Record Reviews

CHICK COREA ~ PORTRAITS STRETCH 888072356030 (Barcode: 888072356030) ~ USA ~ Jazz Recorded: 2011 - 2012 Released: 2014 As incredible as it might sound, pianist / composer Chick CoreaFind albums by this artist has been an integral and continuous element of the soundtrack of my life for the last five decades. I travelled with him hand in hand through every album he released over the years, moving from modern Jazz, to Free and Improvised Music, to piano solo miniatures, to Fusion, back to modern mainstream, to piano-vibraphone duets, to piano duets, to electric groups and acoustic trios, to Classical explorations and on and on. What a journey... As usual every new album by Chick is an adventure. It´s been a while since he released a solo piano album and this 2CD set full of outstanding solo performances is a true delight in every sense. All the music was recorded live during his solo piano performances in Europe, Canada and US (and even Africa). On the first CD Chick performs several lengthy interpretations of pieces by Thelonious MonkFind albums by this artist, Bud PowellFind albums by this artist and Bill EvansFind albums by this artist, one standard and one pop song by Stevie WonderFind albums by this artist. The last track on the first CD is his composition dedicated to Paco De LuciaFind albums by this artist. On the second CD he performs twenty five miniatures, first by Classical composers Alexander ScriabinFind albums by this artist and Bela BartokFind albums by this artist and then two sets of his own compositions grouped under the common titles: "Children´s Songs" and "Portraits". Both CDs include Chick´s spoken interludes explaining his intentions and motivations behind the music he performs. It seems pretty superfluous to try and explain anything about the music herein. Obviously it presents a wide scope of cultural backgrounds from Classical European music to modernism and than Jazz and its various facets and finally the personal universe of Chick Corea, which is able to contain all that infinite richness and expand upon it. Chick´s way of playing is very personal and quite recognizable to his followers and connoisseurs, so there are no great surprises in that area, except that for a man in his seventies Chick is infinitely more alive, creative and inventive than today´s young zombie generation stuck inside their smart phones. Technically the music is superbly recorded, with excellent detail and warm ambience, which makes listening to this album a delightful experience. Chick is still one of the leaders of the Jazz pack and life seems to treat him and his music well, for which we all should be grateful. Listening for two hours to this music is a trip to sanity so put your feet up and enjoy as long as you can.

Updated: 26/08/2020Posted:

CD 2 Mini-Sleeve Recommend To A Friend

ROLF KUHN / NDR BIG BAND ~ BOUNCING WITH BUD IN+OUT 77081 (Barcode: 798747708128) ~ GERMANY ~ Big Band Jazz Recorded: 1995 Released: 2005 Following the recent demise of the great German clarinetist / composer / bandleader and one of the Godfathers of the modern German Jazz, as well as a dear Friend, Rolf KuhnFind albums by this artist. I decided to dig into my shelves and write about some of his albums I did not review previously. Kuhn dedicated this album to the memory of the great American pianist / composer and Bebop innovators Bud PowellFind albums by this artist, whom Kuhn met and befriended during his USA stint in the late 1950s. Another hero of the album is the German-born American composer Chris WaldenFind albums by this artist, who composed and arranged three new pieces for this album. Kuhn plays some amazing clarinet on this fabulous album and the magnificent NDR Big BandFind albums by this artist performs brilliantly, as always, showing the subtle and not so subtle differences between the European and American Big Band approach. Kuhn a sublime example of a total musician, with a career spanning decades and crossing styles from Swing to Avant-Garde, always with grace, intelligence and professionalism beyond reproach. Overall, this an instant classic, full of brilliant music and heavenly performances, which is absolutely perfect from start to finish. Goodbye Friend!

Updated: 10/09/2022Posted: 10/09/2022

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

CHARLES MINGUS ~ PASSIONS OF A MAN: THE COMPLETE ATLANTIC RECORDINGS 1956-1961 RHINO 72871 (Barcode: 081227287122) ~ USA ~ Jazz Recorded: 1956 - 1961 Released: 1997 This superb Box Set includes the music Charles MingusFind albums by this artist, one of the most charismatic and outspoken jazz musicians, recorded between January 1956 and November 1961 – almost a six years span. It includes the 6 albums released by AtlanticFind albums on this label (Pithecanthropus ErectusFind albums with this title, The ClownFind albums with this title, Blues & RootsFind albums with this title, Oh YeahFind albums with this title, Tonight At NoonFind albums with this title and the double live album Mingus At AntibesFind albums with this title) as well as the Teddy CharlesFind albums by this artist album Word From BirdFind albums with this title on which Mingus plays bass. Some previously unreleased alternate takes are also included, as well as a long (over 70 minutes) interview with Mingus by Nesuhi ErtegunFind albums by this artist, the producer of all these sessions. This period is considered his most productive and stable and the bulk of his best compositions are included here. He plays bass and piano and the list of names of the musicians playing with him here sounds like a “who’s who” of modern jazz, including Jackie McLeanFind albums by this artist (alto sax), Mal WaldronFind albums by this artist (piano), Dannie RichmondFind albums by this artist (drums), Booker ErvinFind albums by this artist (tenor sax), Eric DolphyFind albums by this artist (alto sax and bass clarinet), Ted CursonFind albums by this artist (trumpet), Bud PowellFind albums by this artist (piano) and many others. This is magnificent music in every respect – Mingus at his peak as composer and bandleader, surrounded by musicians of the highest class creates beautiful collages linking blues, bebop and the emerging free form jazz. I highly recommend to read Mingus’ autobiography “Beneath The Underdog” (one of the most original and striking jazz books ever written) as a companion to this music. Absolutely essential!

Updated: 11/01/2024Posted:

CD 6 Box Set Remastered Bonus Tracks Essential Recommend To A Friend

ROBERTO ZANETTI ~ BUD`S POWER TRJ 106 (Barcode: 8146520231066) ~ ITALY ~ Jazz Recorded: 2023 Released: 2023 This is an album by Italian Jazz pianist / composer Roberto ZanettiFind albums by this artist, recorded in a quartet setting with saxophonist Valerio PontrandolfoFind albums by this artist, bassist Martino De FranceschiFind albums by this artist and drummer Oreste SoldanoFind albums by this artist. Cellist Matteo ZanettiFind albums by this artist and speaker Nicolo SordoFind albums by this artist guest on the opening and closing tracks. The album presents thirteen tracks, ten of which were composed by the great American pianist / composer Bud PowellFind albums by this artist, one of the Godfathers of Bebop, to whom, as the title suggests, the album is dedicated. One track is by is a standard by the British pianist / composer George ShearingFind albums by this artist and the a.m. opening and closing tracks are by Roberto Zanetti. The music is a delightful reminder of the great compositions by Powell, performed elegantly and flawlessly by the quartet, with obvious affection and respect to the subject matter. It is all mainstream Jazz of course, which does not try to reinvent anything, but certainly is a loving tribute to a great composer, who deserves to be remembered, and offers a pleasant listening experience, accessible to a wide Jazz listening audience. Overall, this is a classic quartet Jazz recording, which offers elegant treatments of the music by the great Bud Powell, which is always worth being listening to, especially when one mainstream Jazz is not on one’s daily menu. Zanetti, as usual, delivers what he does best – playing wonderfully melodic music, which makes one smile. Thanks Roberto!

Updated: 10/06/2023Posted: 10/06/2023

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend