Record Reviews
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  | ESTHER KAISER ~ WATER
GLM 331 (Barcode: 4014063433121) ~ GERMANY ~ Smooth Jazz
Recorded: 2021 Released: 2022
This is the ninth album by German Jazz vocalist Esther KaiserFind albums by this artist, recorded with a classic Jazz piano trio accompaniment with pianist Tino DeradoFind albums by this artist, bassist Marc MuellbauerFind albums by this artist and drummer Roland SchneiderFind albums by this artist. A couple of guest and a string quartet appear on selected tracks. The album presents sixteen tracks, six of which are short interludes and ten are original songs, all with lyrics by Kaiser (in English) and about half and half composed by Kaiser and Derado.
The music is all mainstream Jazz / Smooth Jazz oriented, with some Latin / Brazilian hints, very melodic and completely unchallenging, but perfectly executed by all the participants and very well recorded. Kaiser has a nice, not offending voice, which is fine but not enough to make a dent on contemporary listener’s ear who has heard similar stuff thousands of time before. Singing in English doesn’t help as well.
Overall, this is a well put together album with easy on the ear music, and listeners who like the very light side of Jazz might enjoy this kind of entertainment, probably somewhere in the background. It is highly possible that many listeners will love this album to bits, but not your truly…
| | Updated: 09/04/2022Posted: 09/04/2022 | CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend |
  | ANDY MIDDLETON ~ BETWEEN WORLDS
PROVA 14 (Barcode: 9008798037513) ~ USA ~ Jazz
Recorded: 2008 Released: 2010
This is an album by American (resident in Austria) saxophonist / composer Andy MiddletonFind albums by this artist, recorded in a quartet setting with German pianist Tino DeradoFind albums by this artist, American (resident in Germany) bassist Paul ImmFind albums by this artist and American drummer Alan JonesFind albums by this artist. The album presents ten tracks, all of which are original compositions by the leader.
The album’s title refers to Middleton’s move to Vienna and the period of transition between countries, people, cultures, etc. that all emigrants, and Artists in particular, go through in their lives, when making a leap, although as far as I know this was a move “in the right direction” for him, with Vienna becoming his new happy habitat. We are Friends since some years, and he always felt way more a European than an American to me, also on the musical plateau.
The music is beautifully melodic, and the classic quartet setting is an ideal environment to express the lyricism of the compositions and allow the leader to improvise extensively, which he does with passion. All the members of the quartet are seasoned musicians, which is immediately apparent, and the music offers a marvelous flow, despite some complex time signatures and non-trivial harmonics. This is modern Jazz at its best and to me it sound way more European than what I can hear from across the pond.
Overall, this is a wonderful album, in a classic Jazz quartet setting with excellent compositions and superb musicianship, so what else can one ask for? Well, perhaps it’s high time for some new recordings from you, my Friend!
| | Updated: 03/02/2025Posted: 03/02/2025 | CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend |
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