Record Reviews

BOB GLUCK ~ INFINITE SPIRIT: REVISITING MUSIC OF THE MWANDISHI BAND FMR 398 (Barcode: 649849982254) ~ USA ~ Jazz Recorded: 2015 Released: 2016 This is a fascinating album by American pianist / composer / electronic music performer and composer / educator / writer and a former Rabbi Bob GluckFind albums by this artist, recorded in a quartet setting with trumpeter Eddie HendersonFind albums by this artist, bassist Christopher Dean SullivanFind albums by this artist and drummer Billy HartFind albums by this artist, which as the title suggests, revisits the music performed and recorded by the Herbie HancockFind albums by this artist sextet, often called the Mwandishi Band after the title of their seminal album "MwandishiFind albums with this title", the first of three albums the ensemble recorded, which includes also "CrossingsFind albums with this title" and "SextantFind albums with this title". Hancock formed this band in the early 1970s after he left the Miles DavisFind albums by this artist group, where he played for many years. Gluck wrote and published the book entitled "You´ll Know When You Get There: Herbie Hancock And The Mwandishi Band", where he analyzes the music and it´s hardly surprising he also created a musical facet of his fascination with this subject. By drafting two of the original members of the sextet: Henderson and Hart to take part in this project, Gluck is able to get as close to the source of this music as possible, without engaging Hancock himself of course. The album presents just five lengthy pieces, two of which were composed by Hancock, two others by Bennie MaupinFind albums by this artist (one features an introduction composed by Gluck) and just one is an original composition by Sullivan, which means that most of the music originates from the Mwandishi output. The overall modus operandi, i.e. openness, lengthy improvisations, minimalism and introspection, and above all an atmospheric approach to music creation, which of course is a much more European way of doing things, and finally the use of electronics (which on the original recordings was created by Patrick Gleason) lead to what Gluck obviously intended: a revisit of the Mwandishi music, but also a tribute to one of the most fascinating chapters of the American Jazz idiom, and sadly perhaps one of the last contributions to the genre originating on US soil. The music is of course everything one might hope for. Brilliantly performed by all four participants, it flows elegantly and yet also passionately from start to finish, leaving the listener wishing for more when the music is over. Despite their age Henderson and Hart are still very much the Masters they always were, Sullivan provides the anchor for the music with his steady pulsations, and his original composition fits the Mwandishi music ideally. Gluck´s piano and electronics create the frame which defines the melodic and harmonic structures and he wisely eschews imitating Hancock in any way, making his own statements. Overall this is an album which besides presenting some fascinating music has also an educational message and pays tribute to the glorious history of the Jazz idiom. Highly recommended!

Updated: 29/04/2016Posted: 29/04/2016

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

BOB GLUCK ~ SIDEWAYS FMR 251 (Barcode: 649849983091) ~ USA ~ Jazz Recorded: 2007 Released: 2008 American pianist Bob GluckFind albums by this artist and his trio (Michael BisioFind albums by this artist – bass and Dean SharpFind albums by this artist – percussion) present on this album the full foray of Free Jazz and Improvised Music highly spirited and excellently executed. Gluck, although classically educated, finds his way into Improvised Music of the Cecil TaylorFind albums by this artist vein quite naturally, expending the "traditional" approach by his use of electronic devices and even the Jewish shofar to express his ideas. Although mostly freely improvised, the music is based upon compositions, two by Joe ZawinulFind albums by this artist (which is a major source of inspiration for Gluck) and one by Ornette ColemanFind albums by this artist. The rest of the compositions are originals, all by Gluck except one by the bassist. This is highly emotional music, as usual in the case of Improvised Music, which requires attentive listening and open-mindedness, but for the experienced listener this is quite a treat. Recommended to the connoisseurs of the genre.

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BOB GLUCK / ANDREW STERMAN ~ TROPELETS ICTUS 173 (Barcode: 748252698520) ~ USA ~ Jazz Recorded: 2012 Released: 2014 This is an album by the duo comprising of American pianist / electronic music performer / composer Bob GluckFind albums by this artist and saxophonist Andrew StermanFind albums by this artist. Gluck, a former Rabbi, revisits on this album traditional Jewish Biblical chants, which he arranged for the duo, using also some vocal parts by guest participants. The album presents twelve pieces, based on the laments of Profit Jeremiah, which are dedicated to the memory of Gluck´s father. As expected, the music is somber and deeply reflective, but the duo treats the traditional elements with respect and originality. The Jewish mysticism and intrinsic melancholy are all there but for listeners not familiar with the background of this music, it makes perfect sense by itself, which is a remarkable achievement. Obviously not an easy listening material, this music requires concentration and patience, but is eventually as rewarding as it is challenging. This music should be viewed in perspective of the so called "New Jewish Music", which is enjoying an astounding Renaissance in Europe and especially in Poland, which after all was the homeland of the Ashkenazi Jewish Culture for the thousand years before the Holocaust. With several Jewish Culture festivals (Krakow, Warsaw and many smaller towns in Poland) Jewish music, in an incredible diversity, from Medieval chants, via the Klezmer tradition and up to Avant-Garde Contemporary Music and Jazz is alive and kicking almost like never before. As the Artistic Director of the Warsaw Singer Jazz Festival, I am exposed to this miraculous phenomenon in its full glory. Of course there are manifestations of the New Jewish Music also in the US, as this album shows. People interested in the Jewish tradition and Avant-Garde Jazz should be able to enjoy this music to the fullest extent, but even without the Jewish background, this is fascinating music, which adventurous listeners should like very much. Definitely worth being discovered!

Updated: 12/04/2019Posted: 16/05/2016

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HERBIE HANCOCK ~ THE WARNER BROS. YEARS (1969-1972) RHINO 081227959043 (Barcode: 081227959043) ~ USA ~ Jazz Recorded: 1969 - 1972 Released: 2014 This Box Set collects the three albums pianist / composer Herbie HancockFind albums by this artist recorded for Warner Bros.Find albums on this label: "Fat Albert RotundaFind albums with this title", "MwandishiFind albums with this title" and "CrossingsFind albums with this title". The original albums are expanded with bonus material, which is rather immaterial as it consists of single versions or promo edits of the tunes already present on these albums. In order to read about the lineups and the significance of these albums please click on their titles to switch to their detailed descriptions. The booklet accompanying the Box Set includes a short essay by pianist / composer / writer Bob GluckFind albums by this artist, which also includes a few quotations taken from his book "You Will Know When You Get There: Herbie Hancock and the Mwandishi Band". The essay is pretty basic, which is rather sad as a serious analysis of this music would have been in place. I guess that there wasn´t any budget for a more extensive write-up or inclusion of live recordings by the band, which would have justified the existence of this Box Set and somehow compensated for buying this music one more time. Of course this is momentous music, which deserves to be heard and if this Box Set gets to be listened to by a younger generation of listeners, who missed this music when it was happening in real time, its goal was achieved. People who already own the original vinyl LPs or the earlier reissues (which are still available) can easily skip this. Overall this is a rather dodgy reissue / repackaging effort of fantastic music and hopefully will serve a greater good by just being out there for the asking.

Updated: 26/01/2019Posted:

CD 3 Mini-Sleeve Box Set Remastered Bonus Tracks Essential Recommend To A Friend