previously unreleased. As usual with GADFind albums on this label releases, the album includes informative in-depth (bi-lingual) liner notes, photographs and detailed information about dates and places of recording. The music is, as always with Kratochvil´s work, absolutely brilliant. Although dominated by his keyboards, there is plenty of space left for some blood-curdling guitar work by Francl and superb rhythm section work by Padrunek, and the new drummer Trnavsky, which gave the group a much sharper / Rocky feel and sound than ever before. Francl and Padrunek both rejoined the group, having earlier played on the album “SymbiosisFind albums with this title”. The compositions are amongst the finest ever of all Kratochvil’s legacy, realized after crystalizing his experiences as the leader / composer of the group’s material since its inception, and he is one the greatest musical tension builders, as reflected by his hypnotic compositions, which the group performs exquisitely. The Jazz Q material firmly belongs to the finest Eastern European Jazz-Rock Fusion material ever recorded, which sounds today every bit as brilliant as it did at the time it was created. The incredible reissues by GAD Records bring this legacy back to life and give an opportunity to younger generation of music lovers to get familiar with these treasures. Overall this is an absolute must for all Fusion lovers the world over, but lovers of Jazz created behind the iron curtain should find this especially interesting. Not to be missed!

Updated: 13/01/2025Posted: 02/05/2022

CD 2 Remastered Essential Recommend To A Friend

JAZZ Q ~ LIVE PLZEN 1980 GAD 262 (Barcode: 5903068124709) ~ CZECHOSLOVAKIA ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 1980 Released: 2023 This is an archival live album by the original incarnation of the seminal Czechoslovak Jazz QFind albums by this artist ensemble, founded and led by keyboardist / composer Martin KratochvilFind albums by this artist. The music was recorded by a quartet version of the ensemble, which also included guitarist Frantisek FranclFind albums by this artist, bass guitarist Vladimir PadrunekFind albums by this artist and drummer Pavel TrnavskyFind albums by this artist. The album presents five tracks, four of which were composed by Kratochvil and one by Trnavsky. As usual with GADFind albums on this label releases, the album includes informative in-depth (bi-lingual) liner notes, photographs and detailed information about the recording and historical background about the group. The music is, as always with Kratochvil´s work, absolutely brilliant. Although dominated by his keyboards, there is plenty of space left for some blood-curdling guitar work by Francl and superb rhythm section work by Padrunek, and the new drummer Trnavsky, which gave the group a much sharper / Rocky feel and sound than ever before. Francl and Padrunek both rejoined the group, having earlier played together on the group’s 3rd album “SymbiosisFind albums with this title”. This album is especially important, since Jazz Q released relatively little live material from their early period. Since they were phenomenal live performers, every opportunity to hear them live is an absolute delight. The music was recorded during a concert following the release of the 6th album “Hodokvas (Feast)Find albums with this title” and this excellent quartet incarnation of the group was sadly short lived and did not survive until the recording of the 7th and last album “Hvezdon (Asteroid)Find albums with this title” recorded by the original group. The Jazz Q material firmly belongs to the finest Eastern European Jazz-Rock Fusion material ever recorded, which sounds today every bit as brilliant as it did at the time it was created. The incredible reissues by GAD Records bring this legacy back to life and give an opportunity to younger generation of music lovers to get familiar with these treasures. Overall this is an absolute must for all Fusion lovers the world over, but lovers of Jazz created behind the iron curtain should find this especially interesting. Not to be missed!

Updated: 19/12/2023Posted: 16/12/2023

CD 1 Remastered Recommend To A Friend