Record Reviews

ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND ~ IDLEWILD SOUTH (45TH ANNIVERSARY SUPER DELUXE EDITION) MERCURY 602547346476 (Barcode: 602547346476) ~ USA ~ Pop & Rock Recorded: 1970 Released: 2015 This is a remastered / expanded reissue of "Idlewild SouthFind albums with this title", the second studio album by The Allman Brothers BandFind albums by this artist, originally released in September 1970. The Allman Brothers Band was America´s greatest ever Rock band, which combined superb songwriting, instrumental virtuosity and Rock improvisation in a way that no other American band was able to reiterate ever since. This edition adds five bonus tracks (two outtakes and two alternate takes, all previously unreleased, and a mono single version of one of the album´s songs). In addition this edition also includes the monumental live album "Live At Ludlow Garage 1970Find albums with this title", expanded by one previously unreleased track, which lasts about fifteen minutes. Considering the fact that the live album, recorded on April 11, 1970 (it was released only in 1990), was captured for posterity during the recording sessions of "Idlewild South", which lasted between February and July of 1970, produced by the legendary Tom DowdFind albums by this artist, it is an integral part of the band´s musical statement at that point of time and combining these two albums here makes perfect sense. The personnel on both albums features guitarist Duane AllmanFind albums by this artist, guitarist Dickey BettsFind albums by this artist, keyboardist / vocalist Gregg AllmanFind albums by this artist, bassist Berry OakleyFind albums by this artist, drummer Jai Johanny JohansonFind albums by this artist (a.k.a. JaimoeFind albums by this artist) and drummer Butch TrucksFind albums by this artist. The studio album also features harmonica / percussion player Thom DoucetteFind albums by this artist. Most of the material performed by the band was written by Gregg Allman, Duane Allman and Betts, but included also the band´s versions of classic Blues anthems. In addition to the studio and live albums, this set also includes a Blu-Ray Pure Audio disc, with high definition sound mixes of the studio album and the four unreleased outtakes / alternate takes. Also included is an in-depth essay about the band by John LynskeyFind albums by this artist, with many photographs and detailed information about this set´s contents. This set in only the second best piece of music by The Allman Brothers Band, next to the celebrated "The 1971 Fillmore East RecordingsFind albums with this title", the recently expanded live album, which is absolutely the best live Rock album of all times. They don´t make music like that any more, that is a fact, and therefore the best we can do is listen for what the past left us as a legacy of our generation´s Culture. Thanks to the miracle of sound recording, even if music (and our Culture) continues to disintegrate as it does now, there is enough great music already recorded to last for eternity. This is just one of the eternal treasures.

Updated: 29/01/2019Posted: 30/05/2016

3CD+DVD 4 Mini-Sleeve Remastered Bonus Tracks Essential Recommend To A Friend

MICHAL CHWALA ~ IDI SJ 049 (Barcode: 5912596066856) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 2019 Released: 2019 This is the debut album by Polish Jazz guitarist / composer Michal ChwalaFind albums by this artist recorded in a sextet setting with vocalist Paulina Maczka-MichotaFind albums by this artist, saxophonist Michal LukaFind albums by this artist, keyboardist Maciej ChwalaFind albums by this artist, bassist Artur SiejkaFind albums by this artist and drummer Kamil KuklaFind albums by this artist. The album presents eight tracks, all original compositions by Michal Chwala arranged by all the members of the sextet. The music is a deeply melodic and excellently put together Fusion, superbly performed by the sextet members. The compositions are well crafted and coherent, ideally suited for the idiom and the instrumental exhibitionism that characterizes it. Some of the compositions offer a multi-themed and rhythmically diverse structures, which make the music more interesting than most of the “usual” Fusion outings. The usage of the vocalese treated as one of the instruments is also a nice novelty. Considering the limitations of Fusion as a genre and the fact that everything that the genre had to offer was already said fifty years ago, this album still holds water and has some nice, enjoyable music to offer, and combined with the obvious talents of the composer and the instrumentalists / vocalist it is definitely a most entertaining affair, certainly as good, if not better than similar efforts released all over the world. Personally I had a blast listening to this album (oh well, I am a dinosaur who experienced Fusion at first hand) and can wholeheartedly recommend this album to the diehard fans of the genre, but I also hope these young musicians will discover more ambitious music in time.

Updated: 31/05/2021Posted: 31/05/2021

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ANNA MARIA JOPEK ~ ID (POLISH EDITION) UNIVERSAL 602517348424 (Barcode: 602517348424) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-World Fusion Recorded: 2006 - 2007 Released: 2007 Twelve brilliant albums in just ten years are surely an awe-inspiring record for even a most accomplished musician. Polish singer / composer / lyricist extraordinare Anna Maria JopekFind albums by this artist (a.k.a. AMJFind albums by this artist) seems to be unstoppable in her continuous path towards a secure position in the Pantheon of contemporary Jazz vocal achievements. Classically trained (at The Warsaw Music Academy) as a concert pianist, her Jazz singing was a second career opportunity, inspired by her stint at the Manhattan School of Music. The world of Jazz opened an entire new universe, which she embraced wholeheartedly and never looked back. Stars certainly smiled upon her as her career in her native Poland literally exploded, with her albums reaching Gold and Platinum sales one after another. Her big international break happened when Pat MethenyFind albums by this artist agreed to record an album with AMJ entitled "UpojenieFind albums with this title" (note also Metheny’s memorable cooperation with Israeli singer NoaFind albums by this artist a.k.a. Achinoam NiniFind albums by this artist). This opened a gate for AMJ to cooperate with many more world-class musicians, as demonstrated on this album. AMJ sings mostly songs she either wrote herself or were written by her husband / musical soul mate Marcin KydrynskiFind albums by this artist. Over the years the couple created a vast songbook, which deserves praise and admiration for it’s consistent quality. This album is in many respects a glorious expansion of AMJ’s already remarkable accomplishments. The creative process took over a year until fruition, with recordings in studios located across Poland, Paris and New York, with tragic personal events lurking in the background, which inevitably had a momentous influence on the outcome. The list of participating musicians is very impressive and includes such renowned Jazz and World Music artists as saxophonist Branford MarsalisFind albums by this artist (his solos are a sweet reminder of his fabulous work alongside StingFind albums by this artist), percussionist Mino CineluFind albums by this artist, bassist Christian McBrideFind albums by this artist, bassist Richard BonaFind albums by this artist, singer and oud player Dhafer YoussefFind albums by this artist, singer and guitarist Oscar Castro NevesFind albums by this artist and percussionist Manu KatchéFind albums by this artist. Top Polish players like Robert MajewskiFind albums by this artist (flugelhorn) and Leszek MozdzerFind albums by this artist (piano) also participate, alongside AMJ’s regulars: Pawel Bzim ZareckiFind albums by this artist (keyboards), Marcin Kydrynski (guitar) and Marek NapiórkowskiFind albums by this artist (guitar). The music (as already mentioned) is an extension of AMJ’s existing repertoire, with the usual deeply lyrical / melancholic ballads and highly expressive vocal improvisations beautifully spiced with World Music elements. Vocal duets with the African / Middle-Eastern motifs sung by Youssef are among the best of the kind ever attempted. Although profoundly melodic, AMJ’s music is full of surprises, with ever changing rhythm patterns, unusual harmonies and intelligent instrumentation. Songs are often multi-layered and complex technically, but the overall effect is easy on the ear and goes straight into the listener’s heart. This fantastic talent to weave this musical tapestry is something I admire in AMJ above all her many virtues. Of course her outstanding delivery is right on the money time after time. Regardless of the mood, tempo or harmony, her deep voice modulating between whisper and shout remains clear, expressive, sexy and enchanting. The entire album is very skillfully put together, with exceptional sound quality and superb recording. Definitely a masterpiece of contemporary Jazz-World Fusion and an essential piece of evidence pointing to the fact that music (and Art in general) know no bounds, no borders and no limits. 100 % Brilliant! Side Note: This is a Polish edition of the album. Apparently an international edition (with different contents) is due to be released later this year. Well, I can’t wait to put my hands on that. BTW the album went Platinum in Poland just 3 weeks after its release – apparently I’m not the only person who loves this stuff.

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KEN VANDERMARK / OLES BROTHERS ~ IDEAS NOT TWO 765 (Barcode: 5907589871654) ~ USA ~ Free Jazz / Improvised Music Recorded: 2005 Released: 2005 This is a an album by American saxophonist / clarinetist / composer Ken VandermarkFind albums by this artist, recorded in a trio setting with Polish rhythm section comprising of bassist / composer Marcin OlesFind albums by this artist and drummer / composer Bartlomiej OlesFind albums by this artist, collectively known as Oles BrothersFind albums by this artist. The album presents ten original compositions, all co-composed by all three members of the trio. Vandermark enjoyed enormous popularity in the Polish Free Jazz circles, playing often in Poland with his American ensembles and groups featuring local musicians and recording dozens of albums over time, which were consequently released in Poland. That popularity was certainly way beyond the popularity Vandermark enjoyed in his home base in Chicago or in the US in general and remains an anomaly in the Polish Jazz history, the only explanation of which is the notorious Polish inferiority complex, which awards to American musicians the rank of God, which in most cases is completely mislead. This particular recording is definitely one of the best recordings by Vandermark made in Poland, which has to be credited to the wonderful contributions made by the Oles Brothers herein, which manage to tame Vandermark´s often chaotic statements and achieve a melancholic and deeply moving statement by the trio. Both the saxophone and clarinet statements are subdued and introvert, superbly supported by the sensitive, elegant and highly aesthetic performances by the rhythm section. The rhythm section is by no means constrained to provide the rhythmic patterns, but actually performs on the same level with the soloist, in perfect conceptual unison. Although the music is credited to the trio, listeners familiar with the work of Oles Brothers will surely recognize their compositional patterns in most of the compositions present here, with Vandermark´s contribution being less detectable. Overall this is an excellent contemporary Jazz with some Free and Improvised Music elements but on the whole completely accessible by most Jazz connoisseurs. This is definitely not a very typical Vandermark statement, which of course works for the best. Highly recommended and I urge everybody to get a copy before this gem gets out of print.

Updated: 01/05/2017Posted: 01/05/2017

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