Record Reviews

JACK BRUCE / HR BIG BAND ~ MORE JACK THAN BLUES MIG 80312 (Barcode: 885513803122) ~ UK ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 2006 Released: 2015 This is a sensational live recording by the legendary British vocalist / bassist / songwriter Jack BruceFind albums by this artist, presenting the veteran Artist accompanied by the German HR Big BandFind albums by this artist performing eleven of his wonderful songs, originating from the seminal CreamFind albums by this artist albums and his solo albums, many of which feature lyrics by Pete BrownFind albums by this artist, and presenting a sort of "best of" review of his career, although of course Bruce could have selected dozens other songs and those would have fitted the bill as well. The accompanying DVD presents this live recording expanded by the addition of two more songs performed at the time, which are not included on the audio CD. The HR Big Band (from Frankfurt) is one of several German Big Bands, such as the NDR Big BandFind albums by this artist (from Hamburg) or the WDR Big BandFind albums by this artist (from Cologne), which function side by side with the regional state broadcasting corporations active in Germany, being decentralized by law and remaining as one of the last bastions of independent publicly sponsored cultural organizations, adding a tremendous input into European Jazz in particular and European Culture in general. The musicians employed by these Big Bands have ideal working conditions and are free from economic struggles, which take a heavy toll on most freelance musicians. Also many projects, like the one documented on this album, would have never happened in a purely unsponsored commercial environment and the existence of these bands is simply a cultural miracle. The HR Big Band, conducted by Jorg Achim KellerFind albums by this artist, who also wrote all the Big Band arrangements of Bruce´s songs, supports the guest amicably and elegantly, with obvious love and tremendous respect. Together they achieve an unprecedented effect, which is fresh and uplifting even for veteran Bruce followers. The Big Band sound and the splendid soloing by the Big Band members transform Bruce´s songs into a completely new dimension, present a different aesthetic perspective and emphasize the universality of his music. The presence of American Giant drummer Danny GottliebFind albums by this artist also adds to the overall result. Bruce is in absolute top form here, both as a vocalist and as an instrumentalist, delivering wonderfully lyrical interpretations of his songs and fiery soloing. Bruce´s death in 2014 left an entire generation of his contemporaries struck with a tremendous feeling of loss and grief, once we realized that there would be no more new songs and none of the personal gestures, those who knew him experienced every time we met. Personally I always admired him both as a musical genius and a human being and in retrospect I sense that in spite of the fame and glory he enjoyed occasionally, he remains as one of the most underappreciated and misunderstood musicians of our time. His love of Blues, Rock and Jazz and the unique way he walked the tight rope between them separated him from most other musicians of his time. His pivotal role in the creation of the Jazz-Rock idiom would have sufficed for most, but for him it was just one of many achievements he managed to put on the pages of his life´s book. This album is a wonderful opportunity to taste, feel and experience Jack Bruce at his best, doing what he loved, always uncompromisingly and true to himself at all times. The sound quality of the recording is near perfect considering the difficulty of recording a Big Band and the separation allows hearing the individual instruments in great detail. This is a great tribute to Bruce´s many talents and a piece of music history, of which he was a grand champion. "More Jack Than Blues" is a most appropriate epitaph to his life!

Updated: 25/04/2016Posted: 24/04/2016

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DR. JOHN ~ BIG BAND VOODOO ORANGE MUSIC 762183509823 (Barcode: 762183509823) ~ USA ~ Jazz-Pop Fusion Recorded: 1995 Released: 2019 This is a lovely and sadly little known album by iconic American singer / pianist / songwriter / bandleader Dr. JohnFind albums by this artist (a.k.a. Mac RebennackFind albums by this artist), recorded in Germany with the magnificent German WDR Big BandFind albums by this artist. It is a companion release to the brilliant “AfterglowFind albums with this title” album, recorded a few months earlier with an American Big Band. The album presents sixteen songs, a mixture of American Songbook standards and his own songs arranged by John ClaytonFind albums by this artist. Several songs appear on both these albums. This album was released posthumously, soon after the sadly premature departure of one of American greatest musical talents. The beautiful idiosyncratic voice, piano playing and general attitude of Dr. John work absolutely perfectly with the Big Band arrangements, and the resulting music works as if it was initially created exactly for this unique setting. For Big Band lovers the comparison between this album and “Afterglow” brilliantly exemplifies the difference between the American and European Big Band approach, especially the European sophistication and ensemble sound, which leaves the American Big Bands far behind. WDR Big Band is one of the best Big Bands in the world and their magnificent flexibility is truly astounding. Overall, this is a little hidden gem of American music, which deserves to be remembered and a lot can be learned from it, how to combine cross-genre musical sources to create a perfect amalgam, which is simply everlasting. Blues, Soul and vocal Jazz enthusiasts should love this album to bits!

Updated: 25/10/2022Posted: 25/10/2022

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VOLKER GOETZE ORCHESTRA ~ NY 10027 G* (Barcode: 885767611573) ~ GERMANY ~ Jazz Recorded: 2011 Released: 2011 This is an album by German (resident in NY) trumpeter / composer / bandleader Volker GoetzeFind albums by this artist and his Orchestra, which features the usual Big Band lineup with an extended ethnic percussion section on some of the tunes. A few guest musicians participate on selected tunes. The album presents seven original tunes, all composed and arranged by Goetze. Goetze, who studied with Marcus Stockhausen among others, is a prolific (on the verge of the positive side of hyperactive) composer and Jazz activist but also a film director, with an impressive bio and recorded legacy, all that before he reached his 50th birthday. The music is surprisingly original, with strong ties to World Music influences, superbly crafted and arranged, emphasizing the amazing possibilities of the Big Band, but using the orchestral parts in a non-trivial way. Even without the knowledge about the background Goetze comes from, it is apparent that the leader uses the European rather than the American approach to orchestral Jazz, closely resembling the NDR Big BandFind albums by this artist or WDR Big BandFind albums by this artist modus operandi and not that of the few remaining American Big Bands. The compositions are melodically and harmonically diverse and often unexpected, which helps to keep the listener enthralled for the duration of the album. The beautiful sound of the orchestra and the excellent soloing, strongly supported by the superb rhythm section create an overall perfect orchestral Jazz experience. Goetze demonstrates an affinity towards ethnic Cultures, especially African, which re-appears in several of the compositions in various degrees of transparency. In general his intellectual musical trickery audible to a trained ear is quite fascinating. Overall this is a superb orchestral Jazz recording, which is definitely worth being discovered, especially since orchestral Jazz seems to become an endangered species these days. Since I discovered this album completely by chance while browsing the web, I am not familiar with other recordings by Goetze, but if they are anything like this album, they are of course worth investigating, which I intend to do myself. Wholeheartedly recommended!

Updated: 05/10/2024Posted: 26/07/2019

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

GEORGE GRUNTZ ~ RENAISSANCE MAN TCB 22162 (Barcode: 725095221627) ~ SWITZERLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 1961 - 2001 Released: 2002 This is a wonderful archive album by Swiss pianist / composer / bandleader George GruntzFind albums by this artist, which presents a collection of fifteen recordings spread over a period of forty years, most of which have never been released before. The include intimate formats but mostly European Big Bands and Orchestras, like his Concert Jazz BandFind albums by this artist, WDR Big BandFind albums by this artist, NDR Big BandFind albums by this artist and others. The many participants include such legendary Jazz artists as pianist Joachim KuhnFind albums by this artist, vocalist Sheila JordanFind albums by this artist, bandoneónist Dino SaluzziFind albums by this artist, saxophonists Alan SkidmoreFind albums by this artist and Ernst-Ludwig PetrowskyFind albums by this artist and many others. The music displays the outstanding talents of Gruntz as pianist, arranger and composer, presenting beautifully diverse music, which includes mainstream Jazz, orchestral Jazz and Jazz-World Fusion pieces, always executed with finesse and absolute charm. Therefore this album is a wonderful introduction to the many talents of Gruntz for listeners not familiar with his work but also a gorgeous collection of previously unavailable recordings for those already familiar with his achievements. Gruntz was always the epitome of European Jazz as one of its Godfathers, perfectly combining the American Jazz tradition with the European Classical and Folklore traditions. The recordings included herein are all exquisite examples of what European Jazz is all about, stylistically and conceptually. Although the collected pieces have seemingly nothing in common, they amalgamate into a perfect kaleidoscope of modern European Jazz Personally I can get never enough of Gruntz and his music, so this album is simply one more token of memory by this great Artist, who is sadly relatively little known to most Jazz listeners around the world. In addition his recordings are not easily available as well, which makes the task of keeping his memory alive even harder. Overall this is a brilliant collection of excellent music, which deserves a proud place in any serious music collection. Not to be missed!

Updated: 26/09/2016Posted: 26/09/2016

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

HR BIG BAND ~ KRIEGEL TODAY! MOOSICUS 1313 (Barcode: 885513131324) ~ GERMANY ~ Big Band Jazz Recorded: 2018 Released: 2020 This is a live album by the German HR Big BandFind albums by this artist (a.k.a. Frankfurt Radio Big BandFind albums by this artist), conducted by American pianist / composer / arranger Jim McNeelyFind albums by this artist. The album is a tribute to the great German guitarist / composer / bandleader Volker KriegelFind albums by this artist, one of the key figures of the modern German Jazz, who died in 2003. Three guitarist were invited to play the solo parts with the orchestra: German John SchroderFind albums by this artist, Dutch Jesse van RullerFind albums by this artist and British / German Martin ScalesFind albums by this artist. They perform eight compositions by Kriegel, arranged for the Big Band by McNeely. The HR Big Band is one of several German Big Bands, such as the NDR Big BandFind albums by this artist (from Hamburg) or the WDR Big BandFind albums by this artist (from Cologne), which function side by side with the regional state broadcasting corporations active in Germany, being decentralized by law and remaining as one of the last bastions of independent publicly sponsored cultural organizations, adding a tremendous input into European Jazz in particular and European Culture in general. The musicians employed by these Big Bands have ideal working conditions and are free from economic struggles, which take a heavy toll on most freelance musicians. Also many projects, like the one documented on this album, would have never happened in a purely unsponsored commercial environment and the existence of these bands is simply a cultural miracle. The music is absolutely sensational, and this new presentation emphasizes what a genius composer Kriegel was and how eternal his music is. The material was originally recorded for four albums by Kriegel: “SpectrumFind albums with this title” (1971), “Inside: Missing LinkFind albums with this title” (1972), “Lift!Find albums with this title” (1973) and “Mild ManiacFind albums with this title” (1974), all released originally on the legendary MPSFind albums on this label Records label. The fact that the music originates from over four decades earlier, makes one wonder if we are making any progress at all these days? These Big Band arrangements of the original music, which was pioneering Fusion at the time, is an absolute masterpiece, since in most cases when Big Bands attempt to play Fusion, they botch it up completely, but on this album the music works out perfectly, against all odds. Guitar fanatics can expect a major feast with three great Artists playing their hearts out! Overall, this is a true gem, which deserves to be heard by all Jazz (and genuine Fusion) enthusiasts, Jazz Big Band lovers and just music lovers in general, as it is accessible to a wide spectrum of listeners. The level of musicianship is absolutely stunning and the music is magical and even if you never heard about Volker Kriegel earlier on, which is a shame of course, make amendments now!

Updated: 13/09/2024Posted: 13/09/2024

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

WDR BIG BAND ~ BALKAN JAZZ BIGBAND 1003 (Barcode: 4250459910030) ~ GERMANY ~ Big Band Jazz Recorded: 2004 Released: 2010 This is an album by the German WDR Big BandFind albums by this artist from Cologne, dedicated to Balkan Jazz motifs. The Big Band is conducted by American pianist / conductor / arranger Bill DobbinsFind albums by this artist. The main guest soloist is Romanian (resident in Germany) saxophonist / composer Nicolas SimionFind albums by this artist. Additional guest instrumentalists include Hungarian violinist Zoltan LantosFind albums by this artist, Italian accordionist Fausto BeccalossiFind albums by this artist, French drummer Benjamin HenocqFind albums by this artist and Croatian percussionist Kruno LevacichFind albums by this artist. The album presents ten tracks, all original compositions by Simion, arranged by Dobbins. The WDR Big Band is one of several German Big Bands, such as the NDR Big BandFind albums by this artist (from Hamburg) or the HR Big BandFind albums by this artist (from Frankfurt), which function side by side with the regional state broadcasting corporations active in Germany, being decentralized by law and remaining as one of the last bastions of independent publicly sponsored cultural organizations, adding a tremendous input into European Jazz in particular and European Culture in general. The musicians employed by these Big Bands have ideal working conditions and are free from economic struggles, which take a heavy toll on most freelance musicians. Also many projects, like the one documented on this album, would have never happened in a purely unsponsored commercial environment and the existence of these bands is simply a cultural miracle. The music is a brilliant amalgam of the Orchestral / Big Band Jazz and Jazz-World Fusion idioms, which combines the best of the two worlds. Balkan music has been a huge influence on the European Jazz scene over time, and its quirky rhythm patterns and typical melodic melancholy can be found on many on quite a few albums, but a meeting with the Big Band environment is relatively rare, and this is a splendid opportunity to enjoy it to the max. Nicolas Simion is a prolific figure on the European Jazz scene, with an impressive recording legacy to his credit, which covers several sub-genres and offers many international joint projects. His Transylvanian roots are always strongly in his compositions and I am a big fan of his work, as much as his company as a Friend, which go perfectly with my Romanian secret ties ;) Overall, this is a truly delightful piece of music, which can be enjoyed by a wide audience of Jazz listeners. Of course Big Band lovers, especially those of the European Big Band variety, will be completely smitten by the virtuosity of the performances and the depth of the music found on this album.

Updated: 05/10/2024Posted: 05/10/2024

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

WDR BIG BAND ~ JAZZ AL` ARAB BIGBAND 1001 (Barcode: 4250459910016) ~ GERMANY ~ Big Band Jazz Recorded: 2006 Released: 2012 This is an album by the German WDR Big BandFind albums by this artist from Cologne, dedicated to Maghreb (the western part of North Africa, including Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia) Jazz motifs. The Big Band is conducted by British composer / conductor / arranger Michael GibbsFind albums by this artist. The guest soloists are Maghrebian musicians: Karim ZiadFind albums by this artist, Aziz SahmaouiFind albums by this artist, Mehdi AskeurFind albums by this artist and Rhani KrijaFind albums by this artist, all of whom contribute vocal and percussion parts. The album presents nine tracks, a mixture of traditional and original compositions by Sahmaoui, Ziad and others, arranged by Gibbs. The WDR Big Band is one of several German Big Bands, such as the NDR Big BandFind albums by this artist (from Hamburg) or the HR Big BandFind albums by this artist (from Frankfurt), which function side by side with the regional state broadcasting corporations active in Germany, being decentralized by law and remaining as one of the last bastions of independent publicly sponsored cultural organizations, adding a tremendous input into European Jazz in particular and European Culture in general. The musicians employed by these Big Bands have ideal working conditions and are free from economic struggles, which take a heavy toll on most freelance musicians. Also many projects, like the one documented on this album, would have never happened in a purely unsponsored commercial environment and the existence of these bands is simply a cultural miracle. The music is a brilliant amalgam of the Orchestral / Big Band Jazz and Jazz-World Fusion idioms, which combines the best of the two worlds. The Maghreb music is a wonderful treasure chest of music, especially the Berber and Gnawa traditions, and it produced some world-famous figures, like my Friend Majid BekkasFind albums by this artist, and had some influence on the European Jazz scene over time, but a meeting with the Big Band environment is relatively rare, and this is a splendid opportunity to enjoy it to the max. It should be noted that Maghreb music, like all Middle Eastern musical traditions, includes intrinsically the element of improvisation, which of course makes it more open to Jazz than most European musical traditions. Especially so in the vocal music, which is almost entirely improvised and at times can last as long as half an hour, improvising just on one basic tune. Overall, this is a truly delightful piece of music, which can be enjoyed by a wide audience of Jazz listeners. Of course Big Band lovers, especially those of the European Big Band variety, will be completely smitten by the virtuosity of the performances and the depth of the music found on this album. Gibbs’ arrangements are especially charming, and deserve to be listened to with attention and admiration.

Updated: 10/10/2024Posted: 10/10/2024

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JOE ZAWINUL ~ BROWN STREET INTUITION 3450 (Barcode: 750447345027) ~ AUSTRIA ~ Jazz-Rock-World Fusion Recorded: 2005 Released: 2006 This is an album by Austrian Jazz keyboardist / composer / bandleader Joe ZawinulFind albums by this artist, recorded live with a superb rhythm section comprising of American bassist Victor BaileyFind albums by this artist, (Peruvian born) percussionist Alex AcunaFind albums by this artist and drummer Nathaniel TownsleyFind albums by this artist and the great German WDR Big BandFind albums by this artist. The 2CD album presents ten original compositions, all by Zawinul, which span his entire career from his stint with Miles DavisFind albums by this artist and his bands Weather ReportFind albums by this artist and Zawinul SyndicateFind albums by this artist. Following his return to Austria Zawinul opened a club in Vienna’s Hilton hotel called Zawinul’s Birdland, which is where this music was recorded in October 2005. This is one of the last recordings by Zawinul before his untimely death in 2007. The music is a brilliant mixture of Jazz-World Fusion and Big Band Jazz and pays a great tribute to Zawinul’s compositional genius, in addition to his unparalleled keyboard magic. The Big Band arrangements are absolutely amazing, as are the performances, which makes the fact that these compositions have been recorded before irrelevant, as this new attire makes them sound completely fresh and worth being rediscovered. There is not one dull moment on this album and the soaring music is worth its weight in gold. Overall, this album is full of wonderful music, brilliant performances and innovative Big Band arrangements, which should leave no true Jazz fan indifferent. For Zawinul fans and his many followers around the world this is an absolute must!

Updated: 31/08/2021Posted: 31/08/2021

CD 6 Digipak Recommend To A Friend