Record Reviews

PETER HERBOLZHEIMER ~ BANDFIRE KOALA 01 (Barcode: 4006759703212) ~ GERMANY ~ Big Band Jazz Recorded: 1981 Released: 1988 This is a reissue / remaster of the album by the German (born in Romania) trombonist / arranger / bandleader / composer Peter HerbolzheimerFind albums by this artist and his Big Band called Rhythm Combination & BrassFind albums by this artist. The Big Band included many top European Jazz players and Americans resident in Europe at the time, such as American trumpeter Chuck FindleyFind albums by this artist and Dutch trumpeter Ack van RooyenFind albums by this artist, Dutch keyboardist Rob FrankenFind albums by this artist, Danish bassist Bo StiefFind albums by this artist, Belgian drummer Bruno CastellucciFind albums by this artist and many others. The album presents ten tracks, four composed by Herbolzheimer and arranged by him, five composed by Maurice WhiteFind albums by this artist, founder of the legendary Earth, Wind & FireFind albums by this artist, arranged by the great Big Band trumpeter / arranger Ron SimmondsFind albums by this artist and one is an arrangement of a BeatlesFind albums by this artist song. Herbolzheimer’s and Simmond’s arrangements are absolutely brilliant and offer a superb amalgam of Jazz, Funk, Rock and Latin rhythms, with excellent soloing by the band’s members. It is one of the best examples of the diverse Big Band / Orchestral Jazz European scene at the time. This album pays a tribute to the great American Funk, which flourished in the 1970s, and was always connected to the Jazz tradition, via the brass sections, which dominated the sound. Overall, this is a wonderful album by one of the most interesting European Jazz Big Bands, which openly flirts with Funk and Soul, but offers superb Big Band arrangements and excellent musicianship by the international team of instrumentalists, who are the crème de la crème of the scene at the time.

Updated: 08/12/2025Posted: 08/12/2025

CD 1 Remastered Recommend To A Friend

DAVE PIKE SET ~ GOT THE FEELIN` WAGRAM 001 (Barcode: 637937777714) ~ USA ~ Jazz-Funk Fusion Recorded: 1968 Released: 1998 This is a reissue of the only album by American vibraphonist / composer Dave PikeFind albums by this artist and the first version of his European ensemble Dave Pike SetFind albums by this artist, formed after he moved to Europe. This lineup of the ensemble featured Dutch musicians: organist Rob FrankenFind albums by this artist, guitarist Joop ScholtenFind albums by this artist, bassist Ruud JacobsFind albums by this artist and drummer Louis DebijFind albums by this artist. The album presents twelve pieces, two of which were composed by Pike, five by Scholten, one by Franken and four were arrangements of Pop / Soul songs. Shortly after recording this album Pike moved to Germany where he was signed by the legendary MPSFind albums on this label label, for which he recorded six albums with the second lineup of the Dave Pike Set. The album presents a wonderful early Jazz-Rock Fusion with strong Funk and Soul elements, which was a precursor of the later MPS recordings. The beautiful retro sound and the way the quintet plays is an absolute delight and in retrospect sounds absolutely "smashing" as one would say at the time. This album is completely obscure and even hard-core fans of Pike are mostly not familiar with it at all. It took me a while to chase a copy of the reissue, which is almost as rare as the original LP from 1969. Overall if you love this unique amalgam of Jazz / Rock / Soul and Funk, this album is a rare treat, definitely worth searching for. It works like a time machine taking you fifty years back from the first sound on. Brilliantly delightful!

Updated: 25/09/2020Posted: 25/09/2020

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend