Record Reviews

KARIN KROG ~ JOY MEANTIME 15 (Barcode: 7051070000158) ~ NORWAY ~ Jazz Recorded: 1968 - 1969 Released: 2008 This is a reissue of the third album by legendary Norwegian vocalist / composer Karin KrogFind albums by this artist recorded with young Norwegian musicians, who would soon become some of Europe’s Jazz icons: saxophonist Jan GarbarekFind albums by this artist, pianist Terje BjorklundFind albums by this artist, bassist Arild AndersenFind albums by this artist, drummer Svein ChristiansenFind albums by this artist and percussionist Espen RudFind albums by this artist. This lineup recorded four of the tracks on this album, and the remaining track is a live recording with Swedish bassist Palle DanielssonFind albums by this artist, who joins Andersen to form a bass duo. The original album was expanded for this reissue by two live tracks recorded with a different lineup, which includes American (resident in Scandinavia at the time) trumpeter Ted CursonFind albums by this artist and drummer Jon ChristensenFind albums by this artist. The album was beautifully remastered by Jan Erik KongshaugFind albums by this artist at the Rainbow Studio in Oslo. In the liner notes written for the original album by American composer / bandleader George RussellFind albums by this artist, who was one of the very few musicians at the time beyond the pond to discover the European Jazz revolution, he recognizes Krog as one of the most innovative Jazz vocalists, of the class of Sheila Jordan and Jeanne Lee, and this album clearly shows why. Her approach to singing in particular and Jazz in general was already at that time completely innovative, using vocalese, electronics and unconventional timbre. Although the music is still partly rooted in traditional American Jazz, these young Norwegians show no inferiority complex whatsoever, already clearly seeing the path ahead. The almost completely freely improvised track is already deeply ahead of the tradition of course. Krog’s vocal performances and her idiosyncratic voice are delightful from start to finish and the superb instrumental performances by all the musicians involved sound absolutely fresh despite the fact that this music was recorded over five decades ago. It is great to see Karin reissuing her recorded legacy on her own MeantimeFind albums on this label label, as this music obviously deserves to be remembered and even today can teach the new generations of Jazz musicians, how important it is to step forward boldly. Since today is Karen’s Birthday, I wish her many more years of music!

Updated: 15/05/2021Posted: 15/05/2021

CD 1 Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend

JERZY MILIAN ~ BLUES FOR PRAHA GAD 007 (Barcode: 5901549197068) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 1965 - 1966 Released: 2013 The Polish GADFind albums on this label Records label has become a treasure chest of archival recordings by Polish Jazz and Rock artists and in the short period of time since 2010, when the label released its first album, it established its position on the market as a dedicated and reliable source of interesting material. This album follows the already established pattern and is the second volume of archival material by legendary Polish Jazz vibraphonist / composer Jerzy MilianFind albums by this artist, one of the forefathers of modern Polish Jazz. The material collected here was recorded in former Czechoslovakia, Poland´s southern neighbor, which had a wonderful Jazz scene as well at the time these recordings were made, i.e. mid-1960s. For many reasons, which fall far beyond the scope of a record review, the cooperation between these two scenes was rather limited, and therefore this album is especially important, as it documents a little known chapter of Eastern European Jazz. Milian established collaboration with Gustav BromFind albums by this artist, the founder and leader of the legendary Gustav Brom OrchestraFind albums by this artist, which was one of the best Jazz Big Bands in Europe at the time. He performed and recorded with the orchestra several times until the brutal Warsaw Pact invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1968, which put an end to the Prague Spring. The material collected here presents four studio tracks recorded by the Czech radio and three live tracks recorded a few months later. Two tracks are Milian originals and one was composed by the Gustav Brom Orchestra´s bassist Milan RezabekFind albums by this artist. The remaining four tracks are standards. The American trumpeter Ted CursonFind albums by this artist, who often visited Eastern Europe and recorded in Poland as well, solos along Milian on one track. All tracks feature extended solos by Milian and are a wonderful testimony to his virtuosic abilities. The orchestra also performs quite splendidly of course, even in the trickiest moments. The music is nor terribly innovative, moving within the established boundaries of Bee Bop and Cool, but is definitely well played. Overall this is yet another glace at the Polish Jazz history, which of course deserves to be remembered. With remastered and restored sound and informative booklet (including text in English), this album is definitely worth checking out by any connoisseur of European Jazz, looking for another perspective.

CD 1 Remastered Recommend To A Friend

CHARLES MINGUS ~ PASSIONS OF A MAN: THE COMPLETE ATLANTIC RECORDINGS 1956-1961 RHINO 72871 (Barcode: 081227287122) ~ USA ~ Jazz Recorded: 1956 - 1961 Released: 1997 This superb Box Set includes the music Charles MingusFind albums by this artist, one of the most charismatic and outspoken jazz musicians, recorded between January 1956 and November 1961 – almost a six years span. It includes the 6 albums released by AtlanticFind albums on this label (Pithecanthropus ErectusFind albums with this title, The ClownFind albums with this title, Blues & RootsFind albums with this title, Oh YeahFind albums with this title, Tonight At NoonFind albums with this title and the double live album Mingus At AntibesFind albums with this title) as well as the Teddy CharlesFind albums by this artist album Word From BirdFind albums with this title on which Mingus plays bass. Some previously unreleased alternate takes are also included, as well as a long (over 70 minutes) interview with Mingus by Nesuhi ErtegunFind albums by this artist, the producer of all these sessions. This period is considered his most productive and stable and the bulk of his best compositions are included here. He plays bass and piano and the list of names of the musicians playing with him here sounds like a “who’s who” of modern jazz, including Jackie McLeanFind albums by this artist (alto sax), Mal WaldronFind albums by this artist (piano), Dannie RichmondFind albums by this artist (drums), Booker ErvinFind albums by this artist (tenor sax), Eric DolphyFind albums by this artist (alto sax and bass clarinet), Ted CursonFind albums by this artist (trumpet), Bud PowellFind albums by this artist (piano) and many others. This is magnificent music in every respect – Mingus at his peak as composer and bandleader, surrounded by musicians of the highest class creates beautiful collages linking blues, bebop and the emerging free form jazz. I highly recommend to read Mingus’ autobiography “Beneath The Underdog” (one of the most original and striking jazz books ever written) as a companion to this music. Absolutely essential!

Updated: 11/01/2024Posted:

CD 6 Box Set Remastered Bonus Tracks Essential Recommend To A Friend

ANDRZEJ TRZASKOWSKI ~ SEANT (POLISH JAZZ VOL.11) POLSKIE RADIO 0541 (Barcode: 5901448115415) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 1965 - 1966 Released: 2005 This monumental album, perhaps as important as fellow Polish Jazz Godfather Krzysztof KomedaFind albums by this artist´s "AstigmanticFind albums with this title", recorded at the same period, is unfortunately significantly less known and appreciated, both in Poland and abroad, which is a great misfortune. Pianist / composer Andrzej TrzaskowskiFind albums by this artist contributed enormously to the development of Polish Jazz, especially in the field of more experimental, Avant-Garde, Free Jazz music, which was rapidly developing worldwide in the 1960s. This sextet recording, which includes American trumpeter Ted CursonFind albums by this artist (of Charles MingusFind albums by this artist fame), who was spending as much of his time in Europe as at home, playing along brilliant Polish crew: saxophonists Wlodzimierz NahornyFind albums by this artist and Janusz MuniakFind albums by this artist, bassist Jacek OstaszewskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Adam JedrzejowskiFind albums by this artist. The music, all original compositions by Trzaskowski, is simply brilliant and absolutely pioneering in every respect. Listening to this album in retrospect one can hear clearly that in the historic perspective it was as innovative and groundbreaking as anything else created at the time over the pond and beyond the Iron Curtain. In addition it is also aesthetically beautiful and intellectually challenging. An absolute must to any Polish Jazz enthusiast; this is an essential piece of Polish Jazz history.

Updated: 12/04/2019Posted:

CD 1 Digipak Oversampling Remastered Essential Recommend To A Friend

VARIOUS ARTISTS ~ POLISH RADIO JAZZ ARCHIVES VOL.27 POLSKIE RADIO 2059 (Barcode: 5907812247126) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 1965 Released: 2016 This is the twenty-seventh installment in the series of releases initiated by the Polish Radio, which presents archive Jazz recordings from the radio vaults. 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. The tracks presented here were recorded live in December 1965 during the eighth Jazz Jamboree Festival in Warsaw and are the second volume of a collection of tracks from that event. The first two tracks present a trio led by one of the Godfathers of modern European Jazz, the German pianist / composer Joachim KuhnFind albums by this artist with bassist Klaus KochFind albums by this artist and drummer Reinhard SchwartzFind albums by this artist. They perform two original compositions by Kuhn and the performance is one of the earliest examples of European Free Jazz. Kuhn´s performance here is absolutely stunning as everything he played at the time, before he moved from East German to West Germany. The fact that his Free Jazz playing was tolerated by the GDR regime is a fascinating story by itself. More details about his activity around the time this music was recorded ban be found in the review of the Zbigniew NamyslowskiFind albums by this artist´s album "Live At Kosmos, BerlinFind albums with this title", which was recorded just a month earlier. The next four tracks present a quintet led by another Godfather of modern European Jazz, the German trombonist / composer Albert MangelsdorffFind albums by this artist with saxophonists Gunter KronbergFind albums by this artist and Heinz SauerFind albums by this artist, bassist Gunter LentzFind albums by this artist and drummer Ralf HubnerFind albums by this artist. They perform three original compositions by Mangelsdorff and one composition by the British trumpeter / composer Ian CarrFind albums by this artist, a great pioneer of modern British Jazz. Although the music performed by the Albert Mangelsdorff quintet is not as Free Jazz oriented as that by Joachim Kuhn, it is a superb of early modern European Jazz, which was already emancipated from the American Jazz influence and clearly showed the new direction being created in Europe. Both these performances show the importance of German musicians as co-creators of early European Jazz. The last track present a sextet led by yet another Godfather of modern European Jazz, the Polish Jazz pianist / composer Andrzej TrzaskowskiFind albums by this artist with American trumpeter Ted CursonFind albums by this artist (who was living in Europe at the time), saxophonists Janusz MuniakFind albums by this artist and Wlodzimierz NahornyFind albums by this artist, bassist Jacek OstaszewskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Adam JedrzejowskiFind albums by this artist. They perform one extended original composition by Trzaskowski. The music is again a stunning example of early modern European Jazz and a great precursor of the explosion of the Polish Jazz scene, which was happening at the time. 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: 03/12/2016Posted: 03/12/2016

CD 1 Digipak Remastered Recommend To A Friend