Record Reviews

CHASE ~ CHASE / ENNEA / PURE MUSIC BGO 842 (Barcode: 5017261208422) ~ USA ~ Brass Rock Recorded: 1971 - 1973 Released: 2008 The US Jazz-Rock Fusion ensemble ChaseFind albums by this artist is perhaps the least known among its contemporaries like Blood, Sweat & TearsFind albums by this artist, ChicagoFind albums by this artist or even FlockFind albums by this artist, but I personally loved them very much and kept them in my memories all these years. It is therefore a joyful occasion to see their complete recording legacy being reissued and available again. Led by brilliant trumpeter Bill ChaseFind albums by this artist, who came to fame as the lead trumpet in Woody HermanFind albums by this artist´s HerdFind albums by this artist, known to deliver some of the strongest high notes ever played on this instrument, and who also played with other orchestras led by such famous leaders like Maynard FergusonFind albums by this artist and Stan KentonFind albums by this artist. By the late 1960s Bill Chase became somewhat bored by playing Big Band scores and decided to plunge full steam ahead into the invigorating world of Jazz-Rock Fusion. He collected a group of young but highly experienced young players, who shared his vision, creating the nine-piece band Chase. Signed with EpicFind albums on this label, the band recorded 3 brilliant albums, included here, before Bill Chase and three other members of the band tragically perished in a plane crash, putting an end to one of the most promising bands of the time. Chase included a four-trumpet front line, backed by a rocky rhythm section (keyboards, guitar, bass & drums) and a lead singer (Terry RichardsFind albums by this artist, who has a voice quite similar to David Clayton-ThomasFind albums by this artist). This unique lineup brings together the better of the two worlds – Jazz and Rock – creating a superb mixture, which only very few contenders seemed to possess. Most of the material is composed by Bill Chase, with a few classic songs getting a fresh arrangement. All three albums are equally brilliant, with the last one being the most mature and richly orchestrated, with expanded improvised solos and mostly instrumental. Bill Chase delivers several of his high-pitched solos, which leave the listener completely breathless. All in all listening to these albums in a row is an exhilarating experience, hitting right where it counts! This music aged extremely well and today, some 35 years after it was recorded, is still some of the best stuff you can let into your ears – absolutely essential!

Updated: 18/04/2020Posted:

CD 2 Slipcase Essential Recommend To A Friend

EDWARD CZERNY ORCHESTRA ~ POLISH RADIO JAZZ ARCHIVES VOL.16 POLSKIE RADIO 1666 (Barcode: 5907812246662) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 1956 - 1966 Released: 2014 This is the sixteenth installment in the new series of releases initiated by the Polish Radio, which presents archive Jazz recordings. Radio recordings are always a fabulous source of remarkable material, and as far as Polish Jazz history is concerned, the Polish Radio, which was a state monopoly for 45 years, recorded over time a plethora of invaluable material, which apart from the albums released by the Polskie Nagrania record company (also a state monopoly), is the only available additional source of Polish Jazz recordings. For many years Polish Radio recorded concerts presented during Poland´s most important Jazz venues, including the annual Jazz Jamboree Festival and many other festivals as well. This album is a first in a series presenting music recorded by the Polish Radio Big Bands and presents the orchestra led by composer / arranger / bandleader Edward CzernyFind albums by this artist, one of the most active musical figures in Poland´s post-WWII history. Czerny, who was born in Zabrze, one of the Silesian industrial towns, received classical musical education in Berlin before the war. He managed to avoid being grafted into the German army due to a disability and spent the war in his hometown. Immediately after the war he became active forming and leading orchestras, first in Silesia and later on in Warsaw, where he moved in 1955. Among his various activities he was the conductor and artistic director of the Polish Radio Orchestra / Big Band for many years and recorded thousands of compositions for the radio, some of them his own. He retired from conducting by the mid 1970s and spent the rest of his life composing. He moved to Germany in 1981, where he died in 2003. Although Czerny was not a Jazz personality as such, he had a beautiful sense of Swing and a deep sympathy towards Jazz compositions, which he demonstrated in his wonderful arrangements of Jazz standards for his orchestra. Above all he was a superb orchestrator, which is evident in all his work. This album presents nineteen recordings made between 1956 and 1966 including mostly arrangements of Jazz / Swing standards by legendary composers like Glenn MillerFind albums by this artist, Stan KentonFind albums by this artist, Quincy JonesFind albums by this artist, Duke EllingtonFind albums by this artist and others. There are also four original compositions by Czerny. Interestingly two compositions by the Czech composer Karel KrautgartnerFind albums by this artist, who was another great bandleader / conductor active behind the Iron Curtain, are also included. Fans of vintage Jazz sound and swinging, danceable tunes should have a field day with this material, but it´s worth remembering that Czerny and his music influenced an entire generation of musicians, who were about to become the first Polish post-WWII wave of modern Jazz musicians, creating one of the most fascinating European Jazz scenes. The beautifully restored sound quality is excellent and the warm ambience of the analog recording is a true joy. As usual with this series, which is very reasonably priced, I miss the presence of "in depth" liner notes / booklet, which should convey the circumstances at which this music was recorded and its importance to the development of Jazz in Poland. Nevertheless this is an absolutely essential piece of Jazz history which every Jazz fan will surely consider an absolute must.

Updated: 01/08/2019Posted:

CD 1 Digipak Remastered Recommend To A Friend

DON RENDELL ~ PLAYTIME VOCALION 4284 (Barcode: 765387428426) ~ UK ~ Jazz Recorded: 1955 - 1959 Released: 2005 Saxophonist / composer Don RendellFind albums by this artist is a prominent figure on the UK Jazz scene for over 5 decades. Since his earliest recordings in the mid-1950s and well into the 2000s, his unmistakable tone and total control of his instrument have been his trademark. Although mostly known for his role as a co-leader of the Don Rendell / Ian CarrFind albums by this artist Quintet, one of Britain’s most innovative and brilliant Jazz ensembles of the late 1960s, over the years he recorded hundreds of sessions as sideman and leader. This album brings back to life his second LP recorded in 1958 (the first, called Meet Don RendellFind albums with this title was a 10-inch LP recorded 3 years earlier). The bonus tracks include two EP recordings, one form 1955 and the other from 1959. At the time these sessions were recorded the UK Jazz scene was strongly influenced by American Jazz. Rendell was a member of the legendary Ted HeathFind albums by this artist and Stan KentonFind albums by this artist orchestras and toured along with Gerry MulliganFind albums by this artist and the Modern Jazz QuartetFind albums by this artist, which gave him ample opportunity to hear the Masters and learn from them. By the time he formed the sextet that recorded this album Rendell was a seasoned musician and knew exactly what he wants to do. The music includes four original compositions by the sextet members (two of which are Rendell’s) and six standards. The arrangements are very clever and often quite different from the usual approach at the time, being an early sign of the new way the British musicians were about to treat the US Jazz tradition. The performances are spotless and inspired and overall this is a most enjoyable piece of great music, somewhere between Swing, Cool and Hard Bop. Most warmly recommended.

Updated: 12/06/2018Posted:

CD 1 Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend