Record Reviews
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  | GEORGE GRUNTZ ~ RENAISSANCE MAN
TCB 22162 (Barcode: 725095221627) ~ SWITZERLAND ~ Jazz
Recorded: 1961 - 2001 Released: 2002
This is a wonderful archive album by Swiss pianist / composer / bandleader George GruntzFind albums by this artist, which presents a collection of fifteen recordings spread over a period of forty years, most of which have never been released before. The include intimate formats but mostly European Big Bands and Orchestras, like his Concert Jazz BandFind albums by this artist, WDR Big BandFind albums by this artist, NDR Big BandFind albums by this artist and others. The many participants include such legendary Jazz artists as pianist Joachim KuhnFind albums by this artist, vocalist Sheila JordanFind albums by this artist, bandoneónist Dino SaluzziFind albums by this artist, saxophonists Alan SkidmoreFind albums by this artist and Ernst-Ludwig PetrowskyFind albums by this artist and many others.
The music displays the outstanding talents of Gruntz as pianist, arranger and composer, presenting beautifully diverse music, which includes mainstream Jazz, orchestral Jazz and Jazz-World Fusion pieces, always executed with finesse and absolute charm. Therefore this album is a wonderful introduction to the many talents of Gruntz for listeners not familiar with his work but also a gorgeous collection of previously unavailable recordings for those already familiar with his achievements.
Gruntz was always the epitome of European Jazz as one of its Godfathers, perfectly combining the American Jazz tradition with the European Classical and Folklore traditions. The recordings included herein are all exquisite examples of what European Jazz is all about, stylistically and conceptually. Although the collected pieces have seemingly nothing in common, they amalgamate into a perfect kaleidoscope of modern European Jazz
Personally I can get never enough of Gruntz and his music, so this album is simply one more token of memory by this great Artist, who is sadly relatively little known to most Jazz listeners around the world. In addition his recordings are not easily available as well, which makes the task of keeping his memory alive even harder.
Overall this is a brilliant collection of excellent music, which deserves a proud place in any serious music collection. Not to be missed!
| | Updated: 26/09/2016Posted: 26/09/2016 | CD 1 Recommend To A Friend |
  | KARIN KROG / STEVE KUHN ~ TOGETHER AGAIN
GRAPPA 4247 (Barcode: 7033662042470) ~ NORWAY ~ Jazz
Recorded: 2005 Released: 2006
This is a duo album by Norwegian Jazz vocalist Karin KrogFind albums by this artist and American Jazz pianist Steve KuhnFind albums by this artist. The album presents ten songs, all classic Jazz standards. The music was recorded at the legendary Rainbow Studio in Oslo and engineered by Jan Erik KongshaugFind albums by this artist.
During her long-lasting career Krog established close working relationships in several duo settings with top Jazz musicians, most notably with British saxophonist John SurmanFind albums by this artist and Kuhn, which resulted in a series of wonderful duo recordings, of which this is a prime example.
The wonderful, naked format of human voice accompanied just by acoustic piano is one of the purest and most pristine examples of making music, which although intimate and modest can become infinitely rich and deeply moving. Kuhn is of course one of the greatest accompanists out there, known for his work with Sheila JordanFind albums by this artist and other vocalists, and his playing is simply divine. Combined with the Krog’s warm voice and her idiosyncratic interpretations of the songs, the duo is able to move mountains and make even the toughest listeners to shed a proverbial tear.
Kuhn’s deeply lyrical approach to melody and the wealth of his piano technique is extraordinary and every note produced by him on the piano is absolutely perfect, in tone, volume and relationship to the vocals.
Overall, this is a masterful showcase of the piano / vocals Jazz idiom, perfect from the first note to the last, and deserving repeated listening sessions over time. When the world gets particularly gloomy and sad, this album might just be the last resort…
| | Updated: 29/08/2021Posted: 29/08/2021 | CD 1 Recommend To A Friend |
  | OVER THE HILLS ~ ESCALATOR OVER THE HILL
IMR 008 (Barcode: 3426300098870) ~ FRANCE ~ Jazz
Recorded: 2015 Released: 2015
This is an album by French Jazz nonet called Over The HillsFind albums by this artist, co-led by bassist Bernard SantacruzFind albums by this artist and drummer Bruno TocanneFind albums by this artist. As the title suggests, it is a remake of the iconic Jazz opera “Escalator Over The HillFind albums with this title”, composed by Carla BleyFind albums by this artist with libretto by Paul HinesFind albums by this artist, originally released in 1971. The album presents ten tracks, all composed by Bley and included in the original version of the opera (but appearing in a different order), arranged by members of the nonet.
The original recording of “Escalator Over The Hill” took three years and included some of the greatest talents on the international music scene, like bassist / vocalist Jack BruceFind albums by this artist, guitarist John McLaughlinFind albums by this artist, trumpeter Don CherryFind albums by this artist, vocalists Jeanne LeeFind albums by this artist, Sheila JordanFind albums by this artist and Linda RonstadtFind albums by this artist and many, many others. It was a true spiritual experience, with an Avant-Garde concept and attitude at the helm, reflecting the wonderful atmosphere of freedom that the Arts enjoyed at this period of human Artistic apogee, perhaps the last, surely the last so far.
This remake, recorded forty-five years later, reflects some of the power of the original music, but fails to rekindle the drama and shocking innovation of the original delivery. It is simply way to well organized and beautified / smoothed up in comparison, at least to me. The somewhat hectic, disorganized aura of the original is lost here completely in favor of coherent orchestral arrangements, which are all very skillful of course.
But of course the brilliant music by Bley is still here, and the performances are all first class, creating a very enjoyable listening experience. If any younger listeners are about to discover the original opera thanks to this recording, all is well and the effort was worthwhile. This album is definitely worth being discovered just a token of appreciation for the heroic effort involved in this undertaking.
| | Updated: 31/08/2021Posted: 31/08/2021 | CD 1 Mini-Sleeve Recommend To A Friend |
  | STEVE SWALLOW ~ HOME
ECM 1160 (Barcode: 602567434870) ~ USA ~ Jazz & Poetry
Recorded: 1979 Released: 2019
This is a reissue of the debut album as a leader by American bassist / composer / bandleader Steve SwallowFind albums by this artist and his second release on the ECMFind albums on this label label, following the duo album with Gary BurtonFind albums by this artist entitled “Hotel HelloFind albums with this title”, released five years earlier. The album was recorded in a sextet setting with vocalist Sheila JordanFind albums by this artist, pianist Steve KuhnFind albums by this artist, saxophonist Dave LiebmanFind albums by this artist, synthesizer player Lyle MaysFind albums by this artist and drummer Bob MosesFind albums by this artist, and it presents ten tracks, all composed by Swallow, with lyrics by the American poet Robert CreeleyFind albums by this artist.
The music is strongly melodic and often outright romantic, perfectly suiting the “Jazz & Poetry” idiom and the idiosyncratic poetry by Creeley, who was a magician of the poetic expression and could tell a story in just a very few words. Jordan, my favorite American Jazz vocalist, is absolutely perfect for the role of the storyteller, and albeit the fact that the lyrics are often minimalist, she sets the mood for the entire album.
The music is quite mainstream oriented, with most of the melodic content carried by Kuhn, who is brilliant as always. Surprisingly, Liebman plays some of the most well-behaved saxophone solos of his career on this album, without pushing the boundaries. Mays stays mostly in the background, as does Moses, but Swallow’s round bass lines are firmly present.
Overall, this is a very well-played and sung “Jazz & Poetry” album, with excellent contributions by all the participants, but does not break any new ground or demands a particular intellectual effort to enjoy the music for what it is.
| | Updated: 11/10/2024Posted: 11/10/2024 | CD 1 Mini-Sleeve Recommend To A Friend |
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