Record Reviews
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  | MISHA ALPERIN ~ HER FIRST DANCE
ECM 1995 (Barcode: 602517167421) ~ RUSSIA ~ Jazz-Classical Fusion
Recorded: 2006 Released: 2008
This is the 6th album on ECMFind albums on this label by ex-Soviet (now living in Norway) brilliant pianist / composer Misha AlperinFind albums by this artist, which finds him in an intimate setting with two other musicians: German cellist Anja LechnerFind albums by this artist and his life-long friend and musical partner Arkady ShilkloperFind albums by this artist, who plays French horn and flugelhorn. The music, composed entirely by Alperin except for one Shilkloper composition, was recorded for the Swiss radio. Alperin´s music is contemplative and deeply moving, complex but also melodic, reminiscent of some contemporary Classical music but with a distinct Jazz connection. It is devilishly difficult to perform and the musicians present here are obviously all virtuosi. I can´t imagine any serious music connoisseur not falling in love with this music immediately and if you´re not familiar with it, now is the time!
| | | CD 1 Slipcase Recommend To A Friend |
  | MISHA ALPERIN ~ NORTH STORY
ECM 1596 (Barcode: 731453102224) ~ RUSSIA ~ Jazz
Recorded: 1995 Released: 1997
The Soviet Union produced some truly amazing Jazz musicians, including Avant-Garde pioneers and prophetic innovators, who were almost completely unknown outside of the empire´s borders. The fate of the Soviet Jazz is a fascinating chapter in the music´s history. Following the collapse of the Soviet regime, many of the musicians, who were active on the local scene, left the country, including pianist / composer Misha AlperinFind albums by this artist, who now lives in Norway. His recordings for the ECMFind albums on this label label, starting with the "Wave Of SorrowFind albums with this title" album (the first album by Soviet musicians to be released on ECM) brought his wonderful music to the attention of a much wider audience, which of course is well deserved. This is Alperin´s 2nd album on ECM, released almost a decade after the debut. He is accompanied by his life-long friend and musical partner Arkady ShilkloperFind albums by this artist, who plays French horn and flugelhorn, and three Norwegian musicians: saxophonist Tore BrunborgFind albums by this artist, bassist Terje GeweltFind albums by this artist and Master drummer Jon ChristensenFind albums by this artist. Alperin´s music is contemplative and deeply moving, complex but also melodic, reminiscent of some contemporary Classical music but with a distinct Jazz connection. It is devilishly difficult to perform and the musicians present here are obviously all virtuosi. I can´t imagine any serious music connoisseur not falling in love with this music immediately and if you´re not familiar with it, now is the time!
Visitors' Comments
Christopher Brice
I came to Alperin via his collaboration with John Surman on "First Impression," which is highly recommended; and I am grateful to Adam for pushing me to try more of his work, starting here. Tore Brunborg is uncannily like Jan Garbarek at first hearing; is this a Norwegian national style?
Christopher Brice
PS: On this album, ECM breaks with the habit of putting a larger version of the cover photo on the slip case: the cover and slip case give us four different photos of what seems to be the same event; but as ever, there are no details given
| | Updated: 12/04/2019Posted: | CD 1 Slipcase Recommend To A Friend |
  | MISHA ALPERIN / ARKADY SHILKLOPER ~ WAVE OF SORROW
ECM 1396 (Barcode: 042283962125) ~ RUSSIA ~ Jazz
Recorded: 1989 Released: 1990
The Soviet Union produced some truly amazing Jazz musicians, including Avant-Garde pioneers and prophetic innovators, who were almost completely unknown outside of the empire´s borders. The fate of the Soviet Jazz is a fascinating chapter in the music´s history. Following the collapse of the Soviet regime, many of the musicians, who were active on the local scene, left the country, including pianist / composer Misha AlperinFind albums by this artist, who now lives in Norway. His recordings for the ECMFind albums on this label label, starting with this album (the first album by Soviet musicians to be released on ECM) brought his wonderful music to the attention of a much wider audience, which of course is well deserved. He is accompanied by his life-long friend and musical partner Arkady ShilkloperFind albums by this artist, who plays French horn and flugelhorn. Alperin´s music is contemplative and deeply moving, complex but also melodic, reminiscent of some contemporary Classical music but with a distinct Jazz connection. It is devilishly difficult to perform and both musicians present here are obviously virtuosi. I can´t imagine any serious music connoisseur not falling in love with this music immediately and if you´re not familiar with it, now is the time!
| | Updated: 12/04/2019Posted: | CD 1 Recommend To A Friend |
  | VIENNA ART ORCHESTRA ~ ALL THAT STRAUSS
TCB 20052 (Barcode: 725095200523) ~ AUSTRIA ~ Jazz
Recorded: 2000 Released: 2000
This is the first album recorded in the 21st Century!
Recorded live on January 1st 2000 by the wonderful Vienna Art OrchestraFind albums by this artist under the leadership of Mathias RüeggFind albums by this artist, this album presents the music of the Strauss Family, spectacularly arranged for the Jazz environment by Rüegg and superbly executed by the orchestra, which of course was the best of its kind at the time. Among the orchestra members on this album were such great musicians like saxophonist Harry SokalFind albums by this artist or Russian French horn player Arkady ShilkloperFind albums by this artist A few guest musicians also participate, like French clarinetist Michel PortalFind albums by this artist and Austrian saxophonist Wolfgang PuschnigFind albums by this artist.
The music of the Strauss Family epitomizes the Viennese Culture much more than the music of the "serious" Classical composers that lived in the city. The citizens of Vienna always preferred a good dance ball and the waltz was the favorite of the 19th Century dances, and rightly so. Rüegg treats the music by Strauss Family members with respect, but also with a typical tongue in cheek attitude, which turns this album into a true delight. But fun aside, the album presents many spectacular solos by the orchestra members and guests and the ensemble work of the orchestra is breathtaking. Vienna Art Orchestra was always a superb example of the differences between European Big Bands / Jazz Orchestras and their American counterparts and this album is just one of the chapters in such study.
European Jazz does not get much more European than what can be heard here. Everything that European Jazz is made of is represented herein: the references to the Classical Music tradition, the sophistication and finesse, the intellectual aspect of Jazz, in short everything that makes it what it is. As such this is a must in any serous collection of European Orchestral Jazz.
What a pity that Vienna Art Orchestra had to be dissolved by 2010 for financial reasons. Governments are wasting enormous sums of money on totally stupid and often damaging endeavors and the European Union or the Austrian Government could not afford to support one of Europe´s most important cultural symbols. Shame!
| | Updated: 13/08/2016Posted: 13/08/2016 | CD 1 Recommend To A Friend |
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