Record Reviews

CELLULA INTERNATIONAL ~ JAZZISSIMO INDIES HAPPY TRAILS 632 (Barcode: 8595026663220) ~ CZECH REPUBLIC ~ Jazz Recorded: 1981 Released: 2008 Trumpeter / composer / bandleader Laco DecziFind albums by this artist is one of the founding fathers of Czechoslovak Jazz. He has been active on the local scene since the 1960s, leading many excellent ensembles, which included the best local players and often also guest from abroad. The names of his ensemble changed often, usually being a variation on the Jazz CellulaFind albums by this artist motif (like Jazz CelulaFind albums by this artist, Cellula InternationalFind albums by this artist, etc.). This album presents the ensemble in a quintet format, with two guest musicians from the USA: trombonist Sonny CostanzoFind albums by this artist and drummer Dave WecklFind albums by this artist (before his rise to fame) and two Czech players: guitarist Zdenek DvorakFind albums by this artist and bassist Frantisek UhlirFind albums by this artist. This is a live recording in a Prague Jazz club. They perform three original compositions, two of which are by the leader, and two standards. The performances are excellent from start to finish and this is a first-rate document of the Jazz behind the Iron Curtain at the time. Wholeheartedly recommended! Side Note Since the 1950s Czechoslovakia had a highly developed Jazz scene, certainly in proportion to its population, which included many successful ensembles and even Big Bands, as well as Jazz clubs, festivals and publications, all this in spite of state censorship and political limitations. The similar situation existed since the 1960s as far as Rock (including Progressive Rock and Jazz-Rock Fusion) was concerned, resulting in many excellent, interesting and innovative ensembles. The music was relatively well documented by the three state owned record labels: SupraphonFind albums on this label (founded in 1927), PantonFind albums on this label (founded in 1968) and OpusFind albums on this label (founded in 1971 and based in Bratislava, created on the base of Slovak division of Supraphon). Following the "Velvet Revolution" in 1989, the state owned record labels were privatized, with Supraphon dominating the local market. However, Supraphon was quite reluctant as far as exploring its vast back catalogue is concerned, and this is where the small independent Indies Happy TrailsFind albums on this label Records, a reissue label dedicated to the preservation of the recorded legacy of Czechoslovak music, owned and run by the devoted enthusiast / historian Jaromir KratochvilFind albums by this artist, founded in 2007, comes in. Over the years the label released a plethora of brilliant music, reissuing long deleted LPs and extensively exploring the archives in search of bonus material. The quest of Indies Happy Trails is similar to what the GADFind albums on this label Records label, run by Michal WilczynskiFind albums by this artist, is doing for Polish music, with similar consistency and praiseworthy dedication.

Updated: 28/02/2020Posted:

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