Record Reviews

MICHAEL GIBBS ~ MICHAEL GIBBS / TANGLEWOOD 63 VOCALION 4253 (Barcode: 765387425326) ~ UK ~ Jazz Recorded: 1969 - 1970 Released: 2005 Composer / arranger / bandleader / trombonist Michael GibbsFind albums by this artist was born in Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe). In his early twenties he moved to the US, where he studied both Jazz and Classical music at the Berklee College of Music, the Boston Conservatory and the Tanglewood Institute, where he studied with renowned classical composers Aaron CoplandFind albums by this artist and Lukas FossFind albums by this artist. In 1965 Gibbs settled in London and immediately was absorbed into the burgeoning local Jazz scene, first as a trombonist, and later when he stopped to play the instrument, as a composer, arranger and bandleader. Over the years he assembled an impressive body of work as a composer, which has been considered as some of the most innovative and daring forays into the fusion of Classical, Jazz and Rock. He recorded many of his compositions using large ensembles, which comprised of the best British and later also European Jazz musicians, all of which are considered masterpieces. He also composed music for cinema and created many incredible arrangements for albums in the Rock and Jazz areas. This album combines his two first albums, composed for and performed by huge ensembles including brass, string and rhythm sections and including around 30 musicians. The names of the participants resemble the “who’s who” of the British Jazz scene at the time and the main soloists are: Chris SpeddingFind albums by this artist, Ray RussellFind albums by this artist (guitar), Kenny WheelerFind albums by this artist (trumpet), Alan SkidmoreFind albums by this artist, John SurmanFind albums by this artist, Mike OsborneFind albums by this artist (sax), Gordon BeckFind albums by this artist (piano), Jack BruceFind albums by this artist, Brian OdgersFind albums by this artist (bass), Tony OxleyFind albums by this artist, John MarshallFind albums by this artist (drums) and many more. The music is quite incredible of course, very difficult to classify, as it flows between genres and musical landscapes disregarding any preconceptions. Gibbs is a master at creating an internal tension in his scores, which is often expressed by the role the brass and rhythm sections play against each other, with the brass section representing the jazzy elements and the rhythm section (especially the guitar) the rock elements. The music is often contemplative and moves slowly, similarly to many of the modern Classical music pieces, influenced obviously by the composer’s teachers and resembling sometimes even the work of Philip GlassFind albums by this artist. Definitely not easy listening, but a highly rewarding intellectual experience. For the lack of a better alternative I’ve decided to classify it under Jazz, but this music is truly beyond classification and constitutes a class of its own. Fascinating!

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