Record Reviews

LESTER BOWIE ~ THE COMPLETE REMASTERED RECORDINGS ON BLACK SAINT & SOUL NOTE CAM JAZZ 1006 (Barcode: 8024709113320) ~ USA ~ Jazz Recorded: 1978 - 1988 Released: 2010 This superb Box Set collects all the albums recorded by the legendary US trumpeter / composer Lester BowieFind albums by this artist on the twin Italian independent labels: Black SaintFind albums on this label and Soul NoteFind albums on this label. Bowie needs no introduction to any serious Jazz connoisseur; suffice to say that from the early days in Chicago with the AACM members and later as co-founder and co-leader of the many incarnations of the Art Ensemble Of ChicagoFind albums by this artist and then as co-founder of The LeadersFind albums by this artist, he established for himself a position of one of the most respected musicians and outstanding composers around. His virtuosic playing and excellent compositions are always a source of great musical joy. The musicians playing on these five albums include: saxophonist Arthur BlytheFind albums by this artist, pianist Amina Claudine MyersFind albums by this artist, bassist Malachi FavorsFind albums by this artist, drummer Philip WilsonFind albums by this artist, saxophonist Chico FreemanFind albums by this artist, bassist Cecil McBeeFind albums by this artist, drummer Don MoyeFind albums by this artist and many others. Remastered, mini-sleeved, and with a great bargain price – this Box Set an absolute must for any serious Jazz collector. Side Note The Italian independent record label Black SaintFind albums on this label was founded by the music critic / author / producer Giacomo PellicciottiFind albums by this artist in 1975. It was taken over by the producer Giovanni BonandriniFind albums by this artist in 1978 and a year later (1979) a sister label, called Soul NoteFind albums on this label, was established. The twin labels were run by Giovanni and later his son Flavio BonandriniFind albums by this artist, until they were sold in 2008 to the Italian KEPACH Music Group, which already owned the CAM JazzFind albums on this label label, and which also bought another Italian independent record label Dischi Della QuerciaFind albums on this label. The mission of the Black Saint / Soul Note labels was to record and document the Free Jazz / Improvised Music / Avant-Garde scene, mostly from the US but also from Europe, which continued between mid 1970s and late 1990s and produced a staggering collection of almost 550 albums recorded by world's most important Jazz innovators active at the time, providing an opportunity to American (mostly Afro-American) musicians, who would have never managed to make these recordings at home, ridden by racism, alienation and closed-mindedness. Without these two labels most of this fantastic human creativity would have been never documented. However, the Black Saint / Soul Note Box Sets produced under the CAM JazzFind albums on this label moniker are an archetypal example of how good intentions turn sour. Although these new editions often bring back to life some of the best music ever made on this planet, which in many cases has been lost in the tides of time and was unavailable on the market for ages, they suffer from an unforgivable disregard to the essence of cultural values and general sloppiness, contrary to human decency, which requires us to treat our cultural legacy with respect and loyalty. These Box Sets have no booklet which presents researched historical background and exact discographical information of the albums included, and most importantly an overview of the music and its meaning and contribution to the Jazz Art form. Although the original LP sleeves are reproduced, the information is in most cases too small to be readable at all. In short the fact that these Box Sets are meant to be inexpensive, does not mean that they have to be cheap!

Updated: 16/04/2020Posted:

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

DAWID KOSTKA QUARTET & CHICO FREEMAN ~ LIVE AT AQUANET JAZZ FESTIVAL, POZNAN 2016 NOT ON LABEL ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2016 Released: 2016 This is a live recording by a young Polish Jazz quartet led by guitarist / composer Dawid KostkaFind albums by this artist, which also includes pianist Jacek SzwajFind albums by this artist, bassist Damian KostkaFind albums by this artist and drummer Mateusz BrzostowskiFind albums by this artist. The quartet plays just on one track, which is an original composition by the leader. On the other four tracks the pianist, bassist and drummer are joined by the veteran American saxophonist / composer Chico FreemanFind albums by this artist and play two Freeman originals and two standards. There is also a bonus video track with another Freeman original. The first track presents an interesting composition by Kostka, which is very promising, but since it is just a sample of the quartet´s ability not much can seriously be said about it. The four quartet tracks with Freeman are American Bebop, which is absolutely corny and presents zero intellectual challenge to the listeners. Freeman plays very well of curse and so does Szwaj, but that kind of music was exploited already ad nauseam, and makes no sense to be recorded today. Of course such music still has a wide following, especially in America, but it contributes nothing to the development of the Jazz idiom. What a pity this album does not present the entire performance by the Dawid Kostka quartet playing their own music, and was sacrificed to present young Polish musicians playing along a Big American Star, which did them no good whatsoever!

Updated: 01/01/2017Posted: 01/01/2017

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

DON PULLEN ~ THE COMPLETE REMASTERED RECORDINGS ON BLACK SAINT & SOUL NOTE CAM JAZZ 1017 (Barcode: 8052405140432) ~ USA ~ Jazz Recorded: 1976 - 1985 Released: 2012 This superb Box Set collects all the albums recorded by the legendary American pianist / composer Don PullenFind albums by this artist on the twin Italian independent labels: Black SaintFind albums on this label and Soul NoteFind albums on this label. Pullen needs no introduction to any serious Jazz connoisseur; suffice to say that his prolific output and a career stretching over four decades is a superb example of an Artists constantly developing and changing his perspective on his Art form. In his early days Pullen played Avant-Garde and Free Jazz, but in various stages of his career he also excelled as more conventional modern player, for example with Charles MingusFind albums by this artist in the 1970s. He co-led for many years an excellent ensemble with saxophonist / composed George AdamsFind albums by this artist. The music included here includes seven of his recordings, ranging from solo piano albums to duet, trio, quartet and quintet settings. The list of his partners includes saxophonists Sam RiversFind albums by this artist, Chico FreemanFind albums by this artist and Joseph JarmanFind albums by this artist and many other outstanding musicians. Remastered, mini-sleeved, and with a great bargain price – this Box Set an absolute must for any serious Jazz collector. Side Note The Italian independent record label Black SaintFind albums on this label was founded by the music critic / author / producer Giacomo PellicciottiFind albums by this artist in 1975. It was taken over by the producer Giovanni BonandriniFind albums by this artist in 1978 and a year later (1979) a sister label, called Soul NoteFind albums on this label, was established. The twin labels were run by Giovanni and later his son Flavio BonandriniFind albums by this artist, until they were sold in 2008 to the Italian KEPACH Music Group, which already owned the CAM JazzFind albums on this label label, and which also bought another Italian independent record label Dischi Della QuerciaFind albums on this label. The mission of the Black Saint / Soul Note labels was to record and document the Free Jazz / Improvised Music / Avant-Garde scene, mostly from the US but also from Europe, which continued between mid 1970s and late 1990s and produced a staggering collection of almost 550 albums recorded by world's most important Jazz innovators active at the time, providing an opportunity to American (mostly Afro-American) musicians, who would have never managed to make these recordings at home, ridden by racism, alienation and closed-mindedness. Without these two labels most of this fantastic human creativity would have been never documented. However, the Black Saint / Soul Note Box Sets produced under the CAM JazzFind albums on this label moniker are an archetypal example of how good intentions turn sour. Although these new editions often bring back to life some of the best music ever made on this planet, which in many cases has been lost in the tides of time and was unavailable on the market for ages, they suffer from an unforgivable disregard to the essence of cultural values and general sloppiness, contrary to human decency, which requires us to treat our cultural legacy with respect and loyalty. These Box Sets have no booklet which presents researched historical background and exact discographical information of the albums included, and most importantly an overview of the music and its meaning and contribution to the Jazz Art form. Although the original LP sleeves are reproduced, the information is in most cases too small to be readable at all. In short the fact that these Box Sets are meant to be inexpensive, does not mean that they have to be cheap!

Updated: 12/04/2020Posted:

CD 7 Mini-Sleeve Box Set Remastered Recommend To A Friend

MAL WALDRON ~ THE COMPLETE REMASTERED RECORDINGS ON BLACK SAINT & SOUL NOTE VOLUME 2 CAM JAZZ 1043 (Barcode: 8052405142528) ~ USA ~ Jazz Recorded: 1985 - 2000 Released: 2016 This superb Box Set collects recordings by the American pianist / composer Mal WaldronFind albums by this artist on the Black SaintFind albums on this label and Soul NoteFind albums on this label labels. It is the second such collection, this time dedicated to solo, duo, trio and quartet recordings, following the previous Box Set with quintet recordings. It includes eleven albums: "UpdateFind albums with this title" is a piano solo, "Sempre AmoreFind albums with this title" (*) and "CommuniqueFind albums with this title" (*) are duets with saxophonist Steve LacyFind albums by this artist, "DedicationFind albums with this title" and "Remembering MalFind albums with this title" are duets with bassist David FriesenFind albums by this artist, "Riding A ZephyrFind albums with this title" is a duet with vocalist Judi SilvanoFind albums by this artist, "Up And DownFind albums with this title" with saxophonist Chico FreemanFind albums by this artist, German bassist Ricky KnauerFind albums by this artist and Italian vocalist Tiziana GhiglioniFind albums by this artist (on two tracks only), "Sometimes I`m BlueFind albums with this title" with vocalist Kim ParkerFind albums by this artist, Swiss bassist Isla EckingerFind albums by this artist and drummer Ed ThigpenFind albums by this artist, "Our Colline`s A TreasureFind albums with this title" with bassist Leonard JonesFind albums by this artist and drummer Sangoma EverettFind albums by this artist, "I`ll Be AroundFind albums with this title" with Ghiglioni and Italian trumpeter Enrico RavaFind albums by this artist and finally "Six Monk`s Compositions (1987)Find albums with this title" (*) with saxophonist Anthony BraxtonFind albums by this artist, bassist Bluell NeidlingerFind albums by this artist and drummer Bill OsborneFind albums by this artist. Most of the music is by Waldron, except for the album dedicated to the music of the great composer Thelonious MonkFind albums by this artist, and of course some standards. Waldron is considered as one of the most influential and prominent American Jazz personalities and a great master of the piano. He started his career as a Bebop player but moved later also into the Avant-Garde idiom. He was also one of the first American Jazz musicians who discovered European Jazz and understood its importance. He moved to Europe in the mid-1960s, where he spent the rest of his life. He left a most impressive recorded legacy of well over a hundred albums. The music is absolutely timeless, and offers a perfect glance at Waldron´s diversity as a composer and player. It is also a unique document of European Jazz, as most of his albums involved European musicians playing side by side with their Americans partners. For serious Jazz connoisseurs this Box Set is a pure delight and an absolute must! The albums marked with (*) were also included in other Box Sets of this series. Side Note The Italian independent record label Black SaintFind albums on this label was founded by the music critic / author / producer Giacomo PellicciottiFind albums by this artist in 1975. It was taken over by the producer Giovanni BonandriniFind albums by this artist in 1978 and a year later (1979) a sister label, called Soul NoteFind albums on this label, was established. The twin labels were run by Giovanni and later his son Flavio BonandriniFind albums by this artist, until they were sold in 2008 to the Italian KEPACH Music Group, which already owned the CAM JazzFind albums on this label label, and which also bought another Italian independent record label Dischi Della QuerciaFind albums on this label. The mission of the Black Saint / Soul Note labels was to record and document the Free Jazz / Improvised Music / Avant-Garde scene, mostly from the US but also from Europe, which continued between mid 1970s and late 1990s and produced a staggering collection of almost 550 albums recorded by world's most important Jazz innovators active at the time, providing an opportunity to American (mostly Afro-American) musicians, who would have never managed to make these recordings at home, ridden by racism, alienation and closed-mindedness. Without these two labels most of this fantastic human creativity would have been never documented. However, the Black Saint / Soul Note Box Sets produced under the CAM JazzFind albums on this label moniker are an archetypal example of how good intentions turn sour. Although these new editions often bring back to life some of the best music ever made on this planet, which in many cases has been lost in the tides of time and was unavailable on the market for ages, they suffer from an unforgivable disregard to the essence of cultural values and general sloppiness, contrary to human decency, which requires us to treat our cultural legacy with respect and loyalty. These Box Sets have no booklet which presents researched historical background and exact discographical information of the albums included, and most importantly an overview of the music and its meaning and contribution to the Jazz Art form. Although the original LP sleeves are reproduced, the information is in most cases too small to be readable at all. In short the fact that these Box Sets are meant to be inexpensive, does not mean that they have to be cheap!

Updated: 20/05/2020Posted: 20/05/2020

CD 11 Mini-Sleeve Box Set Remastered Recommend To A Friend