Record Reviews

JOE HARRIOTT ~ MOVEMENT / HIGH SPIRITS VOCALION 8486 (Barcode: 765387848620) ~ UK ~ Jazz Recorded: 1963 - 1964 Released: 2012 It´s always a great pleasure to see reissues of legendary albums, which have been unavailable for years, suddenly appear on the market out of the blue, making a dream come true for music lovers, who anxiously hoped for them to be finally available on CD, rather than mortgaging their homes in order to get an insanely expensive fifty years old vinyl. This is certainly true as far as these two albums by the British Jazz saxophonist Joe HarriottFind albums by this artist are concerned. Harriott, born in Jamaica, was one of several West Indian musicians, who arrived on the British scene, like trumpeter Shake KeaneFind albums by this artist, who became his close musical partner and plays on these two albums as well. By the early 1960s Harriott emerged as the most advanced pioneer of the new Jazz explorations, including Free Jazz, one of the first British musicians to embrace the concept of Free Form spontaneity in composition and performance. His absolutely incredible virtuosity as a player allowed him to achieve results unparalleled by any of his peers on the British scene at the time. His quintet included also pianist Pat SmytheFind albums by this artist, bassist Coleridge GoodeFind albums by this artist and drummer Bobby OrrFind albums by this artist, some of the finest British Jazz players at the time. Four members of this quintet (excluding Smythe of course) were also members of the various ensembles led by pianist / composer Michael GarrickFind albums by this artist at the same time. "MovementFind albums with this title", the first of the two albums included here, is a natural follow up to the two albums recorded earlier by Harriott: "Free FormFind albums with this title" and "AbstractFind albums with this title", which were full fledged Free Jazz releases. It includes nine original compositions, seven by Harriott and two by Garrick, which range stylistically between modern mainstream pieces and Free Form pieces, a rather unusual approach. The Free Form pieces are perhaps the most advanced Harriott´s excursions in that direction, but their overall impact of somewhat softened by the more conventional pieces present here. Nevertheless this is a brilliant piece of modern Jazz and an absolute milestone recording of the modern British Jazz legacy of that period. "High SpiritsFind albums with this title" is quite a surprise as it is completely "conventional", with the quintet playing modern Jazz arrangements of the themes composed for the musical show of the same name, which was being staged In UK and USA at the time. Here the listener gets the opportunity to hear Harriott, Keane and Smythe playing perfect solos, showing their respective talents. The overall performance is simply perfect in every possible meaning of the word, clearly showing that by that time European musicians could play Jazz as well as their American contemporaries, if not better. Considering the fact that Harriott´s recorded legacy is relatively limited, this new edition is simply a godsend. Beautifully remastered by Michael J. DuttonFind albums by this artist this reissue offers for the first time ever the stereo mixes of these two albums, never previously released, which is one more reason to grab them immediately without hesitation. Pure musical gold!

CD 2 Remastered Recommend To A Friend

ANDY SHEPPARD ~ MOVEMENTS IN COLOUR ECM 2062 (Barcode: 602517950429) ~ UK ~ Jazz-World Fusion Recorded: 2008 Released: 2009 This is the debut album on the ECMFind albums on this label label by British saxophonist Andy SheppardFind albums by this artist, who has a strong presence on the UK scene since the late 1980s (see his brilliant recordings on the ProvocateurFind albums on this label label) and is internationally known as a member of Carla BleyFind albums by this artist´s band. Sheppard composed all the music on this album, which is lyrical and melodic, but spiced with World Music elements and ambient / electronic effects, creating a unique and very interesting atmosphere. The quintet, which recorded the album comprises of an Anglo-Norwegian lineup, with Sheppard´s old colleague guitarist John ParricelliFind albums by this artist (see also his recordings on Provocateur), percussionist Kuljit BhamraFind albums by this artist, both from the UK of course and Norwegians: guitarist Eivind AarsetFind albums by this artist and bassist extraordinaire Arild AndersenFind albums by this artist. The usage of Indian tabla and percussion instead of regular drums adds a beautifully exotic mood to the music, which is moving and interesting. Recommended!

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