Record Reviews

HOWARD RILEY ~ DISCUSSIONS DUSK FIRE 114 (Barcode: 5065001032257) ~ UK ~ Jazz Recorded: 1967 Released: 2015 This is a reissue of the debut album by the seminal British Jazz pianist / composer Howard RileyFind albums by this artist, recorded in a classic piano trio setting with two legendary British Jazz icons: bassist Barry GuyFind albums by this artist and drummer Jon HisemanFind albums by this artist. The original album released in 1968 on the tiny OpportunityFind albums on this label label owned by producer Chris WellandFind albums by this artist had only 99 copies pressed and soon after became a highly sought-after collector´s item. It was reissued semi-legally on CD in 2007 but this is the first proper reissue of this album, which is newly remastered and includes two bonus tracks with previously unreleased recordings by another Howard Riley trio, recorded seven years prior to this album being recorded. The original album presents eight tracks, some of which are originals by Riley and others are the trio´s interpretations of standards, but only keen Jazz connoisseurs will be able to recognize them as such. Riley´s arrival in London in 1967 placed him right at the epicenter of the burgeoning British Jazz scene, which was already developing rapidly since several years. His unusual approach to music, both as a performer and a composer, perfectly suited the "age of change" British Jazz was undergoing at the time, while emancipating itself from a decades-long association with American Jazz, while mostly copying the patterns developed across the pond. A new generation of young British Jazz musicians, Riley amongst them, decided to take matters into their own hands and move along, leaving the American Jazz tradition far behind. Listening to this music almost half a Century after it was recorded clearly shows how European Jazz was about to find its own Avant-Garde, almost unrelated to the American Free Jazz, which more or less completely came to a hold with the death of John Coltrane. The European approach was not based on intense improvisation, which slowly stripped away all melodic content, but on a search which would amalgamate Jazz and contemporary European Classical music 20th Century innovations into a new idiom. The performance of this trio clearly shows what collective improvisation is all about with the musicians behaving as a one three headed body, being in sync rhythmically and mentally at all times. Hiseman, who was about soon after to immerse into Jazz-Rock for the rest of his life, plays here without inhibitions and shows his incredible versatility. Guy sounds on this album as if he played Free Jazz for decades, obviously finding his natural element, which he never left to this day. His virtuosity and inventiveness at such early age (he was 20 years old at the time) is simply phenomenal. In retrospect this is one of the iconic British Jazz recordings, which should be a part of a decent music collection by every British Jazz enthusiast. The fact that this music is available again is nothing short of a miracle. Good job Peter MuirFind albums by this artist, chapeau!

Updated: 12/04/2019Posted:

CD 1 Digipak Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend

HOWARD RILEY ~ DISCUSSIONS JAZZPRINT 137 (Barcode: 604388682720) ~ UK ~ Jazz Recorded: 1967 Released: 2007 This debut recording by the legendary UK pianist Howard RileyFind albums by this artist was initially released 40 years ago on a tiny label (OpportunityFind albums on this label, owned by producer Chris WellardFind albums by this artist) and has been unavailable for ages, making it a super-rare collector’s item. Riley has been spearheading the UK free jazz scene since the mid-1960, recording regularly over the years and serving as a beacon of musical enlightenment and vision. His exceptional talents as a pianist and composer are truly unrivaled, with the possible exception of his peer Keith TippettFind albums by this artist. On this album Riley is accompanied by the brilliant bassist Barry GuyFind albums by this artist (Spontaneous Music EnsembleFind albums by this artist (SME)), another prominent figure on the UK free jazz scene, who recorded with Riley’s trio on more than one occasion. The person behind the drums is probably the greatest surprise to the visitors of this site, as it is no other than Jon HisemanFind albums by this artist - future leader of ColosseumFind albums by this artist, TempestFind albums by this artist and United Jazz + Rock EnsembleFind albums by this artist (Hiseman’s early jazz career is much lesser know). The trio performs a set consisting of several Riley’s original compositions and a few standards – these well disguised as appropriate for a free jazz setting. Some clearly melodic elements are still present on these tracks, as the adventurous full-blown Avant-Garde was yet to come, but this is a classic of the genre in every sense. The interplay between the three master musicians is phenomenal and considering their tender age (at the time of this recording) this is a monster achievement. Absolutely essential for all free jazz lovers, especially for connoisseurs of the UK branch of the genre.

Updated: 12/04/2019Posted:

CD 1 Remastered Recommend To A Friend