Record Reviews

ASSOCIATION P.C. / JEREMY STEIG ~ MAMA KUKU PROMISING MUSIC 44100 (Barcode: 602517542846) ~ NETHERLANDS ~ Jazz Recorded: 1973 Released: 2008 Association P.C.Find albums by this artist was one of several multi-national Jazz groups active in Europe during the late 1960 / 1970 explosive period of creative activity, which resulted in establishment of the European Jazz and its emancipation from the American Jazz traditions. With Britain as one epicenter of the new music, Netherlands, Germany and France were the other one. Their geographic proximity enabled the existence of multi-national groups, as the musicians were able to meet, rehearse and tour, all within a driving distance from their respective homes. These countries also had a common cultural background, which served as common bond between the musicians. The original group was formed by Dutch drummer Pierre CourboisFind albums by this artist (his initials are in the group’s name) with fellow Dutch players Jasper van`t HofFind albums by this artist – keyboards and Peter KrijnenFind albums by this artist – bass and the German guitarist Toto BlankeFind albums by this artist. Krijnen was soon replaced by German bass virtuoso Siggi BushFind albums by this artist. After van’t Hof left the group to form his own outfit (the legendary Pork PieFind albums by this artist), he was replaced by German keyboardist Joachim KuhnFind albums by this artist. The group recorded five albums, four of them on the legendary MPSFind albums on this label label, and this was the last of them. The idea for recording an album with American flautist Jeremy SteigFind albums by this artist was initiated by the legendary Jazz critic and resident MPS producer Joachim BerendtFind albums by this artist, who heard Steig perform at the Munich Jazz Festival, which was organized as one of the events for the Munich Olympic Games in 1972. Berendt was always looking for unusual musical combinations and inspired the (then) forming European Jazz scene by his unequivocal support and prophetic vision. Steig, although American, was always associated with the Avant-Garde and pursued his own search to expand his horizons beyond the stagnant Jazz mainstream. Therefore his rapport with the young European musicians, who were also on a quest to discover the unknown, happened naturally, as Berendt envisioned. The album was recorded live, another wise decision by Berendt, as the character of the music simply suited a spontaneous situation perfectly. Although Association P.C. is often associated with the European Jazz-Rock Fusion (probably due to the fact that electric guitar and keyboards were used), is fact the group had nothing to do with that genre. Blanke and Kuhn will later on play in or lead Jazz-Rock Fusion ensembles, but in that group they played quite a different sort of music, trying to expand Free Jazz (which served as a departure point) into Improvised Music. Steig understood that instinctively and cooperated beautifully. The peak of the album is reached on the 21+ minutes long spontaneously improvised piece, which was the original B-side of the LP. The performances are of course inspired and uplifting, as the musicians were all virtuosi and masters of their trade in spite of their young age. In retrospect the album caught for posterity a glorious moment and a fragment of what was happening on the European scene at the time, which makes it an immensely important document, in addition to being a superb musical experience, completely relevant to this very day. Kudos to Promising MusicFind albums on this label for the excellent remaster and elegant packaging of the reissue. A must!

Updated: 12/04/2019Posted:

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