Record Reviews

JAZZ Q ~ AMULET STUDIO BUDIKOV 038 (Barcode: 8594159980389) ~ CZECH REPUBLIC ~ Jazz-Funk Fusion Recorded: 2020 Released: 2020 This is an album by Czech Fusion ensemble Jazz QFind albums by this artist founded in 1964 (yes you are reading correctly) and led by veteran keyboardist / composer Martin KratochvilFind albums by this artist and here including guitarist Zdenek FiserFind albums by this artist (another veteran ex ImpulsFind albums by this artist), bass guitarist Premysl FauknerFind albums by this artist (yet another veteran and member of early versions of Jazz Q) and drummer Filip JenicekFind albums by this artist (a representative of the young generation). The album presents thirteen original compositions, ten of which were composed by Kratochvil and one each by the other three members of the ensemble. The music is a typical Jazz-Rock Fusion, based on the excellent compositions of the "forever young" Kratochvil, which offers splendidly weaved melodic themes, which serve as basis for extensive soloing by keyboards and guitar, supported amicably by the rhythm section, with occasional soli by bass and drums. There is not much innovation of course, but Fusion has been pretty stable in the last five decades, so the genre´s lovers prefer to stay on the safe side. Kratochvil seems to be completely time defiant and his music sounds as fresh and full of his idiosyncratic tricky melodies as he was half a Century ago and it is a true joy to see (and hear) a veteran musician to be so stable and productive over the years. Fusion and guitar freaks should love this album to bits and are encouraged to find a copy, since they don´t make music like this anymore these days, and it still makes you ass swing impatiently, which is the greatest thing any music can do, especially if played by musician in the eighth decade of his life. Hats off Maestro!

Updated: 22/01/2021Posted: 22/01/2021

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

JAZZ Q ~ ELEGIE (ELEGY) (EXPANDED EDITION) GAD 045 (Barcode: 5901549197594) ~ CZECHOSLOVAKIA ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 1975 - 1976 Released: 2016 This is a reissue of the 4th album by the legendary Czechoslovak Jazz-Rock Fusion band Jazz QFind albums by this artist, led by keyboardist / composer Martin KratochvilFind albums by this artist, which also included guitarist Frantisek FranclFind albums by this artist, bassist Premysl FauknerFind albums by this artist and drummer Libor LaunFind albums by this artist. Several guest musicians also participated on selected tracks. The original album comprised of eight original compositions, all by Kratochvil, which are presented here in their remastered form on the first CD of the 2CD set. The second CD collects live recordings by the group, which were previously released on two festival compilations, a couple of radio recordings, which are previously unreleased and fourteen tracks which were recorded as a soundtrack to the movie entitled "Hriste", all also previously unreleased. This album is undoubtedly one of the best Jazz-Rock Fusion albums ever recorded, not only behind the Iron Curtain, but worldwide. It offers the essence of the most advanced Fusion "spirit", which reached its apogee in the mid 1970s, defined by recordings by Chick CoreaFind albums by this artist (Return To ForeverFind albums by this artist), John McLaughlinFind albums by this artist (Mahavishnu OrchestraFind albums by this artist), Joe ZawinulFind albums by this artist (Weather ReportFind albums by this artist) and of course countless lesser known musicians, who contributed to the genre´s rapid development. Kratochvil and his Jazz Q ensemble managed to distill the Fusion elements and incorporate them within European aesthetics, which resulted in a much calmer and more lyrical form. Based on beautiful melodic themes, with solid harmonic structures and sophisticated expanded suite-like structures, this music is as good as Fusion ever got in its lifespan, with most of what has been offered under the genre´s banner later on was a sad imitation of the past. Kratochvil´s brilliant compositions, combined with his virtuosic keyboards technique and deep musical sensitivity and elegance, are simply irresistible. Supported by an excellent team of band members and guests, each of whom contributed his own layer to the final result, he was able to create a masterpiece, which has a few rivals to this day and sound as good today as it did at the time it was released. It is definitely one of the most well aging Fusion albums out there. The bonus material on this album is every step as good as the original album and offers a wonderful opportunity to get better and deeper acquainted with Kratochvil and his band at the time. The diversity and richness of his compositions is fully exposed here, and the fact that this music is finally available for us to enjoy is a miracle in every sense. This album is an absolute must to every Fusion fan on this planet (and perhaps beyond), especially since at the time of its release most music fans living on the West side of the Iron Curtain were completely oblivious as to what was happening on the East side. Now is the time to finally discover what was missed. Essential stuff!

Updated: 13/01/2025Posted: 18/03/2017

CD 2 Remastered Bonus Tracks Essential Recommend To A Friend

JAZZ Q ~ JAZZ Q (EXPANDED EDITION BOX SET) SUPRAPHON 5872 (Barcode: 099925587222) ~ CZECHOSLOVAKIA ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 1973 - 1986 Released: 2007 This wonderful reissue Box Set collects all the recordings by the Czechoslovak ensemble Jazz QFind albums by this artist. It is a brilliant document of the music scene, which thrived in Czechoslovakia (and other so-called "Socialist" Eastern European countries behind the Iron Curtain) following the 1968 Prague Spring, cut short by the brutal invasion of Czechoslovakia by the Warsaw Pact armies. Although the liberalization and reform that the Czechoslovak People yearned for was crushed by force and had to wait for two more decades to be finally achieved, the spirit of the Prague Spring lived on in People´s hearts and Arts were one of the areas where these feelings could be manifested, albeit carefully in view of the censorship and persecution. Jazz was an escape route to many Eastern European musicians, as it was tolerated and even supported by the Socialist regime (for reasons, which are beyond the scope of this review) and by the early 1970s many Rock musicians collaborated with their Jazz colleagues in order to avoid the scrutiny, which "decadent" Rock suffered from, in contrast to the relative liberal approach to Jazz. This strengthened the Jazz-Rock movement, which at the time was gaining worldwide popularity, with many Jazz-Rock Fusion ensembles active on the Czech music scene from the early 1970s to mid 1980s, with Jazz Q being the best and most important representative of that phenomenon. It was formed by the legendary keyboardist / composer Martin KratochvilFind albums by this artist and during the decade of its activity included in its ranks a long list of superb Czech musicians, like guitarists Lubos AndrstFind albums by this artist and Frantisek FranclFind albums by this artist, bassists Vladimir PadrunekFind albums by this artist and Premysl FauknerFind albums by this artist, drummers Jaromir HelesicFind albums by this artist and Pavol KozmaFind albums by this artist and many others. The British vocalist Joan DugganFind albums by this artist (wife of Frantisek Francl), who lived in Czechoslovakia at the time was also a member of the group as was the Czech vocalist Jana KoubkovaFind albums by this artist. Kratochvil wrote most of the fantastic music played by Jazz Q, although some of the material came from various band members. In their live performances the ensemble also included standards. This Box Set includes all six studio albums recorded by Jazz Q, an archival live album released only in the 1990s and a whole CD of bonus material. In retrospect this is some of the best Eastern European Jazz-Rock, which should not be missed by any connoisseur of the genre. An essential piece of music history!

Updated: 26/01/2019Posted:

CD 8 Mini-Sleeve Box Set Remastered Bonus Tracks Essential Recommend To A Friend

JAZZ Q ~ RITUAL STUDIO BUDIKOV 040 (Barcode: 8594159980402) ~ CZECH REPUBLIC ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 2022 Released: 2023 This is an album by the Czech Fusion ensemble Jazz QFind albums by this artist, which functions almost sixty years since it was established in 1964 by keyboardist / composer / bandleader Martin KratochvilFind albums by this artist. The current lineup of the group includes also guitarist Zdenek FiserFind albums by this artist, bassist Premysl FauknerFind albums by this artist and drummer Filip JenicekFind albums by this artist. The album presents nine original compositions, all by Kratochvil, and was recorded in his own studio, which functions since many years. The music offers a wonderful collection of melodic themes, deeply soaked in Blues and offering a genuine Fusion tradition, with extensive guitar and keyboards soloing and dynamic, highly supportive rhythm section, which is a true heaven for lovers of the genre. Despite his advanced age (approaching eighty), Kratochvil remains forever young, and his heart-wrenching melodies and virtuosic keyboard solos are completely ageless. He sticks to his own formula since many years, and the “don’t fix it if it ain’t broke” rule serves him perfectly well. Although the music has a distinct nostalgic tinge, the result is way more effective than what Fusion music has to offer these days. Overall, this is an excellent Fusion album, which sounds as if it was recorded in the 1970s, but still sounds fresh and exciting, especially to listeners who grew up listening to Fusion at that time. The guitar and keyboards licks are right on the money and it should be a no-brainer to grab a copy ASAP. I wish you health and happiness my Friend and hope to hear more of your music again soon!

Updated: 13/03/2023Posted: 13/03/2023

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

JAZZ Q ~ TALISMAN STUDIO BUDIKOV 030 (Barcode: 8594159980303) ~ CZECH REPUBLIC ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 2015 Released: 2016 This is an album by Czech Fusion ensemble Jazz QFind albums by this artist founded in 1964 (yes you are reading correctly) and led by veteran keyboardist / composer Martin KratochvilFind albums by this artist and here including guitarist Zdenek FiserFind albums by this artist (another veteran ex ImpulsFind albums by this artist), bass guitarist Premysl FauknerFind albums by this artist (yet another veteran and member of early versions of Jazz Q) and drummer Filip JenicekFind albums by this artist (a representative of the young generation). The album presents twelve original compositions, all of which were composed by Kratochvil. This album follows the album “ZnovuFind albums with this title” (Eng. Again), released three years earlier, which was the first Jazz Q release in over two decades. The music is a typical Eastern European Jazz-Rock Fusion, based on the excellent compositions of the "forever young" Kratochvil, which offers splendidly weaved melodic themes, full of melancholy and lyricism, which serve as basis for extensive soloing by keyboards and guitar, supported amicably by the rhythm section, with occasional soli by bass and drums. There is not much innovation of course, but Fusion has been pretty stable in the last five decades, since the genre´s lovers prefer to stay on the safe side. This music combines highly melodic approach with Funk and Groove, which is quite unique. The fretless bass guitar parts work brilliantly within this idiom and provide a perfect background layer for the synthesizer and guitar parts. Kratochvil seems to be completely time defiant and his music sounds as fresh and full of his idiosyncratic tricky melodies as he was half a Century ago and it is a true joy to see (and hear) a veteran musician to be so stable and productive over the years. Fusion and guitar freaks should love this album to bits and are encouraged to find a copy, since they don´t make music like this anymore these days. It is hard to believe that this music was created and played by a musician in the eighth decade of his life. Hats off Maestro!

Updated: 03/02/2021Posted: 03/02/2021

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

JAZZ Q ~ ZIVI SE DIVI GAD 010 (Barcode: 5901549197105) ~ CZECHOSLOVAKIA ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 1975 Released: 2013 This is a real treat! The Czechoslovak band Jazz QFind albums by this artist was always one of my favorites since the time they first arrived on the scene in the early 1970 and I loved their albums to bits. The band epitomized the Eastern European Jazz-Rock Fusion better than any other singular band of their time and had absolutely no competition, neither in their own country nor in any other Eastern European countries, although the competition was very fierce with some excellent Polish, Hungarian and other local bands. A few years ago the Czech SupraphonFind albums on this label label (which was a State monopoly during the Socialist regime when the group was active) released a wonderful Box Set, which included all the albums and some additional material Jazz Q recorded for the label. Those eight CDs spun on my player for weeks on end and I was blissfully happy to have the "complete" Jazz Q legacy at my disposal. But as we all know, nothing is ever truly "complete" as this CD proves and a beautiful piece of the puzzle was missing for all these years, now available at last. Jazz Q were unique in every respect; the founder and principal composer keyboardist Martin KratochvilFind albums by this artist was an absolute genius, light-years ahead of everything that what was happening on the East European Fusion scene at the time and a musician that could easily stand shoulder to shoulder with the top movers and shakers of the worldwide Fusion scene, including the John McLaughlinFind albums by this artist´s Mahavishnu OrchestraFind albums by this artist, which was the model for his band. Kratochvil skillfully surrounded himself with other brilliant players, such as the ones appearing on this album: guitarist Frantisek FranclFind albums by this artist, saxophonist / violinist Jan MartinecFind albums by this artist, bassist Premysl FauknerFind albums by this artist and drummer Libor LaunFind albums by this artist. The band also featured the female vocalist (and Francl´s wife at the time) Joan DugganFind albums by this artist. All these musicians were virtuosi players, as is plainly evident to anyone listening to this album, and they were an ideal vehicle to present Kratochvil´s extraordinary music, which was often devilishly clever and complex. This live recording presents Jazz Q performing nine pieces, five of which are Kratochvil´s original composition, one is credited to the entire band and the remaining ones are composed by Eddie HarrisFind albums by this artist, Billy CobhamFind albums by this artist and John McLaughlinFind albums by this artist respectively, which is hardly surprising again as these the names associated with Fusion at the time. All these composition receive as extended treatment, which allow lengthy improvisations by the principal soloists (guitar, keyboards and violin), which are all breathtaking. The music lost absolutely nothing of its vitality, sophistication and honesty over the years and emphasizes the fact that music of such quality is almost never played today, a sad reflection of our times. If it was in my power, I´d make this album an obligatory part of every musical curriculum, hoping that it would open some people´s eyes and make them see the difference between senseless doodling and real music. Although criminally overdue, this is nevertheless a wonderful breath of fresh (albeit actually only well preserved) air, which makes life worth living.

Updated: 26/01/2019Posted:

CD 1 Remastered Essential Recommend To A Friend

JAZZ Q ~ ZVESTI (TIDINGS) (EXPANDED EDITION) GAD 283 (Barcode: 5903068125218) ~ CZECHOSLOVAKIA ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 1974 - 1978 Released: 2024 This is a reissue of the 5th 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 Lubos AndrstFind albums by this artist, bass guitarist Premysl FauknerFind albums by this artist and drummer Jaromir HelesicFind albums by this artist. Saxophonist Jan MartinecFind albums by this artist guests on two tracks. The album presents eight tracks, all original compositions by Kratochvil. The music was recorded in 1977 and released on LP by SupraphonFind albums on this label in 1979. This remastered and expanded edition of the album includes an entire second CD of bonus material, presenting nineteen tracks of studio recordings made between 1974 and 1978, by various lineups, all but two previously unreleased, including two lengthy suites, eleven-part and four-part respectively. 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, which include newly available synthesizers, there is plenty of space left for some blood-curdling guitar work by Andrst and superb rhythm section work by Faukner, and the new drummer Helesic. 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 music was strongly influenced by Kratochvil’s stay at the Berklee Collage of Music in Boston, where he was exposed to the then current American Fusion influences. 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: 13/01/2025

CD 2 Remastered Bonus Tracks Essential Recommend To A Friend