Record Reviews

KARIN KROG / MORTEN GUNNAR LARSEN ~ IN A RAG BAG MEANTIME 19 (Barcode: 7041880101923) ~ NORWAY ~ Jazz Recorded: 2012 Released: 2012 This is a lovely album by iconic Norwegian vocalist Karin KrogFind albums by this artist and pianist Morten Gunnar LarsenFind albums by this artist, recorded live in Oslo. The album presents fourteen tracks, which are a tribute to Ragtime Jazz, five of which are compositions by Fats WallerFind albums by this artist, one is by Scott JoplinFind albums by this artist, one is an original by Larsen and the rest are by various other composers. Larsen is a renowned stride piano specialist with numerous recordings to his credit, and his playing is absolutely delightful. Krog is a universal Jazz vocalist and seems to feel perfectly at hope with early Jazz, as much as she does in Avant-Garde. Together they are just perfect, performing the music with panache and obvious feeling, which results in a delicious serving of nostalgic Jazz history, going back a Century of so. Of course Ragtime lost nothing of its joy and elegance and it is a pity it is so rarely performed these days. This album certainly proves that the loss is all ours. Overall, this is a true gem of an album, which Jazz lovers should have a field day with, if they truly love Jazz as much as they think. Brilliant piano technique and idiosyncratic vocals by one of the greatest European Jazz vocalists should be enough for everybody. What a joy!

Updated: 06/05/2022Posted: 06/05/2022

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

ADAM MAKOWICZ ~ LIVE EMBERS (POLISH JAZZ VOL.43) MUZA 1043 ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 1975 Released: 2005 This is the 2nd album in the legendary Polish Jazz series by the brilliant Polish pianist / composer Adam MakowiczFind albums by this artist, his first solo piano recording (a format he loves very much as documented in future recordings) and the first solo piano album in the entire series. By the time this album was recorded, Makowicz was the top piano Player on the local scene and one of the best European Jazz pianists. In the late 1970s Makowicz left Poland and settled in USA, like several other Polish Jazz players, escaping the socialist regime. His wonderful musicality, deep lyricism and typical European way to combine the Jazz tradition with the European Classical tradition (mainly Romanticism) make him a unique voice, which is always worth listening to. On this album he performs mainly his own wonderful music, spiced by his interpretation of a couple of Scott JoplinFind albums by this artist and John ColtraneFind albums by this artist tunes. This is a brilliant album and a must for Jazz piano lovers. Highly recommended!

CD 1 Digipak Remastered Recommend To A Friend

HOWARD RILEY / JAKI BYARD ~ R&B SLAM 2100 (Barcode: 5028386633228) ~ UK ~ Free Jazz / Improvised Music Recorded: 1985 Released: 2015 This is a live recording from 1985 of the Jazz piano duo comprising of British Jazz pianist / composer Howard RileyFind albums by this artist and American pianist / multi-instrumentalist / composer Jaki ByardFind albums by this artist. It is the second of two such duo meetings between the two wonderful musicians, which followed a similar one captured on record a year earlier. The album presents just five lengthy tracks, one being a medley of two compositions. Four of these compositions are standards and two are co-composed improvisations by Riley and Byard. On the last rack Byard plays piano and saxophone simultaneously. It is almost impossible to imagine a meeting of two seemingly more contrasting Jazz personalities than these two, with Byard mostly associated with his affinity to Ragtime, Stride and other early Jazz sub-genres and Riley mostly associated with Free Jazz and Improvised Music, and yet, as this beautiful album shows, their work together is absolutely harmonious and coherent. Of course Bayard also had his lesser known Avant-Garde / Free Jazz associations, which come here to full bloom. The music moves stylistically throughout the entire history of Jazz music, spanning a Century, and the transformations between what sounds like two Scott JoplinFind albums by this artist spirts and two Cecil TaylorFind albums by this artist spirits playing together is absolutely astounding. For Jazz listeners, who are astute connoisseurs of the Jazz history, especially piano Jazz, this is a true revelation. Overall, this is a brilliant document of the telepathic communication between two great musicians and a sublime example of the “Art of the Duo” phenomenon, which is an essential listening for all Jazz lovers out there. The live concert is very well recorded, which of course makes listening to this album a true pleasure on the sonic plane as well. Wholeheartedly recommended!

Updated: 26/04/2023Posted: 26/04/2023

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend