Record Reviews

ROB MCCONNELL / BOSS BRASS ~ PRESENT PERFECT MPS 4029759097280 (Barcode: 4029759097280) ~ CANADA ~ Jazz Recorded: 1979 Released: 2014 This is a reissue of a little known early album by Canadian trombonist / composer / bandleader Rob McConnellFind albums by this artist recorded with his Big Band called The Boss Brass. It presents six tracks, two of which are original compositions by McConnell and four are standards. All the Big Band arrangements are also by McConnell. The music is a classic example of Big Band music, beautifully and cleverly arranged and presenting the great Art of using the Big Band in order to create a diverse palette of moods and emphasizing the balance between the various sections of the Big Band, and of course featuring superb solo parts by the Big Band members. Although this Big Band does not feature any famous American Jazz musicians, the performances are all absolutely perfect, and as already mentioned above this is a true classic Big Band performance. The arrangements by McConnell are slightly more sophisticated than those by most American Big Bands still active at the time and the sound of the Boss Brass is closer to that of European Big Bands / Orchestras than typical American Big Bands, which relayed more on the individual skills of the Big Band members rather than on creating a creative, more complex band sound, like the one found here. This is timeless music and sounds as good today as it did at the time of the recording and Big Band fans should love this stuff to bits, especially since it has been out of circulation for so long. Great to have this back! 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: 27/05/2018Posted: 08/10/2016

CD 1 Slipcase Remastered Recommend To A Friend

SUPERSISTER ~ PRESENT FROM NANCY ESOTERIC 2056 (Barcode: 5013929715622) ~ NETHERLANDS ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 1970 Released: 2008 1st album by the brilliant Dutch band SupersisterFind albums by this artist, which almost singlehandedly were Europe´s answer to the British Canterbury scene. Often compared to Soft MachineFind albums by this artist (circa "ThirdFind albums with this title"), in fact the group is more comparable to later Canterbury groups like Matching MoleFind albums by this artist, Hatfield And The NorthFind albums by this artist, National HealthFind albums by this artist and even later CaravanFind albums by this artist, although chronologically they preceded these groups by several years. Obviously influenced by Soft Machine´s jazzy free improvisational excursions, the band was also influenced by many other experimental Rock (Frank ZappaFind albums by this artist), Jazz musicians and contemporary Classical composers. With the European Jazz scene rapidly developing to emancipate itself from the half-decade American domination, with Holland as one of the epicenters of the new European Jazz, the band was a reflection of the trends by the young European musicians to go elsewhere in search of their musical ventures. The stunning debut album by Supersister is a great example of spontaneity, daring and complete disregard for commercial consideration, all these of course on top of amazing talent and musicianship of its four band members. Similar to early Soft Machine the band did not include a guitarist, so the soloing is mostly done by the keyboardist and flute player, but the bass player and drummer had also a most significant role. Altogether this is a magnificent piece of music and a stunning debut album, worthy of an honorable place in any serious music collection. Essential listening experience!

CD 1 Remastered Bonus Tracks Essential Recommend To A Friend

VAN DER GRAAF GENERATOR ~ PRESENT VIRGIN 873579 (Barcode: 724387367920) ~ UK ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 2004 Released: 2005 This reunion album ranks among the most waited for, sensational and successful Prog events ever. The original Van Der Graaf GeneratorFind albums by this artist line-up - Hammill / Banton/ Evans / Jackson - locked themselves up for one week in the studio and came up with a result worthy of time tavel - there is almost no difference between this music and the music they created 30 years earlier, and I mean that in the good sense of course. One can hardly imagine a more rewarding experience for the many VDGG fans around the world.

CD 2 Recommend To A Friend