Record Reviews

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

BILL EVANS ~ LIVE AT ART D`LUGOFF`S TOP OF THE GATE RESONANCE 2012 (Barcode: 724101961526) ~ USA ~ Jazz Recorded: 1968 Released: 2012 This is another archival album by the greatest Jazz pianist of all time, Bill EvansFind albums by this artist, recorded with his trio with bassist Eddie GomezFind albums by this artist and drummer Marty MorellFind albums by this artist. The 2CD album presents two full sets played at that date, together seventeen tracks, recorded on October 23, 1968, at the peak of Evans’ creative power. Three of the performed compositions appear in both sets. All the tracks are standards, except for one original composition by Evans. As usual the album features an extended booklet with essays, superb historic photographs and other background information. The album offers absolutely brilliant sound recording quality, with every little nuance perfectly audible, which of course adds to the pleasure of listening to the music. As usual, the brilliant telepathic communication between the trio members prevails over everything. Evans’ trios were always an exquisite example of collective music creation, and although Evans was at the center of attention, the role of creating the music and the responsibility was equally spread between the trio members, in contrast to the usual leader / sidemen formula. These recordings, made with his longest lasting trio (six years 1968-1974), show Evans at his best, full of lyricism and sophisticated delicate touch on the keyboard. Gomez’s incredible support on the bass is absolutely stunning, a true soul brother and musical companion to Evans, as is the intricate playing by Morell. Overall, this is a wonderful addition to the Bill Evans recorded legacy, covering his early dates with the Gomez / Morell trio. For the many Evans’ followers it is of course a must, and although it does not reveal anything previously not captured on record, it is certainly a superb piece of Jazz history.

Updated: 15/06/2024Posted: 15/06/2024

CD 2 Digipak Remastered Recommend To A Friend

BILL EVANS ~ SOME OTHER TIME: THE LOST SESSION FROM THE BLACK FOREST RESONANCE 2019 (Barcode: 096802280276) ~ USA ~ Jazz Recorded: 1968 Released: 2016 This is a sensational archival album by the greatest Jazz pianist of all time, Bill EvansFind albums by this artist, recorded in a classic piano trio setting with bassist Eddie GomezFind albums by this artist and drummer Jack DeJohnetteFind albums by this artist. The music was recorded at the legendary MPSFind albums on this label Records studio in Villingen, Germany, on June 20, 1968, by the owner of the label Hans Georg Brunner-SchwerFind albums by this artist (HGBS) and produced by my Friend and Mentor Joachim BerendtFind albums by this artist. The material was subsequently not released, despite several attempts, and remained in the MPS vaults for almost five decades, to be finally released by ResonanceFind albums on this label Records. The recording took place just five days after Evans and the trio recorded the iconic live album “At The Montreux Jazz FestivalFind albums with this title”. The 2CD album presents eleven tracks on CD1, which were selected for the intended MPS album, which never materialized, and ten tracks on CD2, which are outtakes and alternate takes, all of course worth being heard. Evans did eventually record an album for MPS some six years later, the groundbreaking orchestral “SymbiosisFind albums with this title”, which is a completely another pair of shoes. The music consists of a mixture of standards and Evans’ originals, executed with passion and elegance, which were always the essential ingredients of Evans’ music. There are trio, duo and solo performances. The phenomenal and literally symbiotic relationship between Evans and Gomez is omnipresent and the bass gets a prominent presence in the mix and numerous solo spots, in contrast to the drums, which are almost completely far in the background, when present at all. DeJohnette was a member of the trio for just a few months and this is perhaps why his role on this album is minimized, which results in most of the music sounding like a piano / bass duo, which of course does not lessen any of the music’s magic quality. Overall, this is a wonderful addition to the Bill Evans recorded legacy, covering a lesser documented period of his activity. For the many Evans’ followers it is of course a must, and although it does not reveal anything previously not captured on record, it is certainly a superb piece of Jazz history

Updated: 23/02/2024Posted: 15/05/2023

CD 2 Digipak Remastered Recommend To A Friend

BILL EVANS ~ ANOTHER TIME: THE HILVERSUM CONCERT RESONANCE 2031 (Barcode: 096802280405) ~ USA ~ Jazz Recorded: 1968 Released: 2017 This is another archival album by the greatest Jazz pianist of all time, Bill EvansFind albums by this artist, recorded in a classic piano trio setting with bassist Eddie GomezFind albums by this artist and drummer Jack DeJohnetteFind albums by this artist. It is only the 3rd album released by this particular trio. The music was recorded at the Dutch Radio Union studio on June 22, 1968, just a couple of days after the recording at the legendary MPSFind albums on this label Records studio in Villingen, Germany, on June 20, 1968, which yielded the “Some Other Time: The Lost Session From The Black ForestFind albums with this title”, released by ResonanceFind albums on this label Records a year earlier. The recording took place just one week after Evans and the trio recorded the iconic live album “At The Montreux Jazz FestivalFind albums with this title”. The album presents nine tracks, three of which are Evans’ originals and the rest are standards. It offers a stunning sound quality, one of the absolutely best live Evans’ recordings. It also features an extended booklet with interviews with Gomez and DeJohnette and other background information. The music is executed with passion and elegance, which were always the essential ingredients of Evans’ music. There are trio, duo and solo performances. The phenomenal and literally symbiotic relationship between Evans and Gomez is omnipresent and the bass gets a prominent presence in the mix and numerous solo spots, in contrast to the drums, which are almost completely far in the background, when present at all. DeJohnette was a member of the trio for just a few months and this is perhaps why his role on this album is minimized, which results in most of the music sounding like a piano / bass duo, which of course does not lessen any of the music’s magic quality. Overall, this is a wonderful addition to the Bill Evans recorded legacy, covering a lesser documented period of his activity. For the many Evans’ followers it is of course a must, and although it does not reveal anything previously not captured on record, it is certainly a superb piece of Jazz history.

Updated: 23/02/2024Posted: 23/01/2024

CD 1 Digipak Remastered Recommend To A Friend

BILL EVANS ~ EVANS IN ENGLAND RESONANCE 2037 (Barcode: 712758040329) ~ USA ~ Jazz Recorded: 1969 Released: 2019 This is an archival live album by American pianist / composer Bill EvansFind albums by this artist, recorded in a trio setting with bassist Eddie GomezFind albums by this artist and drummer Marty MorellFind albums by this artist. The music was recorded illegally in December, 1969 at the Ronnie Scott’s Club in London by a French fan who followed Evans to attend all his European concerts and record them on a mobile tape recorder. The 2CD album presents eighteen tracks, six of which are original compositions by Evans and the rest are standards. This particular Bill Evans trio was the longest lasting of his trios (1968-1974) and his collaboration with Gomez (1968-1977) was the longest lasting cooperation with a bassist, and this album, recorded about a year after this trio was formed, explains why it lasted so long. The telepathic rapport between the trio members is absolutely unique and the way they share the stage is absolutely beyond human. Despite the fact that the music was recorded using a single microphone, the sound quality is perfect as far as live recordings are concerned, with an intimate closeness to the source and good balance between the piano and the bass, which is often totally botched by professionals recording live, especially piano trios. As it turns out it was absolutely worth the fifty years’ wait to be able to hear these recordings. Overall, this is another archival Bill Evans albums released by the ResonanceFind albums on this label label, which brings to life previously unreleased recordings by the piano Genius, which of course immediately becomes an essential piece of every Evans’ collector music library. Although the same tunes are already available on other albums, live and studio, Evan’s touch and the trio’s symbiosis are worth being listened to in every possible shape and form.

Updated: 02/06/2023Posted: 02/06/2023

CD 2 Digipak Remastered Recommend To A Friend

BILL EVANS ~ MORNING GLORY: THE 1973 CONCERT AT THE TEATRO GRAN REX, BUENOS AIRES RESONANCE 2061 (Barcode: 617270122761) ~ USA ~ Jazz Recorded: 1973 Released: 2022 This is another archival album by the greatest Jazz pianist of all time, Bill EvansFind albums by this artist, recorded with his trio with bassist Eddie GomezFind albums by this artist and drummer Marty MorellFind albums by this artist. The 2CD album presents thirteen tracks, recorded on June 24, 1973, at the peak of Evans’ creative power. This album is a companion release to the album “Inner Spirit: The 1979 Concert At The Teatro General San Martin, Buenos AiresFind albums with this title”, which was recorded six years later with the last trio. It also features an extended booklet with interviews with Gomez, Morell and others, superb historic photographs and other background information. The album offers absolutely brilliant sound recording quality, with every little nuance perfectly audible, which of course adds the pleasure of listening to the music. As usual, the brilliant telepathic communication between the trio members prevails over everything. Evans’ trios were always an exquisite example of collective music creation, and although Evans was at the center of attention, the role of creating the music and the responsibility was equally spread between the trio members, in contrast to the usual leader / sidemen formula. These recordings, made with his longest lasting trio (six years 1968-1974), show Evans at his best, full of lyricism and sophisticated delicate touch on the keyboard. Gomez’s incredible support on the bass is absolutely stunning, a true soul brother and musical companion to Evans, as is the intricate playing by Morell. Overall, this is a wonderful addition to the Bill Evans recorded legacy, covering his live appearances in Argentina. For the many Evans’ followers it is of course a must, and although it does not reveal anything previously not captured on record, it is certainly a superb piece of Jazz history.

Updated: 08/05/2024Posted: 08/05/2024

CD 2 Digipak Remastered Recommend To A Friend

BILL EVANS ~ INNER SPIRIT: THE 1979 CONCERT AT THE TEATRO GENERAL SAN MARTIN, BUENOS AIRES RESONANCE 2062 (Barcode: 617270122808) ~ USA ~ Jazz Recorded: 1979 Released: 2022 This is another archival album by the greatest Jazz pianist of all time, Bill EvansFind albums by this artist, recorded with his last trio with bassist Marc JohnsonFind albums by this artist and drummer Joe LaBarberaFind albums by this artist. The 2CD album presents thirteen tracks, recorded on September 27, 1979, almost exactly a year before Evans’ untimely death. This album is a companion release to the album “Morning Glory: The 1973 Concert At The Teatro Gran Rex, Buenos AiresFind albums with this title”, which was recorded six years earlier with a different trio. It also features an extended booklet with interviews with Johnson, LaBarbera and others and other background information. The album offers absolutely brilliant sound recording quality, with every little nuance perfectly audible, which of course adds the pleasure of listening to this album. As usual, the brilliant telepathic communication between the trio members prevails over everything. Evans’ trios were always an exquisite example of collective music creation, and although Evans was at the center of attention, the role of creating the music and the responsibility was equally spread between the trio members, in contrast to the usual leader / sidemen formula. These late recordings with his last trio show Evans still at his best, but quite different from his classic earlier recordings, with much more intense and almost “busy” playing, far from the delicate, lyrical performances in his earlier days. Johnson’s incredible support on the bass is absolutely stunning, although again very different from his predecessors in the trio, as is the energetic playing by LaBarbera. Overall, this is a wonderful addition to the Bill Evans recorded legacy, covering his live appearances in Argentina. For the many Evans’ followers it is of course a must, and although it does not reveal anything previously not captured on record, it is certainly a superb piece of Jazz history.

Updated: 01/03/2024Posted: 01/03/2024

CD 2 Digipak Remastered Recommend To A Friend

CHARLES MINGUS ~ THE LOST ALBUM FROM RONNIE SCOTT`S RESONANCE 2063 (Barcode: 617270122846) ~ USA ~ Jazz Recorded: 1972 Released: 2022 This is an archival 3CD album by American bassist / composer / bandleader Charles MingusFind albums by this artist, recorded live at the Ronnie Scott’s club in London during Mingus’ residence there on August 14 and 15, 1972. The music is performed by a sextet, which comprises of Mingus on bass with trumpeter Jon FaddisFind albums by this artist, saxophonists Charles McPhersonFind albums by this artist and Bobby JonesFind albums by this artist, pianist John FosterFind albums by this artist and drummer Roy BrooksFind albums by this artist. The album presents only nine tracks, since three tracks last half an hour and more and another one about twenty minutes. The material presents extended version of iconic Mingus’ compositions. Also included is an impressive 64-pages booklet with great photographs, an essay by British Jazz historian / writer Brian Priestley and interviews with musicians from Mingus’ ensembles. The music is a wonderful document of Mingus and his modus operandi during his late period, which included expanded versions of his classic compositions, like those included herein, with a significant freedom allowed to the band members to improvise in various settings, like solo, duo, trios and so on, periodically returning to the main theme and then floating away again and again. The fact that the album was released fifty years after this music was recorded proves how far-thinking and everlasting this music was and still is today. There is of course plenty of opportunities for the individual musicians to show their chops, and it is one of the latest recordings featuring Mingus soloing extensively, before his illness limited his performing abilities. The album offers excellent sound quality and was recorded properly on a multitrack equipment, and the source material was excellently remastered. Overall, this is a classic Mingus recording, which represents his genius as player, composer, bandleader and a Jazz visionary, who always knew exactly what he wanted to say in his music and offered an unwavering dedication to his vision of Jazz, often against the “Jazz establishment” at home. For Mingus many fans and followers, this is an absolute must have in their collection of his recordings, but all true Jazz lovers should find this fascinating. There was, after all, only one Charles Mingus…

Updated: 24/03/2024Posted: 24/03/2024

CD 3 Mini-Sleeve Remastered Recommend To A Friend

SONNY ROLLINS ~ FREEDOM WEAVER: THE 1959 EUROPEAN TOUR RECORDINGS RESONANCE 2065 (Barcode: 617270122860) ~ USA ~ Jazz Recorded: 1959 Released: 2024 This is an archival live album by the American Saxophone Colossus - Sonny RollinsFind albums by this artist, recorded on a trio setting during his 1959 European Tour, with bassist Henry GrimesFind albums by this artist and drummers Pete La RocaFind albums by this artist, Joe HarrisFind albums by this artist or Kenny ClarkeFind albums by this artist (all four are sadly not with us anymore). The tour spanned Sweden, Switzerland, Holland, Germany and France and the 3CD album presents twenty-six tracks, recorded at radio, concert halls and a club and the sound quality of these recordings is absolutely stunning. As usual with the ResonanceFind albums on this label label releases, the album is accompanied by extensive booklet with in-depth interviews and articles by musicians and critics and brilliant photographs. It was 1959 and Bebop was still the King of jazz, but Rollins was never playing exactly by the “rules”, so these tracks beautifully depict how cleverly and ingeniously he bends the established trends tradition and does his own thing. Especially interesting are the three tracks on CD3, which are all between fifteen and almost twenty minutes long and offer Rollins playing super-long solos of the finest possible quality. The fact that all the music was recorded in Europe, where the response to Jazz in general, and advanced forms of it in particular, were warmly embraced and appreciated, in contrast to what happened in the US at the time, is probably why the atmosphere is obviously warm and receptive. I talked to Rollins about this during my telephone conversation with him a while ago, about his recordings in Finland, and he also expressed his appreciation of the European audiences. In a short interview included on CD1 Rollins explains why he decided to play in a saxophone trio format, which was highly unusual at the time. Some of these tracks have been available in bootleg form, but this is the first time the entire 1959 European Tour is available together in exquisite sound quality and with proper care and respect. It is also remarkable that there is very little repetition as far as the compositions are concerned, although all the music was recorded within the span of nine days between March 2 and March 11, 1959. What an incredible level of creativity. Overall, this is an incredible piece of Jazz history and a sublime collection of music by one of the finest and greatest Godfathers of the genre. Regardless of how many albums by Rollins one already owns in one’s collection, this album is an absolute and essential must have!

Updated: 03/01/2025Posted: 03/01/2025

CD 3 Mini-Sleeve Remastered Essential Recommend To A Friend