Record Reviews
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  | JULIUS HEMPHILL ~ THE COMPLETE REMASTERED RECORDINGS ON BLACK SAINT & SOUL NOTE
CAM JAZZ 1019 (Barcode: 8052405140623) ~ USA ~ Jazz
Recorded: 1977 - 1993 Released: 2012
This superb Box Set collects all the albums recorded by the legendary American saxophonist / composer Julius HemphillFind albums by this artist on the twin Italian independent labels: Black SaintFind albums on this label and Soul NoteFind albums on this label. The set includes five albums he recorded as a leader or co-leader, one each in a duo, trio and quartet settings and two with his all saxophone sextet.
Best known as the founder of the World Saxophone QuartetFind albums by this artist, Hemphill was also a prolific recording artist on his own, with an impressive list of albums to his credit. The albums recorded here present his output between mid-1970s and early 1990s, shortly before his death in 1995. He actually does not play on the second sextet album due to ill health, but is listed as composer and conductor. These recordings are all excellent examples of his work, which concentrates on Free Jazz and Improvised Music, executed by a group of players mostly belonging to the New York´s Free Jazz community, which kept the tradition of Free Jazz alive and kicking.
The list of the players present on these recordings reads like the Who´s Who of the American Avant-Garde scene and includes trumpeter Olu DaraFind albums by this artist, saxophonists Marty EhrlichFind albums by this artist, Carl GrubbsFind albums by this artist, James CarterFind albums by this artist, Andrew WhiteFind albums by this artist, Sam FurnaceFind albums by this artist and Fred HoFind albums by this artist, cellist Abdul WadudFind albums by this artist and drummers Don MoyeFind albums by this artist (Art Ensemble Of ChicagoFind albums by this artist) and the legendary Warren SmithFind albums by this artist. The music is completely free spirited and very interesting, which connoisseurs of Free Jazz will find obviously fascinating, but others might find quite difficult. In any case in retrospect this is an important document of the American Free Jazz movement, which deserves to be preserved for posterity and which should serve as a source if inspiration to the young generation of contemporary Free Jazz artists.
Remastered, mini-sleeved, and with a great bargain price – this Box Set an absolute must for any serious Jazz collector.
Side Note
The Italian independent record label Black SaintFind albums on this label was founded by the music critic / author / producer Giacomo PellicciottiFind albums by this artist in 1975. It was taken over by the producer Giovanni BonandriniFind albums by this artist in 1978 and a year later (1979) a sister label, called Soul NoteFind albums on this label, was established. The twin labels were run by Giovanni and later his son Flavio BonandriniFind albums by this artist, until they were sold in 2008 to the Italian KEPACH Music Group, which already owned the CAM JazzFind albums on this label label, and which also bought another Italian independent record label Dischi Della QuerciaFind albums on this label.
The mission of the Black Saint / Soul Note labels was to record and document the Free Jazz / Improvised Music / Avant-Garde scene, mostly from the US but also from Europe, which continued between mid 1970s and late 1990s and produced a staggering collection of almost 550 albums recorded by world's most important Jazz innovators active at the time, providing an opportunity to American (mostly Afro-American) musicians, who would have never managed to make these recordings at home, ridden by racism, alienation and closed-mindedness. Without these two labels most of this fantastic human creativity would have been never documented.
However, the Black Saint / Soul Note Box Sets produced under the CAM JazzFind albums on this label moniker are an archetypal example of how good intentions turn sour. Although these new editions often bring back to life some of the best music ever made on this planet, which in many cases has been lost in the tides of time and was unavailable on the market for ages, they suffer from an unforgivable disregard to the essence of cultural values and general sloppiness, contrary to human decency, which requires us to treat our cultural legacy with respect and loyalty.
These Box Sets have no booklet which presents researched historical background and exact discographical information of the albums included, and most importantly an overview of the music and its meaning and contribution to the Jazz Art form. Although the original LP sleeves are reproduced, the information is in most cases too small to be readable at all. In short the fact that these Box Sets are meant to be inexpensive, does not mean that they have to be cheap!
| | Updated: 12/04/2020Posted: | CD 5 Mini-Sleeve Box Set Remastered Recommend To A Friend |
  | MURRAY / OLES / OLES ~ CIRCLES LIVE IN CRACOW
NOT TWO 749 ~ POLAND ~ Jazz
Recorded: 2003 Released: 2003
This is a live recording by a trio comprising of American saxophonist / clarinetist David MurrayFind albums by this artist and a Polish rhythm section: bassist Marcin OlesFind albums by this artist and drummer Bartlomiej OlesFind albums by this artist (collectively know as Oles BrothersFind albums by this artist). They perform seven pieces, six of which are original compositions (four by Bartlomiej Oles and one each by Marcin Oles and Murray) and one is a composition by Ornette ColemanFind albums by this artist.
Murray, one of the pillars of American Free Jazz / Improvised Music and the founding member of the World Saxophone QuartetFind albums by this artist, is obviously one of the most interesting, albeit atypical, figures originating on the American scene. He discovered the strength of the European Jazz scene rather early and performed and recorded extensively in Europe over the years, eventually moving to live in Europe.
The music presents a rather unusual situation where the world-famous guest Artist agrees to perform music mostly composed by his younger partners, which of course testifies both as to Murray´s open-mindedness and the strength of the music of Oles Brothers. The music itself, although based on composed themes, is very open and spacey, as appropriate for modern Jazz. It floats and flirts with Free Jazz, but remains ultimately structured and coherent, which makes it a wonderful listening experience.
Although Murray is obviously the central soloist on this album, there is plenty of soloing by the bass and the drums, which explains why the Oles Brothers were considered already at the time, relatively early in their career, as the best Polish Jazz rhythm section, a position they still steadfastly hold to this very day.
The level of interplay between the musicians on this album and the overall intensity of the performances can easily serve as a proof that the inferiority complex many of European Jazz musicians suffer from in relation to their American colleagues is completely baseless and absurd.
| | Updated: 27/01/2017Posted: 27/01/2017 | CD 1 Mini-Sleeve Recommend To A Friend |
  | DAVID MURRAY ~ THE COMPLETE REMASTERED RECORDINGS ON BLACK SAINT & SOUL NOTE
CAM JAZZ 1010 (Barcode: 8052405140067) ~ USA ~ Jazz
Recorded: 1980 - 1987 Released: 2011
This superb Box Set collects all the albums recorded by the legendary American reedman / composer David MurrayFind albums by this artist octets on the twin Italian independent labels: Black SaintFind albums on this label and Soul NoteFind albums on this label. Murray needs no introduction to any serious Jazz connoisseur; suffice to say that his prolific output as a founding member of the World Saxophone QuartetFind albums by this artist and his many ensembles are some of the most important and highly regarded Jazz recordings. The musicians playing on these five albums include: saxophonist Henry ThreadgillFind albums by this artist, pianist Anthony DavisFind albums by this artist, bassist Wilbur NorrisFind albums by this artist, drummer Steve McCallFind albums by this artist and many others. Remastered, mini-sleeved, and with a great bargain price – this Box Set an absolute must for any serious Jazz collector.
Side Note
The Italian independent record label Black SaintFind albums on this label was founded by the music critic / author / producer Giacomo PellicciottiFind albums by this artist in 1975. It was taken over by the producer Giovanni BonandriniFind albums by this artist in 1978 and a year later (1979) a sister label, called Soul NoteFind albums on this label, was established. The twin labels were run by Giovanni and later his son Flavio BonandriniFind albums by this artist, until they were sold in 2008 to the Italian KEPACH Music Group, which already owned the CAM JazzFind albums on this label label, and which also bought another Italian independent record label Dischi Della QuerciaFind albums on this label.
The mission of the Black Saint / Soul Note labels was to record and document the Free Jazz / Improvised Music / Avant-Garde scene, mostly from the US but also from Europe, which continued between mid 1970s and late 1990s and produced a staggering collection of almost 550 albums recorded by world's most important Jazz innovators active at the time, providing an opportunity to American (mostly Afro-American) musicians, who would have never managed to make these recordings at home, ridden by racism, alienation and closed-mindedness. Without these two labels most of this fantastic human creativity would have been never documented.
However, the Black Saint / Soul Note Box Sets produced under the CAM JazzFind albums on this label moniker are an archetypal example of how good intentions turn sour. Although these new editions often bring back to life some of the best music ever made on this planet, which in many cases has been lost in the tides of time and was unavailable on the market for ages, they suffer from an unforgivable disregard to the essence of cultural values and general sloppiness, contrary to human decency, which requires us to treat our cultural legacy with respect and loyalty.
These Box Sets have no booklet which presents researched historical background and exact discographical information of the albums included, and most importantly an overview of the music and its meaning and contribution to the Jazz Art form. Although the original LP sleeves are reproduced, the information is in most cases too small to be readable at all. In short the fact that these Box Sets are meant to be inexpensive, does not mean that they have to be cheap!
| | Updated: 12/04/2020Posted: | CD 5 Mini-Sleeve Box Set Remastered Recommend To A Friend |
  | WORLD SAXOPHONE QUARTET ~ THE COMPLETE REMASTERED RECORDINGS ON BLACK SAINT & SOUL NOTE
CAM JAZZ 1015 (Barcode: 8052405140418) ~ USA ~ Jazz
Recorded: 1979 - 1993 Released: 2012
This superb Box Set collects all the albums recorded by the legendary American ensemble World Saxophone QuartetFind albums by this artist on the twin Italian independent labels: Black SaintFind albums on this label and Soul NoteFind albums on this label. The ensemble comprised of saxophonists / composers Hamiet BluiettFind albums by this artist, Julius HemphillFind albums by this artist, Oliver LakeFind albums by this artist and David MurrayFind albums by this artist. In 1989 Hemphill left due to illness and was replaced by several players over the years, with James SpauldingFind albums by this artist and Eric PersonFind albums by this artist playing on the last album included here. The ensemble needs no introduction to any serious Jazz connoisseur; suffice to say that their prolific output includes some of the most interesting Free Jazz and Jazz-World Fusion recordings. The music included here includes the early recordings by the ensemble, which presents the crystallization process of their revolutionary approach to group and individual improvisation, incorporating elements of Funk, African Music and of course the Jazz tradition. All the members of the quartet were also active as leaders of their respective groups over the years and their collective legacy is very impressive both in quality and quantity. Remastered, mini-sleeved, and with a great bargain price – this Box Set an absolute must for any serious Jazz collector.
Side Note
The Italian independent record label Black SaintFind albums on this label was founded by the music critic / author / producer Giacomo PellicciottiFind albums by this artist in 1975. It was taken over by the producer Giovanni BonandriniFind albums by this artist in 1978 and a year later (1979) a sister label, called Soul NoteFind albums on this label, was established. The twin labels were run by Giovanni and later his son Flavio BonandriniFind albums by this artist, until they were sold in 2008 to the Italian KEPACH Music Group, which already owned the CAM JazzFind albums on this label label, and which also bought another Italian independent record label Dischi Della QuerciaFind albums on this label.
The mission of the Black Saint / Soul Note labels was to record and document the Free Jazz / Improvised Music / Avant-Garde scene, mostly from the US but also from Europe, which continued between mid 1970s and late 1990s and produced a staggering collection of almost 550 albums recorded by world's most important Jazz innovators active at the time, providing an opportunity to American (mostly Afro-American) musicians, who would have never managed to make these recordings at home, ridden by racism, alienation and closed-mindedness. Without these two labels most of this fantastic human creativity would have been never documented.
However, the Black Saint / Soul Note Box Sets produced under the CAM JazzFind albums on this label moniker are an archetypal example of how good intentions turn sour. Although these new editions often bring back to life some of the best music ever made on this planet, which in many cases has been lost in the tides of time and was unavailable on the market for ages, they suffer from an unforgivable disregard to the essence of cultural values and general sloppiness, contrary to human decency, which requires us to treat our cultural legacy with respect and loyalty.
These Box Sets have no booklet which presents researched historical background and exact discographical information of the albums included, and most importantly an overview of the music and its meaning and contribution to the Jazz Art form. Although the original LP sleeves are reproduced, the information is in most cases too small to be readable at all. In short the fact that these Box Sets are meant to be inexpensive, does not mean that they have to be cheap!
| | Updated: 12/04/2020Posted: | CD 6 Mini-Sleeve Box Set Remastered Recommend To A Friend |
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