Record Reviews

OLEJNICZAK / SENDECKI EUROPEAN QUARTET ~ BIRTHDAY LIVE #2 BLUE NOTE ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2012 Released: 2013 This is a live recording at the Blue Note Poznan Jazz club, celebrating the club´s fourteenth Anniversary, by a wonderful quartet led by two extraordinary Polish Jazz heroes: saxophonist Andrzej OlejniczakFind albums by this artist and pianist Wladyslaw SendeckiFind albums by this artist, with French bassist Laurent VernereyFind albums by this artist and British drummer Mark MondesirFind albums by this artist. Olejniczak and Sendecki share some of the glory days of the Polish Jazz in the 1970s, when they were both members of the legendary Extra BallFind albums by this artist ensemble and founders of the no less legendary Sun ShipFind albums by this artist ensemble. Both living now outside of Poland (Olejniczak in Spain and Sendecki in Germany) they are still an integral part of the Polish Jazz phenomenon, as this album proves beyond any doubt. The album includes seven pieces, two each by Olejniczak, Sendecki and Krzysztof KomedaFind albums by this artist and the remaining one being a folk tune arranged by Sendecki. The members of this quartet are some of the finest European Jazz musicians and the resulting album is simply exceptional in every respect. The music is all excellent from start to finish, modern full-fledged and highly spirited Jazz with numerous superb solo spots and an exceptional live ambience, which happens only rarely. It is obvious that everybody had a wonderful time and the musicians are simply giving everything they have, sharing, supporting and challenging each other constantly in perfect harmony and with telepathic thoughtfulness. Although the two soloists are naturally in the center of attention, one must immediately recognize the incredible role of the outstanding rhythm section, which stands shoulder to shoulder with the soloists at all times. The saxophone and piano solos are all sensational and there is no exaggeration whatsoever in that statement. In many respects these performances are absolute classics, which should be taught at music schools as examples of what real Jazz is all about, especially European Jazz, as this is, again in many respects, a revelation of the European elegance and sophistication that makes all the difference. This music is completely devoid of ego trips and attempts to prove who can play faster or louder or prettier, it is simply a perfect teamwork, which is always the ground upon great Jazz music is firmly based. The last tune on the album is dedicated to the memory of the great Polish Jazz bassist Zbigniew WegehauptFind albums by this artist, who was not only a friend of the Polish musicians but also a dear personal friend of mine and whose tragic and premature death left a scar in the hearts of all of us. There is not much more that needs to be said here, except for Gracias, Danke, Merci, Thanks and of course Dziekuje to all the people involved for this heartbreakingly beautiful music.

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

RAINING PLEASURE ~ REFLECTIONS: MUSIC BY MANOS HADJIDAKIS BLUE NOTE 311536 (Barcode: 094631153624) ~ GREECE ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 2004 - 2005 Anybody our there remembers the legendary 1969 album Reflections: Music By Manos HadjidakisFind albums with this title by the New York Rock And Roll EnsembleFind albums by this artist? If you do, you surely appreciate how revolutionary and pioneering it was at the time. Manos HadjidakisFind albums by this artist cooperated with a group of young Rock musicians and composed a cycle of songs called “Reflections” (with English lyrics) especially for them. The resulting album created quite a sensation at the time and became a cult album in the years to follow. Hadjidakis was of course the greatest 20th century Greek composer who at that time was a political exile in the US (between 1966 and 1972), as were many other Greek intellectuals and artists who opposed the military dictatorship in their native country. In 1993 Hadjidakis re-recorded “Reflections”, this time with Greek lyrics. Raining PleasureFind albums by this artist, the most prominent and ambitious Rock group in Greece since the mid-1990’s re-recorded “Reflections” yet again in late 2004 / early 2005 with the original English lyrics again, but with much richer and profound instrumental arrangements, developing it into a full-blown Prog masterpiece. Featuring the Mellotron as the main instrument, this is a beautiful and sensitive piece of musical artistry. The original music by Hadjidakis remains as profoundly moving as it ever was, but the modern treatment takes it into new musical vistas, proving that the music is absolutely timeless. Anybody with a well-developed taste for quality will enjoy this masterpiece immensely, regardless of his / hers cultural background, as this music is definitely beyond any boundaries.

Updated: 01/06/2018Posted:

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

CHICK COREA ~ NOW HE SINGS, NOW HE SOBS BLUE NOTE 38265 (Barcode: 724353826529) ~ USA ~ Jazz Recorded: 1968 Released: 2002 The Blue NoteFind albums on this label reissue of the 2nd Chick CoreaFind albums by this artist album as a leader recorded just weeks before he joined the Miles DavisFind albums by this artist` group. This is the complete session (13 tracks) as opposed to the original LP which had only 5 tunes on it. Chick`s trio includes the brilliant Czech bassist Miroslav VitousFind albums by this artist and the veteran master drummer Roy HaynesFind albums by this artist. This strong rhythm session enables Chick to stretch out and play his heart out like never before. He moves between tightly structured pieces and more free oriented ones, always playing superbly. 11 of the 13 tunes are composed by Chick, 1 by Thelonius MonkFind albums by this artist and only 1 is a standard. This is some of the best American jazz of that period and a classic!

CD 1 Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend

CHICK COREA ~ THE COMPLETE `IS` SESSIONS BLUE NOTE 40532 (Barcode: 724354053221) ~ USA ~ Jazz Recorded: 1969 Released: 2002 The Blue Note reissue of the 3rd Chick Corea album "Is". These 1969 sessions were recorded shortly after Chick CoreaFind albums by this artist joined the Miles DavisFind albums by this artist ensemble, replacing Herbie HancockFind albums by this artist, and just in time to participate in the musical revolution Miles was conducting at that time (with Bitches BrewFind albums with this title to be recorded soon). Chick would play some of the most intensive music ever recorded with Miles, often in a keyboards threesome (with Joe ZawinulFind albums by this artist & Keith JarrettFind albums by this artist). He took two of the Miles’ players with him to take part in this recording: Dave HollandFind albums by this artist (bass) and Jack DeJohnetteFind albums by this artist (drums) – one of the finest rhythm sections ever. The rest of the players were Chick’s companions from the past: Hubert LawsFind albums by this artist (flute), Bennie MaupinFind albums by this artist (tenor sax – he of course came to fame later playing in Herbie Hancock’s groups – who was omitted from the album’s credits due to record companies’ contractual bullshit), Woody ShawFind albums by this artist (trumpet) and a second drummer Horace ArnoldFind albums by this artist. The line-up collects some of the most talented cats on the scene at the time, and the resulting music does not disappoint.

CD 2 Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend

AGA ZARYAN ~ A BOOK OF LUMINOUS THINGS BLUE NOTE 5099908449825 (Barcode: 5099908449825) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz & Poetry Recorded: 2011 Released: 2011 This is the 6th album by Polish Jazz vocalist Aga ZaryanFind albums by this artist and her second release on the legendary Blue NoteFind albums on this label label (she is the first Polish Jazz artist to release albums on that label, and so far the only one, which is altogether disheartening, considering the level of musical artistry readily available in Poland). Any reference to this album as yet another vocal Jazz release would be completely off the track. This is much more than just one more vocal Jazz album; it is an artistic statement, which encompasses different Art disciplines – in this case music and poetry – amalgamating them into an aesthetic whole, which becomes more than the sum of its parts. This kind of (music & poetry) format, which has an established tradition on the Polish cultural scene, continues the superb Jazz & Poetry movement, which has its roots more that half a century ago in the Beat generation. Zaryan created this concept work around the works of Polish Nobel laureate, poet Czeslaw MiloszFind albums by this artist, and three poetesses, which Milosz admired. Of the twelve songs presented on this recording, six are based on poems by Milosz and the other six are by the three poetesses, each with two poems. To complicate things a bit further, all the texts are in English, although most were written originally in Polish. Milosz, who lived in the US since 1960, firmly believed that he should write poetry only in his Mother tongue (i.e. Polish), and only later translated his own poems into English. He also translated the poems by the Polish poetess Anna SwirszczynskaFind albums by this artist. The other two poetesses: British-born American Denise LevertovFind albums by this artist and American Jane HirshfieldFind albums by this artist wrote their poems in English of course. As to the music, the list of credits is no less impressive. The basic tracks were recorded in a quartet format with musicians, who cooperated with Zaryan on earlier recordings: pianist / composer Michal TokajFind albums by this artist, who also composed almost all the music, guitarist Larry KoonseFind albums by this artist, bassist Darek OleszkiewiczFind albums by this artist and percussionist Munyungo JacksonFind albums by this artist. The basic tracks were then ornamented by rich orchestral arrangements, written by Tokaj and performed by the Polish Radio String Orchestra, which was directed by another Polish Jazz celebrity, pianist / composer Krzysztof HerdzinFind albums by this artist. If all this is not confusing enough, the basic tracks were recorded in the US and the orchestra in Poland. But what really counts is of course the final result, and in this case in spite of the intellectual complexity looming in the background and the musical intricacy involved, the overall result is a delicate, almost reserved and unpretentious little gem of an album. There is nothing flashy and overbearing here, just an intimate dialogue between Zaryan, her cohorts and the listener. Yes, it takes some effort to plunge deep beneath the surface and yes it takes a few listening sessions to discover some of those wonderful details veiled behind the sounds. I´d be surprised if Zaryan would´ve wanted it any other way; after all subtlety and modesty were always her distinctive gifts. Her vocal performances here, mystical and sensuous, reveal her struggle with the lyrical content, which is often devilishly convoluted. Yet everything sounds seemingly effortless and natural, as if no sweat was spilled in the process. These are true star qualities, in the best possible meaning of the idiom and in complete contrast to what are commonly conceived as star qualities these days. Although the album does not break and new musical ground, it certainly manages to create a unique atmosphere and climate, proving once more that intelligent, meaningful and non-trivial music combined with an obvious love and conviction leading the Artist are the essential ingredients needed to create true Art. Zaryan´s Polish listeners will probably impatiently await the Polish language version of this album, which should be available very soon, but it is this version which might bring some listeners in Europe and the US closer to the treasures of the Polish Cultural Heritage, which unfortunately remains mostly completely unknown beyond its own ghetto. Thank you Aga for your vision and conviction: chapeau! kudos! and respect!

Updated: 01/01/2016Posted:

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

AGA ZARYAN ~ MY LULLABY BLUE NOTE 5099909494220 (Barcode: 5099909494220) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2001 Released: 2010 This is the debut album by the undeniable present-day diva of Polish Jazz, vocalist Aga ZaryanFind albums by this artist. Recorded over a decade ago, when Zaryan was completely anonymous, it exhibits for the first time an outstanding talent, fresh and innocent on one hand and remarkably mature and daring on the other. Backed up by a classic Jazz quartet, Zaryan performs ten standards, which were arranged by pianist Michal TokajFind albums by this artist. The other quartet members are veteran Polish Jazz saxophonist Tomasz SzukalskiFind albums by this artist, bassist extraordinaire Darek OleszkiewiczFind albums by this artist and drummer Lukasz ZytaFind albums by this artist. The fact that Zaryan received her primary school education in UK enables her to sing in English, free from a foreign accent, which often annoys English-speaking audiences. But the lack of a foreign accent is by far not what is so remarkable about this album. It is the choice of material and the highly personal interpretation of the songs, which is strikingly original and aesthetically pleasing. She is able to twist and turn the familiar tunes around her small finger so to speak, with ease and elegance which is simply charming and highly sophisticated. Another forte of the album is Zaryan´s extraordinary rapport with the quartet members, especially with bass player Darek Oleszkiewicz. Several of the tunes are by and large duets between the vocals and the bass and those are simply breathtaking. Szukalski is an ideal partner as well, constructing concise but wonderfully structured solos, always brilliantly complimenting the music. The entire quartet does a truly beautiful job, supporting the singer without overshadowing her for even a single moment. Such wonderful balance between a vocalist and her group is extremely rare and contributes immensely to the overall success of this recording. In retrospect one can easily hear all the elements, which over time amalgamated into present day Aga Zaryan and her outstanding abilities. This debut album remains a timeless beauty and a favorite album, which I intend to revisit time and again. Extraordinary! Side Note: This album was originally recorded in Warsaw in 2001 and released in 2002 on an independent label. This version of the album is a 2007 remaster, released on Blue NoteFind albums on this label in 2010, after the legendary Jazz label signed Aga Zaryan as the first Polish Jazz artist in its roster. The sound quality is simply marvelous!

CD 1 Digipak Remastered Recommend To A Friend

AGA ZARYAN ~ PICKING UP THE PIECES BLUE NOTE 5099909494329 (Barcode: 5099909494329) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2006 Released: 2010 This is the 2nd album by the undeniable present-day diva of Polish Jazz, vocalist Aga ZaryanFind albums by this artist. Recorded almost five years after the debut album, which is an agonizingly long break especially in the initial stage of her career, the album is both a conceptual continuation of the debut and a giant step in her artistic development. The eleven tracks are again predominantly standards with just two originals: one by guitarist Larry KoonseFind albums by this artist with lyrics by Zaryan and the other by bassist Darek OleszkiewiczFind albums by this artist. Koonse and Oleszkiewicz are the main accompanying musicians with percussionist Munyungo JacksonFind albums by this artist and cornet player Nolan ShaheedFind albums by this artist contributing on some tracks. Musically the album is much more challenging than the debut, especially in view of the fact that Zaryan gives up the security of the usual piano-led quartet as her support group and presents mostly a series of intimate duets with the bassist or the guitarist or trios with both of them present. As already mentioned, only a few tracks are further ornamented with percussion or cornet sounds. Her rapport and affinity with her cohorts is absolutely stunning and deeply moving, being examples of the rare intimacy and telepathic musical cooperation like that of pianist Bill EvansFind albums by this artist and bassist Scott LaFaroFind albums by this artist. The overall relaxed and intimate atmosphere hides of course a multitude of exquisite instants of sheer musical joy and there are absolutely no dull moments here from start to finish. One can hardly decide what to savor first: the beauty of the music, the sophistication of simplicity, the twists and idiosyncrasies, the elegance or the charm. Whichever way one looks at this music, it is utterly fascinating without a trace of being a cliché or a déjà vu. In retrospect this is definitely a milestone recording in the history of contemporary Polish Jazz music and Aga Zaryan´s illustrious career so far. It remains a timeless beauty and a favorite album, which I intend to revisit time and again. Extraordinary! Side Note: This album was originally recorded in Los Angeles in 2006 and released the same year on an independent label. This version of the album is released on Blue NoteFind albums on this label in 2010, after the legendary Jazz label signed Aga Zaryan as the first Polish Jazz artist in its roster. The sound quality is simply marvelous!

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

AGA ZARYAN ~ LOOKING WALKING BEING BLUE NOTE 5099963139020 (Barcode: 5099963139020) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2008 - 2009 Released: 2010 This is the 5th album by Polish Jazz vocalist Aga ZaryanFind albums by this artist and her first release on the legendary Blue NoteFind albums on this label label, a first ever by a Polish artist. This album marks a new stage in Zaryan´s career, characterized by performing original material especially composed for her by pianist / composer Michal TokajFind albums by this artist (six of the twelve songs on the album) and Czech guitarist / composer David DoruzkaFind albums by this artist (four songs), both actively playing on this album. One additional song was composed by guitarist / composer Larry KoonseFind albums by this artist, who accompanied Zaryan on her earlier recordings and another one is by the great and sadly recently departed Polish bassist / composer Zbigniew WegehauptFind albums by this artist. Apart from Tokaj and Doruzka the other accompanying musicians include bassist Michal BaranskiFind albums by this artist, drummer Lukasz ZytaFind albums by this artist and percussionist Munyungo JacksonFind albums by this artist. Zaryan also takes charge of writing the lyrics for seven of the album´s songs with the remaining five being poems by the marvelous British-born American poetess Denise LevertovFind albums by this artist. The lyricism of Zaryan´s texts and the intricacy of Levertov´s modern and deeply moving poetry give the album a clear artistic direction, which draws from the beautiful tradition of combining music and poetry, especially the Jazz & Poetry movement, which flourished in the 1960s. The music is a perfect match to the complex lyrics, fluidly and gently carrying the singer´s words on the waves of sound. It is mostly lyrical as well, reflective and introvert, but energetic enough to prevent an overall morose atmosphere, which many "serious" musical projects suffer from. Obviously this kind of music requires serious and repetitive listening to uncover its complex content and allow intimate contact, but its obvious beauty is quite obvious from the very first exposure to it. This is both intellectual and emotional music, a rare quality indeed, especially these days. Zaryan´s performances as well as the accompaniment are both an absolute bliss. As usual she cooperates with her musicians on levels rarely achieved elsewhere, making the best of their respective talents and abilities. Doruzka, who is the main soloist, plays some of the finest guitar I´ve heard in a long time and Zaryan´s obvious love for the guitar is commendable, as most singers prefer to use the piano as the main supportive instrument. The album, which was recorded in Warsaw and Los Angeles over a period of several months, displays an overall level of musicianship and recording / production as well as sonic quality, which are simply extraordinary. There is no doubt that Zaryan and her cohorts deserve an honorable place on the Polish Jazz scene as much as being a part of world´s Jazz elite with the Blue Note as their home base. Buying this album is definitely a no brainer and I can´t imagine money better spent that this. A must!

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

BOBBY MCFERRIN ~ 5 ORIGINAL ALBUMS BLUE NOTE 600753769812 (Barcode: 600753769812) ~ USA ~ Jazz Recorded: 1986 - 2002 Released: 2018 This Box Set collects reissues of five albums by the legendary American Jazz vocalist / composer Bobby McFerrinFind albums by this artist, originally released on the Blue NoteFind albums on this label label between 1986 and 2002. They are: “Spontaneous InventionsFind albums with this title” (1986), “Simple PleasuresFind albums with this title” (1988), “Medicine MusicFind albums with this title” (1990), “Bang!ZoomFind albums with this title” (1995) and “Beyond WordsFind albums with this title” (2002). The first three albums are almost entirely solo vocals recordings, on which McFerrin showcases his extraordinary technique and unlimited artistic imagination. There is a minimal instrumental accompaniment on selected tracks, but most of the music is created by McFerrin’s vocal cords and his “body percussion”. The resulting music is entirely groundbreaking and absolutely magical. The two later albums are more “conventional” (if such word is applicable at all when talking about McFerrin), presenting the vocalist supported by some of the best Jazz musicians out there, including keyboardist Chick CoreaFind albums by this artist, drummer Omar HakimFind albums by this artist, bassist Jimmy HaslipFind albums by this artist and many others. Except for a few interpretations of music by other authors, all the music is composed and arranged by McFerrin, presenting his amazing skills as songwriter / composer / arranger. McFerrin is undoubtedly the greatest male Jazz vocalist of all time and one of the most creative, versatile and open-minded musical personalities ever on the American scene. His extensive and superbly diverse recorded legacy presents the full picture of his achievements so far, and one can never expect what else he will come up with next. He is also one of the nicest human beings I have ever had the opportunity to meet in person, which is of course not less important than his musical genius. Definitely a “Don’t worry, be happy” person, but also an exceptionally gifted human being. This music is of course beyond recommendation… Side Note The "Original Album SeriesFind albums with this title" by Warner Bros.Find albums on this label, the "Original Album ClassicsFind albums with this title" by SonyFind albums on this label, the "5 Original AlbumsFind albums with this title" by UniversalFind albums on this label, the Box Sets by RhinoFind albums on this label and other similar releases 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 for the essence of cultural values and general sloppiness, contrary to human decency, which requires as to treat our Cultural Legacy with respect and loyalty. The Box Sets produced under these monikers have no discographical information whatsoever about the lineups, musician names, composers, lyricists, dates and places of recording, original release data and even basic copyright data (the last is strictly illegal BTW). Although the original LP sleeves are reproduced, they are often edited and information (which would be in most cases too small to be readable) is removed. Most importantly these Box Sets don't include any booklet offering a historical background and perspective about the Artists and the Music, which are extremely important and vital to the preservation of our Culture and passing the knowledge to the next generations. In short the fact that these Box Sets are meant to be inexpensive, does not mean that they have to be cheap. Considering the fact how many times this music has been sold over and over again by the labels, this is a crying shame!

Updated: 21/10/2021Posted: 21/10/2021

CD 5 Mini-Sleeve Box Set Recommend To A Friend

CHARLES LLOYD ~ TRIOS: CHAPEL BLUE NOTE 602445266494 (Barcode: 602445266494) ~ USA ~ Jazz Recorded: 2018 Released: 2022 This is the first album in the series of “Trio of Trios” albums by the legendary American Jazz saxophonist / flautist / composer / bandleader Charles LloydFind albums by this artist, recorded with guitarist Bill FrisellFind albums by this artist and bassist Thomas MorganFind albums by this artist. It is a live recording. The album presents five tracks, three composed by Lloyd and two standards. One of the true “last of the Mohicans” of American Jazz, Charles Lloyd (born in 1938), remains still at his full capacity and his recording legacy keeps growing, now at his advanced age, more rapidly than during earlier periods of his life. Highly productive phases of recording for the ECMFind albums on this label label and lately for Blue NoteFind albums on this label are just exploding with creativity, vitality and aesthetic beauty, in complete disregard of his age, created often with musicians less than half his age. This album offers a highly melodic, almost romantic music, with some Bluesy tendencies, which features Lloyd playing floatingly, playfully and as always masterly, supported amicably by the guitar, played by Frisell, who records with him continuously since 2015, and the delicate bass lines by Morgan. Lloyd is undisputedly the main soloist and the lengthy tracks allow him to perform wave after wave of improvisation, which stays respectfully within the melodic and harmonic framework. It is pretty amazing to hear Lloyd in such superb form, which defies any speculations about aging musicians. His tone is still crystal clear, and the notes appear in a perfect flow, without the slightest hesitance, with the Master being in total control at all time. Overall, this is a beautiful piece of Jazz music, serene and lyrical, which flows gently and gracefully, as if time is of no substance. Of course all three albums in this series, although completely different from each other, are equally worthwhile and recommended.

Updated: 31/07/2024Posted: 31/07/2024

CD 1 Mini-Sleeve Recommend To A Friend

CHARLES LLOYD ~ TRIOS: OCEAN BLUE NOTE 602445266814 (Barcode: 602445266814) ~ USA ~ Jazz Recorded: 2020 Released: 2022 This is the second album in the series of “Trio of Trios” albums by the legendary American Jazz saxophonist / flautist / composer / bandleader Charles LloydFind albums by this artist, recorded with pianist Gerald ClaytonFind albums by this artist and guitarist Anthony WilsonFind albums by this artist. The album presents four tracks, all composed by Lloyd. One of the true “last of the Mohicans” of American Jazz, Charles Lloyd (born in 1938), remains still at his full capacity and his recording legacy keeps growing, now at his advanced age, more rapidly than during earlier periods of his life. Highly productive phases of recording for the ECMFind albums on this label label and lately for Blue NoteFind albums on this label are just exploding with creativity, vitality and aesthetic beauty, in complete disregard of his age, created often with musicians less than half his age, like Clayton on this album. This album offers a highly melodic, almost romantic music, with some Bluesy tendencies, which features Lloyd playing floatingly, playfully and as always masterly, supported amicably mostly by the piano, with the guitar being less dominant on this album. Lloyd is undisputedly the main soloist and the lengthy tracks allow him to perform wave after wave of improvisation, which stays respectfully within the melodic and harmonic framework. Clayton, as usual, keeps close to the well paved mainstream trickery, while Wilson adds some beautiful melodic layers, but they both respectfully leave the center stage to the Guru. It is pretty amazing to hear Lloyd in such superb form, which defies any speculations about aging musicians. His tone is still crystal clear, and the notes appear in a perfect flow, without the slightest hesitance, with the Master being in total control at all time. Overall, this is a beautiful piece of Jazz music, serene and lyrical, which flows gently and gracefully, as if time is of no substance. Of course all three albums in this series, although completely different from each other, are equally worthwhile and recommended.

Updated: 31/07/2024Posted: 19/02/2024

CD 1 Mini-Sleeve Recommend To A Friend

CHARLES LLOYD ~ TRIOS: SACRED THREAD BLUE NOTE 602445266876 (Barcode: 602445266876) ~ USA ~ Jazz-World Fusion Recorded: 2020 Released: 2022 This is the third album in the series of “Trio of Trios” albums by the legendary American Jazz saxophonist / flautist / composer / bandleader Charles LloydFind albums by this artist, recorded with Indian percussionist Zakir HussainFind albums by this artist and guitarist Julian LageFind albums by this artist. The album presents seven tracks, four composed by Lloyd and three by Hussein. One of the true “last of the Mohicans” of American Jazz, Charles Lloyd (born in 1938), remains still at his full capacity and his recording legacy keeps growing, now at his advanced age, more rapidly than during earlier periods of his life. Highly productive phases of recording for the ECMFind albums on this label labels and lately for Blue NoteFind albums by this artist are just exploding with creativity, vitality and aesthetic beauty, in complete disregard of his age, created often with musicians less than half his age, like Lage on this album. This album offers a highly spiritual music, mostly a Jazz-World Fusion oriented pieces, strongly influenced by Indian scales and rhythms, with strong presence of the masterly performances by Hussein, who plays a very central role in this trio. Listeners familiar with Hussein’s contribution to Jazz music over the year will be hardly surprised, but the album is certainly very different from what is usually expected from Lloyd, who plays mostly flute and tárogató (Hungarian wind instrument) and Hussain sings extensive vocal parts. Overall, this is a beautiful piece of Jazz-World Fusion music, serene and contemplative, which requires patience and open-mindedness, but is certainly highly rewarding. Of course all three albums in this series are equally worthwhile and recommended.

Updated: 18/01/2024Posted: 18/01/2024

CD 1 Mini-Sleeve Recommend To A Friend

CHARLES LLOYD ~ THE SKY WILL STILL BE THERE TOMORROW BLUE NOTE 602458167948 (Barcode: 602458167948) ~ USA ~ Jazz Recorded: 2023 Released: 2024 This is a 2CD album by the iconic American saxophonist / flautist / composer Charles LloydFind albums by this artist, recorded in a classic quartet setting with pianist Jason MoranFind albums by this artist, bassist Larry GrenadierFind albums by this artist and drummer Brian BladeFind albums by this artist. The album presents fifteen tracks, all of which are original compositions by Lloyd or his arrangements of traditional tunes. The music is absolutely Divine, from start to finish, full of gentle melodies, heartbreaking melancholy and uplifting love. Lloyd’s heartfelt liner notes on the album’s cover say it all, summarizing his life in music. The last of the Great American Jazz Mohicans is still here with us, sharing with us a sublime bouquet of new and old compositions, for which we are grateful. The three companions playing alongside Lloyd are perfect for this album, and although this is the first time Blade is playing with Lloyd, the affinity and respect are all in place. Lloyd seems to be completely ageless on this album. Ignoring the tide of time, he is as creative, technically perfect and emotionally encompassing, as musicians half his age, and more. We can only hope to hear more new music from him, as he never fails to deliver in full. Overall, this is an absolute marvel of an album, with more that ninety minutes of music that never stops to caress and excite, truly ageless and universal. It is of course an essential piece of music, which deserves an honorable place in every record collection!

Updated: 23/05/2024Posted: 23/05/2024

CD 2 Mini-Sleeve Essential Recommend To A Friend

MCCOY TYNER / JOE HENDERSON ~ FORCES OF NATURE: LIVE AT SLUGS` BLUE NOTE 602465975147 (Barcode: 602465975147) ~ USA ~ Jazz Recorded: 1966 Released: 2024 This is a live archival album by American Jazz Giants pianist McCoy TynerFind albums by this artist and saxophonist Joe HendersonFind albums by this artist, playing in a quartet setting with bassist Henry GrimesFind albums by this artist and drummer Jack DeJohnetteFind albums by this artist. The music was recorded at the NYC club Slugs’ sometime in 1966. The 2CD album presents five tracks, two of which are original compositions by Henderson, one by Tyner, another one is an improvised piece credited to all four musicians and finally one is a standard. Two of the pieces are close to thirty minutes in duration. The sound quality of the live recording is acceptable, but far from perfect. The album comes with an extensive booklet, with articles by musicians and critics, similar to the format of albums released on the ResonanceFind albums on this label label, which is not surprising since this album was produced by Zev FeldmanFind albums by this artist, the person behind Resonance. All four musicians are brilliant players of course so anything they play can’t be bad of course, but this album captures just one random night where they play just another gig, so basically there is nothing here that we have not heard a thousand times before. Tyner was not with John ColtraneFind albums by this artist anymore, but he plays as if he still is, and Henderson tries to play like Coltrane, which is not his true call. In short everybody plays a lot of notes, and I mean a lot, and the neck breaking tempo is not doing much good to the music. Of course, again, these are great musicians, just not such a great album. Overall, this is a meeting of Giants, who are somewhat confused as far as the musical direction of the music, other than playing as many notes per minute as humanly possible. For completists only IMHO, and almost all this music could have fitted on a single CD, making the cost of the album more reasonable.

Updated: 23/01/2025Posted: 23/01/2025

CD 2 Digipak Remastered Recommend To A Friend

PAOLO FRESU ~ 5 ORIGINAL ALBUMS BLUE NOTE 602557224900 (Barcode: 602557224900) ~ ITALY ~ Jazz Recorded: 2004 - 2005 Released: 2016 This Box Set collects reissues of five albums by the iconic Italian trumpeter / composer / bandleader Paolo FresuFind albums by this artist, originally released on the Blue NoteFind albums on this label label between 2005 and 2007. They are: ”KosmopolitiesFind albums with this title“, “P.A.R.T.EFind albums with this title”, “IncantamentoFind albums with this title”, “ThinkingFind albums with this title” and “Rosso, Verde, Giallo E BluFind albums with this title”. The first four albums were recorded in 2004 and the fifth in 2005 by the same quintet, which also includes saxophonist Tino TracannaFind albums by this artist, pianist Roberto CipelliFind albums by this artist, bassist Attillio ZanchiFind albums by this artist and drummer Ettore FioravantiFind albums by this artist. Each of the albums is dedicated to the music composed on one of the quintet members: Cipelli, Zanchi, Tracanna, Fioravanti and Fresu correspondingly. The music is all modern mainstream Jazz oriented, with typical Italian lyricism and highly melodic approach, which never fails to produce brilliant flow and harmony. The performances are also stellar, with Fresu playing his heart out and the quintet swinging superbly. Although Fresu recorded many excellent albums and being incredibly prolific, his recorded legacy is truly enormous. However, these quintet recordings are for me one of his best achievements. I have followed Fresu’s path since his early days and he is definitely one of my favorite Jazz trumpeters, never failing to be graceful and wonderfully creative. Overall, these five albums are absolutely wonderful and present a coherent recording project, which portrays Italian / European mainstream Jazz at its absolute best! Side Note The "Original Album SeriesFind albums with this title" by Warner Bros.Find albums on this label, the "Original Album ClassicsFind albums with this title" by SonyFind albums on this label, the "5 Original AlbumsFind albums with this title" by UniversalFind albums on this label, the Box Sets by RhinoFind albums on this label and other similar releases 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 for the essence of cultural values and general sloppiness, contrary to human decency, which requires as to treat our Cultural Legacy with respect and loyalty. The Box Sets produced under these monikers have no discographical information whatsoever about the lineups, musician names, composers, lyricists, dates and places of recording, original release data and even basic copyright data (the last is strictly illegal BTW). Although the original LP sleeves are reproduced, they are often edited and information (which would be in most cases too small to be readable) is removed. Most importantly these Box Sets don't include any booklet offering a historical background and perspective about the Artists and the Music, which are extremely important and vital to the preservation of our Culture and passing the knowledge to the next generations. In short the fact that these Box Sets are meant to be inexpensive, does not mean that they have to be cheap. Considering the fact how many times this music has been sold over and over again by the labels, this is a crying shame!

Updated: 07/04/2022Posted: 07/04/2022

CD 5 Mini-Sleeve Box Set Recommend To A Friend

DR. JOHN ~ DUKE ELEGANT BLUE NOTE 724352322022 (Barcode: 724352322022) ~ USA ~ Jazz-Pop Fusion Recorded: 1999 Released: 2000 This is the 22nd studio album by iconic American singer / keyboardist / songwriter / bandleader Dr. JohnFind albums by this artist (a.k.a. Mac RebennackFind albums by this artist), recorded in a quartet setting with guitarist Bobby BroomFind albums by this artist, bassist David BarardFind albums by this artist and drummer Herman Ernest IIIFind albums by this artist. Dr. John plays the Hammond B3 organ and piano. Saxophonist Ronnie CuberFind albums by this artist and percussionist Cyro BaptistaFind albums by this artist guest on selected tracks. The album presents twelve songs, which as the title suggests, were all written by Duke EllingtonFind albums by this artist and are all known as Jazz standards, but get here a completely unique treatment. It is his first album released on the Blue NoteFind albums on this label label. The beautiful idiosyncratic voice, keyboards playing and general attitude of Dr. John work absolutely perfectly transforming these Jazz standards into the Funky, Blues soaked, Boogie songs, and are a proof of his enormous talent. Listening to this album is one great thrill from start to finish, and the organ parts are simply delicious. Overall, this is a little hidden gem of American music, which deserves to be remembered and a lot can be learned from it about 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: 24/10/2023Posted: 19/08/2023

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

DR. JOHN ~ N`AWLINZ DIS DAT OR D`UDDA BLUE NOTE 724357860222 (Barcode: 724357860222) ~ USA ~ Jazz-Pop Fusion Recorded: 2004 Released: 2004 This is the 24th studio album by iconic American singer / keyboardist / songwriter / bandleader Dr. JohnFind albums by this artist (a.k.a. Mac RebennackFind albums by this artist), recorded in New Orleans with a huge group of guest musicians, strings and brass arrangements, choirs, etc. The album presents eighteen tracks, some original songs by Dr. John and arrangements of traditional songs and contributions by others. It is his third album released on the Blue NoteFind albums on this label label. Stylistically this album plays tribute to the New Orleans musical roots and traditions, with an emphasis on drums and rhythmic elements in that music. It spans many genres, including Gospel, Blues, Voodoo and of course Jazz and it is one of the most elaborate and diverse albums Dr. John ever recorded, proving again that he is one of America’s most talented musicians of all time. Overall, this is a hidden gem of American music, which deserves to be remembered and a lot can be learned from it about 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: 24/10/2023Posted: 24/10/2023

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

VAN MORRISON ~ WHAT`S WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE? BLUE NOTE 724359365121 (Barcode: 724359365121) ~ IRELAND ~ Classic Rock Recorded: 2002 Released: 2003 This is the 30th studio album in the vast and wonderful recorded legacy of the Northern Irish singer / songwriter Van MorrisonFind albums by this artist, which is still growing. I decided to go back and write about this album, as the COVID-19 days seem to be pushing hard for re-examination of one’s values and this is definitely one of my favorite Morrison’s albums, although I honestly love all of them. The reason is probably that this is definitely the album, which is closest to the Blues and Jazz side of Morrison, due to the superb Brass arrangements that dominate it. The album presents thirteen songs, ten of which are his originals, one is a traditional Jazz / Blues anthem arranged by Morrison, another a Blues standard to which he added some lyrics and one a British Jazz instrumental standard by veteran clarinetist Acker BilkFind albums by this artist (who plays on this track) with lyrics added by Morrison. No less than sixteen musicians (and a string section on two tracks) accompany Morrison, five of which play the superb brass arrangements, with extensive soloing, which creates a distinct Bluesy / Jazzy aura, which together with Morrison’s idiosyncratic vocals is absolutely pure magic. The Rock / Blues side of the album is represented by the unreplaceable Hammond presence and guitar soloing, rounding up the overall setting. It is nothing short of incredible to reflect upon the fact that over the years Morrison wrote hundreds of songs, with no “weak links” among them, a legacy only a very few Artists can claim. For over five decades now his songs were something one could always count on to bring nothing but joy and pleasure. For Morrison fans, who might have missed this gem, try to find a copy as it is a true treasure. Highly recommended listening for people looking for some sanity in these crazy days…

Updated: 11/11/2023Posted: 12/08/2021

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

THELONIOUS MONK ~ THE COMPLETE BLUE NOTE RECORDINGS BLUE NOTE 724383036325 (Barcode: 724383036325) ~ USA ~ Jazz Recorded: 1947 - 1958 Released: 1994 This superb Box Set contains all the music recorded by the legendary American pianist / composer Thelonious MonkFind albums by this artist for the no less legendary Blue NoteFind albums on this label label. It includes his first sessions as a leader, recorded between 1947 and 1952, a later guest appearance with Sonny RollinsFind albums by this artist (1957) and a live recording with John ColtraneFind albums by this artist (1958). This music was released originally on 78 rpm records, 10-inch LPs, 12-inch (normal) LPs and finally on CDs. This box includes the complete remastered material presented in chronological order and adds many previously unreleased bonuses and an excellent booklet with background information. This music, although recorded at the formative years of Bebop, is distinctly "different" from the Bebop "mainline" and often quite "out there", as Monk´s idiosyncratic compositions and unique playing technique made him stand out already at the very early stages of his career. Fellow musicians would often put Monk and his music in a separate niche, most of them admiring his mind-boggling and often outlandish ideas. Monk´s complete disregard of conventions and visionary approach to music is one of Jazz greatest mysteries. Today, over six decades after this music was recorded, no other musician was able to come even close to Monk´s weird note sequences and harmonies, pauses and rhythmic hiccups, long arpeggios and single notes, in short complete individuality, as rare as bird´s milk. Some even speculate as to his alien origin in lack of a better explanation of his unparalleled genius. The music comprises mostly of Monk´s original compositions, many of which were destined to become Jazz standards and some standards, which often sound quite unusual after receiving the famous Monk treatment. Monk is accompanied by some of the most iconic Jazz figures, like drummer Art BlakeyFind albums by this artist, vibraphonist Milt JacksonFind albums by this artist, trumpeter Kenny DorhamFind albums by this artist bassist Paul ChambersFind albums by this artist and many others. This box is not only full of great music but also an excellent document of Jazz history. Piano Jazz connoisseurs should definitely include this in their "must have" list, but most avid Jazz lovers will find it fascinating and even essential. Although Monk´s later output is better known, this period is by no means less significant and in many respects, especially as far as revolutionizing Jazz composition, is perhaps even more momentous. Buy or die!

Updated: 26/01/2019Posted:

CD 4 Box Set Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend

PATRYCJUSZ GRUSZECKI ~ FACES BNB 011 (Barcode: 5903714963270) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2021 Released: 2022 This is the second album by Polish Jazz trumpeter / composer Patrycjusz GruszeckiFind albums by this artist, recorded with the same trio that recorded the debut five years earlier, which includes organist Kajetan GalasFind albums by this artist and drummer Zbigniew LewandowskiFind albums by this artist. Vocalist Janusz SzromFind albums by this artist sings on one track. The album presents nine original compositions, eight by Gruszecki and one by Lewandowski. The album was recorded at the excellent Monochrom Studio and engineered by Ignacy GruszeckiFind albums by this artist, with the usual superb sound quality, close to the classic early Blue NoteFind albums on this label sound. The music continues the path set by the debut, presenting a series of coherent, melody based compositions, excellently performed by the trio, all strictly within mainstream Jazz and often bordering on Smooth Jazz, which is accessible to a wide range of music lovers, including those beyond the strict Jazz circles. The trio has a very unique sound due to the unusual instrumentation, which sets it aside from most other Polish Jazz ensembles. Gruszecki has a beautiful rounded sound and technical skill, Galas is an amazing organ player with a wide range of diverse sound techniques and innovative approach to the instrument and Lewandowski is a Master drummer, driving the music with his dense but not overbearing polyrhythmic virtuosity. Together they are a lean and mean swinging machine, which manages to create music, which keeps the listener both fascinated and entertained for the duration. Overall, this is an excellent album from start to finish, which lets the listener to relax and enjoy the music without too much analyzing or cerebral pseudo-intellectual effort to look beyond what the ears can hear. Despite what the Jazz snobs will probably say, this music is fun, without sacrificing any basic musical qualities. Simply listen and enjoy. It is of course wholeheartedly recommended as far as my taste buds are concerned!

Updated: 19/07/2022Posted: 19/07/2022

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

ANDREW HILL ~ THE COMPLETE REMASTERED RECORDINGS ON BLACK SAINT & SOUL NOTE CAM JAZZ 1039 (Barcode: 8052405141866) ~ USA ~ Free Jazz / Improvised Music Recorded: 1980 - 1986 Released: 2015 This superb Box Set collects recordings by the legendary American pianist / composer Andrew HillFind albums by this artist released on the Black SaintFind albums on this label and Soul NoteFind albums on this label labels. It includes four albums, two of which are solo piano recordings: "Faces Of HopeFind albums with this title" and "Verona RagFind albums with this title". The album "Strange SerenadeFind albums with this title" was recorded in a trio setting with bassist Alan SilvaFind albums by this artist and drummer Freddie WaitsFind albums by this artist. The album "ShadesFind albums with this title" was recorded in a trio / quartet setting with saxophonist Clifford JordanFind albums by this artist, bassist Rufus ReidFind albums by this artist and drummer Ben RileyFind albums by this artist. Most of the music was composed by Hill. Hill is best known from a long stream of albums released on the Blue NoteFind albums on this label label in the 1960s, recorded with the top American players at the time, which show his brilliant technique and superb compositional talent. Later on Hill moved out of the Bebop and Post-bop traditions into more adventurous explorations, playing almost exclusively his own compositions, as documented on the albums included in this Box Set. The music is still absolutely fresh and shows why Hill was so influential to generations of Jazz piano players and composers. This is definitely 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. 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: 01/05/2020Posted: 01/05/2020

CD 4 Mini-Sleeve Box Set Remastered Recommend To A Friend

DOM MINASI ~ TAKIN` THE DUKE OUT CDM 1001 (Barcode: 765432100123) ~ USA ~ Jazz Recorded: 2001 Released: 2001 US guitarist / composer Dom MinasiFind albums by this artist is surely one of the most original and innovative Jazz artists active today and hearing his music is a true revelation. A veteran of the NY Jazz scene, Minasi was influenced by the Jazz Giants like John ColtraneFind albums by this artist, Miles DavisFind albums by this artist and Eric DolphyFind albums by this artist, all of which he heard performing live at NY clubs during his adolescence. Very early on Minasi realized that Free Jazz and Improvised Music were something he wanted to do and he’d stay faithful to that decision throughout his entire career. That does not mean he didn’t study the entire tradition of the Jazz genre (with an emphasis on guitarists of course) and even played “straight ahead” Jazz, which he still enjoys to do from time to time, but his true passion is the more challenging highly improvised and boundless facet of Jazz making. Minasi debut recordings as a leader were released in the mid-1970s by the legendary Blue NoteFind albums on this label label, which unfortunately by that time was already taken over by the Majors and attempted to produce mass-market music. Completely disappointed and frustrated by the treatment received from the Music Industry, Minasi decided to abstain completely from recording music, dedicating his time to live performances, teaching, writing and educating. Almost a quarter of a century later he finally made his return as a recording artists and soon after established his own recording label – CDMFind albums on this label Records – which is now his base of operations. This album is the first release on that label and a triumphant return of Minasi to public exposure, spotlighting his amazing talent as a player and improviser. Recorded live at the legendary NY Knitting Factory it features Minasi and his regular trio with the extraordinary bassist Ken FilianoFind albums by this artist and drummer Jackson KrallFind albums by this artist. As the title suggests, the material consists entirely of Minasi’s far-reaching interpretations of classic Jazz standards written by Duke EllingtonFind albums by this artist and Billy StrayhornFind albums by this artist. Hearing this music is a true revelation. Minasi does things with his guitar, which are simply unimaginable, displaying a technique and virtuosity of staggering proportions, as well as amazing improvisational ability. He can be gentle and lyrical one moment and ferocious the next, all in perfect sense and impeccable taste. Guitar lovers can hear the entire history of Jazz guitar playing in his lines, from Wes MontgomeryFind albums by this artist, Barney KesselFind albums by this artist, Larry CoryellFind albums by this artist, John McLaughlinFind albums by this artist and up to Derek BaileyFind albums by this artist. His supersonic speed is breathtaking and overwhelming, but never flashy and always in total control. Filiano is also amazing, both plucking and bowing his heart away, and Krall displays a rare sensitivity and attention, all of which turns them both into ideal partners for the ride. This is an amazing album, which ought to be heard not only by every guitar player on this planet, but also by every true Jazz lover. Considering the fact the American Jazz is now mostly a vast wasteland of meaningless mainstream doodling, a rare oasis like Minasi is especially refreshing. A gem!

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

MICHAEL GIBBS BAND ~ SYMPHONY HALL, BIRMINGHAM 1991 DUSK FIRE 116 (Barcode: 5065001032677) ~ UK ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 1991 Released: 2018 This in an archival release presenting a live recording by a band led by the British trombonist / composer / bandleader Michael GibbsFind albums by this artist, which comprises of fourteen British and American Jazz musicians, who play music composed by Gibbs and John ScofieldFind albums by this artist. The Brits include such legendary musicians as trumpeter Kenny WheelerFind albums by this artist, pianist John TaylorFind albums by this artist, saxophonists Tony CoeFind albums by this artist and (then very young) Julian ArguellesFind albums by this artist, trombonist Chris PyneFind albums by this artist and others and the American guests include guitarist / composer John Scofield, bassist Steve SwallowFind albums by this artist and drummer Bill StewartFind albums by this artist. The concert captured on this album was the tenth of a twelve concert UK 1991 tour. It presents eleven pieces, seven of which were composed by Scofield and arranged by Gibbs and four were Gibbs´ compositions. Gibbs shows a consistent affinity towards the guitar and guitar players throughout his entire musical career. His early albums featured British guitarists like Chris SpeddingFind albums by this artist and Ray RussellFind albums by this artist, later on he included in his bands the Belgian guitarist Philip CatherineFind albums by this artist, and then Americans like Scofield, Hiram BullockFind albums by this artist and Bill FrisellFind albums by this artist. Scorching guitar solos and a Rocky feel are therefore a habitual part of Gibbs´ musical DNA and this album is no exception. The Scofield tunes originate from his debut album for the Blue NoteFind albums on this label label "Time On My HandsFind albums with this title" and from the follow up "Meant To BeFind albums with this title", as well as from the still unreleased at the time of the concert next album "Grace Under PressureFind albums with this title". A couple of the Gibbs tunes were premiered during these concerts. Musically the album follows the "typical" Gibbs´ patterns, with the brass fanfares and swinging background sections, which slowly step back to make space for the soloists, and eventually come back to wrap things up. There are plenty of opportunities for almost everybody to play a solo and the tightly swinging rhythm section keeps everything exactly in check. Naturally Scofield is given the most extensive soloing space and he delivers everything one might expect from him. This album, as all the albums released on the Dusk FireFind albums on this label label, under the watchful eyes of Peter MuirFind albums by this artist, is a tremendous document of British Jazz history, and is an invaluable addition to any British Jazz collection. The fact that this album features also American musicians makes it no less British, as it is after all Gibbs who sets the tone here, even if Scofield is the front person most of the time. Comparing this music with the versions recorded by Scofield on his solo albums reveals the differences in musical depth and perception, revealing the fact that a British flavor, zing and zest are able to turn pretty straightforward American music into a tasty dish. The excellent sound quality of this recording makes this album even more desirable than it appears to be at the first glance and of course it is wholeheartedly recommended to all British Jazz connoisseurs, who are still alive and kicking in spite of the statistical truth pointing elsewhere.

Updated: 29/05/2018Posted: 22/05/2018

CD 2 Mini-Sleeve Remastered Recommend To A Friend

AGA ZARYAN ~ UMIERA PIEKNO EMI 5099909494428 (Barcode: 5099909494428) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz & Poetry Recorded: 2007 Released: 2010 This is the 3rd album by the wonderful Polish Jazz vocalist Aga ZaryanFind albums by this artist, which marks the beginning of the second phase of her career. It is dramatically different from her two preceding albums in almost every conceivable artistic aspect, retaining only her beautiful vocal expression and the profound connection to Jazz. It is the first album, which finds her singing in the Polish language, her first recording which features string ensemble arrangements, but most importantly it marks the beginning of her love affair with poetry, or more exactly the Jazz & Poetry movement, which has deep roots in the Polish Jazz legacy. All these elements were to become the characteristic features of her future recordings. The album was recorded in the intimate piano trio setting, with pianist Michal TokajFind albums by this artist, who also wrote the music for all the nine songs included on the album, bassist Michal BaranskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Lukasz ZytaFind albums by this artist. Some of the songs also feature subtle string arrangements, performed by an excellent large string ensemble expanded with harp and oboe. The album was recorded at the legendary Studio Tokarnia and engineered by Jan SmoczynskiFind albums by this artist, and not surprisingly is simply stunning sonically. But of course the main focus of this album is the concept behind it, which is to commemorate the tragic 1944 Warsaw Uprising during WW II, which to this day is remembered as one of Polish history´s most heartbreaking and frustrating events. The album´s title "Umiera Piekno" ("Beauty Is Dying" in Polish), which is also the title of one of the songs, expresses the subject matter most astutely. The lyrics to all the songs on this album are poems written by people who participated in the uprising (and in the case of poetess Krystyna KrahelskaFind albums by this artist, who wrote four of the poems featured here, died while fighting), or others who wrote about the event. The subject matter is deeply moving and intrinsically painful and poignant, especially in view of the fact that the memory of the uprising was neglected and even purposely concealed by the Socialist regime. Zaryan performed the music from this album live during a special concert at the Warsaw Uprising Museum, which was broadcasted live by Polish radio and TV and amassed an incredible crowd of Warsaw´s inhabitants and is viewed by many as one of the most significant artistic achievements in the country´s cultural life in the last decade. It also resulted in the relatively anonymous Zaryan reaching unprecedented heights of popularity following the event. In spite of the incredibly intense subject matter, the album turns out to be more melancholic than depressing, with the beautiful melodies and Zaryan´s delicate, almost whispered vocals simply enfolding and enchanting the listener and isolating him completely from his surroundings, building gradually an intimate exchange between the singer and her audience. Zaryan is obviously a sorceress putting her magic spells to work on every possible emotional level the listener is exposing, both consciously and subconsciously. As a result the music and the performances by the singer and her cohorts amount to an unprecedented work of Art. Listeners, who are not familiar with the polish language, need not to worry. The overall effect of this music transcends language barriers with ease and elegance and listening to this album will be a rewarding experience for any sensible human being on this planet. Side Note: This album was originally recorded in Poland in 2007 and released the same year on an independent label. This version of the album is released on EMIFind albums on this label in 2010, after the legendary Jazz label Blue NoteFind albums on this label (owned by EMI) signed Aga Zaryan as the first Polish Jazz artist in its roster.

Updated: 01/01/2016Posted:

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

FREDDIE HUBBARD ~ THE HUB OF HUBBARD MPS 4029759113461 (Barcode: 4029759113461) ~ USA ~ Jazz Recorded: 1969 Released: 2016 This is a reissue of an album by American trumpeter / composer Freddie HubbardFind albums by this artist, which was his first of two albums for MPSFind albums on this label and which was produced by the legendary Joachim BerendtFind albums by this artist. He is supported by saxophonist Eddie DanielsFind albums by this artist, pianist Roland HannaFind albums by this artist, bassist Richard DavisFind albums by this artist and drummer Louis HayesFind albums by this artist. The album presents one original composition by Hubbard and three standards. This album marks a transition period between Hubbard´s recordings for Blue NoteFind albums on this label and AtlanticFind albums on this label, which established him as one of the top American Bebop and Hard Bop trumpeters (and to a degree a Free Jazz pioneer), and his move to CTIFind albums on this label, which marked a slightly more commercial and Fusion oriented period. This album was recorded during an informal recording session, organized by Berendt during a break in Hubbard´s European tour and the relaxed and casual atmosphere dominates the proceedings. BTW the same session also produced another album: Richard Davis´s "Muses For Richard DavisFind albums with this title". The music is everything one might expect from the stellar lineup, i.e. superbly played mainstream American Jazz, which unfortunately introduces nothing new to the Jazz idiom per se and by the time it was recorded was already passé to some extent. Of course Hubbard and his cohorts pay their asses off and their virtuosity is hair-raising. Combined with the first-rate recording quality and the great remaster, this album is a superb example of Hard Bop at its best, full of exciting soloing and outstanding teamwork. Lovers of mainstream American Jazz should be perfectly happy with this release, which brings this album back into circulation (although it was already reissued on CD in 1988 and 2009, but long time gone from the market). 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: 12/06/2018Posted: 03/12/2016

CD 1 Mini-Sleeve Remastered Recommend To A Friend

DARIUSZ HERBASZ ~ JOY OF FRIENDSHIP MULTIKULTI 024 (Barcode: 5907529223246) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2012 Released: 2012 This is the debut album as a leader by Polish Jazz saxophonist Dariusz HerbaszFind albums by this artist and his double tenor saxophone quintet, which also includes saxophonist Tomasz GrzegorskiFind albums by this artist, pianist Piotr ManiaFind albums by this artist, bassist Adam ZuchowskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Tomasz SowinskiFind albums by this artist. The album comprises of six original compositions, all by Herbasz and was recorded at the superb Studio Tokarnia with engineer Jan SmoczynskiFind albums by this artist presiding. If I would have been subjected to listening to this album in a blindfold test situation, I would be sure this is an unknown recording of mid 1960s Blue NoteFind albums on this label period, as this music has the distinctive feel of modern mainstream, which flourished at the time and was captured for posterity by Rudy Van GelderFind albums by this artist. The warmth and presence of the overall sound and the crisp piano sound are quite remarkable. But of course there is also the music, which stylistically returns to that wonderful period that summarized the Jazz tradition bringing it to sheer perfection on one hand and opening doors for the free form just wide enough to make it interesting on the other hand. These wonderful compositions are truly grand on every level; there are some beautiful melancholic melodies, several great vamps, and a strange feeling of familiarity even upon the first hearing. I must admit that it´s been a while since I´ve heard a collection of such superbly crated tunes on one album. Herbasz takes a considerable risk with the double tenor saxophone frontline, since such setting is often prone to clashes and outright contest rather than cooperation, but also opens intriguing opportunities of harmonizing and completing each other. It´s a pleasure to hear how well this situation was handled here, enabling both players to solo as well as play together in a variety of quite distinct musical surroundings and atmospheres. Both saxophonists [lay remarkably well, both when simply stating the lyricism of a melody or venturing into almost free form excursions. The rhythm section is excellent as well, providing the ideal support for the soloists and framing the musical expressions with just the right amount of direction, allowing space for less constrained experimentation at times. The pianist is an ideal harmonizer and his vamping is a classic form obviously learned from the best. Bass is round, clear and worm and the drums play exactly the amount of time keeping to keep everything tick, with some great topping of inventive drumming. The overall dynamic sensitivity of the entire rhythm section is simply just what the doctor ordered to make the music perfect. This is a remarkable debut and a brilliant Jazz album, which comprises of everything that makes Jazz such a great music: it´s interesting, artistic, intelligent, well played and above all honest, simply stating the artist´s credo and not trying to be something it isn´t. Well done indeed!

CD 1 Mini-Sleeve Recommend To A Friend

AMIT GOLAN ~ I DECIDED! NOT ON LABEL ~ ISRAEL ~ Jazz Recorded: 2007 Released: 2007 1st album by Israeli pianist / composer / teacher Amit GolanFind albums by this artist. Although active on the local scene for some time, this is Golan’s debut release. He leads a quintet with fellow Israeli players (Asaf YuriaFind albums by this artist – tenor sax, Gilad AbroFind albums by this artist – bass and Doron TiroshFind albums by this artist / Yonatan RosenFind albums by this artist – drums) and the guest US trumpeter Joe MagnarelliFind albums by this artist. Golan composed all the wonderful music (except one standard), which sounds remarkably like something taken directly from the 1960s at the peak of the Hard Bop era. The entire album could be easily mistaken for a “lost” Blue NoteFind albums on this label album by Horace SilverFind albums by this artist, and I bet a lot of people would have never guessed this is a contemporary recording by a bunch of Israeli players. And I mean absolutely no criticism by that, on the contrary, being able to reproduce that sound and feel is quite remarkable. Considering that Jazz in Israel was almost nonexistent in the 1960s, this is a most beautiful way to pay the dues. I can’t imagine any Jazz fan around the world not liking this stuff – it is absolutely perfect in what it stands for – solid mainstream jazz at its best with a nostalgic wink. I feel really proud that our tiny Jazz scene is capable of producing such mature and technically perfect piece of music. The recording quality is also remarkable, considering that most of the music was recorded live. Mr. Rudy Van GelderFind albums by this artist would be undoubtedly smiling if he ever got to listen to this one. How about you?

Updated: 12/06/2018Posted:

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

JUTTA HIPP ~ THREE CLASSIC ALBUMS REAL GONE JAZZ 498 (Barcode: 5036408174420) ~ GERMANY ~ Jazz Recorded: 1956 Released: 2015 This is a reissue of the three albums by German pianist Jutta HippFind albums by this artist, which were originally released on the Blue NoteFind albums on this label label in the mid 1950s. Hipp grew up in Nazi Germany and started to listen and pay Jazz secretly, as it was fiercely banned by the regime. After the WWII ended she was very active on the German scene, playing with the best German Jazz musicians, who were just starting their careers, like brothers: Emil MangelsdorffFind albums by this artist and Albert MangelsdorffFind albums by this artist, Austrian Hans KollerFind albums by this artist, Hungarian Attila ZollerFind albums by this artist (both resident in Germany) and others. Hipp moved to NY in 1955, with the help of the legendary Jazz critic Leonard FeatherFind albums by this artist, and recorded the three albums included here, after which she left music entirely, for reasons unclear. The first two albums: "Live At The Hickory House Volume 1Find albums with this title" and "Live At The Hickory House Volume 2Find albums with this title" both originate from a live recording at the Hickory House club in NY. Hipp is accompanied by British bassist Peter IndFind albums by this artist and American drummer Ed ThigpenFind albums by this artist. Together they perform ten standards on each of these albums. The third album "Jutta Hipp With Zoot SimsFind albums with this title" is a studio recording of a quintet which places her along American Jazz players: trumpeter Jerry LloydFind albums by this artist, saxophonist Zoot SimsFind albums by this artist, bassist Ahmed Abdul-MalikFind albums by this artist and drummer Ed Thigpen. The quintet performs six compositions, four of which are standards and one each is by Lloyd and Sims. The astounding thing about this music is the fact that although modern European Jazz was not yet born, Hipp plays these commonly known standards with a twist, which puts her already at that time apart from the American pianists. She is way more original, inventive and elegant than the pianists who in many cases wrote these standards. Her European piano mannerisms, for which she was severely criticized by American Jazz players, an experience which probably was the reason why she gave up music, were already very distinctive and pointed out towards the rift that was about to happen between American and European Jazz just a few years later. Anybody listening to these albums must realize that the criminally limited recorded legacy Hipp left us with is just a tip of an iceberg of an enormous talent which alas we´ll never witness. European Jazz lovers and connoisseurs of the twisted path European Jazz followed to differentiate itself from the American tradition will find this music absolutely indispensable. An absolute must for Jazz piano enthusiasts! Side Note The Real Gone JazzFind albums on this label label releases hundreds of album collections, which include usually between three to eight original albums in a two to four CDs sets. Most of these albums were recorded and released in the 1950s and early 1960s. These collections provide the track lists and lineups of the original albums, but no recording information, liner notes and any background information whatsoever. The label takes advantage of the copyright law in UK, which limited the length of the copyright protection of recorded works to 50 years, after which recorded works become public domain. In 2013 UK implemented a correction of the copyright law extending the protection of recorded works to 70 years (like the rest of Europe), but the correction does not apply retroactively, which means that recordings which entered the 50 years rule prior to January 1, 2013 (i.e. recorded before January 1, 1963) remain public domain. There are two great advantages to these releases: they are really inexpensive and they bring back to life many albums not reissued previously on CD, which means it would cost a collector an arm and a leg to get a copy of them. Many of these albums are absolute gems and essential pieces of Jazz history. The disadvantages are: the lack of proper information, original cover art, combining tracks of several original albums on one CD and the sound quality, which depends on where the label gets the source material. From my experience most of the releases have quite excellent sound quality but I have not listened to all of them and some people have complained about it.

Updated: 27/05/2018Posted: 18/05/2016

CD 2 Digipak Remastered Recommend To A Friend

ORGAN SPOT ~ ORGAN SPOT SJ 006 (Barcode: 5902596066055) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2013 Released: 2013 The Hammond B-3 Organ is one of my all time favorite musical instruments, with endless reminiscences overflowing my mind every time the unique sound starts buzzing in the air. Scores of superb albums were recorded using the B-3 over the years, not only in Jazz but also in Rock of course, and hundreds of keyboardists used the instrument over the years, which in time achieved a legendary status. In addition, the Hammond B-3 / guitar cooperation (in duos and trios mostly) has a fascinating tradition in Jazz from way back in the 1950s, which is still very much alive and kicking today. Therefore listening to this album was quite an emotional journey for me. Organ SpotFind albums by this artist is a trio comprising of three young Polish Jazz musicians: organist Kajetan GalasFind albums by this artist, guitarist Szymon MikaFind albums by this artist and drummer Bartek StaromiejskiFind albums by this artist. The album consists of seven tunes, five of which are Jazz standards and two are originals, composed one each by Mika and Galas. Not surprisingly the album was recorded at the excellent Studio Tokarnia and engineered by the studio owner and himself a fellow Hammond "brother in arms" Jan SmoczynskiFind albums by this artist. The wonderful sound quality and ambience is one of the key factors which makes this album such a sweet gem, as Studio Tokarnia has a wonderful ability to create a truly "retro" sound, which resembles classic Jazz recordings for such legendary labels as Blue NoteFind albums on this label. Watch out for the worn-out LP gap between the tracks in one case, which gives a hint as to the "retro" intensions herein. The performances by all three trio members are spotless and incredibly well balanced. There are no ego trips here and they all play together respectfully listening to each other and supporting each other. Although the organ is obviously the center of attention on this album, the listeners should definitely pay attention to the incredible guitar parts, which are truly invigorating. Some great guitar players must be smiling in Heaven hearing this stuff. Musically this album is not looking for innovation or breaking new ground; it´s all about keeping a wonderful tradition (sonically, stylistically and aesthetically) alive, and doing it in a fresh and interesting way. This album is every inch as good as any similar music produced anywhere else, which speaks for itself as far as the talents and abilities of these young musicians are concerned. Having respect for the tradition, studying and preserving it, are not self-understood these days and are definitely something to be praised and appreciated. Overall this is as close to a perfect mainstream Jazz album as it gets; it is honest, well played, sounds great and most Jazz connoisseurs can enjoy it in full. Definitely a most impressive debut!

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

JACEK NIEDZIELA-MEIRA ~ BURRELLHOUSE SJ 039 (Barcode: 5912596066719) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2018 Released: 2019 This is an album by the veteran Polish Jazz bassist / composer / educator Jacek Niedziela-MeiraFind albums by this artist which his debut album as a guitar player, recorded in a classic guitar trio setting with Hammond player Kajetan GalasFind albums by this artist and drummers Lukasz ZytaFind albums by this artist or Grzegorz PalkaFind albums by this artist. The album presents nine tracks, two of which are original compositions by the leader, six are standards and one is a Polish Pop song. The music was recorded at the excellent Studio Tokarnia and offers a wonderful classic Blue NoteFind albums on this label sound. For people familiar with the Polish Jazz scene this album comes of course as a surprise, as a result of the decision by the leader to switch instruments, but the result is very satisfying. The sound and material are based on classic model set by American Hammond player Jimmy SmithFind albums by this artist and his trio, which included among others guitarists also the superb guitar Master Kenny BurrellFind albums by this artist, who serves as an obvious influence on the leader. The conservative mainstream Jazz approach, going back s few decades in the history of the Jazz idiom, could be pretty disastrous musically, but in this case it is a fresh breath of air, which proves that well played mainstream Jazz still sounds solid, beautiful and enjoyable in spite of the passing time. Niedziela-Meira turns out to be a very talented and technically proficient classic / old style Jazz guitar player, who emphasizes the clarity of the tone and precision of the notes like a true pro. His sound does follow the example set by the Jazz guitarists form the 1950s / 1960s almost exactly, but with a fresh vigor and fluidity. Galas is of course an absolute marvel with his Hammond bringing back fond memories of the glory of this beautiful instrument. His improvisations, always melodic and coherent and yet often surprisingly sophisticated, are an absolute sensation and are alone worth having this album. Both alternating drummers keep the time like clockwork, which for this kind of music is exactly what the doctor prescribed. Overall this is a very pleasant album, which reproduces the mood and sound going back half a century, but offers a rejuvenated perspective on the guitar trio format, which is almost completely absent from the contemporary Jazz scene. Full of wonderful music and excellent musicianship, this album is fun from start to end for listeners who like this period of Jazz. For guitar and Hammond connoisseurs, this is a must of course!

Updated: 02/05/2019Posted: 02/05/2019

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

PAWEL PALCOWSKI ~ OLD FASHIONED MOOD SJ 042 ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2018 Released: 2019 This is the debut album by young Polish Jazz trumpeter Pawel PalcowskiFind albums by this artist recorded in a quintet setting with saxophonist Jakub LepaFind albums by this artist, pianist Boguslaw KaczmarFind albums by this artist, bassist Maciej KitajewskiFind albums by this artist and veteran drummer Arek SkolikFind albums by this artist. Trombonist Szymon KlekowickiFind albums by this artist guests on one track. The album presents seven original compositions, all by Palcowski. As the album´s title suggests, it pays tribute to the classic mainstream Jazz period of the 1950s and 1960s, when Bebop, Hard Bop and Cool Jazz ruled and the foundations and most mannerisms of modern Jazz were "carved in stone". Palcowski deliberately tries to reconstruct not only the typical compositions of the era but also the sound and feel of the period, utilizing the most popular setting of the time – the classic Jazz quintet. Although re-visiting that period, especially among the young generation of European Jazz musicians, is definitely less popular these days, and often even considered less ambitious, Palcowski manages to create a wonderful piece of music, which offers not only a nostalgic trip down the memory line but a bona fide mainstream Jazz album, which sounds as if it was a "lost" Blue NoteFind albums on this label treasure, found in the vaults. All the compositions on this album as every bit as solid, coherent and spirited as anything that can be heard on the albums recorded at the time, which is truly remarkable. A young musician, decades later and thousands of kilometers away is able to crack the genetic code of this music perfectly and make it his own, not copying but creating new tunes which have the same magic feeling. The performances are also perfect and ideally suiting this particular music. There is no spectacular soloing but a series of well structured solo performances by the trumpet, saxophone and piano, supported by the entire quintet and the steady rhythm section which does a perfect job. Overall this is a splendid debut album, which proves that the young generation of European Jazz musicians is not only aware of the tradition and the history, but is also able to embrace it lovingly. I had the pleasure to hear Palcowski many times live during his student years at the Katowice Music Academy and it was obvious that he is going places. Well done Sir!

Updated: 01/07/2019Posted: 01/07/2019

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

OLA MONKO ~ WHEREVER YOU ARE SOLITON 846 (Barcode: 5901571098463) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2017 Released: 2018 This is the debut album by Polish pianist / composer Ola MonkoFind albums by this artist, recorded in a quintet setting with trumpeter Jerzy MalekFind albums by this artist, saxophonist Maciej SikalaFind albums by this artist, bassist Michal BaranskiFind albums by this artist and American (resident in Poland and married to Monko) drummer Eric AllenFind albums by this artist. The album presents nine compositions, eight of which are originals composed by Monko and one is a standard, all of which were arranged by Monko. The album offers a warm clear sound, which fondly resembles the famous Blue NoteFind albums on this label Records sound created by the legendary Rudy Van GelderFind albums by this artist. The music sits comfortably within contemporary mainstream Jazz, which is not surprising considering that Monko spent thirteen years living and playing Jazz in the US, where she was exposed to what the best American Jazz has to offer. Her compositions are all well built and offer solid melodies and coherent harmonic structures, which results in them sounding as good as any Jazz standard played today. All the members of the quintet are veteran players with years of experience behind them and as the result the music flows smoothly and elegantly from one tune to another and the album seems to be over in a flash. All three soloists contribute inspired solo parts and the rhythm section keeps the music streaming in an amicable fashion. Overall although not innovative as far as the Jazz idiom is concerned, this album offers splendid mainstream Jazz experience and presents an excellent collection of original tunes, which prove that the Polish Jazz musicians can play American mainstream as well as their counterparts across the pond and compose wonderful heartfelt tunes. For mainstream Jazz lovers this album is a gem from start to finish and a most pleasant listening experience. Congratulations go to Monko for finally making her statement, hopefully only the first of many. Go Girl!

Updated: 27/10/2018Posted: 27/10/2018

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

HERBIE HANCOCK ~ THE COMPLETE COLUMBIA ALBUM COLLECTION 1972-1988 SONY 886977240829 (Barcode: 886977240829) ~ USA ~ Jazz Recorded: 1972 - 1988 Released: 2013 This monumental Box Set (31 albums, 3 of which are double CDs) presents the recording legacy of American keyboardist / composer / bandleader Herbie HancockFind albums by this artist during his most productive and groundbreaking two decades, in which his albums were released by ColumbiaFind albums on this label (and SonyFind albums on this label in Japan). Columbia was Hancock´s third record label; his initial recording career (1962-1969) was spent with the legendary Blue NoteFind albums on this label label, where he recorded a series of brilliant and pioneering albums as a leader and dozens of albums as a sideman, many of which are considered as part of the canon of Jazz recordings. After a short period of recording for the Warner Bros.Find albums on this label label (1969-1972) he signed with Columbia, which was quite natural considering that Hancock was a member of the second legendary Miles DavisFind albums by this artist quintet (1963-1969) and took part in many projects Davis led after the quintet disbanded, all of which were recorded for Columbia. Several of the albums in this box, which were originally released only in Japan, make their appearance outside of Japan for the first time. The content of this Box Set emphasizes the incredible musical versatility and truly chameleonic nature of Hancock as an Artist. He plays in many settings, from solo keyboards, duos (with Chick CoreaFind albums by this artist for example), trios (with Ron CarterFind albums by this artist and Tony WilliamsFind albums by this artist) and ensembles like the pioneering Jazz-Funk Headhunters or the incredible V.S.O.P.Find albums by this artist quintet, which followed in the steps of the second Miles Davis quintet, with trumpeter Freddie HubbardFind albums by this artist replacing Davis and the rest of the players being the original quintet members. It also shows Hancock as a composer of soundtracks ("Death Wish" and "Round Midnight") and his affiliation with World Music. Musically the box covers an incredibly wide cross-genre musical plateau, covering such varied areas as modern Mainstream, Jazz-Rock Fusion, Jazz-Funk Fusion, Jazz-Soul Fusion, electronic and ambient music, orchestral music, Jazz-Classical Fusion and any other. Hancock´s exceptional talent as a composer is exposed here in the fullest and confirms his status as one of the most influential and revolutionary Jazz musician ever. His skills as a player are of course completely unparalleled and have served as a model for generations of young musicians all over the world. It wouldn´t be an exaggeration to state that this box contains some of the most important Jazz recordings made to date and as a legacy its value is absolutely priceless and unique. It is of course worth every penny of this reasonably priced and beautifully packaged Box Set, even if one owns some of these albums separately already. Grab the box and give the older versions to your friends; they will surely be grateful and thank you. This is an absolutely essential piece of Jazz history, music history and human Cultural legacy, which is way beyond recommendation. Simply a must!

Updated: 26/01/2019Posted:

CD 34 Mini-Sleeve Box Set Remastered Essential Recommend To A Friend

WOODY SHAW ~ THE COMPLETE COLUMBIA ALBUMS COLLECTION SONY 886979189027 (Barcode: 886979189027) ~ USA ~ Jazz Recorded: 1977 - 1981 Released: 2011 American trumpeter / composer Woody ShawFind albums by this artist is often referred to as the last great innovator of the Jazz trumpet tradition. His incredible technical skills as well as his deep Jazz sensitivity enabled him to create some of the most memorable Jazz moments. Unfortunately his recording legacy as a leader is relatively limited and his death at the ridiculous age of 44 has cut his career tragically short. Over the years he recorded extensively as a sideman and contributed his part to some of the most notable and pivotal Jazz recordings, especially during his stint with the Blue NoteFind albums on this label label in the mid to late 1960s, where he was the "house trumpeter". Shaw´s most important work as a leader was recorded in the late 1970s for ColumbiaFind albums on this label, where he recorded five superb albums which finally awarded him the recognition and appreciation he so much deserved. These recordings allowed his to utilize in full his abilities both as a player and composer, surrounded by a splendid group of musicians. His music often used unusual musical devices, such as polytonality and the pentatonic scale, which Shaw absorbed from his idols like Eric DolphyFind albums by this artist and John ColtraneFind albums by this artist, from the 20th century Classical Music composers as well as from World Music influences. However he was able to utilize those complex and often quite difficult musical ideas and make them sound "easy" and natural to the Jazz environment. The Columbia session were recorded with Shaw leading different combos, from a classic quintet to a tentet and even larger ensembles. The list of participants includes some of the most important Jazz performers active at the time, like trumpeter Charles SullivanFind albums by this artist, saxophonists Joe HendersonFind albums by this artist, Rene McLeanFind albums by this artist, Carter JeffersonFind albums by this artist, Gary BartzFind albums by this artist and others, pianist Onaje Allan GumbsFind albums by this artist, George CablesFind albums by this artist, Mulgrew MillerFind albums by this artist and others. This Box Set includes all the five albums Shaw recorded for Columbia, remastered and expanded with bonus tracks, as well as a sixth bonus CD, which comprises of previously unreleased material recorded at the same Village Vanguard concert, which was partly released as the "Stepping StonesFind albums with this title" album. This is some of the most remarkable Jazz music made in the 1970s and an important piece of the modern Jazz puzzle, which should be listened to by new generations and inspire them to carry the proverbial torch. It should definitely find its place in any serious Jazz record collection.

Updated: 26/01/2019Posted:

CD 6 Mini-Sleeve Box Set Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend

DEXTER GORDON ~ THE COMPLETE COLUMBIA ALBUMS COLLECTION SONY 886979189126 (Barcode: 886979189126) ~ USA ~ Jazz Recorded: 1976 - 1980 Released: 2011 The veteran American saxophonist / composer Dexter GordonFind albums by this artist was one of the Jazz icons with a career spanning half a century. He was one of the great Bebop pioneers and his playing over the years remained more or less within the Bebop tradition. Gordon recorded extensively as a sideman and as a leader, participating in many seminal Bebop recordings. Since the early 1960s he recorded for the legendary Blue NoteFind albums on this label label, creating some of his best work there. Gordon left the US for Europe, as did many other American musicians in the 1960s, where he lived for fifteen years, mostly in Paris and Copenhagen. He enjoyed the European way of life and cultural atmosphere, which was free from racial discrimination and admired Jazz. While living in Europe he continued to record for Blue Note and the Danish SteeplechaseFind albums on this label label. By the late 1960 he switched to the PrestigeFind albums on this label label in the US. Gordon finally returned to the US for good in 1976 and signed with ColumbiaFind albums on this label, where he recorded the last of his output before his death in 1990. He also started an acting career, with the most notable appearance in the "Round Midnight" movie, where he portrayed a heroin addicted saxophonist, roughly based on his own biography. Gordon´s Columbia releases started with the live recording of his homecoming concert at the legendary Village Vanguard in NY, and included three studio albums and one more live album recorded at Carnegie Hall. All these recordings expanded by numerous bonus tracks and a whole additional CD of bonus tracks are included in this lovely Box Set. The list of names of the accompanying musicians reads like the who´s who of the US mainstream Jazz scene of the 1970s, and includes trumpeter Woody ShawFind albums by this artist, pianists George CablesFind albums by this artist, Cedar WaltonFind albums by this artist, George DukeFind albums by this artist and others, vibraphonist Bobby HutchersonFind albums by this artist, bassist Rufus ReidFind albums by this artist and many others. Overall this is some of the finest American mainstream Jazz played in the Bebop tradition, with wonderful performances by first class players, heartwarming solos and great compositions. Any true Jazz lover will enjoy these classic recordings and having them collected in one neat package with bonus material and informative liner notes is all anybody could ask for. Definitely not to be missed!

Updated: 26/01/2019Posted:

CD 7 Mini-Sleeve Box Set Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend

WAYNE SHORTER ~ THE COMPLETE COLUMBIA ALBUMS COLLECTION SONY 886979202429 (Barcode: 886979202429) ~ USA ~ Jazz-Rock-World Fusion Recorded: 1971 - 1988 Released: 2011 There are very few Jazz musicians, who can claim being at the epicenter of the most innovative and creative music making for decades and also be called one of the greatest Jazz composers, but saxophonist / composer Wayne ShorterFind albums by this artist certainly is one of them. His role as a member of the legendary second Miles DavisFind albums by this artist quintet and than as co-founder and co-leader of the no less legendary Weather ReportFind albums by this artist are already more significant than the achievements of most other musicians, but Shorter also has a most impressive solo career, which spans from the late 1950s to now, i.e. for over half a century. Shorter´s recordings as a leader, which were chronologically released on the Vee-JayFind albums on this label, Blue NoteFind albums on this label, ColumbiaFind albums on this label and VerveFind albums on this label labels present a magnificent body of work both as a performer and a composer. The Blue Note recordings, eleven albums released between 1964 and 1970 and recorded while he was a member of the Miles Davis quintet, are perhaps the most impressive and pivotal as far as Jazz development is concerned, but all the others are also great showcases of his talent. Shorter recorded four albums for Columbia; one in 1974 and the other three in the late 1980s, all of which are included in this Box Set. The first album, ("Native DancerFind albums with this title") recorded with the brilliant Brazilian musician / composer Milton NascimentoFind albums by this artist is the most memorable and impressive of the Columbia recordings and a beautiful example of Jazz-World Fusion at its best. In addition to several great Brazilian musicians playing on the album, including Airto MoreiraFind albums by this artist, it also features Herbie HancockFind albums by this artist on piano. The other three albums are somewhat Fusion oriented and feature different lineups of first class musicians, especially keyboard players like Chick CoreaFind albums by this artist, Stu GoldbergFind albums by this artist, Jim BeardFind albums by this artist, Patrice RushenFind albums by this artist, Geri AllenFind albums by this artist and others and of course almost exclusively the superb compositions by Shorter. This Box Set also includes two bonus CDs, which collect all Weather Report tracks, which were composed by Wayne Shorter and recorded during the group´s entire lifespan. Although not adding anything new, these CDs present a great historic document of Shorter´s contribution as a composer to the group´s monumental accomplishments. This Box Set is a must to all Wayne Shorter fans, especially in view of the fact that the individual albums have been out of print for ages. The musical content is of course top notch in every respect, a part of the legacy of a great musician, which deserves to be heard and remembered!

Updated: 26/01/2019Posted:

CD 6 Mini-Sleeve Box Set Remastered Recommend To A Friend

THELONIOUS MONK ~ COMPLETE COLUMBIA STUDIO ALBUMS COLLECTION SONY 886979576827 (Barcode: 886979576827) ~ USA ~ Jazz Recorded: 1962 - 1968 Released: 2012 Although most often associated with the Bebop genre, American pianist / composer Thelonious MonkFind albums by this artist was in fact one of the very few Jazz icons, that managed to create a completely personal style, unlike any another before or after. His playing and his compositions were absolutely outrageous, unconventional and plainly weird. Strange chord changes, aggressive attack, long out of nowhere glissandos and those unexpected pauses in the most unexpected places created a musical experience, which logically made no sense whatsoever but in practice sounded most wonderfully. As many other human geniuses, he is therefore often suspected of being an alien stranded on our pitiful planet. Monk started to record in the mid-1940s as part of the Bebop explosion and over the years worked with Blue NoteFind albums on this label, PrestigeFind albums on this label and RiversideFind albums on this label labels, but his last, longest and most stable and productive period was spent with ColumbiaFind albums on this label records in the 1960s, when these albums were originally recorded. These are the quartet recordings, made with his quartet, which lasted for eleven years and was his preferential vehicle. It included the saxophonist Charlie RouseFind albums by this artist, who was the quartet´s member for that entire duration, bassist John OreFind albums by this artist and later Butch WarrenFind albums by this artist and Larry GalesFind albums by this artist and drummer Frankie DunlopFind albums by this artist and later Ben RileyFind albums by this artist. The music on these albums is a mixture of Monk originals (the majority of the material), some of which were previously recorded on other labels, and his treatment of standards, which of course are often quite remote from the origin. The playing is absolutely stunning, not only by Monk but also by Rouse, who surely deserves the title of the most underrated saxophonist in Jazz history. The quartet format was best serving Monk´s idiosyncratic style and manner, but he also recorded in other formats, like piano solo. Some of his remarkable live performances were also released on Columbia and hopefully all that material will be released in the future as part of the Box Set series. These six albums, remastered and expanded with numerous bonus tracks and accompanied by informative liner notes constitute some of the most important Jazz music ever recorded, which gets better with time and penetrates deeper every time it is listened to. There is no way and serious Jazz buff can afford not having this in his collection; that would be simply sacrilegious. And next time you open your door to a small green humanoid with a couple of antennas on his head, just play him some Monk; he´ll surely dig it!

Updated: 26/01/2019Posted:

CD 6 Mini-Sleeve Box Set Remastered Bonus Tracks Essential Recommend To A Friend

JOE FARRELL ~ ORIGINAL ALBUM CLASSICS SONY 888750636829 (Barcode: 888750636829) ~ USA ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 1970 - 1975 Released: 2015 This Box Set collects five of the six albums recorded by brilliant American flautist / saxophonist / composer Joe FarrellFind albums by this artist and released between 1970 and 1975 on the legendary CTIFind albums on this label Records label. They are: his debut as a leader and first album "Joe Farrell QuartetFind albums with this title", the second "OutbackFind albums with this title", the fourth "Penny ArcadeFind albums with this title", the fifth "Upon This RockFind albums with this title" and the sixth "Canned FunkFind albums with this title". His third album "Moon GermsFind albums with this title" was separately reissued on CD in 2001 by SonyFind albums on this label. Farrell joined the first incarnation of Return To ForeverFind albums by this artist in 1972 and took part in the recording of their first two legendary albums. The music presented on these five albums falls quite neatly into two separate categories: the first two albums are complex modern Jazz / Jazz-Rock Fusion and even include some Free Form moments, whereas the next three albums are Groove / Funk oriented. The first album ("Joe Farrell Quartet") is especially noteworthy, as it is one of the most important and beautiful documents of the era. Farrell´s quartet, which also included pianist Chick CoreaFind albums by this artist, Bassist Dave HollandFind albums by this artist and drummer Jack DeJohnetteFind albums by this artist (all from Miles DavisFind albums by this artist electric band) is augmented by the presence of guitarist John McLaughlinFind albums by this artist on two tracks, turning the resulting quintet into a mighty power of Nature. It is worthwhile to compare these tracks with McLaughlin´s debut album "ExtrapolationFind albums with this title" or the Jack BruceFind albums by this artist album "Things We LikeFind albums with this title", which also features McLaughlin. Together these three a.m. albums contain some of the most important and powerful music ever made. The second album places Farrell alongside Corea again, but this time with bassist Buster WilliamsFind albums by this artist and legendary drummer Elvin JonesFind albums by this artist, with whom Farrell recorded a series of superb albums for the Blue NoteFind albums on this label label between 1968 and 1971. It presents superb modern Jazz and Fusion, played by Masters of the trade. Together with the third album ("Moon Germs"), which is not present in this Box Set, which features Herbie HancockFind albums by this artist on piano, Stanley ClarkeFind albums by this artist on bass and again Jack DeJohnette on drums, and of course his numerous recordings as a sideman, Farrell established his position as one of the leading figures on the US scene. The remaining three albums document the transition Farrell made from modern Jazz / Fusion into Jazz-Funk, which is characterized by more emphasis on melodic content and Funk / Groove rhythmic patterns. Although many of Farrell´s fans had a hard time getting used to this new musical direction, his work in that genre was always top notch, with impeccable musicianship and wonderful compositions. He cooperated with several top players specializing in that specific area, like guitarist Joe BeckFind albums by this artist, bassist Herb BushlerFind albums by this artist and others. In retrospect these albums are classics of the genre, sound superbly fresh today and honestly had very little true competition by anybody else over the years. Farrell, who sadly died in 1986, aged just 48, was definitely an exceptional player and composer, who contributed immensely to American Jazz by constantly searching for new way of expression, ignoring genre constrains and mainstream thinking. This Box Set is an essential listening to every Jazz / Fusion fan on this planet. Side Note The "Original Album SeriesFind albums with this title" by Warner Bros.Find albums on this label, the "Original Album ClassicsFind albums with this title" by SonyFind albums on this label, the "5 Original AlbumsFind albums with this title" by UniversalFind albums on this label, the Box Sets by RhinoFind albums on this label and other similar releases 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 for the essence of cultural values and general sloppiness, contrary to human decency, which requires as to treat our Cultural Legacy with respect and loyalty. The Box Sets produced under these monikers have no discographical information whatsoever about the lineups, musician names, composers, lyricists, dates and places of recording, original release data and even basic copyright data (the last is strictly illegal BTW). Although the original LP sleeves are reproduced, they are often edited and information (which would be in most cases too small to be readable) is removed. Most importantly these Box Sets don't include any booklet offering a historical background and perspective about the Artists and the Music, which are extremely important and vital to the preservation of our Culture and passing the knowledge to the next generations. In short the fact that these Box Sets are meant to be inexpensive, does not mean that they have to be cheap. Considering the fact how many times this music has been sold over and over again by the labels, this is a crying shame!

Updated: 05/04/2024Posted:

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

HERBIE HANCOCK ~ FAT ALBERT ROTUNDA WARNER BROS. 47540 (Barcode: 093624754022) ~ USA ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 1969 Released: 2001 Herbie HancockFind albums by this artist’s solo career (apart from his work done with his Mentor Miles DavisFind albums by this artist, with whom he stayed for over five years as the member of the legendary second quintet) produced an overwhelmingly diverse body of work which positions him as one of the Giants of 20th Century music. After recording a series of excellent and immensely influential albums on the Blue NoteFind albums on this label label in the 1960’s, Hancock switched to Warner Bros.Find albums on this label where he recorded just three albums, this one being the first of these. Recorded shortly after Hancock left the Miles Davis group, it contains music he wrote for a TV series, rearranged for a jazz sextet. The funky approach was Hancock’s first attempt to play around with funk (influenced among others by the revolutionary work done with the genre at that time by Sly & The Family StoneFind albums by this artist). This started a love affair that would be extensively developed a few years later after Hancock switched labels again, this time to ColumbiaFind albums on this label. He plays the Fender Rhodes electric piano exclusively leaving the acoustic piano aside for a few years until the formation of the V.S.O.P.Find albums by this artist quintet. The funky arrangements are extremely clever and exquisitely performed by the sextet, which includes Joe HendersonFind albums by this artist on flute and sax, Johnny ColesFind albums by this artist on trumpet, Garnet BrownFind albums by this artist on trombone, Buster WilliamsFind albums by this artist on bass and Albert HeathFind albums by this artist on drums. The music sounds beautifully fresh and vibrant today, loosing nothing of its original charm and magic. A timeless classic!

CD 1 Digipak Remastered Recommend To A Friend