Record Reviews
2 Reviews Found. Use search to find more reviews or follow the links in the review text.
  | VILEM SPILKA ~ CEKANI NA TOMA
INDIES HAPPY TRAILS 787 (Barcode: 8595026678729) ~ CZECH REPUBLIC ~ Jazz
Recorded: 2019 Released: 2019
This is the second album by Czech guitarist / composer Vilem SpilkaFind albums by this artist and his quartet, which also includes saxophonist Radek ZapadloFind albums by this artist, bassist Vlastimil TrlloFind albums by this artist and drummer Martin KleiblFind albums by this artist. The album presents eight original compositions, all by the leader.
The music is typical modern European Jazz, with strong Eastern European melancholic / lyrical characteristics. The compositions are all solid and coherent, serving ideally as vehicles for the quartet members to develop their improvised soling. The balance between the four instruments is very well maintained and all the musicians get an opportunity to show their chops.
Spilka plays tasty Jazz guitar, managing to eschew Fusion excursions, which fits the introvert, calm character of the music. Zapadlo plays the soprano saxophone melodically, even when improvising and offers a clear, enticing ambience. Trllo provides the base tones with sensitivity and obvious harmonic feel and finally Kleibl keeps the rhythmic pulse precisely, with his unusual and dense drumming, without disturbing the quartet’s sonoric balance.
The music is excellently recorded and the album is lavishly packaged, as usual with Czech releases, which follow the great aesthetic traditions of doing things the proper way.
Overall, this is a well composed and played Jazz album, which is definitely worth listening to and being enjoyed by all Jazz lovers, especially those who love the sound of a Jazz guitar, which is not overwhelming everything else. Warmly recommended!
| | Updated: 15/01/2022Posted: 15/01/2022 | CD 1 Mini-Sleeve Recommend To A Friend |
  | VILEM SPILKA ~ PODVOD
INDIES HAPPY TRAILS 726 (Barcode: 8595026672628) ~ CZECH REPUBLIC ~ Jazz
Recorded: 2016 Released: 2016
This is the debut album by Czech Jazz guitarist / composer Vilem SpilkaFind albums by this artist and his quartet, which also includes saxophonist Radek ZapadloFind albums by this artist, bassist Vlastimil TrlloFind albums by this artist and drummer Martin KleiblFind albums by this artist. The album presents eight arrangements of songs written by veteran and prolific Czech singer / songwriter / guitarist Jan NedvedFind albums by this artist (a.k.a. Honza NedvedFind albums by this artist).
The arrangements smoothly transfer the original Folk / Pop material into modern mainstream Jazz and the wonderful melodies are preserved, with their lyricism and melancholy intact. The respectful treatment of the original material is of course a great virtue.
The quartet members all perform impeccably, as expected, with the soloing divided between the leader and the saxophonist. Spilka plays excellent Jazz guitar, respectful of the Jazz guitar tradition and avoiding any Fusiony explorations, for which he deserves a special mention. Zapadlo plays tenor, alto and soprano saxophones with equal effectiveness, and changing the instrument adds to the variety of the music.
The album, released by the Indies Happy TrailsFind albums on this label label from Brno, owned by Jaromir KratochvilFind albums by this artist, is beautifully recorded and packaged in a digibook format full of wonderful black & white photographs, a great example of elegance and aesthetics.
Overall, this is a splendid listening experience of European Jazz, which offers great melodies and first-rate performances, accessible to a wide audience without compromising any qualities. Jazz guitar fans should be especially interested. Definitely worth being discovered!
| | Updated: 20/03/2022Posted: 20/03/2022 | CD 1 Digibook Recommend To A Friend |
|
