Record Reviews

LIONEL HAMPTON ~ ALIVE & JUMPING MPS 4029759097228 (Barcode: 4029759097228) ~ USA ~ Jazz Recorded: 1977 Released: 2014 This is a reissue of a little known album by legendary American vibraphonist / drummer / bandleader Lionel HamptonFind albums by this artist. Recorded live in an octet setting (and not the usual orchestral setting), which features an all star ensemble with organist Milt BucknerFind albums by this artist, trumpeter Cat AndersonFind albums by this artist, saxophonists Eddie ChambleeFind albums by this artist and Paul MoenFind albums by this artist, guitarist Billy MackelFind albums by this artist, bassist Barry SmithFind albums by this artist and drummer Frankie DunlopFind albums by this artist. Together they perform eight pieces, three of which are co-composed by Hampton and the rest are standards. The highly energetic performance presents standard mainstream American Jazz, which by the time it was recorded was already antiquated but still enjoyed the support of many faithful followers, even in Europe. Of course the music is perfectly executed by first-class instrumentalists, but lacks any intellectual challenge and borders on entertainment. Nevertheless it is still an important document of Hampton´s career and the last recording of Buckner´s great organ playing before his untimely death just a couple of months following this recording. As such it is good to have this album back in circulation. Side Note The legendary German MPSFind albums on this label (Musik Produktion Schwarzwald) label, founded by Hans Georg Brunner-SchwerFind albums by this artist (HGBS) in 1963, first as SABAFind albums on this label Records and later on from 1968 as MPS Records, was the most important independent European record label, which had an enormous contribution to the development of European Jazz. For many years MPS cooperated with the legendary German producer / author Joachim BerendtFind albums by this artist, my Friend and Mentor, whose visionary approach and open-mindedness brought the crème de la crème of the Jazz (in the broadest meaning of the word) musicians from all over the world to the label. Between 1963 and 1983 MPS produced about five hundred albums, many of which are among the most important Jazz recordings on this planet. In 1983 the MPS catalog was sold to UniversalFind albums on this label, which sadly resulted in all those artistic treasures to almost disappear from the face of the earth – a situation not only tragic but culturally criminal. Universal reissued a part of the MPS albums (probably 128 titles) on CD between 1999 and 2011 under the "Most Perfect Sound Edition" moniker. Since 2008 the German Promising MusicFind albums on this label label released some of the MPS recordings, but at a very slow pace. In 2014 the German company Edel AG bought the MPS catalogue from Universal and released a series of 25 MPS albums on CD with a new slipcase graphic design, which brought all those excellent albums back to life. In 2015 Edel AG started to record and release new albums under the MPS moniker. In 2016 Edel AG released a series of 10 classic MPS albums on CD, which were beautifully remastered and re-packaged, presenting the original artwork and liner notes, as well as new liner notes and photographs. An obvious labor of love, these reissues are what the MPS catalogue truly deserves. This project was continued in 2017 with another series of 10 classic MPS albums released on CD. In later years some new reissues were released sporadically. Over the years many SABA / MPS albums were reissued in Japan, which is often the only available source for these albums today, but that is a story in itself.

Updated: 27/05/2018Posted: 08/10/2016

CD 1 Slipcase Remastered Recommend To A Friend