Record Reviews

MARIA PIA DE VITO ~ NEL RESPIRO PROVOCATEUR 1031 (Barcode: 5038491103127) ~ ITALY ~ Jazz Recorded: 2001 - 2002 Released: 2002 Following her brilliant album “VersoFind albums with this title”, recorded a couple of years earlier, Italian Jazz singer Maria Pia De VitoFind albums by this artist returns with her second album on the splendid ProvocateurFind albums on this label label, and her sixth consecutive album. Her two faithful companions on the previous album: British pianist John TaylorFind albums by this artist and US guitarist Ralph TownerFind albums by this artist are back with her again, but this time the instrumental ensemble is expanded to a quartet with the participation of legendary US bassist Steve SwallowFind albums by this artist and French drummer / percussionist Patrice HeralFind albums by this artist. The music, composed by De Vito, Taylor, Towner and Swallow, is beautifully minimalist and quite complex, providing an ideal vehicle for the singer’s vocal explorations. She uses lyrics and vocalese interchangeably, with a rare ability to sound perfectly right at each given moment. The written music is but a frame for hers and the musicians’ improvisations, which keep floating effortlessly. De Vito continues in her singing the modern European vocal Jazz tradition, initiated in the 1970s by singers like Urszula DudziakFind albums by this artist, Lauren NewtonFind albums by this artist and Jeanne LeeFind albums by this artist (Vocal SummitFind albums by this artist), but of course this tradition is brought up-to-date and her personal input is dominant. The album is a beautiful collection of highly sensitive, lyrical music, which captures the listener totally and requires his total dedication. Most importantly it keeps the process of exploration, as far as vocal Jazz is concerned, alive, rather than following the “easy” path of yet another attempt at vocal Jazz standards. Listening to this album one realizes that vocal Jazz is still alive and kicking, a relief indeed, and has a lot of fascinating innovations to offer. Don’t even think twice!

Updated: 03/07/2020Posted:

CD 1 HDCD Recommend To A Friend

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

LAUREN NEWTON ~ FILIGREE HATOLOGY 519 (Barcode: 752156051923) ~ USA ~ Jazz Recorded: 1982 Released: 1998 American born but resident in Europe vocalist / composer Lauren NewtonFind albums by this artist is undoubtedly one of the most important innovators of the modern vocal idiom in Jazz and Improvised Music. After moving to Europe from her native Oregon, she became a founding member of the legendary Vienna Art OrchestraFind albums by this artist and later joined forces with other vocal innovators: Urszula DudziakFind albums by this artist (from Poland), Jeanne LeeFind albums by this artist (from the US but also active in Europe), Jay ClaytonFind albums by this artist and Bobby McFerrinFind albums by this artist (both from the US) forming the legendary vocal ensemble Vocal SummitFind albums by this artist in 1982. This album is a long overdue reissue of her debut recording, initially released under the title "TimbreFind albums with this title". Accompanied by vibraphonist David FriedmanFind albums by this artist, bassist Thomas StabenowFind albums by this artist and drummer Manfred KnielFind albums by this artist, Newton delivers a breathtaking set of her own compositions, using her completely unique vocal and improvisational techniques. The reissue also adds a most valuable and excellent bonus track. The overall effect of this music is absolutely overwhelming and for me raises precious memories of hearing her perform both with the Vienna Art Orchestra and Vocal Summit, as well as our conversations together. Don´t miss the opportunity of this gem being available again, probably for a short while. Wholeheartedly recommended to all open-minded listeners!

CD 1 Mini-Sleeve Oversampling Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend

VOICE ACT ~ LIVE REQUIEM / ZAWIEJE 43 ~ POLAND ~ Free Jazz / Improvised Music Recorded: 2025 Released: 2025 This is a live album by Polish Jazz vocal quartet Voice ActFind albums by this artist, which comprises of Anna GadtFind albums by this artist, Marta GrzywaczFind albums by this artist, Natalia KordiakFind albums by this artist and Gosia ZagajewskaFind albums by this artist. The album presents one continuous track, with a series of vocal pieces, all of which are spontaneously improvised. The music was recorded at the RequiemFind albums on this label Records performing space, called “Zawieje”, and the music was copied to CD-R discs immediately at the end of the concert and made available to the people who attended the event, so called an “instant live” album, packaged into a beautiful cover pressed in advance – a unique concept by Requiem’s owner Lukasz PawlakFind albums by this artist, one of the most passionate and creative people in Polish record industry. This was the 43rd edition of the “Zawieje” series, which I had the immense pleasure to attend. The music is absolutely stunning, a sublime proof of the fact that the human voice is the ultimate instrument. Sadly, improvising vocal quartets are very rare in Jazz / Improvised Music these days, but this miraculous performance took me back to the days when I attended concerts by Vocal SummitFind albums by this artist and other vocal ensembles, which included vocalizing improvisers like Urszula DudziakFind albums by this artist, Jeanne LeeFind albums by this artist, Lauren NewtonFind albums by this artist, Jay ClaytonFind albums by this artist, Julie TippettsFind albums by this artist, Bobby McFerrinFind albums by this artist and others, which pioneered pure vocal improvisation. In some respects, this concert offered more complex vocal techniques than those used decades earlier, less melody oriented and concentrating on the interpersonal communication and harmony of the four voices, in solo, duo, trio and quartet versions, offering a constant flow of ideas and exchange of emotions, often entirely based on pure sound, rather than on melodic flow. Gadt is of course already recognized as a pioneer of vocal improvisation on the contemporary Polish Jazz scene since over a decade, and her many recordings offer excellent examples of her ground-breaking approach. Kordiak released so far a couple of albums and I am not aware of any recordings as leaders by Grzywacz or Zagajewska, but hopefully those will appear soon. Overall, this is a very unique and beautiful album, which should be a proud part of every Improvised Music record collection, especially since it is a very limited edition. If you can find a copy, grab it instantly. Side Note: Recently the Requiem Records lost the premium location residence, where it operated in recent years, including the concert space, which produced 45 editions of the “Zawieje” concerts. This means, that until Lukasz Pawlak is able to find a new home for his label, his activities, including the concert series, will be (hopefully only) temporarily suspended, which is a great loss to the ambitious Polish music scene, a sad reflection of the times we live in.

Updated: 09/09/2025Posted: 09/09/2025

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend