Record Reviews

GEOFF CASTLE ~ IMPRESSIONS OF NEW YORK JAZZ IN BRITAIN 59 (Barcode: 5060774190616) ~ UK ~ Jazz Recorded: 1980 - 1983 Released: 2025 This is an archival live album by British Jazz keyboardist / composer Geoff CastleFind albums by this artist, which presents recordings of his five-parts suite, which gave this album its title. The suite, which was never recorded for an album, sees its first recorded appearance herein, in two versions captured three years apart by ensembles, which include the crème de la crème of the British Jazz scene in the early 1980s, including trumpeters Ian CarrFind albums by this artist, Guy BakerFind albums by this artist and Dick PearceFind albums by this artist, trombonist Paul NiemanFind albums by this artist, saxophonists Brian SmithFind albums by this artist, Tim WhiteheadFind albums by this artist and Phil ToddFind albums by this artist, guitarist Ed SpeightFind albums by this artist and Glenn CartlidgeFind albums by this artist, vibraphonist Frank RicottiFind albums by this artist, bassists Ron MathewsonFind albums by this artist and Chucho MerchanFind albums by this artist and drummers Roger SellersFind albums by this artist and Nic FranceFind albums by this artist, all playing along Castle in three different tentet lineups. The recordings originate from festival and radio recordings. The sound quality of these recordings is absolutely spotless. Castle was a member of some of the most important British Jazz ensembles since the 1970s, including the National Youth Jazz OrchestraFind albums by this artist, Graham CollierFind albums by this artist Music, Ian Carr’s NucleusFind albums by this artist, Neil ArdleyFind albums by this artist’s ensembles and PazFind albums by this artist, and took part in recording of over sixty albums. The music is absolutely wonderful, full of superbly weaved melodic themes and brilliant orchestral arrangements, superbly executed by the tentet lineups. It is somewhat similar to the orchestral works for larger ensembles by Ardley, and although performed by only ten musicians, the sound is rich and full of intricate instrumental diversity. The tentet members get plenty of opportunity to solo, but the emphasis is on the effect achieved by the entire ensemble as one music entity, which characterizes the European approach to larger Jazz ensembles. Overall, this is brilliant addition to the British Jazz recorded legacy so diligently curated by the good people of Jazz In BritainFind albums on this label. Castle definitely deserves to be properly remembered, and this album proves his great talent as musician, composer, arranger and bandleader, all of which are wonderfully represented by this album. For British Jazz enthusiasts, this is another must in their collection!

Updated: 15/09/2025Posted: 15/09/2025

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PAZ ~ VARIATION AND CREATION: THE STORY OF PAZ JAZZ IN BRITAIN 40 ~ UK ~ Jazz-Funk Fusion Recorded: 1975 - 1995 Released: 2024 This is a 3CD collection of archival recordings by the British Fusion ensemble PazFind albums by this artist, collected from the archives of Paz members: bassist / composer Ron MathewsonFind albums by this artist, keyboardist Geoff CastleFind albums by this artist, vibraphonist Dick CrouchFind albums by this artist and saxophonist Lol CoxhillFind albums by this artist. Other prominent members of the ensemble included flautist / saxophonist Ray WarleighFind albums by this artist, saxophonist Brian SmithFind albums by this artist, guitarists Allan HoldsworthFind albums by this artist, Brian GoddingFind albums by this artist, Phil LeeFind albums by this artist, Jim MullenFind albums by this artist and quite a few other British Jazz musicians. The ensemble existed between 1972 and 2019, releasing fourteen albums over the years, but the material on this album includes only previously unreleased material, originating in session and live recordings, BBC broadcasts, unreleased albums, etc. with the exact dates of these recordings remaining unknown. Altogether the album presents thirty-five tracks with about four hours of music. The music is mostly on the lighter side of the Jazz spectrum, with s strong Fusion influence, as well as World Music presence, such as samba and bossa nova material. Most of the music was composed by Paz members, but some Jazz standards were also utilized, as well as vocalists in some lineups. In short, Paz was an ever-changing ensemble, which always offered first-class musicianship and excellent melodic original material. Overall, this is another splendid piece of British Jazz history, which is definitely worthy of being documented, and as always the people behind the Jazz In BritainFind albums on this label label do a splendid job, while at it. It is definitely worth being investigated by the many British Jazz fans, who might remember hearing the ensemble performing live, which was always a splendid experience.

Updated: 10/04/2025Posted: 10/04/2025

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TRIO DA PAZ ~ BLACK ORPHEUS KOKOPELLI 1299 ~ BRAZIL ~ Jazz AMG Review: No discussion of the history of Brazilian music is complete without mentioning the 1959 Brazilian film Black Orpheus, which brought attention to the music of Brazilian composers Antonio Carlos Jobim and Luiz Bonfa and popularized the Bonfa classics "Manha De Carnaval" and "Samba De Orfeo." The Black Orpheus soundtrack was a major source of inspiration for Stan Getz, Charlie Byrd and other key figures in the bossa nova explosion of the early to mid-1960s, and it´s also Brazilian group Trio De Paz´s primary inspiration on this jazz-oriented release, which flutist Herbie Mann produced for his Kokopelli label. Consisting of guitarist Romero Lubambo, bassist Nilson Matta and drummer Dudaka Da Fonseca, Paz favors what could be called Brazilian Hard Bop. Though the Brazilians are quite melodic, they favor a much more intense and hard-swinging approach to the samba and to Bonfa and Jobim´s gems than Getz did in the early to mid-1960s. Subtlety and restraint characterized Getz´s bossa nova, but Trio De Paz is passionately aggressive on this excellent CD.

Updated: 12/06/2018Posted:

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