Record Reviews

WILLEM BREUKER KOLLEKTIEF ~ LIVE AT THE DONAUESHINGEN MUSIC FESTIVAL 1975 MPS 731452908926 (Barcode: 731452908926) ~ NETHERLANDS ~ Free Jazz / Improvised Music Recorded: 1975 Released: 1995 This is a reissue / remaster of a live album by one of the most iconic European Free Jazz / Improvised Music ensembles, the Dutch Willem Breuker KollektiefFind albums by this artist, recorded live during the Donaueshingen New Music Festival in 1975. Led by clarinetist / saxophonist / composer / bandleader Willem BreukerFind albums by this artist, the undecet (eleven players) also included saxophonists Bob DriessenFind albums by this artist and Maarten van NordenFind albums by this artist, flautist Ronald SnijdersFind albums by this artist, trumpeter Boy RaaymakersFind albums by this artist, horn player Jan WolffFind albums by this artist, trombonists Willem van ManenFind albums by this artist and Bernard HunnekingFind albums by this artist, pianist Leo CuypersFind albums by this artist, bassist Arjen GorterFind albums by this artist and drummer Rob VerdurmenFind albums by this artist. The album presents nine tracks, all composed by Breuker. The album was produced by my Friend and Mentor Joachim BerendtFind albums by this artist, who was the musical director of the Jazz section of the festival. He invited me to the festival that year and I witnessed the concert in flesh. The music of the Kollektief was an incredible experience, which incorporated music and theatrical / circus / vaudeville elements, which left the listener / spectator completely overwhelmed. The music was strictly composed, but included strong improvisational presence, as can be of course heard herein. It remains ones of the peaks of the early European Free Jazz / Improvised Music / Big Band experiments, which reflects the spirit of the era and the tremendous development of the genre at the time. This was one of the concerts that left an everlasting influence on my music appreciation, to this very day. Overall, this is a tremendous historical document of the development of Improvised music in Europe, reflecting the Dutch scene at its peak, which contributed immensely to this process. Sadly, often neglected and forgotten over five decades later, but definitely deserving its dues. I am pretty sure this music, when heard for the first time, is able to change the listener’s perspective of music in general, perfectly reflecting the symbiosis between composed and improvised music. Side Note The legendary German MPSFind albums on this label (Musik Produktion Schwarzwald) label, founded by Hans Georg Brunner-SchwerFind albums by this artist (HGBS) in 1963, first as SABAFind albums on this label Records and later on from 1968 as MPS Records, was the most important independent European record label, which had an enormous contribution to the development of European Jazz. For many years MPS cooperated with the legendary German producer / author Joachim BerendtFind albums by this artist, my Friend and Mentor, whose visionary approach and open-mindedness brought the crème de la crème of the Jazz (in the broadest meaning of the word) musicians from all over the world to the label. Between 1963 and 1983 MPS produced about five hundred albums, many of which are among the most important Jazz recordings on this planet. In 1983 the MPS catalog was sold to UniversalFind albums on this label, which sadly resulted in all those artistic treasures to almost disappear from the face of the earth – a situation not only tragic but culturally criminal. Universal reissued a part of the MPS albums (probably 128 titles) on CD between 1999 and 2011 under the "Most Perfect Sound Edition" moniker. Since 2008 the German Promising MusicFind albums on this label label released some of the MPS recordings, but at a very slow pace. In 2014 the German company Edel AG bought the MPS catalogue from Universal and released a series of 25 MPS albums on CD with a new slipcase graphic design, which brought all those excellent albums back to life. In 2015 Edel AG started to record and release new albums under the MPS moniker. In 2016 Edel AG released a series of 10 classic MPS albums on CD, which were beautifully remastered and re-packaged, presenting the original artwork and liner notes, as well as new liner notes and photographs. An obvious labor of love, these reissues are what the MPS catalogue truly deserves. This project was continued in 2017 with another series of 10 classic MPS albums released on CD. In later years some new reissues were released sporadically. Over the years many SABA / MPS albums were reissued in Japan, which is often the only available source for these albums today, but that is a story in itself.

Updated: 05/09/2025Posted: 05/09/2025

CD 1 Remastered Recommend To A Friend

DON CHERRY / KRZYSZTOF PENDERECKI ~ ACTIONS INTUITION 3606 (Barcode: 750447360624) ~ USA ~ Free Jazz / Improvised Music Recorded: 1971 Released: 2001 This is a reissue / remaster of one of the most iconic Jazz / Improvised Music recordings ever, recorded live during the 1971 Donaueshingen New Music Festival in 1971. It presents the American trumpeter / composer Don CherryFind albums by this artist accompanied by a large international orchestra, called The New Eternal Rhythm OrchestraFind albums by this artist, comprised of the crème de la crème of European Jazz musicians - trumpeters: Manfred SchoofFind albums by this artist (Germany), Kenny WheelerFind albums by this artist (UK), Tomasz StankoFind albums by this artist (Poland), guitarist Terje RypdalFind albums by this artist (Norway), trombonists: Paul RutherfordFind albums by this artist (UK), Albert MangelsdorffFind albums by this artist (Germany), saxophonists: Gerd DudekFind albums by this artist (Germany), Peter BrotzmannFind albums by this artist (Germany), Willem BreukerFind albums by this artist (Holland), flautist Gunter HampelFind albums by this artist (Germany), keyboardist Fred van HoveFind albums by this artist (Holland), bassists: Buschi NiebergallFind albums by this artist (Germany), Peter WarrenFind albums by this artist (US) and drummer Han BennikFind albums by this artist (Holland). The central piece of music performed here was composed and conducted by Polish Classical composer Krzysztof PendereckiFind albums by this artist. The album includes extensive bilingual liner notes, which describe the circumstances of the recording and include an interview with Penderecki. The project was a brainchild of my Friend and Mentor Joachim BerendtFind albums by this artist, who was in charge of the Jazz section of the Donaueschingen New Music Festival at the time and presented some of most challenging and groundbreaking music of the era. Penderecki was a frequent guest at the festival and following a concert of the Globe Unity OrchestraFind albums by this artist during the 1967 season of the concerts, decided to write a piece for a Free Jazz ensemble, which came into fruition four years later. The music is of course as brilliant as one might expect and sounds still completely innovative and fresh as it did at the time of the performance, losing nothing of its splendor over time. I discussed this recording with Maestro Penderecki during my last meeting with him before his passing, and he remembered the occasion very well. He respected Berendt for his tremendous knowledge and work towards expanding the Jazz genre’s recognition, as well as for his help to Polish musicians / composers during the Socialist era. We both mourned Berendt’s demise. Overall, this is a superb piece of music, which although composed, is performed by an orchestra of Improvising Musicians, which makes it pretty unique, especially since it was recorded well over half a Century ago. If you are able to find a copy, this is a must have in every serious Jazz records collection.

Updated: 02/09/2025Posted: 02/09/2025

CD 1 Remastered Recommend To A Friend

JERZY MILIAN ~ NEUROIMPRESSIONS GAD 050 (Barcode: 5901549197655) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 1970 - 1973 Released: 2016 This is the sixth installment of the archival series released by GADFind albums on this label Records, which presents the work of Polish Jazz vibraphonist / composer / bandleader Jerzy MilianFind albums by this artist. This chapter is dedicated to Milian´s recordings from the early 1970s, done with small ensembles in Hungary and East Germany (DDR), captured during three separate sessions, each producing three tracks. All nine tracks are original compositions by Milian. The Hungarian session was recorded with a quartet led by trumpeter Rudolf TomsitsFind albums by this artist with included also pianist Gyorgy VukanFind albums by this artist, bassist Balazs BerkesFind albums by this artist and drummer Vilmos JavoriFind albums by this artist. Both East German sessions find Milian accompanied by the legendary saxophonist Ernst-Ludwig PetrowskyFind albums by this artist, bassist Klaus KochFind albums by this artist and drummer Willibald WinklerFind albums by this artist. Trumpeter Heinz BeckerFind albums by this artist participated on just one of these sessions. The music is by far the most Avant-Garde of all Milian´s compositions presented on this series, and although obviously composed, it sounds like spontaneously Improvised Music most of the time. Both the Hungarian and the East German musicians were at the time representatives of the East European Free Jazz / Improvised Music scene, and their bold and adventurous attitude put them on the same level as their counterparts from across the Iron Wall. Petrowsky´s saxophone work does not differ much from what Evan ParkerFind albums by this artist played at the time in the UK or Willem BreukerFind albums by this artist played in Netherlands and so on. From the historical perspective this album presents one more layer of Milian´s diversity and versatility, which is certainly much less known than his Big Band activity, which made him popular among listeners of less complex music. There is no doubt that Milian was able to take advantage of the opportunities the Eastern Block had to offer, in order to create some of the most audacious music made at the time anywhere on the planet. As usual the original recordings are excellently remastered and the booklet offer informative bi-lingual background information about the music and the time it was created at. It is yet another must for all East European Jazz fans and collectors!

Updated: 12/04/2019Posted: 15/01/2017

CD 1 Remastered Recommend To A Friend

SONNY ROLLINS ~ ROLLINS IN HOLLAND RESONANCE 2048 (Barcode: 712758040589) ~ USA ~ Jazz Recorded: 1967 Released: 2020 This is an archival album by American Jazz saxophonist Sonny RollinsFind albums by this artist, recorded during Rollins’ tour in Holland in May 1967. The music was recorded in an intimate trio setting, with a young (then) Dutch rhythm section consisting of bassist Ruud JacobsFind albums by this artist and drummer Han BenninkFind albums by this artist. The 2CD album includes a studio recording for the Dutch radio (four tracks) and live club performances (six tracks), three of which last close to twenty minutes each. The album offers splendid sound quality and a massive 100-pages booklet full of interviews, essays and wonderful photographs, as is usual the case with the ResonanceFind albums on this label label releases. There is a big difference between the studio recording, which is kept more or less within the Bebop mainstream, and shows Rollins’ more delicate / melodic facet, and the live recordings, which allow him and the trio to venture into extended, explosive and adventurous improvisations, which are often close to Free Jazz. Although Rollins’ attitude towards Free Jazz was always quite different from that of John ColtraneFind albums by this artist, Ornette ColemanFind albums by this artist or Eric DolphyFind albums by this artist, since he never left melody, harmony and rhythm out of the music, which of course does not mean that his explorations of Freedom were less interesting of inferior in any aspect to the Avant-Gardists. There is no doubt that the presence of Bennink both pushed and allowed Rollins to go further outside of the Bebop norms, than he would with American musicians. Bennink at the time of the recording was already deeply involved with the Dutch / European Avant-Garde Jazz scene. Holland was definitely one of the important epicenters of the European Avant-Garde, and Bennink played with all its legendary activists, like pianist Misha MengelbergFind albums by this artist and saxophonist Willem BreukerFind albums by this artist among others. He and Mengelberg took part in recording the legendary Eric Dolphy “Last DateFind albums with this title” album, recorded in Holland in 1964. Bennink’s playing on this album is in every respect as revolutionary and fascinating, as are Rollins’ performances. Overall, this is another wonderful time capsule, which allows the listener to travel back in time to 1967, the year Coltrane died and the epoch of American Jazz domination closed forever, Rock was exploding with unprecedented fertility and Jazz was at a crossroads and about to emigrate across the pond. Rollins, the Saxophone Colossus, one the last great symbols of American Jazz still alive at the time of writing, remains to tell the story.

Updated: 23/05/2025Posted: 23/05/2025

CD 2 Digipak Remastered Recommend To A Friend

JOHN TCHICAI ~ AFRODISIACA PROMISING MUSIC 44107 (Barcode: 602517689350) ~ DENMARK ~ Jazz Recorded: 1969 Released: 2008 Danish (of Congolese origin) saxophonist / composer John TchicaiFind albums by this artist was one of the very few European musicians involved with the development of Free Jazz in the US in the early 1960s, where he played with Don CherryFind albums by this artist, Archie SheppFind albums by this artist and John ColtraneFind albums by this artist. Upon his return to Denmark in the late 1960s, Tchicai became one of the leaders of European Free Jazz movement, as well as a visionary precursor of Jazz-World Fusion, dedicating much of his work to incorporating African Music into Jazz. This momentous recording documents one of the first major Jazz-World Fusion works, recorded by a Jazz orchestra with 26 players, mostly Danish musicians, with the Dutch saxophone colossus Willem BreukerFind albums by this artist as a guest. The title track is a 22 minutes long Jazz suite, performed by the orchestra and composed by trumpeter Hugh SteinmetzFind albums by this artist, with the soloist improvising individually and collectively on top. It is an amazing piece of music and a daring excursion into uncharted musical territory, which sounds as awesome and impressive today as it did at the tome of its recording, perhaps even more so in retrospect, considering how little experimenting is done these days. The rest of the album includes music composed by Tchicai and performed by smaller ensembles, emphasizing the concept of collective improvisation. The entire album was conceived and eventually brought to life by the legendary producer Joachim BerendtFind albums by this artist, who prophetically recognized the importance of Tchicai’s work and struggled ceaselessly to make this immensely complex project to come to fruition. The music remains a timeless manifest to the most creative period in Jazz, when the unexpected was truly expected. Superbly remastered and elegantly packaged by Promising MusicFind albums on this label, this is a treasure. Brilliant!

CD 1 Mini-Sleeve Oversampling Remastered Recommend To A Friend

VARIOUS ARTISTS ~ SARAJEVO (SUITE) HARMONIA MUNDI 13039 (Barcode: 3366750130396) ~ FRANCE ~ Jazz & Poetry Recorded: 1993 Released: 1994 This is a brilliant and completely obscure European Jazz & Poetry album, which features a large group of creative Artists, dedicated to the commemorative effort of the bombing and destruction of the Bosnian city of Sarajevo during the Yugoslav Wars. The original music accompanies texts by Bosnian poet Abdulah SidranFind albums by this artist. The participating musicians include British Lindsay CooperFind albums by this artist, Phil MintonFind albums by this artist, Kate WestbrookFind albums by this artist, Mike WestbrookFind albums by this artist, Chris BiscoeFind albums by this artist, French Henri TexierFind albums by this artist and Louis SclavisFind albums by this artist, German Wolfgang PushingFind albums by this artist, Dutch Willem BreukerFind albums by this artist and many others. The music is absolutely sensational and combined with the deeply penetrating texts offers a shocking protest against war, political extremism, cruelty, intolerance and injustice. Musically it presents mostly contemporary Jazz themes sprinkled with Balkan folkloristic accents, but also some orchestral, Avant-Garde and Classical pieces, all creating a collage of music and words, which is impossible to stay indifferent to. Sadly, this is a rare example of protest in contemporary music, in contrast to what was happening in music in the 1960s, when the social / political protest was deeply intertwined in the music mainstream. Humanity is slowly becoming indifferent and therefore a project like this one is especially important and worth being remembered. Overall, this is an absolutely marvelous piece of music and poetry, which is also an example of Artists unified by a political issue, which needs to tackled. Performed by some of the best European musicians, actors, producers and other creative contributors, this album is as important for its aesthetics as for its moral significance. Sadly, it is extremely difficult to find a copy if this album today, but every effort to do so will be richly rewarded. A true gem of European Culture!

Updated: 25/06/2023Posted: 25/06/2023

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

HANNES ZERBE ~ BLECH BAND EDEL CONTENT 4029759080541 (Barcode: 4029759080541) ~ GERMANY ~ Jazz-Classical Fusion Recorded: 1984 Released: 2012 This is a reissue (first time on CD) of the fascinating album by the Avant-Garde pianist / composer Hannes ZerbeFind albums by this artist and his Brass Band, an eighteen-piece brass ensemble consisting mostly of East German (DDR) players and three guests from behind the Iron Curtain: Dutch saxophonist Willem BreukerFind albums by this artist, British trumpeter Martin MayesFind albums by this artist and West German tuba player Pinguin MoschnerFind albums by this artist. Together they perform five pieces, one of which is an original composition by Zerbe, three are his arrangements of compositions by Austrian / Jewish composer Hans EislerFind albums by this artist and Russian composer Alexander MossolowFind albums by this artist and the remaining one is by German composer Paul DessauFind albums by this artist. Of course these three composers were all "approved" by the DDR regime (Eisler even composed the DDR National Anthem) and the choice is by no means incidental. The modus operandi applied by Zerbe is to play initially a straightforward part of the composition and then let the band enters a lengthy Free Form collective improvisation part, finally returning to the composition at the closing of each piece. This adventurous and highly unique approach proves very effective and the resulting music has a powerful impact. Of course Zerbe also pays tribute to the German Brass Band tradition, which was an important element of the German musical scene for centuries. Why such Avant-Garde music was allowed to exists and was recorded by the State label is a part of the many absurdities that existed in the Socialist countries at the time, with the Regime seeing Art in general and Jazz in particular a sort of pressure valve, which enabled the musicians to express themselves relatively freely, and using this as a tranquilizer of political unrest. As a result, some of the most advanced Avant-Garde music was created behind the Iron Curtain, with DDR and Poland leading the way. In retrospect this is an intriguing document of the era and a piece of music which is every bit as challenging today as it was at the time it was created. For Free Jazz / Improvised Music listeners this is something none of them would like to miss! 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: 13/05/2016

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend