Record Reviews

RANDY BRECKER & MATS HOLMQUIST / UMO ~ TOGETHER MAMA 1056 (Barcode: 734956105624) ~ SWEDEN ~ Big Band Jazz Recorded: 2018 Released: 2018 This is a wonderful Big Band Jazz album, which features American trumpeter Randy BreckerFind albums by this artist, Swedish composer / arranger / conductor Mats HolmquistFind albums by this artist and the Finnish UMOFind albums by this artist Jazz Orchestra. The album presents nine tracks, five of which are composed and arranged by Holmquist, three are composed by Chick CoreaFind albums by this artist and arranged by Holmquist and one is a standard arranged by him. UMO Jazz Orchestra has been one of my favorite Big Bands since forever and the performances captured here affirm this lasting admiration. Brecker solos brilliantly on each and every track, sharing soloing duties with other UMO band members and the Orchestra plays like one organic body, despite the fact that the players are constantly rejuvenated with “new blood” from the local Finnish scene. Holmquist compositions and arrangements are a quintessential amalgam of the American Big Band tradition and the European Orchestral Jazz approach, where the sound is meant to be organic as an ensemble rather than just soloist supported / accompanied by an orchestra. The music is all within the mainstream Jazz boundaries, highly melodic and perfectly organized both harmonically and rhythmically, but the sound is modern and the performances heartwarming, creating a superb listening experience. The Corea pieces offer a new perspective on his compositions, which alone are worth the price of the album. Overall, this is an excellent, although somewhat conservative Big Band album, which is honey on the ears of Orchestral Jazz lovers. Brecker fans will find him in top form of course, playing in different moods, which is always highly rewarding. Heartwarming music for warm summer nights (or winter nights by a fireplace). Delightful!

Updated: 05/03/2022Posted: 05/03/2022

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

KARIN KROG / STEVE KUHN ~ TOGETHER AGAIN GRAPPA 4247 (Barcode: 7033662042470) ~ NORWAY ~ Jazz Recorded: 2005 Released: 2006 This is a duo album by Norwegian Jazz vocalist Karin KrogFind albums by this artist and American Jazz pianist Steve KuhnFind albums by this artist. The album presents ten songs, all classic Jazz standards. The music was recorded at the legendary Rainbow Studio in Oslo and engineered by Jan Erik KongshaugFind albums by this artist. During her long-lasting career Krog established close working relationships in several duo settings with top Jazz musicians, most notably with British saxophonist John SurmanFind albums by this artist and Kuhn, which resulted in a series of wonderful duo recordings, of which this is a prime example. The wonderful, naked format of human voice accompanied just by acoustic piano is one of the purest and most pristine examples of making music, which although intimate and modest can become infinitely rich and deeply moving. Kuhn is of course one of the greatest accompanists out there, known for his work with Sheila JordanFind albums by this artist and other vocalists, and his playing is simply divine. Combined with the Krog’s warm voice and her idiosyncratic interpretations of the songs, the duo is able to move mountains and make even the toughest listeners to shed a proverbial tear. Kuhn’s deeply lyrical approach to melody and the wealth of his piano technique is extraordinary and every note produced by him on the piano is absolutely perfect, in tone, volume and relationship to the vocals. Overall, this is a masterful showcase of the piano / vocals Jazz idiom, perfect from the first note to the last, and deserving repeated listening sessions over time. When the world gets particularly gloomy and sad, this album might just be the last resort…

Updated: 29/08/2021Posted: 29/08/2021

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

SZYMON MIKA ~ TOGETHERNESS HEVHETIA 0175 (Barcode: 8588005258425) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2017 Released: 2018 This is the second album by the Polish Jazz guitarist / composer Szymon MikaFind albums by this artist, recorded, same as the debut album, in an intimate trio format with bassist Max MuchaFind albums by this artist and Israeli drummer Ziv RavitzFind albums by this artist. Three guest musicians appear on selected tracks: vocalist Basia DerlakFind albums by this artist, who also contributed the lyrics to the four songs she appears on, Joachim MencelFind albums by this artist who plays the hurdy-gurdy on three tracks and pianist Mateusz PalkaFind albums by this artist, who plays on five tracks. The album presents eleven original compositions, all by Mika. It album was beautifully recorded at the Monochrom Studio and engineered by Maciej StachFind albums by this artist. The music on this album is decidedly more diverse and shows a more searching attitude than the excellent debut album, which is very encouraging and promising development. There are obvious World Music influences present in this music, but also openness and noticeable reach beyond mainstream Jazz, which was still the core of the debut album. Mucha and Ravitz are ideal partners in this quest for new identity, both of them being unconventional in their approach to music and exceptionally gifted, providing exquisite support to Mika´s lead parts and building a solid, but adventurous, rhythmic layer behind him. The four vocal tracks are also quite surprising and show another facet of Mika´s talent. Derlak sings in Polish, which is already a good starting point, and handles the relatively complex music with ease and obvious flair. Her Folksy mannerisms are a nice addition to the Jazz setting and I´d love to hear more of her in such setting. The tracks with Mencel and Palka, when the ensemble becomes a quintet (or even sextet with the addition of vocals) are somewhat different form the trio tracks, offering more conventional melody lines and ambience and adding to the overall diversity and fluency of the album as a whole. Overall the album is a clear and elegant step forward for Mika in many respects: as a composer, a bandleader and a guitarist. He joins the ranks of the new generation of Polish Jazz musicians, who are gradually taking over the center of the stage both in Poland and in Europe. Kudos are also due to the Slovak HevhetiaFind albums on this label label, which is rapidly becoming one of the most important, open minded and active record labels in Europe and manages to expand its roster of artist to include many of the young generation´s top artists, including neighbors from across the Tatra Mountains, and support them loyally. Wholeheartedly recommended!

Updated: 11/08/2018Posted: 11/08/2018

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

POLYPHONIC SPREE ~ TOGETHER WE`RE HEAVY (DVD-A) DTS 01118 ~ USA ~ Classic Rock 2nd album from 2004 by this US so-called `Symphonic Pop` band. With their 24 members line-up they do create a BIG sound, which sounds even more incredible in Surround Sound. Stylistically the group is a truly retro experience, which sounds like 1960s psychedelia, but with 21st century recording technology. Some great songs and some corny lyrics, but for all of us die-hard hippies this is great fun!

CD 1 DVD-A Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend