Record Reviews

GINGER BAKER ~ FALLING OFF THE ROOF WOUNDED BIRD 2900 (Barcode: 664140290020) ~ UK ~ Jazz Recorded: 1996 Released: 2006 2nd album by the Ginger BakerFind albums by this artist trio, which includes two jazz giants: Bill FrisellFind albums by this artist on guitar and Charlie HadenFind albums by this artist on bass. Baker is of course mostly known as a rock superstar for his role in the legendary CreamFind albums by this artist (also a drums / bass / guitar trio), but since the 1990s he returned to active duty as a jazz drummer, with a variety of projects in the jazz realm, this trio being one of them. Of course Baker always was a jazz drummer, long before he played for rock audiences. His work with the Graham Bond OrganizationFind albums by this artist in the early / mid 1960s is just one of the manifestations of his jazz background, but it even goes far back to the 1950s UK trad bands. Baker was always one of the most original drummers and generations of drummers studied his every beat. He is heavily influenced by African rhythms and he played and studied African percussion for many years. All this adds up to make him a most atypical jazz drummer, immediately distinguishable from any of his peers. The sound and the music are quite different from most guitar trios, to some extent due to Baker’s unusual approach to drums, but also due to the choice of the material. Only two standards (by Thelonious MonkFind albums by this artist and Charlie ParkerFind albums by this artist) are present, all the rest of the music was penned by the trio members. The level is of course none less than exceptional, only to be expected from such distinguished players. This is a very interesting and different jazz album, worthy of investigation.

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

ANTHONY BRAXTON ~ CHARLIE PARKER PROJECT HATOLOGY 612 (Barcode: 752156061229) ~ USA ~ Jazz Recorded: 1993 Released: 2004 This is a long overdue reissue of the legendary album by American musician / composer / bandleader Anthony BraxtonFind albums by this artist, one of the most iconic figures of the late 20th Century Free Jazz and Avant-Garde music scene and probably the most important Jazz pioneer in the post John ColtraneFind albums by this artist era. The album captures a live recording of the Braxton´s sextet in Switzerland and Germany, with him playing saxophones and clarinet, accompanied by saxophonist Ari BrownFind albums by this artist, trumpeter Paul SmokerFind albums by this artist, pianist Misha MengelbergFind albums by this artist, bassist Joe FondaFind albums by this artist and drummers Han BenninkFind albums by this artist and Pheeroan AkLaffFind albums by this artist (each playing on one of the two CDs). The music is a loving tribute to Bee Bop and includes mostly compositions by the genre´s pioneer Charlie ParkerFind albums by this artist with three tunes by Dizzy GillespieFind albums by this artist and one each by Tadd DameronFind albums by this artist and Miles DavisFind albums by this artist. Braxton re-visits Bee Bop with respect and love, but of course applies his completely unique interpretation of the music, which is, as usual, completely breathtaking. The level of virtuosity in interplay is simply astounding and this album surely deserves an honorable place in any serious Free Jazz collection. The intercontinental meeting of improvising forces and talents works beautifully, soaring to previously undiscovered heights. This is an absolutely essential example of Free Jazz, for those who are connoisseurs of the genre, which is not to be missed, especially for the second time around.

Updated: 12/04/2019Posted:

CD 2 Mini-Sleeve Oversampling Remastered Recommend To A Friend

RICHIE COLE / EMIL VIKLICKY ~ RICHIE COLE / EMIL VIKLICKY QUINTET MULTISONIC 310799 (Barcode: 741941079921) ~ USA ~ Jazz Recorded: 2010 Released: 2011 This album presents a live recording by the US / Czech quintet comprising of Chicago based saxophonist Richie ColeFind albums by this artist, baritone saxophonist Ted HogarthFind albums by this artist and drummer Ernie AdamsFind albums by this artist and two Czech players: veteran pianist / composer Emil ViklickyFind albums by this artist and young bassist Josef FecFind albums by this artist. Together they perform nine pieces, three of which are Cole originals, one Viklicky original and five standards. Cole is mostly associated with the post-Bebop tradition, keeping alive the music initiated by the legendary Charlie ParkerFind albums by this artist. Hogarth continues the baritone saxophone tradition first developed by Gerry MulliganFind albums by this artist. Fec continues the great tradition of the Czech bass school of George MrazFind albums by this artist, Miroslav VitousFind albums by this artist and Frantisek UhlirFind albums by this artist. Viklicky is of course well versed in the Bebop ways, as this was after all the music that he played extensively in the early days of his Jazz career. He performed with Cole in Chicago, earning respect and appreciation from the audiences there, which eventually led to this beautiful concert in Prague. The music is absolutely superb from start to finish and the performances stellar. Everybody seems to have a great time and the individual solos simply soar chasing one another. This is mainstream Jazz of the highest caliber and every connoisseur of the music will be absolutely delighted listening to this display of virtuosity and class. Side Note This album is a part of the “Jazz Na Hrade (Jazz At Prague Castle)” series, released by the Czech MultisonicFind albums on this label label, which presents live recordings performed at various locations inside the charming Prague Castle, now the residence of the President of the Czech Republic. The series was initiated in 2004 by President Vaclav KlausFind albums by this artist, who often introduces the players himself on these albums, and symbolizes the respect and love of all things Cultural by the Czech People, including Jazz of course.

Updated: 16/03/2022Posted:

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

JOHN COLTRANE ~ THE COMPLETE 1961 VILLAGE VANGUARD RECORDINGS IMPULSE! 232 (Barcode: 011105023221) ~ USA ~ Jazz Recorded: 1961 Released: 1997 When this music was recorded in November of 1961 I was only 10 years old and yet it changed my life forever. Living in (Socialist) Poland, my access to contemporary (at the time) jazz originating in the US was pretty limited and the only beacon of light was the daily Willis ConoverFind albums by this artist’s radio jazz program on Voice Of America, beamed from across the Iron Curtain. Millions of Eastern European listeners would risk freedom (listening to VOA was a criminal act then) to gain freedom, myself included. These broadcasts changed the life of countless people and particularly in Poland would eventually be a dominant factor in the process of forming a burgeoning and extremely fruitful local jazz scene. Many hours of my early childhood were spent with myself standing on a conductor’s podium (e sledge), in front of an imaginary orchestra playing inside the enormous radio (a pre WW II antique). Since classical music was less censored and sponsored by the Establishment, it was there for us to enjoy most of it of very high quality. I remember listening for hours at end to the annual Chopin competition, which was Poland’s most prestigious music event, getting to know his music inside out before I even knew anything about him. My Mother encouraged my “conducting” aspirations warmly, supplementing them with occasional background information. But the discovery of jazz and its strange convoluting patterns and unfamiliar rhythms was a revelation. I just couldn’t get enough of it and every new artist or piece of music was an instant bliss. By the time I was about to hear John ColtraneFind albums by this artist for the first time I was already familiar with the music of Duke EllingtonFind albums by this artist, Count BasieFind albums by this artist, Charlie ParkerFind albums by this artist and Dizzie GillespieFind albums by this artist (thanks to Mr. Conover). Conover, in contrast to many of his peers (who were stuck in be-bop or some earlier jazz sub-genre for the rest of their lives), was remarkably open-minded and understood the genius of Coltrane and his visionary contribution to the development of the Jazz Art form. He therefore featured every new Coltrane album as soon as it was released. So here I was, 10 years old, some time in early 1962, listening to the Village Vanguard sessions – an experience equivalent to a 10,000 Volts electricity shock. My life would definitely be never the same again. I hope these personal reminiscences don’t put you off too much, but I just couldn’t resist the temptation. Taking the time-travel express to now here are my comments about this music from a “45 years later” point of view. In 1961 Coltrane left AtlanticFind albums on this label (his second label, PrestigeFind albums on this label being the first) and signed a contract with Impulse!Find albums on this label, the new and ambitious jazz label run by producer Bob ThieleFind albums by this artist, where he would stay for the rest of his life. Coltrane was already following a path (mostly subconsciously) which would lead him to the edge of the known jazz explorations and beyond. His monumental Atlantic albums like Giant Steps and My Favorite Things were just a glimpse of things to come. Coltrane felt that Thiele would allow him to speed up the process of reaching the quest of musical enlightenment by allowing him total artistic freedom and supporting him all the way and he was of course right. The extensive volume of music recorded for Impulse! in the span of almost 7 years right up to his death would become the most important musical legacy of the 20th Century, so innovative and groundbreaking that it is still a mystery to many contemporary listeners and musicologists today. Coltrane’s first recording for Impulse! (in the spring of 1961) would be the Africa / Brass sessions, an ambitious project involving a large ensemble of the most gifted players on the scene (Freddie HubbardFind albums by this artist, Booker LittleFind albums by this artist, Eric DolphyFind albums by this artist and many others) – see The Complete Africa / Brass SessionsFind albums with this title album, another essential Coltrane release. These sessions introduce several new elements in Coltrane’s music, like Far-Eastern motifs, African rhythms and other ethnic influences. In November of 1961 Thiele decided to record Coltrane live, using the 4 nights booking at the NY club The Village Vanguard (where many jazz albums were recorded live) for this purpose. The booking was for a John Coltrane Quintet and it was only natural that the Quintet would include Eric Dolphy, whom Coltrane knew, respected and played with earlier. The legendary Quartet (with McCoy TynerFind albums by this artist, Jimmy GarrisonFind albums by this artist and Elvin JonesFind albums by this artist) was not entirely crystallized at the time, so Coltrane and Thiele decided to expand the line-up (on some takes) to include an oud player (Ahmed Abdul-MalikFind albums by this artist) and alternative bassist (Reggie WorkmanFind albums by this artist) and drummer (Roy HaynesFind albums by this artist). Since this music was recorded for a future release Thiele (as any produce would do) recorded several takes of each tune, some with an alternating line-up. This 4CDs Box Set includes all the music that was recorded during these four days (mind you not all the music that was played, as some of it was not recorded hence the “complete” being not entirely true) in the exact order it was recorded. This music was to be released later on two albums (Live At The Village Vanguard and The Other Village Vanguard Tapes) as well as parts of other albums (Impressions) and collections. Collected here together for the first time, this is a monumental piece of jazz history and an unforgettable musical experience. Coltrane’s circular breathing technique and his “wall of sound” approach are clearly evident here for the first time in their full glory. The comparison of the different versions of the same tunes are both fundamental and clairvoyant examples of the “one time experience” that every jazz performance essentially is. The power, the vision, the super-human strength of will of the Master and Prophet (please excuse the almost religious references) that Coltrane was, are here for us, his disciples, to discover, study, revere and bequest to future generations. This Box Set is something one has in one’s record collection for life. It is not only timeless, but also constantly evolving in parallel to one’s private (musical) evolution. Listening to it time after time (especially after a long period of abstention) will be revealing and constantly surprising. It is a superb example of great Art, which keeps alive for eternity, adopting itself to the changing cultural surroundings, and therefore being truly eternal. I can’t imagine anybody, who calls himself a music lover, not owning this music, as naive as this might sound, since I believe there is something in it for everybody. Beyond essential!

Updated: 26/01/2019Posted:

CD 4 Box Set Oversampling Remastered Bonus Tracks Essential Recommend To A Friend

DON ELLIS ~ AUTUMN WOUNDED BIRD 9721 (Barcode: 664140972124) ~ USA ~ Jazz Recorded: 1968 Released: 2007 Brilliant American trumpeter / composer / arranger / bandleader Don EllisFind albums by this artist led a superb Big Band, which was one of the most outstanding Jazz ensembles in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Eons ahead of its time, Ellis´ fascination with uneven meters and World Music influences made his music truly revolutionary and fresh and the music lost nothing of its relevance over the years. He also had a rare talent to pick up the best musicians for his band, mostly forward-thinking individuals, ideally suited for his unusual approach to music and brilliant instrumentalists. Some of the musicians playing on this album are saxophonists Frank StrozierFind albums by this artist and John KlemmerFind albums by this artist, trumpeter Glen FerrisFind albums by this artist and many more outstanding musicians. The brilliant music was all composed by Ellis, except one Charlie ParkerFind albums by this artist standard. At its full might the orchestra sounds like nothing else before or since, with every instrument perfectly fulfilling its role. Two of the six tracks were recorded live and show the orchestra as one of the most exciting live acts at the time. It´s fascinating to read the album´s liner notes written by Al KooperFind albums by this artist, who was ColumbiaFind albums on this label´s A&R manager at the time, describing the Don Ellis experience at the time. This is an absolute must to and Big Band fan, but all music connoisseurs should find this music fascinating.

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

MICHAEL GARRICK ~ POETRY AND JAZZ IN CONCERT VOCALION 8416 (Barcode: 765387841621) ~ UK ~ Jazz & Poetry Recorded: 1964 - 1966 Released: 2006 The love affair between the two Art Forms: Jazz music & Poetry, goes back to the late 1950s, when American writers / poets of the Beat Generation (Jack KerouacFind albums by this artist, Allen GinsbergFind albums by this artist and others) discovered the “intellectual proximity” between their writing and the process of creating Jazz music, as represented by the founding Fathers of Bee Bop (Charlie ParkerFind albums by this artist, Dizzy GillespieFind albums by this artist and others). However, although the poets were frequent patrons of the burgeoning NY Jazz club scene, actual poetry readings combined with Jazz performances were pretty rare and sporadic. Only when the Jazz & Poetry concept crossed over the Atlantic to Britain (and later the rest of Europe) the movement reached a full swing and enjoyed immense popularity with the poets, musicians and the audiences. The intellectual crowds in London and the rest of Britain attended Jazz & Poetry concerts in huge numbers through the early and mid-1960s, but towards the end of the decade the enthusiasm diminished. British poet Jeremy RobsonFind albums by this artist and pianist / composer Michael GarrickFind albums by this artist were largely responsible for the movement’s popularity. Garrick, a graduate in English Literature, had a great sensitivity to the literary works and managed to compose music, which suited the words perfectly. This album, released originally in 1964 as two separate LPs (Vol.1 & 2) documents a typical Jazz & Poetry concert. Recorded “live” in a studio, the applause and the audience’s reaction to the poetry faithfully reproduce the atmosphere of a performance hall. The Jazz quintet (Garrick – piano, Joe HarriottFind albums by this artist – sax, Shake KeaneFind albums by this artist – trumpet, John TaylorFind albums by this artist – bass and Colin BarnesFind albums by this artist – drums) provides the music and four poets (Adrian MitchellFind albums by this artist, Dannie AbseFind albums by this artist, Jeremy Robson and Laurie LeeFind albums by this artist) read their poems, creating a wonderfully intellectual encounter, where the sum of the two Arts is actually better than their individual contribution. This new addition adds an ultra-rare EP of Jazz & Poetry recorded a couple of years later, featuring the Michael Garrick quintet (with Ian CarrFind albums by this artist – trumpet and Coleridge GoodeFind albums by this artist – bass replacing their respective counterparts in the earlier quintet) and Jeremy Robson, called Before Night/DayFind albums with this title. This is a timeless masterpiece and an everlasting food for sensitive souls – brilliant!

Updated: 01/01/2016Posted:

CD 2 Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend

TUBBY HAYES ~ COMMONWEALTH BLUES ART OF LIFE 1016 (Barcode: 804640101628) ~ UK ~ Jazz Recorded: 1965 Released: 2005 British Jazz legend Tubby HayesFind albums by this artist was one of the greatest representatives of the genre and also one of the very few British musicians to get US exposure due to his frequent performances there. Although primarily revered for his tenor saxophone playing, he was also a superb flautist and vibraphonist. The bulk of recordings come from the period between mid-1950s to mid-1960s. By late 1960s Hayes became seriously ill and subsequently died (in 1973) at a ridiculously young age of 38. His musical legacy is of immense importance, as it laid the foundations for the European Jazz and its emancipation from the American Jazz tradition. His virtuoso playing and extraordinary sense of improvisation enabled Hayes to extend the be-bop tradition, established by Jazz giants like Charlie ParkerFind albums by this artist and John ColtraneFind albums by this artist, into a new plane with added European sophistication and culture replacing the raw energy and often rage of American Jazz. This album is an extremely important document of Tubby’s magnificent performance, especially so due to the fact that it contains all previously unreleased recordings. The source of the music comes from the famous BBC “transcription service” recordings – a blessed initiative of the BBC to record British Jazz and subsequently broadcast these recordings on the BBC World Service stations around the world. These recordings were pressed on vinyl and distributed worldwide, but never released commercially. The album includes four such sessions, recorded for the Spanish-speaking listeners (see the announcements in Spanish) with his quartet, which includes Gordon BeckFind albums by this artist on piano, Jeff ClyneFind albums by this artist on bass and Johnny ButtsFind albums by this artist on drums. The first three sessions are devoted each to a separate instrument and feature Hayes on tenor saxophone, vibraphone and flute. The fourth session features his playing all three instruments, each on a separate track. The recording quality is excellent (as is the remaster) and the result is a magnificent album, which deserves the title of a true classic of the British Jazz. The many fans of Tubby Hayes will find this album to be essential for their collections and it deserves a honorable place in any decent Jazz album collection. Genius at work!

CD 1 Oversampling Remastered Recommend To A Friend