Record Reviews
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  | ARIK BEN KALIFA / MOGADOR ~ VOICES OF ELI
NOT ON LABEL ~ ISRAEL ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion
Recorded: 2006 Released: 2007
Israeli bassist / composer Arik Ben KalifaFind albums by this artist spent six years in the US studying upright bass with William BettesFind albums by this artist and electric bass with Stanley ClarkeFind albums by this artist while playing with local bands. Upon his return to Israel in 2004 Arik formed the MagadorFind albums by this artist quintet with his musical partner, guitarist Guy RamonFind albums by this artist and with three young and very talented musicians: Amiram GranotFind albums by this artist (saxophones & flute), Tomer MezamerFind albums by this artist (keyboards) and Stas ZilbermanFind albums by this artist (drums). The band recorded a demo album in 2004 and later this, their debut album, which to me is a major surprise, considering the fact that it is one of the best Fusion albums I’ve heard in a long time. The music, composed mostly by Arik (with a couple of tunes co-composed with Guy) is superbly melodic, incorporating the best Fusion traditions with subtle Middle-Eastern motifs, which is not surprising considering Arik’s cultural legacy - his Moroccan-born father was a traditional oud player. Each of the tunes on the album provides a great melodic basis for the improvisations by the band members and the album offers plenty of excellent solos. Driven by Arik’s pulsating bass lines, the music is full of joy and charm, a real listening pleasure. The sophisticated melodies and the brilliant performances turn this album into something that deserves to be heard and admired, as it is as good, if not better, as any other Fusion album recorded by world’s top players. Hearing stuff like this makes me proud to be an Israeli.
| | | CD-R 1 Recommend To A Friend |
  | CHARLES LLOYD ~ VOICE IN THE NIGHT
ECM 1674 (Barcode: 731455944525) ~ USA ~ Jazz
Recorded: 1998 Released: 1999
Legendary US saxophonist / composer Charles LloydFind albums by this artist continues his quest, now in the fifth decade of his activity, building up a legendary status as one of the most talented and original Jazz Masters. His accumulative legacy as a recording artist is truly immense, ranging from Bebop to Free, but his unique voicing and extraordinary sensitivity, both as a player and a composer, set him aside from most. Lloyd resumed his recording activity in the late 1980s on the ECMFind albums on this label label, where he released a series of wonderful albums, this one being a prime example of his abilities. The quartet consists of US guitarist John AbercrombieFind albums by this artist, British bassist Dave HollandFind albums by this artist and US drummer Billy HigginsFind albums by this artist. Together they perform six original compositions by Lloyd and two standards, all of which are truly moving. There is little need to encourage anybody to try this out, as people, who understand Jazz, already are more that convinced. Brilliant stuff!
Visitors' Comments
Christopher Brice
Very interesting interplay between Lloyd and Abercrombie, so that the guitarist merges more than usual with the other lead, and does not stick always to the trade mark Abercrombie style, sounding sometimes like Wes Montgomery and occasionally almost like Mark Knopfler!
| | Updated: 01/06/2018Posted: | CD 1 Slipcase Recommend To A Friend |
  | GARY PEACOCK ~ VOICE FROM THE PAST - PARADIGM
ECM 1210 (Barcode: 731451776823) ~ USA ~ Jazz
Recorded: 1981 Released: 1990
This great album by US bassist / composer Gary PeacockFind albums by this artist is a milestone achievement in his extensive career. Recorded with an all star quartet with Polish trumpeter Tomasz StankoFind albums by this artist, Norwegian saxophonist Jan GarbarekFind albums by this artist and his life-long partner drummer Jack DeJohnetteFind albums by this artist, the album presents six extended pieces, all composed by Peacock, beautifully executed by the participants. In retrospect this is one of the pivotal albums, which summarize the 1970s, which was perhaps the most creative period for Free Jazz, expanding upon the seeds planted a decade earlier by the pioneers of the genre. Most Jazz musicians in the 1980s were to return to the "roots", with modern mainstream experiencing a remarkable renaissance. But this album is still very much rooted in the Free Jazz tradition, with creative group improvisation and telepathic interplay are the main ingredients. Stanko´s input is simply breathtaking, which confirms the fact that he was at that time at one of his creative peaks. But all the musicians play incredibly well and the session displays creative fire of rare magnitude. In retrospect this is definitely on of the strongest albums of that period, sadly rarely mentioned as such. Brilliant stuff!
Visitors' Comments
Christopher Brice
Wonderful album indeed - Peacock is somewhat reminiscent of Barre Phillips on this (eg, Mountainscapes, w/John Surman). For me it is completely timeless, and does not sound like a throw-back to the 70s or any other specific time.
| | | CD 1 Recommend To A Friend |
  | RYBACKA / PASBORG ~ VOICE`N`DRUMS
HEVHETIA 0157 (Barcode: 8588005258203) ~ POLAND ~ Avant-Garde Jazz-Classical Fusion
Recorded: 2016 Released: 2017
This is the debut album by a duo comprising of Polish (resident in Denmark) vocalist Ania RybackaFind albums by this artist and Danish drummer Stefan PasborgFind albums by this artist. It presents eight improvised pieces co-credited to Rybacka and Pasborg.
The music is a courageous attempt to create meaningful aural experiences within the minimalistic setting of voice and drums only, which surprisingly works out very successfully. Obviously cross-genre and unconventional, the music encompasses many different ingredients, both melodically and rhythmically and is very difficult to pinpoint, which of course is its virtue. There are clearly elements of Jazz and Improvised music, but also World Music, Ambient, Meditative Music and others are involved.
Rybacka uses a plethora of wordless vocal techniques like looping, multiplexing, repetition and minimalistic Classical Music approach, creating a musical tapestry full of mysticism, anticipation and spirituality. Her level of inventiveness and exploration is awe inspiring and the album has no dull moments throughout its entire duration.
Pasborg is not only equally inventive and diverse in his contributions, but most importantly an equal partner in the process of creating this music. The interplay and telepathic dialogue that develops between the two Artists is nothing short of phenomenal.
Overall this Avant-Garde effort is a fascinating and intelligent exercise in expanding the boundaries of music, which in spite of its innovation and daring approach is also very listenable and even enjoyable. Of course, as usual in such cases, an open-minded attitude is required from the listener to be able first to accept and then to enjoy this music.
This is an important and highly recommended album, which proves that imagination has no limits and life does not have to be mundane and enslaved in the chains of archaic perceptions.
| | Updated: 12/04/2019Posted: 23/02/2018 | CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend |
  | HIROMI UEHARA ~ VOICE
TELARC 32819 ~ JAPAN ~ Jazz
Recorded: 2010 Released: 2011
This is the seventh album by the extraordinary Japanese pianist / composer Hiromi UeharaFind albums by this artist, and the first recording with her current trio (called The Trio ProjectFind albums by this artist) with the wonderful veteran American bassist Anthony JacksonFind albums by this artist and the outstanding British drummer Simon PhillipsFind albums by this artist. The album comprises of eight original compositions, all by Hiromi, and an interpretation of a Classical piece (Ludwig van BeethovenFind albums by this artist´s piano sonata No. 8, "Pathetique").
During the last decade since Hiromi first "exploded" on the scene, drawing immediate attention, she managed to produce an extensive body of work of outstanding quality, which has very few, if any, parallels. Immensely gifted as a composer and blessed by virtuosic piano ability, in addition to her personal charm, beauty and above all heavenly smile, she is talent incarnate. Her studio albums, live videos and cooperation projects with other musicians, like Chick CoreaFind albums by this artist, Stanley ClarkeFind albums by this artist and others are all examples of her versatility and limitless abilities.
Hiromi´s output with this particular trio is some of her best, which is not surprising considering the level of experience and talent of her rhythm section. Jackson´s electric bass pulsations are funky and wonderfully fill the space between the piano chords, always exactly on time and in tune, beautifully supportive and inventive at once. Phillips, who is a very "busy" and dynamic drummer, suits her quirky music perfectly, seemingly being all over the drum set as if he was an octopus. The unity, perfect match and obvious musical coherence and almost telepathic mutual understanding turn this trio into a "scary" music making machine.
Hiromi is often criticized for being "all over the place", both as a composer and a player, but this kind of critique is completely senseless. She can play faster and more accurately than most, and her music is multi-layered, with melodic lines and funky rhythm vamps co-existing logically and harmonically. Therefore one can suspect that most of any criticism towards her is primarily motivated by envy.
This trio can be seen and heard playing live on the "Live In MarciacFind albums with this title" DVD, which was recorded a few months later, performing mostly material from this album. Obviously Hiromi fans need no special arguments to grab this one ASAP, those who are still unfamiliar with her wonderful output should not waste any more time ignoring her, just give her a chance and you won´t regret it. Superb stuff!
| | | CD 1 Recommend To A Friend |
  | PIOTR WOJTASIK ~ VOICES
INDYGO 003 (Barcode: 5907222872024) ~ POLAND ~ Avant-Garde Jazz-Classical Fusion
Recorded: 2020 Released: 2022
This is the third album by Polish Jazz trumpeter / composer / bandleader / educator Piotr WojtasikFind albums by this artist, released on his IndygoFind albums on this label Records label. The album was recorded with the Choir of the White Stork Synagogue in Wroclaw, conducted by Stanislaw RybarczykFind albums by this artist, vocalist Magdalena ZawartkoFind albums by this artist, harpist Julia ZiembinskaFind albums by this artist and the members of Wojtasik’s quintet: saxophonist Marcin KaletkaFind albums by this artist, pianist Michal TokajFind albums by this artist, bassist Michal BaranskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Kazimierz JonkiszFind albums by this artist. The album presents six original compositions by Wojtasik, one co-composed with Sylwester OstrowskiFind albums by this artist. The music was superbly recorded at the RecPublica Studios and offers a sublime quality, balance and clarity of sound.
The music reflects the deep sorrow and personal anguish of Wojtasik, which resulted from the tragic circumstances surrounding his life at the time. As such it is quite different from the “usual” mainstream Jazz, spiced with Gospel, that dominated his earlier recordings, and this time is absolutely drenched in melancholy and painful lyricism, showing a new facet of his musical identity.
The use of the Choir is absolutely perfect for the music and the amalgamation of its sound into the fabric of the compositions is nothing short of perfection. The Jazzy aspects, as reflected by the soloing of the quintet members follow suit smoothly, with sympathetic echoing of the somber atmosphere. Wojtasik, Kaletka and Tokaj are highly experienced players and perform as expected, as is the brilliant rhythm section, which keeps everything in a clear framework.
The biggest surprise of the album are actually the vocal contributions, both those by the Choir but even more so by Zawartko, who is simply sensationally brilliant. Since her arrival on the scene a few years ago, she never stops to amaze and her other recordings are all worth checking out.
Overall, this is a beautiful album, full of melancholy and glumness, but nevertheless offering a moving aesthetic experience, beautiful melodies and heartfelt performances by all the participants. Hopefully making this album was, at least partly, a process of healing and time will do the rest to make things better. Wojtasik has never made a bad album in his life and this is a proof that he does not mean to lower his standards, come what may. My heart is with you my Friend!
| | Updated: 04/06/2022Posted: 04/06/2022 | CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend |
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