Record Reviews

	ASHQELON QUILT ~ THE EVENT HEADLINE 506 ~ ISRAEL ~ Progressive Rock Debut album from 2001 by the Israeli Prog group. Since Prog albums from Israel are quite a rare event, especially when released by a UK record label, this one is a real joy. The music has a nice 70`s feel with a touch of psychedelics, just right. A few `eastern` touches as well, all in very good taste. A real nice surprise!
	CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

RUDOLF DASEK ~ JAZZ ON SIX STRINGS INDIES HAPPY TRAILS 771 (Barcode: 8595026677128) ~ CZECH REPUBLIC ~ Jazz Recorded: 1970 Released: 2018 This is a reissue of the debut album as a leader by legendary Czech Jazz guitarist / composer Rudolf DasekFind albums by this artist, recorded in 1970 and produced by my great friend Antonin MatznerFind albums by this artist (now sadly departed), which finds him in a trio setting with bassist Vincenc KummerFind albums by this artist and drummer Ivan SmazikFind albums by this artist. On a couple of tracks bass guitarist Lubos NyvltFind albums by this artist is added. The album presents nine tracks, five of which are original compositions by Dasek and four are Jazz standards. All the music is beautifully remastered and the album comes with extensive liner notes, extremely well researched and full of discographical information, sadly only in Czech language (which works fine for me, but probably less so for other enthusiasts who also might be interested). Although Dasek recorded earlier on with various Czechoslovak ensembles, including SHQFind albums by this artist and Jazz CellulaFind albums by this artist, this album has put him in the focus of attention as one of the greatest Jazz virtuosos of the time, easily equaling famous "classic" Jazz guitarists active since the 1950s on, but also standing shoulder to shoulder with the pioneering European contemporaries like John McLaughlinFind albums by this artist, Philip CatherineFind albums by this artist, Christian EscoudeFind albums by this artist and others. Numerous album releases followed in time, many of which were duo recordings, which appears to be his favorite modus operandi, and all of which are masterpieces. The music is absolutely astounding, both the interpretations of the standards and the original compositions, superbly performed by the trio / quartet, with elegance, flair and typical European elegance presiding at the helm. The virtuosic performances by Dasek are heaven on earth for guitar lovers and the musical environment where every single note played relates perfectly to the notes played before and after, which always characterizes Dasek´s performances, is a rare treat. The album sounds completely contemporary and is perfectly valid today, despite the fact that it was recorded half a Century ago, easily deserving the "timeless classic" status. For fans of European Jazz and its history, reissues of this kind are an absolute must, and the fact that this music is available on CD for the first time makes it a wonderful treasure. Brilliant stuff! My personal thanks to Jaromir KratochvilFind albums by this artist, the owner of Indies Happy TrailsFind albums on this label, for his friendship and the incredible job he is doing to keep this music alive! Side Note Since the 1950s Czechoslovakia had a highly developed Jazz scene, certainly in proportion to its population, which included many successful ensembles and even Big Bands, as well as Jazz clubs, festivals and publications, all this in spite of state censorship and political limitations. The similar situation existed since the 1960s as far as Rock (including Progressive Rock and Jazz-Rock Fusion) was concerned, resulting in many excellent, interesting and innovative ensembles. The music was relatively well documented by the three state owned record labels: SupraphonFind albums on this label (founded in 1927), PantonFind albums on this label (founded in 1968) and OpusFind albums on this label (founded in 1971 and based in Bratislava, created on the base of Slovak division of Supraphon). Following the "Velvet Revolution" in 1989, the state owned record labels were privatized, with Supraphon dominating the local market. However, Supraphon was quite reluctant as far as exploring its vast back catalogue is concerned, and this is where the small independent Indies Happy TrailsFind albums on this label Records, a reissue label dedicated to the preservation of the recorded legacy of Czechoslovak music, owned and run by the devoted enthusiast / historian Jaromir KratochvilFind albums by this artist, founded in 2007, comes in. Over the years the label released a plethora of brilliant music, reissuing long deleted LPs and extensively exploring the archives in search of bonus material. The quest of Indies Happy Trails is similar to what the GADFind albums on this label Records label, run by Michal WilczynskiFind albums by this artist, is doing for Polish music, with similar consistency and praiseworthy dedication.

Updated: 01/03/2020Posted: 29/02/2020

CD 1 Remastered Recommend To A Friend

ENERGIT ~ ENERGIT (EXPANDED EDITION) GAD 220 (Barcode: 5903068123283) ~ CZECHOSLOVAKIA ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 1974 - 1976 Released: 2022 This is a 2CD reissue of the debut album by the Czechoslovak Jazz-Rock Fusion ensemble EnergitFind albums by this artist. It is a brilliant document of the music scene, which thrived in Eastern Europe behind the Iron Curtain, in all the so-called "Socialist" countries, and was every bit as interesting, groundbreaking and visionary as anything else happening at the same time in Western Europe or the USA. In spite of political pressures, artistic censorship and economic hardships, with very limited access to recordings from the West, decent equipment or proper recording facilities, these young and ambitious musicians were exploding with ideas and boldly exploring new territories. The resulting music created at the time remains completely relevant today and should be rediscovered by young audiences, as it lost absolutely nothing of its power and intellectual quality. Energit was formed by the brilliant guitarist Lubos AndrstFind albums by this artist, after he left the legendary Jazz QFind albums by this artist ensemble, joining forces with two excellent young musicians from another legendary ensemble SHQFind albums by this artist: keyboardist Emil ViklickyFind albums by this artist and saxophonist Rudolf TichacekFind albums by this artist. The lineup was completed by bassist Jan VytrhlikFind albums by this artist and alternating drummers: Karel JencikFind albums by this artist, Anatoli KohoutFind albums by this artist and Josef VojevodaFind albums by this artist. Percussionist Jiri TomekFind albums by this artist guests on two tracks. Andrst wrote all of the original material performed by the ensemble, which although Blues influenced, was at the time centered on the Jazz-Rock Fusion idiom, similar in sound and obviously influenced mostly by Mahavishnu OrchestraFind albums by this artist, but also by Return To ForeverFind albums by this artist or Weather ReportFind albums by this artist. The first CD presents the original album, which offers five tracks, with the opening 17+ minutes long and the closing tracks being parts of a suite. The second CD presents seven tracks of bonus material, two recorded live, four originating from a radio broadcast and one from a TV broadcast, from which four are previously unreleased. The reissue is accompanied by extensive bi-lingual liner notes, as usual with the superb GADFind albums on this label Record releases, which cover the group’s history and other background information. Overall, this is some of the best Eastern European Jazz-Rock Fusion, which should not be missed by any connoisseur of the genre, especially those interested in music originating from behind the Iron Curtain. A must!

Updated: 23/12/2022Posted: 23/12/2022

CD 2 Remastered Recommend To A Friend

ENERGIT ~ ENERGIT / PIKNIK (CZECHOSLOVAK JAZZ-ROCK EXPANDED EDITION) INDIES HAPPY TRAILS 626 (Barcode: 8595026662629) ~ CZECH REPUBLIC ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 1973 - 1978 Released: 2008 This wonderful reissue collects all the recordings by the Czechoslovak ensemble EnergitFind albums by this artist. It is a brilliant document of the music scene, which thrived in Eastern Europe behind the Iron Curtain, in all the so-called "Socialist" countries, and was every bit as interesting, groundbreaking and visionary as anything else happening at the same time in Western Europe or the USA. In spite of political pressures, artistic censorship and economic hardships, with very limited access to recordings from the West, decent equipment or proper recording facilities, these young and ambitious musicians were exploding with ideas and boldly exploring new territories. The resulting music created at the time remains completely relevant today and should be rediscovered by young audiences, as it lost absolutely nothing of its power and intellectual quality. Energit was formed by the brilliant guitarist Lubos AndrstFind albums by this artist, after he left the legendary Jazz QFind albums by this artist ensemble, joining forces with two excellent young musicians from another legendary ensemble SHQFind albums by this artist: keyboardist Emil ViklickyFind albums by this artist and saxophonist Rudolf TichacekFind albums by this artist. The lineup was completed by bassist Jan VytrhlikFind albums by this artist and drummer Karel JencikFind albums by this artist. Andrst wrote most of the all-original material performed by the ensemble, which although Blues influenced, was at the time centered on the Jazz-Rock idiom, similar in sound to the early Mahavishnu OrchestraFind albums by this artist. For the second album Viklicky was replaced by Milan SvobodaFind albums by this artist, who also wrote the brass arrangement used on that album, and Jencik was replaced by Jaromir HelesicFind albums by this artist. The bonus material includes an ultra-rare EP, a track released previously on a compilation album and some archival live recordings. In retrospect this is some of the best Eastern European Jazz-Rock, which should not be missed by any connoisseur of the genre. A must! Side Note Since the 1950s Czechoslovakia had a highly developed Jazz scene, certainly in proportion to its population, which included many successful ensembles and even Big Bands, as well as Jazz clubs, festivals and publications, all this in spite of state censorship and political limitations. The similar situation existed since the 1960s as far as Rock (including Progressive Rock and Jazz-Rock Fusion) was concerned, resulting in many excellent, interesting and innovative ensembles. The music was relatively well documented by the three state owned record labels: SupraphonFind albums on this label (founded in 1927), PantonFind albums on this label (founded in 1968) and OpusFind albums on this label (founded in 1971 and based in Bratislava, created on the base of Slovak division of Supraphon). Following the "Velvet Revolution" in 1989, the state owned record labels were privatized, with Supraphon dominating the local market. However, Supraphon was quite reluctant as far as exploring its vast back catalogue is concerned, and this is where the small independent Indies Happy TrailsFind albums on this label Records, a reissue label dedicated to the preservation of the recorded legacy of Czechoslovak music, owned and run by the devoted enthusiast / historian Jaromir KratochvilFind albums by this artist, founded in 2007, comes in. Over the years the label released a plethora of brilliant music, reissuing long deleted LPs and extensively exploring the archives in search of bonus material. The quest of Indies Happy Trails is similar to what the GADFind albums on this label Records label, run by Michal WilczynskiFind albums by this artist, is doing for Polish music, with similar consistency and praiseworthy dedication.

Updated: 28/02/2020Posted:

CD 2 Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend

JAROMIR HNILICKA / KAREL VELEBNY ~ TYNOM TANOM INDIES HAPPY TRAILS 733 (Barcode: 8595026673328) ~ CZECH REPUBLIC ~ Jazz-World Fusion Recorded: 1970 Released: 2016 This is the sixth of a series of eight reissue / archival albums presenting the recorded legacy of one of the Godfathers of Czechoslovak modern Jazz, vibraphonist / pianist / saxophonist / composer / bandleader Karel VelebnyFind albums by this artist and his SHQFind albums by this artist ensemble. All the music is beautifully remastered and the album comes with extensive liner notes, extremely well researched and full of discographical information, sadly only in Czech language (which works fine for me, but probably less so for other enthusiasts who also might be interested). Before taking part in the recording of this album, Velebny and SHQ released two albums out of Czechoslovakia: "NonetFind albums with this title" on SABAFind albums on this label (later MPSFind albums on this label) in West Germany and "Karel Velebny / SHQFind albums with this title" on the legendary ESPFind albums on this label label in USA (both recorded and released in 1968). Following the hiatus of the Prague Spring and the Warsaw Pact invasion of Czechoslovakia in August of 1968, recording and releasing albums was suspended for a while. This album presents material captured during a two days recording session from April 1970. The eight tracks that were recorded during this session were released as a LP, credited to a tentet co-led by trumpeter / composer / arranger Jaromir HnilickaFind albums by this artist and Velebny. The material included Jazz interpretations of Czech, Moravian and Slovak folk songs, five arranged by Viklicky and three by Hnilicka. The tentet included Velebny, who played vibraphone and bass clarinet, and Hnilicka, who played trumpet, as well as saxophonist / flautist Zdenek NovakFind albums by this artist, baritone saxophonist Josef AudesFind albums by this artist, trombonist Josef PavelkaFind albums by this artist, French horn player Emanuel HrdinaFind albums by this artist, pianist Ludek SvabenskyFind albums by this artist, guitarist Rudolf DasekFind albums by this artist, bassist Karel VejvodaFind albums by this artist and drummer Josef VejvodaFind albums by this artist. Recording folklore material was the oldest trick in the book as far as Eastern European Jazz scene was concerned and served the Jazz community for many years to avoid censorship and receive permission to play and record Jazz music in the first place. This is perhaps the motivation behind this project, mixed with the Czechoslovak National pride hurt during the invasion; whatever the reason was this release marks the return of Velebny to "active duty" after a couple of years of silence. Although the music is somewhat less exciting on this album, the arrangements and performances are all first class, as appropriate by these highly professional musicians. The tentet has almost the power of a Big Band and the intricate arrangements skillfully use the rich instrumentation to transpose the folk material into the Jazz idiom. For fans of European Jazz and its history, the entire series is an absolute must, and the fact that most of this music is available on CD for the first time makes it an absolute treasure. Absolutely brilliant! My personal thanks to Jaromir KratochvilFind albums by this artist, the owner of Indies Happy TrailsFind albums on this label, for his friendship and the incredible job he is doing to keep this music alive! Side Note Since the 1950s Czechoslovakia had a highly developed Jazz scene, certainly in proportion to its population, which included many successful ensembles and even Big Bands, as well as Jazz clubs, festivals and publications, all this in spite of state censorship and political limitations. The similar situation existed since the 1960s as far as Rock (including Progressive Rock and Jazz-Rock Fusion) was concerned, resulting in many excellent, interesting and innovative ensembles. The music was relatively well documented by the three state owned record labels: SupraphonFind albums on this label (founded in 1927), PantonFind albums on this label (founded in 1968) and OpusFind albums on this label (founded in 1971 and based in Bratislava, created on the base of Slovak division of Supraphon). Following the "Velvet Revolution" in 1989, the state owned record labels were privatized, with Supraphon dominating the local market. However, Supraphon was quite reluctant as far as exploring its vast back catalogue is concerned, and this is where the small independent Indies Happy TrailsFind albums on this label Records, a reissue label dedicated to the preservation of the recorded legacy of Czechoslovak music, owned and run by the devoted enthusiast / historian Jaromir KratochvilFind albums by this artist, founded in 2007, comes in. Over the years the label released a plethora of brilliant music, reissuing long deleted LPs and extensively exploring the archives in search of bonus material. The quest of Indies Happy Trails is similar to what the GADFind albums on this label Records label, run by Michal WilczynskiFind albums by this artist, is doing for Polish music, with similar consistency and praiseworthy dedication.

Updated: 27/02/2020Posted: 27/02/2020

CD 1 Remastered Recommend To A Friend

ZBIGNIEW NAMYSLOWSKI ~ LIVE AT KOSMOS, BERLIN ITM 920007 (Barcode: 4250079750061) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 1965 Released: 2008 This is an iconic recording by the Polish Jazz quartet led by saxophonist Zbigniew NamyslowskiFind albums by this artist, with German pianist Joachim KuhnFind albums by this artist, bassist Janusz KozlowskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Czeslaw BartkowskiFind albums by this artist. Recorded live on November 30, 1965 at the East Berlin Kosmos cinema, this is a quintessential piece of Polish and European modern Jazz history. Of the eight compositions present on this album, seven are by Namyslowski and one is by Kuhn. In order to fully comprehend the meaning of the music captured here, one must in fact look at (and hear) three separate recordings by the Zbigniew Namyslowski quartet spanning a mere one and a half year period, which fully present the history of the Polish Jazz in the making. Starting with the album "LolaFind albums with this title", recorded in August 1964 in London, which was the first Jazz album recorded and released beyond the Iron Curtain by an East European artists, followed by this album from late 1965 and finally by the album "Zbigniew Namyslowski QuartetFind albums with this title" recorded in January 1966, which was Namyslowski´s first recording released as part of the legendary "Polish Jazz" Series. In the liner notes accompanying this album German critic / historian Bert NoglikFind albums by this artist describes the historic background and the enormous significance of the modern Polish Jazz, which developed independently, almost isolated from the sources of information and influences, reliant only on sporadic radio broadcasts, few LPs trickling illegally and played till they were flat and ever rarer visits abroad. The fact that the Polish Jazz scene was so incredibly vibrant, inventive and beyond all revolutionary is one of the greatest miracles, which escape any attempt of logical or sociological explanation. But the fact remains that Namyslowski and many other Polish Jazz musicians spontaneously re-invented modern Jazz by daring to go where nobody ventured before. The presence of the German pianist / composer Joachim Kuhn is another fabulous bonus. Kuhn would of course become one of the great leaders of the German Jazz scene in the years to come, but first he drifted where the great East European Jazz revolution was happening, living in 1964 in Czechoslovakia and playing with the legendary SHQFind albums by this artist led by Karel VelebnyFind albums by this artist and then moved to Poland, where he lived in 1965 and met Namyslowski, only to be invited to sit in the piano chair of his quartet. The following year Kuhn, like many other fellow East German musicians, would move over to the West and develop a fabulous musical career of his own. The music is, of course, absolutely brilliant and the live setting allows for a considerably less constrained treatment of the themes, allowing for truly expanded improvisations, one of which goes beyond the half hour mark, something which was completely unthinkable earlier on. Again, when examining the three a.m. albums, it is interesting to see how the same compositions developed, which of them survived and which were dropped and most interestingly noting Namyslowski´s fascination with odd meters, which would become his trademark. Drummer Bartkowski, who is the only musician present on all the three a.m. recordings alongside Namyslowski, is an outstanding example of how these young musicians developed rapidly, almost overnight. His contribution is an integral part of the music. Bassist Kozlowski, who plays on this album, was also present on the studio album recorded a few months later. His performance is also absolutely top notch. Surprisingly enough, the sound quality is very decent compared to other archival recordings of that period, which enhances the overall experience of listening to these fabulous recordings. In all honesty there have been very few other archival Polish Jazz discoveries, if any at all, which are comparable to this monumental document. The fact that this music was buried for over forty years is a crime, but now that it finally sees the light of day, all serious music connoisseurs should be absolutely delighted. Such gems are as rare as the Koh-i-Noor and should be treated accordingly. Absolutely essential!

Updated: 18/07/2020Posted:

CD 2 Slipcase Essential Recommend To A Friend

KAREL RUZICKA ~ GARDEN OF SILENCE ANIMAL MUSIC 086 (Barcode: 8594155998739) ~ CZECH REPUBLIC ~ Jazz Recorded: 2010 Released: 2020 This is a solo piano album by Czech pianist / composer / educator Karel RuzickaFind albums by this artist, which sadly is the last recorded evidence of his career, recorded six years before his untimely passing in 2016 and released posthumously ten years after the recording. The album presents nine original compositions, all by Ruzicka. Ruzicka was one of the Godfathers of the Czech Jazz scene, active for over five decades first during the early days of the modern Czechoslovak Jazz, as member of the Karel VelebnyFind albums by this artist´s SHQFind albums by this artist, Laco DecziFind albums by this artist´s Jazz CellulaFind albums by this artist and many others. He debuted in 1972 with the excellent "Karel Ruzicka + 9Find albums with this title" album and followed with several notable recordings over the years, the most relevant in this context being his debut solo piano album "Pleasure Garden" from 1981. These two albums, recorded almost three decades apart, form a beautiful continuance that portrays Ruzicka´s career and the most significant characteristics of his music: incredible sense of melody, typical elegance and great respect of European Classical tradition, which were always the "pillar of fire" of his approach to composing music. In many respects this album is a superb closure to his career, offering some of his deepest and most profound compositions, a serenity that comes only with age, and his deep love of the European musical aesthetics. Although the compositions on the albums offer stylistic diversity, the music is unified by the composer´s coherency and idiosyncratic vocabulary. Combined with the superb execution the music soars and vibrates the listener´s soul strings. I have been fortunate to meat Karel Ruzicka several times over the years and listen to his performances live, which was always a profoundly moving experience. Ruzicka was one of the most important Jazz educators in the Czech Republic in the last decades of his life and he is definitely "responsible" for the incredible flux of greatly talented young Czech musicians, who are truly "making waves" on the European scene in the last decade or so. This album is a beautiful tribute to this great Master! For solo piano Jazz music lovers this album is a true revelation and obviously a wholehearted recommendation. European Jazz connoisseurs in general are also in for a rare treat!

Updated: 19/10/2020Posted: 19/10/2020

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

SHQ ~ [S+H]Q + FRIENDS INDIES HAPPY TRAILS 731 (Barcode: 8595026673120) ~ CZECH REPUBLIC ~ Jazz Recorded: 1964 - 1965 Released: 2016 This is the fourth of a series of eight reissue / archival albums presenting the recorded legacy of one of the Godfathers of Czechoslovak modern Jazz, vibraphonist / pianist / saxophonist / composer / bandleader Karel VelebnyFind albums by this artist and his SHQFind albums by this artist ensemble. All the music is beautifully remastered and the album comes with extensive liner notes, extremely well researched and full of discographical information, sadly only in Czech language (which works fine for me, but probably less so for other enthusiasts who also might be interested). This album presents material captured during three recording sessions from November 1964. The eight tracks that were recorded during these sessions were released as the second SHQ LP, shortly after the release of the debut. The SHQ lineup on these sessions included the basic quintet with Velebny, who played vibraphone and piano, tenor / baritone saxophonist / flautist Jan KonopasekFind albums by this artist, trumpeter Laco DecziFind albums by this artist, bassist Jan ArnetFind albums by this artist and drummer Laco TroppFind albums by this artist, which was extended by a plethora of other musicians to form lineups varying from a septet to a thirteen piece band, which included: guitarist Rudolf DasekFind albums by this artist, trombonist Zdenek PulecFind albums by this artist, bassist Jiri MrazFind albums by this artist (a.k.a. George MrazFind albums by this artist), East German (at the time) pianist Joachim KuhnFind albums by this artist and many others. The bonus tracks include three rare recording from 1965 of a short-lived SHQ quartet lineup comprising of Velebny, Dasek, Mraz and drummer Milan MadarFind albums by this artist and one track recorded in 1964 by the quintet lineup above, all released on a Various Artist compilation LP or a SHQ compilation LP. The music, similarly to the debut album, includes mostly American standards, with just two original compositions (one each by Dasek and Velebny), but this time the large ensemble arrangements take the music quite away from its Bebop origins, and shows more sophisticated approach to orchestration and harmonic structures, bringing back the music to its European base. The bonus tracks are in contrast mostly original and point towards future development of the SHQ identity. As expected the performances are phenomenal and with the presence of the formidable guests the music shows a much wider scope of local Czechoslovak talent and beyond. In retrospect the list of the names is a sad indication of the tragic fate of Czechoslovak Jazz, which resulted in many of its finest musicians fleeing their homeland. For example both Konopasek and Mraz fled to US, Kuhn fled to West Germany to join his older brother Rolf KuhnFind albums by this artist and additional famous Czech musicians like Miroslav VitousFind albums by this artist, Jan HammerFind albums by this artist and others did the same, before the "Velvet Revolution" finally freed Czechoslovakia from the Socialist shackles. For fans of European Jazz and its history, the entire series is an absolute must, and the fact that most of this music is available on CD for the first time makes it an absolute treasure. Absolutely brilliant! My personal thanks to Jaromir KratochvilFind albums by this artist, the owner of Indies Happy TrailsFind albums on this label, for his friendship and the incredible job he is doing to keep this music alive! Side Note Since the 1950s Czechoslovakia had a highly developed Jazz scene, certainly in proportion to its population, which included many successful ensembles and even Big Bands, as well as Jazz clubs, festivals and publications, all this in spite of state censorship and political limitations. The similar situation existed since the 1960s as far as Rock (including Progressive Rock and Jazz-Rock Fusion) was concerned, resulting in many excellent, interesting and innovative ensembles. The music was relatively well documented by the three state owned record labels: SupraphonFind albums on this label (founded in 1927), PantonFind albums on this label (founded in 1968) and OpusFind albums on this label (founded in 1971 and based in Bratislava, created on the base of Slovak division of Supraphon). Following the "Velvet Revolution" in 1989, the state owned record labels were privatized, with Supraphon dominating the local market. However, Supraphon was quite reluctant as far as exploring its vast back catalogue is concerned, and this is where the small independent Indies Happy TrailsFind albums on this label Records, a reissue label dedicated to the preservation of the recorded legacy of Czechoslovak music, owned and run by the devoted enthusiast / historian Jaromir KratochvilFind albums by this artist, founded in 2007, comes in. Over the years the label released a plethora of brilliant music, reissuing long deleted LPs and extensively exploring the archives in search of bonus material. The quest of Indies Happy Trails is similar to what the GADFind albums on this label Records label, run by Michal WilczynskiFind albums by this artist, is doing for Polish music, with similar consistency and praiseworthy dedication.

Updated: 26/02/2020Posted: 26/02/2020

CD 1 Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend

SHQ ~ JAZZ NON-FABLES INDIES HAPPY TRAILS 735 (Barcode: 8595026673526) ~ CZECH REPUBLIC ~ Jazz Recorded: 1972 Released: 2016 This is the last of a series of eight reissue / archival albums presenting the recorded legacy of one of the Godfathers of Czechoslovak modern Jazz, vibraphonist / pianist / saxophonist / composer / bandleader Karel VelebnyFind albums by this artist and his SHQFind albums by this artist ensemble. All the music is beautifully remastered and the album comes with extensive liner notes, extremely well researched and full of discographical information, sadly only in Czech language (which works fine for me, but probably less so for other enthusiasts who also might be interested). This album presents material captured during recording sessions in June 1972 by a quintet version of SHQ, which included Velebny playing vibraphone and saxophone, saxophonist Rudolf TichacekFind albums by this artist (future member of the legendary Jazz-Rock Fusion ensemble EnergitFind albums by this artist), keyboardist Karel RuzickaFind albums by this artist, bassist Petr KorinekFind albums by this artist and drummer Josef VejvodaFind albums by this artist. The ten tracks that were recorded during these sessions were released as a LP and included only original compositions, two each by the quintet members. The music is stunningly beautiful, full of great melodic themes and a rather mystic atmosphere, The sound of the ensemble is clearly influenced by the Jazz-Rock Fusion, which was a very strong influence on the East European Jazz at the time, although the instruments, except for the electric piano and bass, are still acoustic. It is the somewhat Rocky rhythmic direction that takes this music towards Fusion. In retrospect this album is often mentioned as one of the most important recordings of Czechoslovak Jazz and remains a milestone recording of the Eastern European Jazz in the 1970, firmly belonging to the same holy grail category as the best albums released at the time in Poland, as part of the "Polish Jazz" series. The fact that this music remained unreleased on CD for so long was a Cultural crime. His later recordings from the 1980s are rather incidental or compilations of archival material. This is also sadly the last important album recorded by Velebny and his SHQ, since he gradually retired from recording and concentrated on Jazz pedagogy, of which he was a great pioneer, and work with theatre as writer, actor and activist. He died in 1989, sadly before the "Velvet Revolution" freed the country from the Socialist regime, a freedom he was not allowed to enjoy. For fans of European Jazz and its history, the entire series is an absolute must, and the fact that most of this music is available on CD for the first time makes it an absolute treasure. Absolutely brilliant! My personal thanks to Jaromir KratochvilFind albums by this artist, the owner of Indies Happy TrailsFind albums on this label, for his friendship and the incredible job he is doing to keep this music alive! Side Note Since the 1950s Czechoslovakia had a highly developed Jazz scene, certainly in proportion to its population, which included many successful ensembles and even Big Bands, as well as Jazz clubs, festivals and publications, all this in spite of state censorship and political limitations. The similar situation existed since the 1960s as far as Rock (including Progressive Rock and Jazz-Rock Fusion) was concerned, resulting in many excellent, interesting and innovative ensembles. The music was relatively well documented by the three state owned record labels: SupraphonFind albums on this label (founded in 1927), PantonFind albums on this label (founded in 1968) and OpusFind albums on this label (founded in 1971 and based in Bratislava, created on the base of Slovak division of Supraphon). Following the "Velvet Revolution" in 1989, the state owned record labels were privatized, with Supraphon dominating the local market. However, Supraphon was quite reluctant as far as exploring its vast back catalogue is concerned, and this is where the small independent Indies Happy TrailsFind albums on this label Records, a reissue label dedicated to the preservation of the recorded legacy of Czechoslovak music, owned and run by the devoted enthusiast / historian Jaromir KratochvilFind albums by this artist, founded in 2007, comes in. Over the years the label released a plethora of brilliant music, reissuing long deleted LPs and extensively exploring the archives in search of bonus material. The quest of Indies Happy Trails is similar to what the GADFind albums on this label Records label, run by Michal WilczynskiFind albums by this artist, is doing for Polish music, with similar consistency and praiseworthy dedication.

Updated: 28/02/2020Posted: 28/02/2020

CD 1 Oversampling Remastered Recommend To A Friend

SHQ ~ KAREL VELEBNY & COMPANY RADIOSERVIS 0398 (Barcode: 8590236039827) ~ CZECHOSLOVAKIA ~ Jazz Recorded: 1963 - 1976 Released: 2008 The legendary multi-instrumentalist / composer / bandleader Karel VelebnyFind albums by this artist is universally recognized as the Godfather of post-WWII Czechoslovak Jazz. His ceaseless activity as a player, bandleader and educator resulted in raising generations of Jazz players in the country, many of which continued to become leaders of their own later on. His ensembles, usually called SHQFind albums by this artist, incorporated over the years the absolute who´s who of the Czechoslovak (and later Czech) scene. His contributions as a teacher and educator were also invaluable. This compilation by the Czech Broadcasting Corporation presents a series of radio recordings by Velebny´s SHQ ensemble in the 1960s and 1970s, all previously unreleased, which of course is a great treat to lovers of Czechoslovak Jazz. The names of the participating musicians include flautist / saxophonist Jiri StivinFind albums by this artist, saxophonists Rudolf TichacekFind albums by this artist and Petr KralFind albums by this artist, pianists Karel RuzickaFind albums by this artist and Emil ViklickyFind albums by this artist, bassists Frantisek UhlirFind albums by this artist, Petr KorinekFind albums by this artist and Karel VejvodaFind albums by this artist, drummer Josef VejvodaFind albums by this artist and many more. Most of the music is original with just four standards out of the thirteen tracks on this album. This is a Jazz history treasure and any fan of Czechoslovak Jazz will find this album as indispensable. A must!

CD 1 Remastered Recommend To A Friend

SHQ ~ MOTUS INDIES HAPPY TRAILS 734 (Barcode: 8595026673427) ~ CZECH REPUBLIC ~ Jazz Recorded: 1971 Released: 2016 This is the seventh of a series of eight reissue / archival albums presenting the recorded legacy of one of the Godfathers of Czechoslovak modern Jazz, vibraphonist / pianist / saxophonist / composer / bandleader Karel VelebnyFind albums by this artist and his SHQFind albums by this artist ensemble. All the music is beautifully remastered and the album comes with extensive liner notes, extremely well researched and full of discographical information, sadly only in Czech language (which works fine for me, but probably less so for other enthusiasts who also might be interested). This album presents material captured during recording sessions in February and March 1971 by a quartet version of SHQ, which included Velebny playing exclusively the vibraphone, saxophonist Rudolf TichacekFind albums by this artist (future member of the legendary Jazz-Rock Fusion ensemble EnergitFind albums by this artist), bassists Karel VejvodaFind albums by this artist or Petr KorinekFind albums by this artist and drummer Josef VejvodaFind albums by this artist. The eleven tracks that were recorded during these sessions were released as a LP and included only original compositions, five by Velebny, three by Josef Vejvoda, two by Tichacek and one by Korinek. The music is absolutely brilliant and presents the epitome of East European Jazz, full of the Slavic lyricism and melancholy that characterize Jazz originating from that part of the Old Continent. The tunes, although melody based, offer sophisticated harmonic structures and quirky rhythmic patterns, which keep changing frequently and keep the listener on edge. The fact that Velebny concentrates on playing the vibraphone creates a solid, unified sound and feel throughout the album, in spite of its diverse musical content. Since the vibraphone is relatively rarely used as the main instrument, in addition to Velebny´s idiosyncratic style, create perhaps the most focused showcase ever recorded of his vibraphone playing. In retrospect this album is a milestone recording of the Eastern European Jazz in the 1970, and firmly belongs to the same holy grail category as the best albums released at the time in Poland, as part of the "Polish Jazz" series. The fact that this music remained unreleased on CD for so long was a Cultural crime. For fans of European Jazz and its history, the entire series is an absolute must, and the fact that most of this music is available on CD for the first time makes it an absolute treasure. Absolutely brilliant! My personal thanks to Jaromir KratochvilFind albums by this artist, the owner of Indies Happy TrailsFind albums on this label, for his friendship and the incredible job he is doing to keep this music alive! Side Note Since the 1950s Czechoslovakia had a highly developed Jazz scene, certainly in proportion to its population, which included many successful ensembles and even Big Bands, as well as Jazz clubs, festivals and publications, all this in spite of state censorship and political limitations. The similar situation existed since the 1960s as far as Rock (including Progressive Rock and Jazz-Rock Fusion) was concerned, resulting in many excellent, interesting and innovative ensembles. The music was relatively well documented by the three state owned record labels: SupraphonFind albums on this label (founded in 1927), PantonFind albums on this label (founded in 1968) and OpusFind albums on this label (founded in 1971 and based in Bratislava, created on the base of Slovak division of Supraphon). Following the "Velvet Revolution" in 1989, the state owned record labels were privatized, with Supraphon dominating the local market. However, Supraphon was quite reluctant as far as exploring its vast back catalogue is concerned, and this is where the small independent Indies Happy TrailsFind albums on this label Records, a reissue label dedicated to the preservation of the recorded legacy of Czechoslovak music, owned and run by the devoted enthusiast / historian Jaromir KratochvilFind albums by this artist, founded in 2007, comes in. Over the years the label released a plethora of brilliant music, reissuing long deleted LPs and extensively exploring the archives in search of bonus material. The quest of Indies Happy Trails is similar to what the GADFind albums on this label Records label, run by Michal WilczynskiFind albums by this artist, is doing for Polish music, with similar consistency and praiseworthy dedication.

Updated: 28/02/2020Posted: 28/02/2020

CD 1 Oversampling Remastered Recommend To A Friend

SHQ ~ RODINNA KRONIKA INDIES HAPPY TRAILS 729 (Barcode: 8595026672925) ~ CZECH REPUBLIC ~ Jazz Recorded: 1962 - 1963 Released: 2016 This is the second of a series of eight reissue / archival albums presenting the recorded legacy of one of the Godfathers of Czechoslovak modern Jazz, vibraphonist / saxophonist / composer / bandleader Karel VelebnyFind albums by this artist and his SHQFind albums by this artist ensemble. All the music is beautifully remastered and the album comes with extensive liner notes, extremely well researched and full of discographical information, sadly only in Czech language (which works fine for me, but probably less so for other enthusiasts who also might be interested). This album presents early recordings by the SHQ ensemble, shortly after it was formed in 1961 and before it recorded the first full album, altogether eighteen tracks. Four of these track were previously released as an EP, thirteen others appeared on several Various Artists Jazz compilation LPs and SHQ compilation LPs, and one is previously unreleased. The first seven tracks (1-7), recorded in 1962, were performed by the first lineup of the ensemble, called at the time S+HQ, which included alongside Velebny baritone saxophonist / flautist Jan KonopasekFind albums by this artist, bassist Milan PilarFind albums by this artist and drummer Pavel StanekFind albums by this artist. Next four tracks (8-11) were also recorded in 1962 by S+HQ in the second lineup, which added guitarist Antonin JulinaFind albums by this artist and later changed the bassist to Jan ArnetFind albums by this artist. Next three tracks (12-14), recorded in 1963, were recorded by the quartet version (no drums) called S+H Quartet and finally the last four tracks (15-18) were recorded by various lineups including guests and finally called SHQ Ensemble. The music, most of which is original and composed by Velebny (eleven tracks) or other ensemble members, offers a wonderful glance at early Czech / European modern Jazz, which is clearly influenced by the Jazz tradition originating in America, but already following a completely new Jazz aesthetics, distinct and unique to what was happening in Jazz behind the Iron Curtain since the early 1960s. Already at that stage SHQ was a formidable ensemble, playing vital, sophistical Jazz, characterized by the vibraphone – baritone saxophone or flute front line, which set it apart from most of contemporaries. The brilliant performances testify to the high level of professionalism, despite the young age (late 20s early 30s) of the musicians involved and their familiarity with the contemporary Jazz conventions, as well as highly-developed improvisation skills and compositional quality. For fans of European Jazz and its history, the entire series is an absolute must, and the fact that most of this music is available on CD for the first time makes it an absolute treasure. Absolutely brilliant! My personal thanks to Jaromir KratochvilFind albums by this artist, the owner of Indies Happy TrailsFind albums on this label, for his friendship and the incredible job he is doing to keep this music alive! Side Note Since the 1950s Czechoslovakia had a highly developed Jazz scene, certainly in proportion to its population, which included many successful ensembles and even Big Bands, as well as Jazz clubs, festivals and publications, all this in spite of state censorship and political limitations. The similar situation existed since the 1960s as far as Rock (including Progressive Rock and Jazz-Rock Fusion) was concerned, resulting in many excellent, interesting and innovative ensembles. The music was relatively well documented by the three state owned record labels: SupraphonFind albums on this label (founded in 1927), PantonFind albums on this label (founded in 1968) and OpusFind albums on this label (founded in 1971 and based in Bratislava, created on the base of Slovak division of Supraphon). Following the "Velvet Revolution" in 1989, the state owned record labels were privatized, with Supraphon dominating the local market. However, Supraphon was quite reluctant as far as exploring its vast back catalogue is concerned, and this is where the small independent Indies Happy TrailsFind albums on this label Records, a reissue label dedicated to the preservation of the recorded legacy of Czechoslovak music, owned and run by the devoted enthusiast / historian Jaromir KratochvilFind albums by this artist, founded in 2007, comes in. Over the years the label released a plethora of brilliant music, reissuing long deleted LPs and extensively exploring the archives in search of bonus material. The quest of Indies Happy Trails is similar to what the GADFind albums on this label Records label, run by Michal WilczynskiFind albums by this artist, is doing for Polish music, with similar consistency and praiseworthy dedication.

Updated: 26/02/2020Posted: 25/02/2020

CD 1 Remastered Recommend To A Friend

SHQ ~ SH / JAZZ QUINTET INDIES HAPPY TRAILS 730 (Barcode: 8595026673021) ~ CZECH REPUBLIC ~ Jazz Recorded: 1964 Released: 2016 This is the third of a series of eight reissue / archival albums presenting the recorded legacy of one of the Godfathers of Czechoslovak modern Jazz, vibraphonist / pianist / saxophonist / composer / bandleader Karel VelebnyFind albums by this artist and his SHQFind albums by this artist ensemble. All the music is beautifully remastered and the album comes with extensive liner notes, extremely well researched and full of discographical information, sadly only in Czech language (which works fine for me, but probably less so for other enthusiasts who also might be interested). This album presents material captured during three recording sessions from 1964. The first eight of the ten tracks that were recorded during these sessions were released as the first full SHQ LP. Of the two remaining tracks, which are added here as bonus tracks, one was released as part of a Various Artists compilation LP and another one was a part of an EP release. The SHQ lineup on these sessions included Velebny, who played tenor saxophone and piano, tenor / baritone saxophonist / flautist Jan KonopasekFind albums by this artist, trumpeter Laco DecziFind albums by this artist, bassist Jan ArnetFind albums by this artist and drummer Laco TroppFind albums by this artist. On five tracks the lineup was extended to a sextet with the addition of trombonist Zdenek PulecFind albums by this artist. The music, surprisingly and with the exception of one track composed by Velebny, includes nine American Jazz standards, which contrasts with the direction preferred so far by SHQ to play almost exclusively original material. It is difficult to analyze in retrospect what let to this decision; probably the fact the SHQ started to play abroad and wanted to present more familiar material to their audiences there. My dear Friend and Mentor, Lubomir DoruzkaFind albums by this artist, in his review of the album published in 1965, also wanders about the choice of the repertoire, which after all is not really challenging, being just a collection of Bebop tunes, which by that time were already a bit dated. However, SHQ being already a formidable ensemble at that time, plays this material with such professionalism and vengeance, that it easily stands up to any American combo active at the time. If anything, this material proves that European musicians at the time, even those separated from the West by the Iron Curtain, were truly up to date not only with American Music but also with the latest Jazz techniques and trends, and were able to perform them without any inferiority complex. For fans of European Jazz and its history, the entire series is an absolute must, and the fact that most of this music is available on CD for the first time makes it an absolute treasure. Absolutely brilliant! My personal thanks to Jaromir KratochvilFind albums by this artist, the owner of Indies Happy TrailsFind albums on this label, for his friendship and the incredible job he is doing to keep this music alive! Side Note Since the 1950s Czechoslovakia had a highly developed Jazz scene, certainly in proportion to its population, which included many successful ensembles and even Big Bands, as well as Jazz clubs, festivals and publications, all this in spite of state censorship and political limitations. The similar situation existed since the 1960s as far as Rock (including Progressive Rock and Jazz-Rock Fusion) was concerned, resulting in many excellent, interesting and innovative ensembles. The music was relatively well documented by the three state owned record labels: SupraphonFind albums on this label (founded in 1927), PantonFind albums on this label (founded in 1968) and OpusFind albums on this label (founded in 1971 and based in Bratislava, created on the base of Slovak division of Supraphon). Following the "Velvet Revolution" in 1989, the state owned record labels were privatized, with Supraphon dominating the local market. However, Supraphon was quite reluctant as far as exploring its vast back catalogue is concerned, and this is where the small independent Indies Happy TrailsFind albums on this label Records, a reissue label dedicated to the preservation of the recorded legacy of Czechoslovak music, owned and run by the devoted enthusiast / historian Jaromir KratochvilFind albums by this artist, founded in 2007, comes in. Over the years the label released a plethora of brilliant music, reissuing long deleted LPs and extensively exploring the archives in search of bonus material. The quest of Indies Happy Trails is similar to what the GADFind albums on this label Records label, run by Michal WilczynskiFind albums by this artist, is doing for Polish music, with similar consistency and praiseworthy dedication.

Updated: 29/12/2023Posted: 26/02/2020

CD 1 Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend

STUDIO 5 ENSEMBLE ~ MODERN JAZZ INDIES HAPPY TRAILS 728 (Barcode: 8595026672826) ~ CZECH REPUBLIC ~ Jazz Recorded: 1958 - 1963 Released: 2016 This is the first of a series of eight reissue / archival albums presenting the recorded legacy of one of the Godfathers of Czechoslovak modern Jazz, vibraphonist / saxophonist / composer / bandleader Karel VelebnyFind albums by this artist and his SHQFind albums by this artist ensemble. All the music is beautifully remastered and the album comes with extensive liner notes, extremely well researched and full of discographical information, sadly only in Czech language (which works fine for me, but probably less so for other enthusiasts who also might be interested). This album presents early recordings involving Velebny, before SHQ was formed in 1961, performed mostly by the Studio 5Find albums by this artist ensemble, formed in 1958, which included alongside Velebny many of the Czechoslovak Jazz pioneers, such as baritone saxophonist / flautist Jan KonopasekFind albums by this artist, trombonist Artur HolitzerFind albums by this artist, guitarist Vladimir TomekFind albums by this artist, bassist Ludek HulanFind albums by this artist and drummer Ivan DominakFind albums by this artist. The first twelve tracks on the album, recorded by Studio 5 (in various lineups from quintet to octet) between 1958 and 1961, are an expanded version of the original 10" LP by Studio 5 released in 1961 and called "Modern JazzFind albums with this title". The album also includes five bonus tracks, recorded between 1961 and 1963, which originate from the same session as other tracks recorded by Studio 5 but do not involve Velebny, or from a later session which involves Velebny and Konopasek, the founders of SHQ. The music, although clearly influenced by American Jazz from that era, is by far not an attempt to copy American Jazz but to use it as an influence and inspiration. As early as by the end of the 1950s Czech Jazz already had its own sound and character. Thirteen of the seventeen compositions on this album are originals and only four are American standards, which again exemplifies the extremely high Jazz awareness and deep knowledge of the idiom, which of course was characteristic not only of Czechoslovak Jazz, but also of Jazz being created behind the Iron Curtain in countries like Poland, and DDR (East Germany), and to lesser extent Hungary, Rumania, Bulgaria and others. The brilliant performances testify to the high level of professionalism, despite the young age (late 20s early 30s) of the musicians involved and their familiarity with the contemporary Jazz conventions, as well as highly developed improvisation skills and compositional quality. For fans of European Jazz and its history, the entire series is an absolute must, and the fact that most of this music is available on CD for the first time makes it an absolute treasure. Absolutely brilliant! My personal thanks to Jaromir KratochvilFind albums by this artist, the owner of Indies Happy TrailsFind albums on this label, for his friendship and the incredible job he is doing to keep this music alive! Side Note Since the 1950s Czechoslovakia had a highly developed Jazz scene, certainly in proportion to its population, which included many successful ensembles and even Big Bands, as well as Jazz clubs, festivals and publications, all this in spite of state censorship and political limitations. The similar situation existed since the 1960s as far as Rock (including Progressive Rock and Jazz-Rock Fusion) was concerned, resulting in many excellent, interesting and innovative ensembles. The music was relatively well documented by the three state owned record labels: SupraphonFind albums on this label (founded in 1927), PantonFind albums on this label (founded in 1968) and OpusFind albums on this label (founded in 1971 and based in Bratislava, created on the base of Slovak division of Supraphon). Following the "Velvet Revolution" in 1989, the state owned record labels were privatized, with Supraphon dominating the local market. However, Supraphon was quite reluctant as far as exploring its vast back catalogue is concerned, and this is where the small independent Indies Happy TrailsFind albums on this label Records, a reissue label dedicated to the preservation of the recorded legacy of Czechoslovak music, owned and run by the devoted enthusiast / historian Jaromir KratochvilFind albums by this artist, founded in 2007, comes in. Over the years the label released a plethora of brilliant music, reissuing long deleted LPs and extensively exploring the archives in search of bonus material. The quest of Indies Happy Trails is similar to what the GADFind albums on this label Records label, run by Michal WilczynskiFind albums by this artist, is doing for Polish music, with similar consistency and praiseworthy dedication.

Updated: 02/03/2020Posted: 24/02/2020

CD 1 Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend

FRANTISEK UHLIR ~ BASS DEVOTION / BASSSAGA MULTISONIC 310808 (Barcode: 741941080828) ~ CZECH REPUBLIC ~ Jazz Recorded: 1984 - 2010 Released: 2010 This 2CD set presents two quite different recordings by Czech bassist / composer Frantisek UhlirFind albums by this artist, one of the veterans of the local scene with a splendid career behind him. From his early days as a member of the legendary SHQFind albums by this artist ensemble, led by the Godfather of Czech Jazz vibraphonist Karel VelebnyFind albums by this artist, and consistently over the years, Uhlir established his position as the perfect bass player suitable to support any ensemble, take part in any recording, as well as lead his own groups. His incredible technique, superb feel for melody, perfect timing and beautiful tone place him among the world’s top Jazz bassists, stylistically comparable to Scott LaFaroFind albums by this artist and Eddie GomezFind albums by this artist. Needless to say he has been one of my favorite bass players ever since I heard him first in the 1970s and I followed his career as much as I could. Uhlir performed with the best players on the local scene, such as pianists Emil ViklickyFind albums by this artist and Karel RuzickaFind albums by this artist, trumpeter Laco DecziFind albums by this artist, guitarist Rudolf DasekFind albums by this artist and many others. He also accompanied many visiting Jazz luminaries at their Prague concerts as well as toured abroad. The first album in this set presents is a live recording of Uhlir with his recent ensemble, called Frantisek Uhlir TeamFind albums by this artist, which also includes saxophonist David VrobelFind albums by this artist, guitarist Adam TvrdyFind albums by this artist and veteran drummer Jaromir HelesicFind albums by this artist. They perform seven compositions, five of which are Uhlir’s originals and two are standards. The performances are excellent and highly spirited, with the leader soloing frequently, sometimes also playing arco (using the bow), which is rarely heard today. Uhlir’s compositions are great vehicles for the players to show their skills and are examples of great modern Jazz, which is not trying to be over pretentious. The second album is a most welcome reissue of Uhlir’s debut album as a leader, recorded in 1984, which presents seven of his original compositions performed by an all-star lineup with vibraphonist Karel Velebny, pianist Emil Viklicky, drummer Tony NaharFind albums by this artist, guitarist Zdenek DvorakFind albums by this artist, percussionist Josef VejvodaFind albums by this artist and a string quartet. Beautifully arranged and exquisitely performed, this is a dream of an album, which every bass lover on this planet should listen to, given the opportunity. It’s delightful to have this music finally available on CD. Overall this set is a sizeable portion of superb modern mainstream Jazz with virtuosic bass performances, which are exciting, elegant and highly intelligent. Charming stuff!

Updated: 16/03/2022Posted:

CD 2 Mini-Sleeve Recommend To A Friend

KAREL VELEBNY ~ NONET SHQ & WOODWINDS MPS (JAPAN) 4988005415530 (Barcode: 4988005415530) ~ CZECHOSLOVAKIA ~ Jazz Recorded: 1968 Released: 2006 This is a reissue / remaster of an album by one of the Godfathers of Czechoslovak modern Jazz, vibraphonist / pianist / saxophonist / composer / bandleader Karel VelebnyFind albums by this artist and his SHQFind albums by this artist ensemble, which included also flautist Jiri StivinFind albums by this artist, pianist Ludek SvabenskyFind albums by this artist, bassist Karel VejvodaFind albums by this artist and drummer Josef VejvodaFind albums by this artist, and which was expanded to a nonet by the addition of a woodwind quartet, which included oboist Vlastimil KalaFind albums by this artist, bass clarinetist Miroslav KryslFind albums by this artist, French horn player Milos PetrFind albums by this artist and bassoonist Pavel ZednikFind albums by this artist. The album presents eight original compositions, two each by Karel Vejvoda, Josef Vejvoda and Velebny and one each by Stivin and Svabensky. The album was released originally on the legendary SABAFind albums on this label label. The album was recorded in February of 1968, just a few months before the brutal invasion of Czechoslovakia by the armies of the Warsaw Pact, which was one of the most pivotal events of post WWII Eastern European history. Velebny was one of several Jazz musicians from behind the Iron Curtain, who got an opportunity to record for the SABA / MPSFind albums on this label labels, creating the first steps to the Pan-European Jazz scene, which exploded after the fall of the Soviet Union dominated Eastern Europe. The music is absolutely stunning example of highly advanced modern Jazz, which amalgamated Third Stream motives, sophisticated arrangements and complex multi-theme compositions, which always characterized Czechoslovak Jazz. It remains as one of the finest achievements in Velebny’s brilliant career and his splendid recorded legacy, although sadly the album is almost completely unknown and extremely difficult to find, with only one Japanese CD reissue. Overall, this is an absolute gem of an album in every respect, including the brilliant sound quality of the remaster. For fans of early East European Jazz this is a must in every respect! It took me ages to find a copy, so I am a happy music lover now! 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: 07/12/2024Posted: 07/12/2024

CD 1 Mini-Sleeve Oversampling Remastered Recommend To A Friend

KAREL VELEBNY ~ SHQ ESP 1080 (Barcode: 090204038237) ~ CZECHOSLOVAKIA ~ Jazz Recorded: 1968 Released: 2000 This is a reissue / remaster of an album by one of the Godfathers of Czechoslovak modern Jazz, vibraphonist / pianist / saxophonist / composer / bandleader Karel VelebnyFind albums by this artist and his SHQFind albums by this artist ensemble, which included also flautist Jiri StivinFind albums by this artist, pianist Ludek SvabenskyFind albums by this artist, bassist Karel VejvodaFind albums by this artist and drummer Josef VejvodaFind albums by this artist. The album presents five original compositions, three by Velebny, one by Stivin and one a folk tune arranged by Velebny. The album was recorded in April of 1968, just a few months before the brutal invasion of Czechoslovakia by the armies of the Warsaw Pact in August 1968, which was one of the most pivotal events of post WWII Eastern European history. Velebny was one of several Jazz musicians from behind the Iron Curtain, who got an opportunity to record abroad, creating the first steps to the Pan-European Jazz scene, which exploded after the fall of the Soviet Union dominated Eastern Europe. The music is absolutely stunning example of highly advanced modern Jazz, which amalgamated Third Stream motives, sophisticated arrangements and complex multi-theme compositions, which always characterized Czechoslovak Jazz. It remains as one of the finest achievements in Velebny’s brilliant career and his splendid recorded legacy. This was the second album by SHQ released outside of Czechoslovakia, following the “Nonet SHQ & WoodwindsFind albums with this title” album released by the legendary German MPSFind albums on this label label. It was released by a non-less legendary American Avant-Garde label ESPFind albums on this label Disk, which explains the gigantic stylistic change in the musical approach, which is almost Avant-Garde Jazz oriented, with a lot of Free improvisation, although still based on clearly composed themes. The two albums were recorded only two months apart. Overall, this is an absolute gem of an album in every respect, especially since it is one of the earliest Free Jazz recorded by musicians from behind the Iron Curtain. For fans of early East European Jazz this is a must in every respect!

Updated: 01/02/2025Posted: 01/02/2025

CD 1 Remastered Recommend To A Friend

KAREL VELEBNY ~ ZTRATA NALEZENEHO SYNA INDIES HAPPY TRAILS 732 (Barcode: 8595026673229) ~ CZECH REPUBLIC ~ Jazz Recorded: 1966 - 1967 Released: 2016 This is the fifth of a series of eight reissue / archival albums presenting the recorded legacy of one of the Godfathers of Czechoslovak modern Jazz, vibraphonist / pianist / saxophonist / composer / bandleader Karel VelebnyFind albums by this artist and his SHQFind albums by this artist ensemble. All the music is beautifully remastered and the album comes with extensive liner notes, extremely well researched and full of discographical information, sadly only in Czech language (which works fine for me, but probably less so for other enthusiasts who also might be interested). This album presents material captured during two recording sessions from April and September 1966. The seven tracks that were recorded during these sessions were released as a Various Artist compilation LP, with the two lineups that recorded this music enigmatically named "All Stars" and "Jazz Soloists" respectively, with the SHQ moniker being omitted, but with Velebny present. The different lineups on these sessions included Velebny, who played vibraphone, saxophone and piano, trumpeters Jaromir HnilickaFind albums by this artist and Laco DecziFind albums by this artist, saxophonists Jaromir HonzakFind albums by this artist, Milan UlrichFind albums by this artist and Evzen JegorovFind albums by this artist, trombonist Zdenek PulecFind albums by this artist, clarinetist Karel KrautgartnerFind albums by this artist, flautist Zdenek ZikaFind albums by this artist, guitarist Rudolf DasekFind albums by this artist, pianists Karel VejvodaFind albums by this artist and Karel RuzickaFind albums by this artist, bassist Jiri MrazFind albums by this artist and drummer Milan MaderFind albums by this artist, altogether a gathering definitely deserving the "All Stars" description. All the music is original with Velebny contributing three compositions and Krautgartner, Hnilicka, Mraz and Ruzicka each contributing one composition. Additionally this album also includes one side (ten tracks) of a LP dedicated to a Jazz & Poetry project, which features SHQ (Velebny, saxophonist Miroslav KryslFind albums by this artist, Pulec, Dasek, bassist Petr MarcolFind albums by this artist and Mader) accompanying actor Jan TriskaFind albums by this artist who recites fables by Vaclav HrabeFind albums by this artist, the most important representative of the Czech Beat Generation, who died tragically at the ridiculous age of twenty four. All the music was composed by Velebny. The music is all original and a giant step forward as far as Modern European Jazz is concerned, very advanced and complex, already using elements close to Free Jazz, multi-theme extended compositions, rapidly changing tempi and eschewing conventions, which dominated American Bebop. Although recorded just over a year of so after the second SHQ album was recorded, this music sounds as if coming from a different planet, being very similar to the revolutionary Polish Jazz, which was also exploding at the time in the "neighborhood". All the performances are simply stellar and this music sounds absolutely as fresh as it did at the time it was recorded and in retrospect one can but wonder how such a revolutionary music was allowed to be performed and recorded during some of the darkest hours of the Socialist regime and the Prague Spring and Warsaw Pact invasion of Czechoslovakia being just around the corner. For fans of European Jazz and its history, the entire series is an absolute must, and the fact that most of this music is available on CD for the first time makes it an absolute treasure. Absolutely brilliant! My personal thanks to Jaromir KratochvilFind albums by this artist, the owner of Indies Happy TrailsFind albums on this label, for his friendship and the incredible job he is doing to keep this music alive! Side Note Since the 1950s Czechoslovakia had a highly developed Jazz scene, certainly in proportion to its population, which included many successful ensembles and even Big Bands, as well as Jazz clubs, festivals and publications, all this in spite of state censorship and political limitations. The similar situation existed since the 1960s as far as Rock (including Progressive Rock and Jazz-Rock Fusion) was concerned, resulting in many excellent, interesting and innovative ensembles. The music was relatively well documented by the three state owned record labels: SupraphonFind albums on this label (founded in 1927), PantonFind albums on this label (founded in 1968) and OpusFind albums on this label (founded in 1971 and based in Bratislava, created on the base of Slovak division of Supraphon). Following the "Velvet Revolution" in 1989, the state owned record labels were privatized, with Supraphon dominating the local market. However, Supraphon was quite reluctant as far as exploring its vast back catalogue is concerned, and this is where the small independent Indies Happy TrailsFind albums on this label Records, a reissue label dedicated to the preservation of the recorded legacy of Czechoslovak music, owned and run by the devoted enthusiast / historian Jaromir KratochvilFind albums by this artist, founded in 2007, comes in. Over the years the label released a plethora of brilliant music, reissuing long deleted LPs and extensively exploring the archives in search of bonus material. The quest of Indies Happy Trails is similar to what the GADFind albums on this label Records label, run by Michal WilczynskiFind albums by this artist, is doing for Polish music, with similar consistency and praiseworthy dedication.

Updated: 28/02/2020Posted: 27/02/2020

CD 1 Remastered Recommend To A Friend

EMIL VIKLICKY ~ `ROUND MIDNIGHT ARTA 10020 ~ CZECH REPUBLIC ~ Jazz Recorded: 1991 Released: 1991 This delightful album presents a meeting between two generations of Czech Jazz musicians - the veterans: leader / pianist / composer Emil ViklickyFind albums by this artist and drummer Josef VejvodaFind albums by this artist and the upcoming younger players: trumpeter Juraj BartosFind albums by this artist and bassist Robert BalzarFind albums by this artist. Despite the age / experience differences, the quartet functions splendidly as a unit and the music it produces is absolutely enchanting from start to finish. Viklicky and Vejvoda share common background as cohorts of the Karel VelebnyFind albums by this artist stable, playing in the past in his legendary SHQFind albums by this artist ensemble. Velebny, who served in the role of the legendary Godfather of post-WWII Czechoslovak Jazz, was almost singlehandedly responsible for creating the Jazz scene and educating the first generation of players. By the time this album was recorded, Viklicky already established his position as a pillar of the Czech Jazz scene, winning international acclaim both as a player and a composer. His unique lyricism and unusually delicate touch make him one of the top world players, a fact which becomes evident immediately upon listening to any music he creates. In this relatively unusual quartet setting (sax-less quartet) he shares the solo duties with the young trumpeter, who is up to the challenge on every front. Both his tone and articulation are heartwarming and beautiful, eschewing any kitschy excursion, which so often plague trumpet players. The rhythm section is also perfect for the job, with elegant bass lines and just the right emphasis from the drums, when needed. These four players are simply in a perfect unison all the way through. The material includes three standards, two of which are beautiful readings of Thelonious MonkFind albums by this artist compositions, and seven originals, three of which are by Viklicky. Overall this is a perfect Jazz album, well within the tradition and yet interesting and challenging enough to keep the listener enchanted at all times. Brilliant stuff!

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

EMIL VIKLICKY ~ IN HOLOMOC TOWN (EXPANDED EDITION) SUPRAPHON 6089 (Barcode: 099925608927) ~ CZECH REPUBLIC ~ Jazz Recorded: 1977 - 1984 Released: 2012 This long overdue reissue presents the debut album recorded by the Czech pianist / composer Emil ViklickyFind albums by this artist, who in time became one of the leading Jazz (and not only) musicians in his country. It includes nine original compositions by Viklicky and is performed by a splendid quintet, which also includes violinist Jan BeranekFind albums by this artist, guitarist Lubos AndrstFind albums by this artist, bassist Frantisek UhlirFind albums by this artist and drummer Milan VitochFind albums by this artist, who played with Viklicky previously in such groups like the Fusion ensemble EnergitFind albums by this artist or the legendary SHQFind albums by this artist ensemble led by Karel VelebnyFind albums by this artist. The music is truly remarkable and beautifully crafted, combining many different influences but being predominantly Viklicky´s own creation. Although incorporating the Jazz tradition, it is very European in every respect: the melodic lyricism, the usage of Folk motifs and Classical harmonies and the sophisticated chord changes. In retrospect it is even more remarkable considering fresh it sounds today, 35 years later, losing nothing of its charm and elegance. The performances are also extraordinary: Viklicky´s virtuosity as a pianist was already an established fact by the time this album was recorded, but his partners, and especially the brilliant Uhlir, match his abilities perfectly. I distinctly remember listening to this album when it was first released, which was quite a revelation. Both Viklicky and Uhlir remain among my favorite musicians to this very day, and I owe them many happy musical moments. The album was released at the time in two versions; one for the local Czechoslovak market (with the original title) and one for export with an alternative title: "The Folk-Inspired Jazz PianoFind albums with this title". The State-owned Supraphon label, which at the time was a controlled and censored monopoly, emphasized the Folk influence (in this case Moravian Folk music), which was a very old trick used in all East European countries during the Socialist regime, to enable Jazz albums to be recorded under the pretext of preserving National cultural heritage. In retrospect (again) whatever the excuse, the music was recorded for posterity and music lovers are able to enjoy it again. This expanded edition adds to the original contents of the album five solo piano pieces recorded in 1984, which constitute a Suite for piano, originally released as the B-side of the LP "DoorFind albums with this title" (see also the recently reissued album "Window & DoorFind albums with this title"). This is a beautiful, sensitive, delightful album, which should be enjoyed by as many Jazz connoisseurs as possible. Wholeheartedly recommended!

CD 1 Oversampling Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend