Record Reviews

SALAMON / HADZIMANOV / MOSES ~ DANCES OF FREEDOM SAMO ~ SLOVENIA ~ Free Jazz / Improvised Music Recorded: 2021 Released: 2024 This is an album by Slovenian guitarist Samo SalamonFind albums by this artist, Serbian keyboardist Vasil HadzimanovFind albums by this artist and American drummer Bob MosesFind albums by this artist. The album presents nine tracks, all of which are co-composed by the trio members. The music is a wonderful amalgam of many elements, and although it is mostly improvised, it offers various melodic snippets, references to Balkan Folkloristic themes, Ambient layers and electronically generated effects. There is a confident, clearly defined flow and coherent progress, which makes this music accessible to open-minded listeners, who are patient enough to experience the music slowly, and follow it where the musicians take it. Although this is a trio recording, the music often sounds much fuller, with the instruments often disguised into instruments, which are not used in reality. The brilliant drumming by Moses keeps everything perfectly organized and the consequent tunes offer a diversity, which is rarely present in Improvised Music. Salamon is an extremely prolific musician, who recorded almost fifty albums since the turn of the Millennium, mostly released on his own SamoFind albums on this label Records label, with involve dozens of European Jazz musicians, and he definitely deserves to be followed. Overall, this is another document of Salamon’s feverish activity, which, as always deserves the attention of open-minded and aesthetically minded listeners. He manages to re-invent himself time and again and keeps an excellent company doing so! Highly recommended!

Updated: 16/02/2024Posted: 16/02/2024

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SAMO SALAMON ~ DOLPHOLOGY SAMO ~ SLOVENIA ~ Free Jazz / Improvised Music Recorded: 2021 Released: 2022 This is a solo guitar album by Slovenian Jazz guitarist / composer Samo SalamonFind albums by this artist, which is a tribute to the American Jazz pioneer Eric DolphyFind albums by this artist, with an emphasis on Dolphy’s compositions, which are a lesser known facet of his personality. The 2CD album presents twenty-eight tracks, all played on 6 and 12-string acoustic guitars, except one played on mandolin, all composed by Dolphy. The two versions of the tune “Inner Flight” (see the “Other AspectsFind albums with this title” album by Dolphy) are the closing tracks of each CD. The tunes should sound familiar to avid Jazz fans, although most probably won’t associate them with Dolphy as their composer. Dolphy’s death at the ridiculous young age of 36 cut his career short of course, yet his lasting influence on the development of the Jazz idiom is felt to this very day. Salomon treats Dolphy’s composition with respect and obvious love, moving carefully between pretty straightforward renditions of the basic melody lines and completely improvised approach based on the harmonic structures and beyond. These different stylistic approaches create in intrinsic dynamics within the album’s flow, which otherwise might have been perhaps somewhat monotonous. The music was recorded at Salamon’s home with a simple setup, and offers a clear, pleasant sonic ambience, which exposes the music as nakedly as possible, which is probably the optimal approach in this case. Obviously influenced by the Covid-19 pandemic and travel limitations, Salamon decided to spend his isolation wisely and productively. Salamon’s extensive career and recorded legacy speaks for itself and his obvious talent and dedication to Jazz is also obvious on this album, which involved a lot of work and stamina to produce. Overall, this is a very interesting musical project and a true labor of love, which definitely should be listened to by all serious Jazz enthusiasts around the world. It offers not only a great musical value but a lot of European aesthetics and educational importance. Guitar lovers should find this fascinating as well, and the aspiring young guitar players could learn a lick or two here. Hats off and thanks for the music!

Updated: 16/02/2024Posted: 21/01/2022

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SAMO SALAMON / ARILD ANDERSEN / BOB MOSES ~ PURE AND SIMPLE SAMO ~ SLOVENIA ~ Jazz Recorded: 2021 Released: 2022 This is an album by Slovenian Jazz guitarist Samo SalamonFind albums by this artist, recorded in a trio setting with two Jazz icons: Norwegian bassist Arild AndersenFind albums by this artist and American drummer Bob MosesFind albums by this artist. The album presents nine tracks, five of which are original compositions co-composed by the trio members, one is co-composed by Salamon and Moses, one each are by Anderson and Moses and finally one is the trio’s interpretation of a standard by Albert AylerFind albums by this artist. The music is absolutely delightful, based on sketchy melody lines and improvised extensively, keeping the volume low and the creativity high at all times. Salamon is an amazing guitar player, with an extensive recorded legacy to his credit, and a respectful position on the scene, despite his relatively young age. His guitar creates ambient layers of sound, which are completely unique, which is truly astounding considering the fact that the guitar is after all the most popular instrument out there. Andersen, my favorite bass player of all time, provides the melodic layer with his virtuosic plucking and amazing sound. I have known him for almost as long as I have listened to music, and never heard him play anything less than heart wrenchingly beautiful. He is probably the most melodic bass player among his peers, and this album clearly shows why. Moses goes back to the sources of modern Jazz and his equally unique approach to drumming and sense of rhythm is obviously legendary. On this album his playing is kept somewhat at a distance, but at the same time present at all times, adding a heartbeat pulse and keeping the music on a chronometric track. Overall, this is a brilliant and highly unusual album, full of superb playing and Jazz aesthetics of the highest caliber. If Salamon is a new name for you, it’s high time to catch up, as he is definitely a musician to put on one’s watch list. If you are a guitar player, well listening to this album might make you think twice about your future. If you love great Jazz, this album is an absolute must!

Updated: 21/07/2022Posted: 21/07/2022

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