Record Reviews

ULRICH GUMPERT ~ `N TANGO FUR GITTI EDEL CONTENT 4029759080626 (Barcode: 4029759080626) ~ GERMANY ~ Jazz Recorded: 1982 Released: 2012 This is a reissue (first time on CD) of the solo piano album by the East German Jazz pianist / composer Ulrich GumpertFind albums by this artist. It presents five original compositions, all by Gumpert. Gumpert, who was active on the East German Jazz scene in such diverse environments as Jazz-Rock Fusion and Free Jazz / Improvised Music, shows on this album his more lyrical side, playing his compositions with are based on clear melodic themes and than expanded into lengthy free form improvisations. The music moves between modern Jazz and contemporary Classical forms, full of highly sensitive and emotional gestures. Experienced listeners will find here traces of influences and quotes of phrases by such diverse piano Masters / composers as Thelonious MonkFind albums by this artist, Erik SatieFind albums by this artist and the German born Austrian / Jewish composer Hanns EislerFind albums by this artist (whose fascinating life story is a must read). Gumpert incorporates all these influences subtly, but lovingly, creating his own unique amalgam. Although complex and intellectually demanding this music is also accessible due to its lyrical and melodic nature. Therefore modern piano music connoisseurs, regardless of their genre of choice, should find this music fascinating and highly rewarding. In retrospect the music lost nothing of its power and charm and is still a superb listening experience. Side Note: As all the East European countries under the Socialist regime, East Germany, or DDR as it was known at the time, had only one state owned and controlled Music Company, which released most of its productions on the AmigaFind albums on this label label. Among the many Amiga releases the legendary "orange J" series was dedicated to Jazz recordings, many of which were licenses from the West, but others were original productions, mostly of Jazz made in DDR. Some of these releases, like the one described above, were absolute gems. Following the unification of Germany, the Amiga albums disappeared from the face of the earth and only in 2012 a German label reissued 15 Amiga Jazz albums on CD. They are all worth checking out!

Updated: 11/05/2016Posted: 20/03/2016

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JAZZ WERKSTATT ORCHESTER ~ AUS TEUTSCHEN LANDEN EDEL CONTENT 4029759080596 (Barcode: 4029759080596) ~ GERMANY ~ Free Jazz / Improvised Music Recorded: 1972 Released: 2012 This is a reissue (first time on CD) of the excellent album by the East German Jazz Werkstatt OrchesterFind albums by this artist, an ensemble consisting of thirteen players, which included the best Jazz musicians active at the time, like trombonist Conrad BauerFind albums by this artist, saxophonist Ernst-Ludwig PetrowskyFind albums by this artist, keyboardist Ulrich GumpertFind albums by this artist, drummer Gunter SommerFind albums by this artist and others. The orchestra performed a five-part suite based on German Folk songs, written and arranged by Gumpert. The album was originally released in 1977, five years after this music was recorded, to commemorate a series of concerts called "Jazz In Der Kammer" and to celebrate the 100th concert. The music included here was recorded during the 48th concert of that series. The music is very unique, combining the Big Band tradition, the German Brass Band tradition and folklore and Free Jazz, which was the preferred modus operandi of the ensemble members. Together the resulting music is a phenomenal expression of cross-genre beautiful weirdness. Following the opening statement, which consists of a different folk melody in each of the suite´s parts, the players perform expanded solos, which in turn evolve into spontaneous Free Jazz group improvisations, which are insanely intensive and technically dazzling. There are very few recordings of such kind in existence, which turns this album into a rara avis. The fact that this music was recorded and released in East German is truly amazing and pretty incomprehensible. But despite the political oppression and censorship East Germany managed to produce some of the most amazing early European Jazz, of the Avant-Garde and Improvising Music variety. For connoisseurs of Free Jazz this is an absolute must! Side Note: As all the East European countries under the Socialist regime, East Germany, or DDR as it was known at the time, had only one state owned and controlled Music Company, which released most of its productions on the AmigaFind albums on this label label. Among the many Amiga releases the legendary "orange J" series was dedicated to Jazz recordings, many of which were licenses from the West, but others were original productions, mostly of Jazz made in DDR. Some of these releases, like the one described above, were absolute gems. Following the unification of Germany, the Amiga albums disappeared from the face of the earth and only in 2012 a German label reissued 15 Amiga Jazz albums on CD. They are all worth checking out!

Updated: 12/04/2019Posted: 11/06/2016

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SYNOPSIS ~ SYNOPSIS EDEL CONTENT 4029759080480 (Barcode: 4029759080480) ~ GERMANY ~ Free Jazz / Improvised Music Recorded: 1974 Released: 2012 This is a reissue (first time on CD) of the album by the East German quartet SynopsisFind albums by this artist, which comprised of legendary pioneers of Free Jazz / Improvised Music in that country: saxophonist Ernst-Ludwig PetrowskyFind albums by this artist, trombonist Conrad BauerFind albums by this artist, pianist Ulrich GumpertFind albums by this artist and drummer Gunter SommerFind albums by this artist. The quartet performs six pieces, four of which are credited in turn to each of the quartet members, one is a group composition by all four participants and one is based on a Folk tune. A month before recording this music Synopsis recorded another session for the FMPFind albums on this label label based in West Berlin, which was released later on. The music is a stunning example of early East European Avant-Garde, which moves between Free Jazz and Improvised Music, something radically different and highly surprising and in full contrast to what one might expect was happening in Jazz behind the Iron Curtain. Although these musicians had contact with their eastern neighbors in Poland, who were already involved in creating their own Avant-Garde scene at the time, as well as meeting western musicians while performing at Warsaw´s Jazz Jamboree festival, but the fact that such adventurous music was created and than released is completely baffling, considering the fact that East Germany was the most closely censored and culturally limited of all the Eastern Block countries (see Side Note below). Even in retrospect this music sounds poignant and striking, which of course is not that surprising now, as these four musicians have all reached legendary status on the European Improvised Music scene. Each of them has a completely unique voice on a global scale and this early recording should be a revelation to all the listeners who did not hear it at the time it was created. The urgency and unlimited longing for freedom by people living under an oppressive political regime explodes here in full, driving the music to the limits known at the time and beyond. And yet underneath all that havoc there is still the typical German correctness and almost autistic separation from savoir vivre. Overall this a classic of the genre and a first class document of European Jazz history. Since this album had a very limited reach in the first place, the fact that it is available again should make hordes of Improvised Music connoisseurs extremely happy. Not to be missed! Side Note: As all the East European countries under the Socialist regime, East Germany, or DDR as it was known at the time, had only one state owned and controlled Music Company, which released most of its productions on the AmigaFind albums on this label label. Among the many Amiga releases the legendary "orange J" series was dedicated to Jazz recordings, many of which were licenses from the West, but others were original productions, mostly of Jazz made in DDR. Some of these releases, like the one described above, were absolute gems. Following the unification of Germany, the Amiga albums disappeared from the face of the earth and only in 2012 a German label reissued 15 Amiga Jazz albums on CD. They are all worth checking out!

Updated: 12/04/2019Posted: 18/03/2016

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend