Record Reviews

BRECKER BROTHERS ~ ORIGINAL ALBUM CLASSICS ARISTA 56377 (Barcode: 886975637720) ~ USA ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 1975 - 1981 Released: 2009 This great Box Set includes five original albums released on the AristaFind albums on this label label and recorded between 1975 and 1981 by the great Jazz-Funk group The Brecker BrothersFind albums by this artist, led by trumpeter Randy BreckerFind albums by this artist and saxophonist Michael BreckerFind albums by this artist, which single-handedly defined the Jazz-Funk sub-genre and played brilliantly: "The Brecker BrothersFind albums with this title", "Don`t Stop The MusicFind albums with this title", "Heavy Metal Be-BopFind albums with this title", "DetenteFind albums with this title" and "Straphangin`Find albums with this title". The albums are remastered and packaged in album replicas (mini-sleeves), housed in a cardboard box, and with the price tag of a double album this is a tremendous bargain as well. Essential!

Updated: 26/01/2019Posted:

CD 5 Mini-Sleeve Box Set Remastered Essential Recommend To A Friend

PIERRE MOERLEN / GONG ~ DOWNWIND ESOTERIC 2235 (Barcode: 5013929733527) ~ FRANCE ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 1979 Released: 2010 This is the 1st album by the band GongFind albums by this artist released on the AristaFind albums on this label label, which has musically almost nothing to do with the original band of the same name, after it was turned into a Jazz-Rock outfit by the then leader of the band, the French drummer Pierre MoerlenFind albums by this artist. Nevertheless, this incarnation of the band played some excellent music and was an important representative of the European Fusion movement and featured often some of the best players, mostly British and French ones. This album features such excellent players as violinist Didier LockwoodFind albums by this artist, guitarists Mike OldfieldFind albums by this artist and Mick TaylorFind albums by this artist, saxophonist Didier MalherbeFind albums by this artist, bassist Hansford RoweFind albums by this artist and many others. The music is quite excellent all way through and any Prog / Fusion fan should have a field day with this stuff, which remains vital and challenging many years later. Warmly recommended!

CD 1 Oversampling Remastered Recommend To A Friend

PIERRE MOERLEN / GONG ~ TIME IS THE KEY ESOTERIC 2236 (Barcode: 5013929733626) ~ FRANCE ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 1979 Released: 2010 This is the 2nd album by the band GongFind albums by this artist released on the AristaFind albums on this label label, which has musically almost nothing to do with the original band of the same name, after it was turned into a Jazz-Rock outfit by the then leader of the band, the French drummer Pierre MoerlenFind albums by this artist. Nevertheless, this incarnation of the band played some excellent music and was an important representative of the European Fusion movement and featured often some of the best players, mostly British and French ones. This album features such excellent players as keyboardist Peter LemerFind albums by this artist, bassist Hansford RoweFind albums by this artist and many others. The music is quite excellent all way through and any Prog / Fusion fan should have a field day with this stuff, which remains vital and challenging many years later. Warmly recommended!

CD 1 Oversampling Remastered Recommend To A Friend

PIERRE MOERLEN / GONG ~ LEAVE IT OPEN ESOTERIC 2250 (Barcode: 5013929735026) ~ FRANCE ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 1980 Released: 2011 This is the 4th and last album by the band GongFind albums by this artist released on the AristaFind albums on this label label, which has musically almost nothing to do with the original band of the same name, after it was turned into a Jazz-Rock outfit by the then leader of the band, the French drummer Pierre MoerlenFind albums by this artist. Nevertheless, this incarnation of the band played some excellent music and was an important representative of the European Fusion movement and featured often some of the best players, mostly British and French ones. This album features such excellent players as vibraphonist Francois CausseFind albums by this artist, guitarists Bon LozagaFind albums by this artist, saxophonist Charlie MarianoFind albums by this artist, bassist Hansford RoweFind albums by this artist and many others. The music is quite excellent all way through and any Prog / Fusion fan should have a field day with this stuff, which remains vital and challenging many years later. Warmly recommended!

CD 1 Oversampling Remastered Recommend To A Friend

PIERRE MOERLEN / GONG ~ LIVE ESOTERIC 2251 (Barcode: 5013929735125) ~ FRANCE ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 1979 Released: 2011 This is the 3rd album by the band GongFind albums by this artist released on the AristaFind albums on this label label, which has musically almost nothing to do with the original band of the same name, after it was turned into a Jazz-Rock outfit by the then leader of the band, the French drummer Pierre MoerlenFind albums by this artist. Nevertheless, this incarnation of the band played some excellent music and was an important representative of the European Fusion movement and featured often some of the best players, mostly British and French ones. This album features such excellent players as vibraphonist Benoit MoerlenFind albums by this artist (Pierre´s brother), guitarists Bon LozagaFind albums by this artist, saxophonist Didier MalherbeFind albums by this artist, bassist Hansford RoweFind albums by this artist and many others. The music is quite excellent all way through and any Prog / Fusion fan should have a field day with this stuff, which remains vital and challenging many years later. Warmly recommended!

CD 1 Oversampling Remastered Recommend To A Friend

MICHAL URBANIAK ~ BODY ENGLISH UBX 1017 (Barcode: 5099902839325) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Rock-World Fusion Recorded: 1976 Released: 2014 This is a reissue of the only album by Polish Jazz violinist / composer Michal UrbaniakFind albums by this artist released originally on the AristaFind albums on this label label in 1976. Following Urbaniak´s departure from ColumbiaFind albums on this label after recording three albums for the label, he released just one album on the AtlanticFind albums on this label label in 1975 with a group called Funk FactoryFind albums by this artist (not bearing his name for contractual reasons) and moved on to Arista. The team that recorded the album included also his wife at the time, vocalist Urszula DudziakFind albums by this artist and excellent young American players: keyboardist Harold WilliamsFind albums by this artist, guitarist Joe CaroFind albums by this artist, bassist Basil FearringtonFind albums by this artist and drummer Steve JordanFind albums by this artist and a few guests. The album presents nine original compositions, all by Urbaniak. Musically the album continues the direction of the Columbia and Atlantic albums, offering a unique blend of Jazz-Rock Fusion, which includes strong Polish Folklore influences in its melodic motifs. The sound is much more influenced by synthesizers than on any of the previous albums and Dudziak´s voice is much less prominent, but the stylistic similarity is consistent and easily recognizable. Urbaniak´s ability to combine Funk, Groove, Fusion and World Music influences set him apart from his contemporaries and in retrospect this album still sounds refreshing and fascinating. The most intriguing aspect of this and the earlier albums mentioned above is the fact that Urbaniak, who arrived in the US just a short while ago, is more genuinely Funky, Groovy and Swinging than any of his US contemporaries, paving the way for Jazz-World Fusion more boldly than the "natives". As such he surely deserves the credit and appreciation for his innovative spirit. For Funk and Fusion fans, this is an absolute must, a timeless album that keeps kicking the butt as forcefully as it at the time of its release over four decades ago.

Updated: 13/09/2019Posted: 11/09/2019

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend