Record Reviews

HLASKONTRABAS OKTET ~ KALEIDOSCAPES ANIMAL MUSIC 125 (Barcode: 8594211850445) ~ CZECH REPUBLIC ~ Jazz-Classical Fusion Recorded: 2024 Released: 2024 This is an album by the Czech ensemble Hlaskontrabas OktetFind albums by this artist, comprising of four female vocalists (Ridina AhmedovaFind albums by this artist, Alice BauerFind albums by this artist, Mirka NovakFind albums by this artist and Marketa ZdenkovaFind albums by this artist) and four bassists (Ondrej KomarekFind albums by this artist, Tomas LiskaFind albums by this artist, Ondrej StajnochrFind albums by this artist and Petr TichyFind albums by this artist), i.e. a vocal-bass octet, as the name suggest. The album presents nine compositions commissioned by the octet from several composers hailing from Czech Republic, Norway, Island and Israel. The music offers a wordless vocalese (with one exception, when a Buddha quote is used as lyrics) sung by the vocalist, which offers a choir effect, and accompanied by the bass players, who play conventionally (i.e. plucking or bowing) as well as use the bass to produce percussive sounds. The combined effect is absolutely stunning, original and innovative, and to be honest I am not surprised to see this album released by the superb Czech Animal MusicFind albums on this label label, which is true worldwide pioneer in every aspect of recording music, including the brilliant sound quality their records offer. Stylistically the music is of course strongly Jazz oriented, as the melodic themes are performed by the vocal quartet with a high degree of improvisation, and the basses provide a strong rhythmic accompaniment. But a more attentive listening reveals many World Music elements and of course strong Classical Music influences – in short a true musical kaleidoscope. The album reflects the European aesthetics at its most profound level, with each and every aspect of this music deeply contemplated, meticulously planned, and finally put together with care and at the time panache and flair, as appropriate for “high culture” one should to strive for. In many respects this album brings back fond memories of the great vocal ensembles, such as Vocal SummitFind albums by this artist, but this time combined with the unfamiliar / wild bass quartet, as additional flavoring, creating one of the most exciting results in vocal Jazz, of a level not heard in many years. Overall, this is one of the most profound and aesthetically gratifying albums that landed on my desk since quite a while. This is completely universal music, co completely cross-genre and mystifyingly encompassing Artistic values, that it leaves me overwhelmingly speechless (contrary to the fact that I am writing about it). I am deeply grateful to Petr OstrouchovFind albums by this artist and Natalia OstrouchovaFind albums by this artist (the couple behind Animal Music) for their consistency, dedication and sublimely great taste. You make this world a better place!

Updated: 20/05/2024Posted: 20/05/2024

CD 1 Mini-Sleeve Recommend To A Friend

TOMAS LISKA / INVISIBLE WORLD ~ SYNERGY INVISIBLE 002 (Barcode: 745604682862) ~ CZECH REPUBLIC ~ Jazz-World Fusion Recorded: 2022 Released: 2023 This is the second album by Czech bassist / composer Tomas LiskaFind albums by this artist and his Invisible WorldFind albums by this artist quartet, which also includes Serbian accordionist Nikola ZaricFind albums by this artist, Turkish (resident in Vienna) violinist Efe TurumtayFind albums by this artist and Czech drummer / percussionist Kamil SlezakFind albums by this artist. The quartet is accompanied by the Prague Radio Symphony OrchestraFind albums by this artist, conducted by Bastien StilFind albums by this artist. The album, which was recorded live, presents four tracks, all original compositions by Liska. The music is a wonderful amalgam of Jazz and diverse World Music elements, which include Balkan, Gypsy, Mediterranean and East European influences. Combined with the Orchestral arrangements present herein, the music offers an incredibly rich range of melodies, soundscapes and emotions, which takes the listeners on a musical carpet ride all over the European continent. The members of the quartet are skillful instrumentalists, displaying their individual talents while soloing, but also offer a tight musical unit together, which elegantly moves from one theme to another and has no difficulty with the often tricky rhythmic patterns. The orchestral arrangements fit the music perfectly and add another dimension, but do not undermine the main course of the music. Overall, this is a highly entertaining and elegant display of the composing abilities of the leader and the performing skills of the musicians, which should delight all Jazz-World Fusion connoisseurs, anywhere on this planet. Wholeheartedly recommended!

Updated: 31/10/2023Posted: 31/10/2023

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

TOMAS SYKORA ~ SONGS FOR ORCHESTRA ANIMAL MUSIC 093 (Barcode: 8594155997213) ~ CZECH REPUBLIC ~ Pop-Classical Fusion Recorded: 2020 Released: 2021 This is an album by Czech pianist / composer Tomas SykoraFind albums by this artist, a member of The Prague SixFind albums by this artist composers group. It presents a live concert recording of a Jazz quartet with Sykora, saxophonist David FranekFind albums by this artist, bassist Tomas LiskaFind albums by this artist and drummer Roman VichaFind albums by this artist with the Prague Radio Symphony OrchestraFind albums by this artist conducted by Stepanka BalcarovaFind albums by this artist. The music includes Jazz-Classical Fusion arrangements of three pieces: a composition by veteran Czech Jazz pianist / composer Karel RuzickaFind albums by this artist, a five-part suite composed by Sykora and a suite composed by saxophonist / composer Karel Ruzicka Jr.Find albums by this artist, the son of Ruzicka Senior, based on his compositions for the album “Grace & GratitudeFind albums with this title”, compiled and arranged by Sykora. The music is beautifully melodic and full of Eastern European melancholy, which of course is hardly surprising. Although composed by three very different composers, the amalgam with the orchestral arrangements and the spirit driving the music manages to create a coherent, well-structured musical experience, which is aesthetically pleasing. Despite the fact that many symphonic Jazz projects end up as complete failures, this project is perfectly able to defend the very idea that such joint ventures can be both viable and rewarding. Sykora manages to create a very delicate balance between the quartet parts and the orchestral parts, which is very tricky. The transitions between the Jazz quartet performances and the Classical orchestra ones are smooth and logical and offer a natural development. Personally I admire Balcarova, who manages to make the symphonic orchestra to sound at times much closer to a Jazz Big Band than a Classical orchestra, which is very rarely achieved – beautifully done indeed. Even the “Grace & Gratitude” material sounds way more attractive than the original album version, which sadly lacked any originality. With the new arrangements the music feels alive and comes back to its Cultural home, where it belongs. Overall this is a wonderful album, which manages to create a consistent bridge between Jazz and Classical Music, avoiding all the kitschy traps that often imperil such efforts. It offers beautiful music, superbly arranged and splendidly executed, which should keep all lovers of such cross-genre explorations totally satisfied. Despite the fact that the music was recorded live, it offers wonderful sound quality and separation, as usual with Animal MusicFind albums on this label releases, which are an epitome of European elegance and grace, made the Czech way – hats off!

Updated: 05/08/2021Posted: 05/08/2021

CD 1 Mini-Sleeve Recommend To A Friend

TOMAS SYKORA TRIO & AID KID ~ ALCHEMY ANIMAL MUSIC 114 (Barcode: 8594211850216) ~ CZECH REPUBLIC ~ Jazz-Ambient Fusion Recorded: 2023 Released: 2023 This is an album by the Czech Jazz pianist / composer Tomas SykoraFind albums by this artist and his trio with bassist Tomas LiskaFind albums by this artist and drummer Roman VichaFind albums by this artist, augmented by the electronics artist Aid KidFind albums by this artist (a.k.a. Ondra MikulaFind albums by this artist). The album presents nine tracks, all original compositions by Sykora. The music is a highly exciting and innovative piece of contemporary Jazz, fused with electronics, which results in a fresh, up to date sound and feel, sometimes close to contemporary electronic Pop music, but still very much within the Jazz territory, with extensive improvisations by the leader and vigorous support by the slick rhythm section. Sykora plays both acoustic piano and synthesizers, but the listener is surrounded by an electric perception, as a result of the electronic layers, electric bass and synthesizer parts. Yet the result manages to retain a solid melodic background and continuity, which keeps the music within a clearly harmonic environment, not crossing over to the Pop, Dance, Techno and Trance idioms. Some Jazz purist my find this music too far removed from the Jazz tradition, but let’s keep in mind that Sykora has already proven his Jazz background beyond any doubt and this experimentation is nothing else but an attempt to discover new areas of interest, without compromising quality or aesthetic values. Overall, this is an interesting and innovative attempt to amalgamate Jazz and electronic music, based on a set of highly melodic compositions, excellently executed by the participating musicians. Perhaps not universally appealing to the broad Jazz audiences, but highly interesting to the younger listeners, who are exposed to electronic sounds on a daily basis and should find this music familiar enough to explore it further. Definitely worth investigating!

Updated: 19/08/2023Posted: 19/08/2023

CD 1 Mini-Sleeve Recommend To A Friend