Record Reviews

PAUL GONSALVES ~ HUMMING BIRD VOCALION 8404 (Barcode: 765387840426) ~ USA ~ Jazz Recorded: 1970 Released: 2005 American tenor saxophonist Paul GonsalvesFind albums by this artist belongs to the same school of big tone / lush virtuosi like Coleman HawkinsFind albums by this artist and Ben WebsterFind albums by this artist, who spent most of his playing career with Big Bands, lead by Count BasieFind albums by this artist, Duke EllingtonFind albums by this artist and Dizzy GillespieFind albums by this artist. Therefore this particular album is especially interesting, as it captures Gonsalves in a small combo situation and additionally his fellow musicians are all young British players, who were used to play modern Jazz, rather than American mainstream. The “old timer” proves that he can stand up to the challenge with flying colors and delivers his usual fluent solos, invigorated by the flow of energy present in the studio. He is accompanied by a group of splendid musicians, which includes trumpeter Kenny WheelerFind albums by this artist, trombonist Dave HorlerFind albums by this artist, pianists Stan TraceyFind albums by this artist and Alan BranscombeFind albums by this artist, bassists Dave GreenFind albums by this artist and Kenny NapperFind albums by this artist and drummer Benny GoodmanFind albums by this artist. The material includes mostly Jazz standards with one original composition by Stan Tracy. Good mainstream Jazz, but lovers of the British scene will surely enjoy the contributions by Wheeler and both pianist in an unusual setting.

Updated: 14/08/2021Posted:

CD 1 Remastered Recommend To A Friend

JOZEF SKRZEK / TOMASZ SZUKALSKI ~ AMBITUS EXTENDED METAL MIND 0540 (Barcode: 5907785030459) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 1981 Released: 2008 This is a reissue of the album recorded by the duo that brought together two legendary musicians: founder and leader of SBBFind albums by this artist, bassist / keyboardist Jozef SkrzekFind albums by this artist and one of the Giants of Polish Jazz, saxophonist Tomasz SzukalskiFind albums by this artist, who came to fame as member of ensembles led by Tomasz StankoFind albums by this artist and Zbigniew NamyslowskiFind albums by this artist. Skrzek and Szukalski played together on and off since the mid 1970s but in the tense pre-Martial Law period (1980-1981) the duo recorded this album and several other projects together and performed live quite often. This remastered edition of the album was expanded by six previously unreleased live tracks, recorded shortly before the recording of the original album material. The music was co-composed by Skrzek and Szukalski and mostly improvised on pre-conceived melodic motifs, and features extensive soloing by Szukalski and wonderful keyboards work by Skrzek. Stylistically it moves between Blues, Fusion, Progressive Rock and Jazz, always beautifully harmonic and deeply moving. Szukalski was the absolute Master of melodic improvisation, like his idol Ben WebsterFind albums by this artist, and had no equals on the Polish scene at that time (or even to this very day). His untimely death was a great loss for Polish / European Jazz. In spite of its minimalistic scope and approach, the album is full of absolutely thrilling musical ideas and virtuosic performances, and remains to this very day a milestone achievement of Polish Jazz / Fusion / Blues-Rock history. This reissue brings back to life a piece of Polish music history and is of course a must have for Polish music fans / collectors.

Updated: 07/05/2018Posted: 07/05/2018

CD 1 Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend

TOMASZ SZUKALSKI ~ TINA KAMILA (POLISH JAZZ VOL.83 DELUXE) MUZA 1083 ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 1986 Released: 2005 This wonderful album is the debut recording as a leader by Polish Jazz saxophonist / composer Tomasz SzukalskiFind albums by this artist, one of the veterans of the local scene. Although Szukalski has been active on the scene for many years and participated in many recordings, the opportunity to make an album under his own name came only relatively late in his career path. This album is quite a surprise in many respects, as it presents Szukalski playing Jazz standards accompanied by the Grand Standard Orchestra led and conducted by Jan Ptaszyn WroblewskiFind albums by this artist. His tenor sounds absolutely marvelous against the orchestra´s strings and the album is one of the most beautifully melodic Polish Jazz releases. Stylistically the album resembles similar sax and strings recordings, such as those by Ben WebsterFind albums by this artist for example, and Szukalski´s virtuosity and incredible feel easily match those of the legendary Jazz Masters. He is accompanied by a great rhythm section with pianist Wojciech KarolakFind albums by this artist, bassist Darek OleszkiewiczFind albums by this artist and drummer Czeslaw BartkowskiFind albums by this artist. The music comprises mostly of Jazz standards, but includes also compositions by Polish Jazz composers like Karolak, Wroblewski, Bronislaw SuchanekFind albums by this artist and one tune by the Szukalski himself. In retrospect this album lost nothing of its power and intrinsic beauty, and any Jazz lover in the world should be able to enjoy it wholeheartedly. Brilliant stuff!

CD 1 Digipak Remastered Recommend To A Friend

STAN TRACEY ~ LAUGHIN` AND SCRATCHIN` JAZZ HOUSE 608 (Barcode: 751848670824) ~ UK ~ Jazz Recorded: 1965 Released: 1997 This is an album which presents archival / informal recordings by the Godfather of modern British Jazz, pianist / composer Stan TraceyFind albums by this artist, recorded live in a trio format at the famous Ronnie Scott´s Club in London, featuring bassist Rick LairdFind albums by this artist (later of Mahavishnu OrchestraFind albums by this artist fame) and drummers Ronnie StephensonFind albums by this artist or Bill EydenFind albums by this artist. The trio performs seven pieces, two of which are originals by Tracey and five are standards. Between 1959 and 1965 Tracey and his trio served as the house band at the Ronnie Scott´s Club (the original one at Gerrard Street) and accompanied scores of visiting musicians, mostly from the US, such as Johnny GriffinFind albums by this artist, Sonny RollinsFind albums by this artist, Ben WebsterFind albums by this artist, Stan GetzFind albums by this artist, Wes MontgomeryFind albums by this artist, Roland KirkFind albums by this artist and many, many more. Playing with these Giants obviously served as a wonderful opportunity for Tracey to polish his chops, but more importantly to develop his own style as a player and composer, which differed from the standard American Bebop approach. The selections included on this album are all pretty long in duration and as such are wonderful documents of Tracey´s idiosyncrasies as a piano player, with his quite unique approach to the instrument, similar in some ways to what Thelonious MonkFind albums by this artist was doing. Tracey plays mostly chords, vamping and boogieing all over the keyboard, only occasionally playing out the melody notes. His interpretation of the Monk tune present here is simply amazing. The rhythm section bravely keeps up with the governor, standing with him shoulder to shoulder even during the unexpected twists and turns he takes along the way. Although the sound quality of this album is far from ideal, the music is absolutely stunning and more than compensates for the technical limitations. Albums like this are precious pieces of Jazz history captured for eternity, which are still valid today and are definitely worth listening to, especially by the young generation, which missed it in real time. Great stuff!

Updated: 24/03/2016Posted: 24/03/2016

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend