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  | ANDREW HILL ~ THE COMPLETE REMASTERED RECORDINGS ON BLACK SAINT & SOUL NOTE
CAM JAZZ 1039 (Barcode: 8052405141866) ~ USA ~ Free Jazz / Improvised Music
Recorded: 1980 - 1986 Released: 2015
This superb Box Set collects recordings by the legendary American pianist / composer Andrew HillFind albums by this artist released on the Black SaintFind albums on this label and Soul NoteFind albums on this label labels. It includes four albums, two of which are solo piano recordings: "Faces Of HopeFind albums with this title" and "Verona RagFind albums with this title". The album "Strange SerenadeFind albums with this title" was recorded in a trio setting with bassist Alan SilvaFind albums by this artist and drummer Freddie WaitsFind albums by this artist. The album "ShadesFind albums with this title" was recorded in a trio / quartet setting with saxophonist Clifford JordanFind albums by this artist, bassist Rufus ReidFind albums by this artist and drummer Ben RileyFind albums by this artist. Most of the music was composed by Hill.
Hill is best known from a long stream of albums released on the Blue NoteFind albums on this label label in the 1960s, recorded with the top American players at the time, which show his brilliant technique and superb compositional talent. Later on Hill moved out of the Bebop and Post-bop traditions into more adventurous explorations, playing almost exclusively his own compositions, as documented on the albums included in this Box Set.
The music is still absolutely fresh and shows why Hill was so influential to generations of Jazz piano players and composers. This is definitely an important document of the American Free Jazz movement, which deserves to be preserved for posterity and which should serve as a source if inspiration to the young generation of contemporary Free Jazz artists.
Side Note
The Italian independent record label Black SaintFind albums on this label was founded by the music critic / author / producer Giacomo PellicciottiFind albums by this artist in 1975. It was taken over by the producer Giovanni BonandriniFind albums by this artist in 1978 and a year later (1979) a sister label, called Soul NoteFind albums on this label, was established. The twin labels were run by Giovanni and later his son Flavio BonandriniFind albums by this artist, until they were sold in 2008 to the Italian KEPACH Music Group, which already owned the CAM JazzFind albums on this label label, and which also bought another Italian independent record label Dischi Della QuerciaFind albums on this label.
The mission of the Black Saint / Soul Note labels was to record and document the Free Jazz / Improvised Music / Avant-Garde scene, mostly from the US but also from Europe, which continued between mid 1970s and late 1990s and produced a staggering collection of almost 550 albums recorded by world's most important Jazz innovators active at the time, providing an opportunity to American (mostly Afro-American) musicians, who would have never managed to make these recordings at home, ridden by racism, alienation and closed-mindedness. Without these two labels most of this fantastic human creativity would have been never documented.
However, the Black Saint / Soul Note Box Sets produced under the CAM JazzFind albums on this label moniker are an archetypal example of how good intentions turn sour. Although these new editions often bring back to life some of the best music ever made on this planet, which in many cases has been lost in the tides of time and was unavailable on the market for ages, they suffer from an unforgivable disregard to the essence of cultural values and general sloppiness, contrary to human decency, which requires us to treat our cultural legacy with respect and loyalty.
These Box Sets have no booklet which presents researched historical background and exact discographical information of the albums included, and most importantly an overview of the music and its meaning and contribution to the Jazz Art form. Although the original LP sleeves are reproduced, the information is in most cases too small to be readable at all. In short the fact that these Box Sets are meant to be inexpensive, does not mean that they have to be cheap!
| | Updated: 01/05/2020Posted: 01/05/2020 | CD 4 Mini-Sleeve Box Set Remastered Recommend To A Friend |
  | ROBIN KENYATTA ~ GYPSY MAN
WOUNDED BIRD 1633 (Barcode: 664140163324) ~ USA ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion
Recorded: 1972 Released: 2008
American saxophonist / flautist / composer Robin KenyattaFind albums by this artist first appeared on the Free Jazz scene in the mid-1960s playing as a sideman with such distinguished musicians as Bill DixonFind albums by this artist, Andrew HillFind albums by this artist and others. By the 1970s Kenyatta changed his musical direction and joined the Jazz-Rock and Funk movements, which were thriving at the time. He recorded a series of Jazz-Rock / Funk albums for the AtlanticFind albums on this label label, of which this was the first. Supported by a fantastic crew of musicians, which included drummer Billy CobhamFind albums by this artist, bassist Stanley ClarkeFind albums by this artist, guitarist David SpinozaFind albums by this artist and many others, Kenyatta manages to create a unique piece of music, which includes a rare combination of Funk, Jazz-Rock, World Music influences and even some free form improvisation. His flute work is featured extensively, and is the highlight of the album. This little known gem is definitely worth to be rediscovered by people who missed it at the time, as it includes loads of memorable music. Check it out!
| | | CD 1 Recommend To A Friend |
  | ROBIN KENYATTA ~ STOMPIN` AT THE SAVOY
WOUNDED BIRD 1658 (Barcode: 664140165823) ~ USA ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion
Recorded: 1974 Released: 2008
American saxophonist / flautist / composer Robin KenyattaFind albums by this artist first appeared on the Free Jazz scene in the mid-1960s playing as a sideman with such distinguished musicians as Bill DixonFind albums by this artist, Andrew HillFind albums by this artist and others. By the 1970s Kenyatta changed his musical direction and joined the Jazz-Rock and Funk movements, which were thriving at the time. He recorded a series of Jazz-Rock / Funk albums for the Atlantic label, of which this was the third and last. Supported by a fantastic crew of musicians, which included drummer Alphonse MouzonFind albums by this artist, bassist Ron CarterFind albums by this artist, trumpeter Lew SoloffFind albums by this artist and many others, Kenyatta continues the direction set by his previous albums, mixing styles and genres at will, manages to create a unique piece of music, which includes a rare combination of Funk, Jazz-Rock, World Music and Blues. His saxophone and flute work is featured extensively, and is the highlight of the album. This little known gem is definitely worth to be rediscovered by people who missed it at the time, as it includes loads of memorable music. Check it out!
| | | CD 1 Recommend To A Friend |
  | ROBIN KENYATTA ~ TERRA NOVA
WOUNDED BIRD 1644 (Barcode: 664140164420) ~ USA ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion
Recorded: 1973 Released: 2008
American saxophonist / flautist / composer Robin KenyattaFind albums by this artist first appeared on the Free Jazz scene in the mid-1960s playing as a sideman with such distinguished musicians as Bill DixonFind albums by this artist, Andrew HillFind albums by this artist and others. By the 1970s Kenyatta changed his musical direction and joined the Jazz-Rock and Funk movements, which were thriving at the time. He recorded a series of Jazz-Rock / Funk albums for the Atlantic label, of which this was the second. Supported by a fantastic crew of musicians, which included drummer Ray LucasFind albums by this artist, bassist Ron CarterFind albums by this artist, trumpeter Enrico RavaFind albums by this artist and many others, Kenyatta continues the direction set by his previous album, adding more World Music and especially Caribbean influences, manages to create a unique piece of music, which includes a rare combination of Funk, Jazz-Rock, World Music. His saxophone and flute work is featured extensively, and is the highlight of the album. This little known gem is definitely worth to be rediscovered by people who missed it at the time, as it includes loads of memorable music. Check it out!
| | | CD 1 Recommend To A Friend |
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