Record Reviews

JAZZ DOCK ORCHESTRA ~ TONIGHT ANIMAL MUSIC 116 (Barcode: 8594211850209) ~ CZECH REPUBLIC ~ Big Band Jazz Recorded: 2023 Released: 2023 This is the debut album by the Czech Jazz Dock OrchestraFind albums by this artist, a full scale Big Band of the Prague Jazz Dock club, founded in 2018 and co-led by British (resident in Prague) saxophonist / composer Andy SchofieldFind albums by this artist and Czech trombonist / composer Jan JiruchaFind albums by this artist. The album was recorded live at the club and presents six original compositions, four of which were composed by Schofield and two by Jirucha. The music is an example of excellent modern Jazz, based on complex melodic themes, intricately arranged for the orchestra, which offers a highly unusual sound and aesthetic approach, which can only happen in Europe, where Big Bands are treated in many unconventional ways, creating music related to but distinctly different from the America Big Band tradition. The balance between the instrumental sections, the soloing, the arrangements and most of all the treatment of the orchestra as an organic multi-headed musical organism, rather than a collection of musicians playing together from the charts, is especially significant here. Spiced with very unusual pulsations by the rhythm section, which are high in the mix and often “around” the time rather than right on time, the music creates an interesting and unusual result, which takes time to get into, but is exceedingly effective. Of course the individual contributions by the orchestra members are all perfectly spotless. The orchestral arrangements are all a true work of Art: original, sophisticated and surprising at every step, which could serve as a school example of what can be achieved in the idiom. With all my experience and love of orchestral Jazz, this album managed to surprise me constantly, which is definitely something that does not happen very often. Overall, this is a very interesting and unusual orchestral / Big Band recording, one of the best that came across my desk lately, which might prove somewhat challenging to listeners used to the American variety, but grows on the patient listener with every listening session. The Czech players are among the European most inventive Jazz artists, which this album proves beyond any reasonable doubt. Fascinating stuff!

Updated: 21/01/2024Posted: 21/01/2024

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JOHN TAYLOR / CREATIVE JAZZ ORCHESTRA ~ EXITS AND ENTRANCES OH NO! 1001 (Barcode: 5017771113025) ~ UK ~ Free Jazz / Improvised Music Recorded: 1997 Released: 2001 This is an album by legendary British pianist / composer John TaylorFind albums by this artist recorded with the Creative Jazz OrchestraFind albums by this artist, which for this recording was a septet comprising of saxophonists Julian ArguellesFind albums by this artist and Andy SchofieldFind albums by this artist, clarinetist Iain DixonFind albums by this artist, trombonist Liam KirkmanFind albums by this artist, tuba player Oren MarshallFind albums by this artist, guitarist David ChevallierFind albums by this artist and drummer Steve ArguellesFind albums by this artist. The album presents nine original compositions, all by Taylor. The music was commissioned by the Creative Arts Orchestra and the album was produced by the orchestra´s founder Nick PurnellFind albums by this artist, who also released this album on his own label Oh No!Find albums on this label, which turned out to be the only album released by that label. The music is a wonderful modern Jazz, based on Taylors themes but very open to improvisations by the orchestra, which often develop into conversations between duos, trios and quartets within the octet and come together to the full octet lineup only during the conclusions of the pieces. The bass parts, which are replaced by the tuba, change the entire rhythm section perception and leave the main rhythmic concept of the pieces to be driven by the drums. In many respects this album is one of the most open / improvised recordings by Taylor, who is usually associated with the typical British long melodic processions. There is till plenty of that in the music, but it is much more fragmented and loosely associated, which for lovers of Improvised Music is absolutely delightful. In retrospect this is one of the least known recordings by Taylor, which of course is criminally unjustified. At the time this music was recorded British Jazz almost entirely said farewell to Free Jazz / Improvised Music, which characterized the genre just a couple of decades earlier, and is a superb reminder of the fact, that Avant-Garde music can be not only extraordinary inventive but at the same time also insanely beautiful. Overall this is a wonderful album, which presents Taylor at his very best both as a pianist and even more so as a composer. Surrounded by some of the best British players at the time, Taylor managed to produce a monumental piece of ensemble music, which lost absolutely nothing of its power and beauty over time. For his many fans, as well as connoisseurs of British Jazz and collectors, this is a true marvel!

Updated: 12/04/2019Posted: 02/04/2019

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