8,232 Reviews
4,319 Visits Today
16,045,817 Visits So Far
This site uses
HTML5 & CSS3
We support
Mozilla Firefox
 

Record Reviews

Search

39 Reviews Found. Use search to find more reviews or follow the links in the review text.

BALVIG / BULOW / CHRISTENSEN ~ ASSOCIATED WITH WATER
AMP 015 (Barcode: 662578831099) ~ DENMARK ~ Jazz

Recorded: 2017 Released: 2017

This is the debut album by the Danish Jazz trio comprising of pianist Christian BalvigFind albums by this artist, bassist Adrian ChristensenFind albums by this artist and drummer Frederik BulowFind albums by this artist. They perform eleven original compositions, four by Balvig, five by Christensen and two by Bulow.

The music is a beautifully melodic piano trio performance, with very strong and coherent compositions and heartfelt execution. The tracks are relatively short, so the music flows fluently from one track to another, displaying new harmonious vistas one after another. The overall character of the music is rather contemplative and lyrical, and on the whole quite minimalistic. The level of the compositions is superb throughout, which of course adds to the imminent success of this album.

Balvig plays rather sparingly, using a lot of single notes rather that long arpeggios, which is slightly unusual and very effective. He is definitely concentrating on delivering the musical message rather than showing off. In the more energetic tunes his playing becomes percussive and sizzling. Christensen plays splendidly, moving hand in hand with the piano and filling effectively the spaces and the bottom range of the scale. Bulow stays most of the time in the shadows, amicably supplying the rhythmic pulsations but carefully not dominating the music. The level of interplay and mutual respect between the trio members is admirable.

Altogether this is a splendid debut effort, which deserves to be heard and will surely satisfy all piano trio connoisseurs all around the globe. I am already on the lookout for their next recording, considering the potential displayed here. Well done indeed!
Updated: 04/10/2017Posted: 04/10/2017CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

CHRISTIAN BALVIG 6-TET ~ MUSIC FOR HUMANS
AMP 022 (Barcode: 662578831167) ~ DENMARK ~ Jazz-Classical Fusion

Recorded: 2016 - 2017 Released: 2018

This is the debut album by Danish pianist / composer Christian BalvigFind albums by this artist and his sextet, which is in fact an amalgam of a classic Jazz piano trio and a Classical string trio. In addition to Balvig the other members of the sextet are: bassist Jens Mikkel MadsenFind albums by this artist, drummer Siv Oyunn KjenstadFind albums by this artist, violinist Louise GormFind albums by this artist, violist Mikkel SchrieberFind albums by this artist and cellist Maria EdlundFind albums by this artist. The album presents nine original compositions, all by Balvig.

As expected from the lineup the music is a Jazz-Classical Fusion project, based on highly melodic compositions, which Balvig masterly weaves, and incorporating the string trio layer, which emphasizes the meditative nature of the music. At times the music becomes almost chamber and spiritual in nature, and its slow paste and limited dynamics inspire reflection and contemplation. Stylistically the music floats between cinematic music and European Jazz-Classical explorations, with clear Nordic influences.

The individual performances are all spotless and inspired, yet restrained and quite minimalistic at times. Balvig plays single note successions, beautifully supported by Madsen, which are taken over by the strings and ornamented into more harmonically expanded structures. Kjenstad is present only on the more Jazz oriented swinging piano trio parts, which are relatively limited. The music is obviously an ensemble effort and the cooperation between the ensemble members is the essential ingredient contributing to the success of the result.

Overall this is a very interesting project, which takes some effort to get into, but creates an intimate connection with the listener, taking him on an imaginary ride through an imaginary musical landscape. This album and the other album Balvig released on the excellent Norwegian label AMPFind albums on this label Records, called "Associated With WaterFind albums with this title", present a talented and dedicated pianist / composer, who is searching to expand his musical horizons within the contemporary European instrumental music, close to Jazz but not limited to its defined areas and terminology. Definitely worth investigating!
Updated: 07/04/2018Posted: 07/04/2018CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

BARON, CHRISTY ~ I THOUGHT ABOUT YOU
CHESKY 152 ~ USA ~ Jazz


1st album from 2000 by the new star of US female Jazz singers. Not only does she posess an incredible voice, but her personal interpretations of well known jazz standards just raise your hair on the back of your neck. Great arrangements and incredible support by the accompanying musicians. A vocal Jazz album that you never get tired of!
 CD 1 Oversampling Recommend To A Friend

BARON, CHRISTY ~ STEPPIN`
CHESKY 201 ~ USA ~ Jazz


2nd album from 2000, similar in style to the debut recording. Christy goes through Jazz standards like knife through butter and her choice of material is superb, as are all the musicians taking part in this great album. Clear, strong voice, intelligence, talent and feeling (and good looks) - can one ask for more?
 CD 1 Oversampling Recommend To A Friend

BARON, CHRISTY ~ TAKE THIS JOURNEY
CHESKY 239 ~ USA ~ Jazz


3rd album from 2002. Another smooth journey through the sea of Jazz standards, performed with style and elegance by this incredible singer. Her choice of material is impeckable and her performances brilliant. As usual great accompaniament and solid support by the musicians on this album. Third time in a row she proves that she just can`t go wrong!
 CD 1 Oversampling Recommend To A Friend

CHRISTOPH BECK ~ TARTAROS
DML 038 (Barcode: 4011550200389) ~ GERMANY ~ Jazz

Recorded: 2019 Released: 2019

This is the third album as a leader by young German saxophonist / composer Christoph BeckFind albums by this artist, recorded in a trio setting with pianist Patrick BebelaarFind albums by this artist and Polish (resident in Berlin) drummer Bodek JankeFind albums by this artist. The album presents twelve original compositions, all by Beck.

The music is mostly melody based and offers a wide and diverse range of moods and tempi, presenting a highly skilled compositional ability, rather than sketchy themes, which often serve as basis for Jazz improvisations. It offers a lot of space and freedom, venturing into pretty Free Form passages, but remains well-structured and harmonically sound at all times.

The bass-less trio handles the music brilliantly, with Beck alternating between tenor saxophone and bass clarinet, Bebelaar playing superbly and handling the job of providing not only harmony but adding excellent soloing and a bass layer, and finally Janke, who cements the music together and pushes it forward with his robust and highly imaginative percussive work.

The album holds a lot wonderful surprises, like the tabla parts played by Janke or the superb bass clarinet parts, which are deeply emotional and atmospheric. All this offers a truly delightful musical journey, which happens rather rarely, and is definitely worth embracing.

I admit of not being aware of Beck’s work earlier (my loss of course) and this album comes as a revelation of his abilities and talents. I’ll have to dig out his earlier work as it definitely seems worthwhile, now that I have discovered him.

Overall this is a beautiful piece of music, from start to finish, which shows how inventive, artistic and sophisticated European Jazz can be at its best. Beck is definitely a musician worth following and the album highly recommended to all Jazz lovers around the world!
Updated: 28/03/2021Posted: 28/03/2021CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

CHRIS BECKERS ~ NIGHTCRUISING
CRISCRAZZ 045 ~ GERMANY ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion


Although not very well known, Chris Beckers is a major figure in European Fusion scene as a player (guitar), composer and producer. This albums is an overview of his work in the last 2 decades and features an astonishing list of Fusion stars like Billy Cobham, Peter Erskine, Alex Acuna and Jimmy Haslip to name just a few. There are great melodies here and some amazing playing - Fusion heaven!
Updated: 01/09/2021Posted: CD 1 Remastered Recommend To A Friend

CHRIS BISCOE ~ MUSIC IS: PLAYS MIKE WESTBROOK
TRIO 607 (Barcode: 5052442022947) ~ UK ~ Jazz

Recorded: 2021 - 2022 Released: 2022

This is an album by British Jazz saxophonist / clarinetist / composer Chris BiscoeFind albums by this artist, recorded with pianist Kate WilliamsFind albums by this artist, guitarist Mike OutramFind albums by this artist, bassist Dave WhitfordFind albums by this artist and drummer Jon ScottFind albums by this artist. The album presents eight tracks, all of which, as the title suggests, were composed by British pianist / composer Mike WestbrookFind albums by this artist.

Biscoe has been a member of the various ensembles led by Mike Westbrook and his wife Kate WestbrookFind albums by this artist since 1979 and participated in many recordings by these ensembles, consistently demonstrating his brilliant technique and talent. On this album he arranged some of his favorite Westbrook compositions and performs them with different musicians, often in a new and quite surprising way.

The music is absolutely brilliant of course, not only because of the strength of these compositions, but in this case especially due to the treatment these compositions receive, mostly with a surprising freedom of interpretation, which dominates the proceedings. Biscoe’s sublime performances are not surprising of course, but the level of musicianship by the entire team, which I am not familiar with, is also excellent throughout.

The music manages to swing splendidly due to the superb work by the rhythm section, which drives the pulse steadily, even if the rhythm dances around unevenly, purposely of course. Williams’ and Outram’s solos are also perfectly structured, and are a bliss to listen to.

One of the tracks is performed by Biscoe using multi-tracking of different saxophones and the clarinet, creating a wonderful orchestral effect, and another track is a solo saxophone recording, both being among the highlights of this album. All the music is wonderfully recorded and the sound quality is superb for the entire duration.

Overall, this is an outstanding and highly unusual album by one of the British Jazz less spotlighted heroes, who certainly deserves all the compliments for his consistently splendid work as a sideman over the years, and has a lot to offer as a leader as well, as this album proves beyond any doubt. A wonderful surprise and an immediate favorite of mine; well done indeed!
Updated: 15/08/2023Posted: 15/08/2023CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

CHRIS ~ CITY OF LIGHT
PROGRESS 050 (Barcode: 7320470160428) ~ NETHERLANDS ~ Progressive Rock

Recorded: 2012 Released: 2012

This is the third album by the Dutch Prog multi-instrumentalist / songwriter Christiaan BruinFind albums by this artist a.k.a. ChrisFind albums by this artist, who uses contemporary recording technology to perform as a one-man-band, playing all the instruments and delivering the vocals all by himself. Guitarist Bas ImmerzelFind albums by this artist adds guitar solos on a couple of tracks. The album offers six lengthy tracks, all composed by Chris.

Such one-man projects are not unusual on the Prog scene and have been done for many years with various degree of success. It all depends of course on what the musician in question has to offer musically, aesthetically and intellectually. Contemporary electronic instruments, computer software and recording tools enable such one-man projects to be created with relative effortlessness, which of course is a double-edged sword as far as the results are concerned. In today´s reality so much music is being produced and then made available to listeners via the Internet, that it becomes increasingly more difficult to separate the jewels from the heaps of trivial rubbish.

The album offers the listeners some catchy melodic phrases but the music somehow never really takes off, staying mostly monotonous and subdued. The six tracks all sound dangerously uniform, turning the entire album into one continuous flow of "more of the same". The drums, which are up-front almost at all times (perhaps due to the fact that Chris is a drummer in another band), dominate the music, and unfortunately sound like computer generated patterns being simply repeated ad nauseam. The vocals are mostly synthesized and full of exaggerated theatrics a la GenesisFind albums by this artist, which was quite enough when it happened originally. The overall sonic quality of the album also has major flaws, with the music sounding muffled and mushy, perhaps purposely so, but definitely unnerving.

All in all this album is a classic example of contemporary Neo-Prog, which has very little to offer, mostly recycling the same musical resources that have been already thinned out to death. It also doesn´t offer any performing buzz whatsoever.

Probably some diehard Neo-Prog fans will completely disagree with me and love this album to bits. De gustibus non est disputandum?
Updated: 21/09/2021Posted: CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

CHARLIE CHRISTIAN ~ THE GENIUS OF THE ELECTRIC GUITAR
SONY 886979303522 (Barcode: 886979303522) ~ USA ~ Jazz

Recorded: 1939 - 1941 Released: 2012

This Box Set collects the recordings by guitarist / composer Charlie ChristianFind albums by this artist as a member of the Benny GoodmanFind albums by this artist sextet and Orchestra, which constitute the bulk of his recorded work. Christian was one of the first guitarists to use the amplified electric guitar and was instrumental in elevating the role of the guitar from accompaniment to front stage solo instrument. His playing influenced generations of guitar players and was felt beyond the Jazz sphere, most importantly in the infancy years of Rock, which was about to explode about a decade after these recordings were made.

Christian died at the ridiculous young age of 25 and his death cut short perhaps one of the most promising careers, that might have developed. It is extremely rare that an artist active for such a restricted period of time managed to influence so many others, as in the case of Christian. It is entirely possible that music, as we know it, might have developed quite differently without his contribution.

The music herein was recorded at the peak of the Swing era and clarinetist / composer Goodman, who was often referred to as the King Of Swing, and his sextet were truly an admirable outfit. The sextet also included vibraphonist Lionel HamptonFind albums by this artist and pianists such as Fletcher HendersonFind albums by this artist, Count BasieFind albums by this artist and others. They play several Christian compositions in addition of course to the music composed by the leader and others. Christian´s riffs and numerous solo spots are simply brilliant and a careful listener will be able to recognize countless phrases used by future generations of guitar players. The box includes many alternative takes and studio outtakes. The albums are packed in mini-sleeves and a superbly educational booklet is also included.

This Box Set is an absolute treasure for people, who wish to understand the history and development of the guitar and its role in contemporary music. For people unfamiliar with Christian´s legacy, this might be quite and experience. Of course it´s an essential piece of the Jazz legacy. Great stuff!
Updated: 26/01/2019Posted: CD 4 Mini-Sleeve Box Set Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend

CHRISTOPHER ~ CHRISTOPHER
GEAR FAB 108 (Barcode: 645270010825) ~ USA ~ Classic Rock

Recorded: 1969 Released: 1997

Only album by US (Houston, Texas) band ChristopherFind albums by this artist which incorporated Psychedelic elements with some heavy sounds, similar to Jefferson AirplaneFind albums by this artist and CreamFind albums by this artist. Excellent self-penned material, strong vocals and great instrumental work, especially the guitar. Although obscure, this album is as good as anything recorded at the time and deserves to be re-discovered. Wholeheartedly recommended!
 CD 1 Remastered Recommend To A Friend

CHRIS FARLOWE ~ 14 THINGS TO THINK ABOUT
REPERTOIRE 5113 (Barcode: 4009910511329) ~ UK ~ Classic Rock

Recorded: 1966 Released: 2008

1st album by the great vocalist Chris FarloweFind albums by this artist, one of the most distinctive voices on the British scene, who would be later become a center figure of the British Prog as the vocalist of ColosseumFind albums by this artist and Atomic RoosterFind albums by this artist. These early recordings showcase Farlowe´s wonderful husky voice, his unique approach to the Blues and Rhythm And Blues and include the song written for him by the great team of Mick JaggerFind albums by this artist and Keith RichardsFind albums by this artist of the Rolling StonesFind albums by this artist. This remastered edition was expanded with numerous bonus tracks collecting EPs and singles released at the same period. This is a wonderful trip down the memory lane and a beautiful document of the time when the British scene was about to enter it´s most productive period. Recommended!
Updated: 08/05/2023Posted: CD 1 Digipak Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend

CHRIS FARLOWE ~ AS TIME GOES BY
MIG 00792 (Barcode: 885513007926) ~ UK ~ Jazz

Recorded: 1995 Released: 2013

This is a reissue of the wonderful album by British Blues-Rock vocalist Chris FarloweFind albums by this artist, which presents his interpretations of classic Jazz vocal standards. As such it is the most atypical album by Farlowe and the one closest to Jazz he ever recorded. Farlowe is accompanied by a great sextet lead by saxophonist Pat CrumlyFind albums by this artist, which also includes trombonist Mark NightingaleFind albums by this artist, guitarist Clem ClempsonFind albums by this artist, pianist John PearceFind albums by this artist who also wrote all the arrangements, bassist Simon WoolfFind albums by this artist and drummer Simon MortonFind albums by this artist. The album was recorded at the Temple Studios and engineered by the studio owner, the legendary Jon HisemanFind albums by this artist. This reissue is remastered and includes one bonus track from the same session which was left out on the original release.

This album emphasizes the great Jazz sensitivity and the improvisational urge Farlowe displayed thru ought his long career, but which remained mostly hidden and overshadowed by his Blues-Rock front. His theatrics and vocal trickery fits the old and well known standards superbly, presenting them with a certain twist and different sensitivities, which are delightful and often surprising. For many Farlowe followers this album is quite an "ear opener" into his abilities which are expressed herein for the first time.

As Farlowe says in the album´s liner notes this was the music he heard in his early days, before he discovered Rhythm And Blues, which obviously influenced him and was partly responsible for his future musical personality. No wonder he decided to pay tribute to his Jazz roots, doing so with all his heart, as this album evidently shows.

Obviously this album is a must to the many Farlowe fans and followers, but it is also definitely deserves to be discovered by the British Jazz followers who are probably completely unaware of its existence. This is such a pleasure to listen to this music and I hope many people will seek it out to join the party!
Updated: 08/05/2023Posted: 25/06/2016CD 1 Digipak Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend

CHRIS FARLOWE ~ BURSTING OVER BREMEN
MIG 00882 (Barcode: 885513008824) ~ UK ~ Blues-Rock

Recorded: 1985 Released: 2014

This is a great archival album presenting a live recording by British Blues-Rock vocalist Chris FarloweFind albums by this artist and his band, which was originally recorded by Radio Bremen and waited for almost three decades to become available to the delight of Farlowe´s many fans. During the concert, which was part of the tour promoting Farlowe´s return to the recording studio and the release of the "Out Of The BlueFind albums with this title" album, he was accompanied by an excellent five-piece band which featured guitarist Mo WithamFind albums by this artist, keyboardist Tim HinkleyFind albums by this artist, saxophonist Martin WinnerFind albums by this artist, bassist Tex CornerFind albums by this artist and drummer John PalmerFind albums by this artist.

Throughout his entire career Farlowe always came out at his best live, tearing the stage down. His memorable performance on the original ColosseumFind albums by this artist live album from 1971, one of the seminal Progressive Rock albums of all times, is just one example of his phenomenal vocal abilities, his improvisational streak and his unmatched stage presence. The recording of the Colosseum reunion concert in Cologne in 1994 is another example of his charisma, and the twenty three years that separate these two live albums show Farlowe getting better in time.

This album is also a thrilling experience, lasting about 95 minutes (spread over two CDs), showcasing Farlowe doing what he does the best, i.e. singing his heart out. The incredible quality of this live recording makes the entire experience feel like it is happening in front of the listener´s eyes. The band members support the vocalist admirably, playing soaring solos and keeping the perfect time, like true pros. The material is never far away from the Blues, including some Rhythm And Blues songs but basically the Blues rulez. Several heartbreaking expanded versions of classic twelve bar Blues songs are alone worth the price of the whole album, but overall this is pure gold from start to finish. Just listen to Farlowe exchanging vocal licks with the guitar player and the fact that he is one of the true greats is plainly obvious.

For some inexplicable reason Farlowe seems to be much more popular on the continent and especially in Germany rather than in Britain. I could never get it, although this has been going on for ages. Well whatever the Brits might think about him, he is definitely a Giant and in retrospect his contribution to British Blues-Rock and Rock music are nothing short of spectacular.

This music is such great fun that I can hardly imagine any serious Blues-Rock connoisseur that would dare to miss it. In short grab it while it lasts!
Updated: 08/05/2023Posted: 26/04/2016CD 2 Digipak Remastered Recommend To A Friend

CHRIS FARLOWE ~ FARLOWE THAT!
MIG 00852 (Barcode: 885513008527) ~ UK ~ Blues-Rock

Recorded: 2003 Released: 2013

This is a reissue of a great album by British Blues-Rock vocalist Chris FarloweFind albums by this artist, recorded with a superb band comprising of guitarist Norman BeakerFind albums by this artist, keyboardist Dave BaldwinFind albums by this artist, bassist John PriceFind albums by this artist and drummer Paul BurgesFind albums by this artist (same as this album´s predecessor "Glory BoundFind albums with this title"). A brass section and guest musicians are also present, including the great guitarist Miller AndersonFind albums by this artist and the legendary singer / songwriter Van MorrisonFind albums by this artist, who contributed one of his songs on his album and sings on it with Farlowe. The original album includes fourteen songs and this edition adds two bonus tracks to the original album.

The music on this album marks a significant return to more Blues-Rock oriented material, contrary to the dominant Rhythm And Blues / Soul orientation of the two preceding albums. Farlowe´s voice is as strong and expressive as always and the passing of time seems completely unnoticed. His performances are full of vigor, power and the usual heartfelt honesty and emotion.

This is another proud addition to the flawless recorded legacy created by Farlowe over the years. Obviously this is a must to all Farlowe fans and an opportunity to grab a copy of this in case you don’t have the original album. They don´t make much music like that any more so if you like your Blues-Rock sounding like it did once, this is definitely it!
Updated: 08/05/2023Posted: 27/06/2016CD 1 Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend

CHRIS FARLOWE ~ FROM HERE TO MAMA ROSA
REPERTOIRE 1331 (Barcode: 4009910133125) ~ UK ~ Progressive Rock

Recorded: 1970 Released: 2017

This is a reissue of the fourth album by the seminal British vocalist Chris FarloweFind albums by this artist, one of the most distinctive voices of the British Isles´ musical history. His career started in the early 1960s and he was at the epicenter of the British Rhythm And Blues explosion with his group The ThunderbirdsFind albums by this artist. He was considered as one of the top three acts of the era, together with Georgie FameFind albums by this artist and the Blue FlamesFind albums by this artist and Zoot MoneyFind albums by this artist and the Big Roll BandFind albums by this artist. Farlowe recorded no less than three albums in 1966, all excellent examples of the Blues and Rhythm And Blues. In time The Thunderbirds morphed into The HillFind albums by this artist, the group that accompanies Farlowe on this album, which included guitarist Steve HammondFind albums by this artist, keyboardist Peter RobinsonFind albums by this artist, cellist Paul BuckmasterFind albums by this artist, bassist Bruce WaddellFind albums by this artist and drummer Colin DavyFind albums by this artist. The original album presented nine tracks, all but one composed by Waddell or co-composed by him. This reissue adds three bonus tracks.

Musically this album is very different from Farlowe´s earlier Rhythm And Blues recordings and it has a distinctive Progressive Rock flavor, which is hardly surprising considering that soon after the recording of this album Farlowe was about to join the mighty ColosseumFind albums by this artist and later also Atomic RoosterFind albums by this artist, two of the most important representatives of the British Progressive Rock and Jazz-Rock Fusion.

The album presents excellent tunes, all beautifully performed, with impressive instrumental soloing, as appropriate for the Prog idiom. Superb Hammond organ parts and of course cello, which was quite unusual in the Rock setting.

In retrospect this is one of those rare gems that almost completely slipped under the radar of the Prog fans over the tears, which can be rectified with this reissue of course. As for Farlowe, some listeners seem to be allergic to his unique vocal capabilities and theatrics, but personally he was always one of my favorite vocalists, with very few equals over the years.

This is definitely one of the best albums of his solo recording legacy, all of which are definitely worth checking out. It´s great to see this album back in circulation and hopefully it won´t be missed out by his many fans this time. This is a little known gem, which deserves to be heard!
Updated: 08/05/2023Posted: 05/06/2018CD 1 Digipak Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend

CHRIS FARLOWE ~ GLORY BOUND
MIG 00812 (Barcode: 885513008121) ~ UK ~ Blues-Rock

Recorded: 2000 Released: 2013

This is a reissue of an excellent album by British Blues-Rock vocalist Chris FarloweFind albums by this artist, who is accompanied by a great band led by guitarist Norman BeakerFind albums by this artist and which also includes keyboardist Dave BaldwinFind albums by this artist, bassist John PriceFind albums by this artist and drummer Paul BurgesFind albums by this artist. A brass section, a string quartet and a few guest musicians also participate. The original album presents twelve songs, a mixture of Rhythm And Blues / Blues-Rock standards and some original new songs including the title song written especially for Chris by the legendary Mike d`AboFind albums by this artist. Ricky ByrdFind albums by this artist, who played on the album which preceded this one, ("The VoiceFind albums with this title") also contributed one new song. This edition adds two bonus tracks.

Farlowe is in top form on this album and the material suits his vocal sensitivities perfectly, which results in an ideal match, emphasizing his long-lasting powers as a vocalist. The album does not reveal anything the Farlowe fans had not heard before, but it certainly provides more of the heartfelt vocals, which have very few competitors anywhere. With a great support from all the instrumentalists on this album Farlowe manages to create one more important addition to his discography and one more memory of the long and wonderful career.

This is obviously a must have for the numerous Farlowe fans, who perhaps somehow missed the original release with a possibility to complete the collection now. Those who are discovering Farlowe only now (better late than never) this is excellent, honest, direct and highly aesthetic music, which should not be forgotten. As our generation leaves this world, more and more rapidly, music like this one becomes even more important, hopefully making a mark for the future generations.
Updated: 08/05/2023Posted: 26/06/2016CD 1 Digipak Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend

CHRIS FARLOWE ~ LIVE AT ROCKPALAST 2006
MIG 90842 (Barcode: 885513908421) ~ UK ~ Blues-Rock

Recorded: 2006 Released: 2018

This is a live album by legendary British Rock / Blues / Soul vocalist Chris FarloweFind albums by this artist, recorded with the band led by Blues guitarist Norman BeakerFind albums by this artist, which included bassist John PriceFind albums by this artist, keyboardist Dave BaldwinFind albums by this artist, saxophonist Damian HandFind albums by this artist, drummer Paul BurgessFind albums by this artist and guest vocalist Nikolay ArutyunovFind albums by this artist. The 2CD album presents fourteen tracks, which include many Blues and Blues-Rock standards. The DVD presents the same material in video version and a bonus backstage interview.

Farlowe, born in 1940 and aged eighty-three at the time of writing, is a veteran of the British Rock scene, starting his career in the late 1950s and getting first attention with his group The ThunderbirdsFind albums by this artist in the mid-1960s. He joined the legendary group ColosseumFind albums by this artist in 1970 and is still an active lead vocalist of the group, almost fifty-five years later, a truly amazing achievement. He has one of the most distinctive voices and his affinity to the Blues is absolutely unique as are his interpretations of Blues oriented material and he has been one of my all-time favorite vocalists since forever.

This album finds him exactly where likes to be, singing a wonderful set of Blues-Rock material, accompanied by excellent instrumentalist, including Beaker, who is a superb electric Blues player. Sixty-six years young at the time, his vocals are absolutely untouched by time and he sound wonderful as always.

Overall, this is a brilliant Blues-Rock album, one of those which only get better with time, especially when the Blues-Rock scene is thinning out dramatically. Farlowe never made a bad record in his life, and this one is definitely up to par with his abilities. For guitar fans, not familiar with Beaker’s skills, this is quite a shocker, and of course for Farlowe many followers, this is an absolute must in their collection!
Updated: 01/08/2024Posted: 01/08/20242CD+DVD 3 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

CHRIS FARLOWE ~ OUT OF THE BLUE / BORN AGAIN
MIG 00872 (Barcode: 885513008725) ~ UK ~ Blues-Rock

Recorded: 1984 - 1985 Released: 2013

This is a reissue of two albums, his fifth and sixth studio recordings, by the British Blues-Rock vocalist extraordinaire Chris FarloweFind albums by this artist. These albums mark Farlowe´s return to the recording career after an absence that lasted a decade and a half. On both albums Farlowe is supported by a lineup consisting of highly professional musicians, which features guitarists Mo WithamFind albums by this artist and Phil PalmerFind albums by this artist and many other top players of the time. Each of the reissued albums is expanded with bonus tracks.

Despite his extensive career as a solo artist and lead vocalist for such legendary ensembles as Atomic RoosterFind albums by this artist or ColosseumFind albums by this artist, Farlowe somehow never achieved the fame and glory he truly deserves. Many people, for reasons that are beyond me, don´t like the timbre of his voice, which I personally find simply irresistible. Farlowe arrived on the British scene in the early 1960s and his unique voice became immediately his trademark. He flirted with Pop and Rhythm And Blues, but his true vocation was always the Blues. Besides the fact that Farlowe was always a superb vocalist, he also displayed an unusual ability to interpret the songs, using instant vocal improvisation, a very rare ability among his peers. In retrospect he has always been one of my all time favorite Blues-Rock vocalists, alongside Paul Rodgers, and I feel frustrated that so few people are able to hear his greatness.

These two albums present a great collection of Blues-Rock oriented material and they have lost nothing of their charm since the time they were recorded. Sadly they were to become the only studio output by Farlowe during the 1980s, but of course he was to reemerge again in the 1990s and 2000s.

This album is an interesting document of an era, when music was already starting to disintegrate into corporate garbage and collective brainlessness. Lucky for us some people have not lost their wits yet. If you missed this stuff at the time, now is the time to repent!
Updated: 08/05/2023Posted: 25/04/2016CD 2 Digipak Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend

CHRIS FARLOWE ~ THE VOICE / HOTEL EINGANG
MIG 00892 (Barcode: 885513008923) ~ UK ~ Blues-Rock

Recorded: 1998 - 2008 Released: 2013

This is a reissue of two albums by the British Blues-Rock vocalist Chris FarloweFind albums by this artist recorded a decade apart: "The VoiceFind albums with this title" from 1998 and "Hotel EingangFind albums with this title" from 2008, the second being at the time of writing is the last album recorded by Farlowe so far. Both albums are remastered and both include two bonus tracks each, originating from a live recording from 2006.

"The Voice" is a beautiful collection of ten Rhythm And Blues / Soul songs, splendidly sung by Farlowe, who is accompanied by a superb band, which includes guitarist Clem ClempsonFind albums by this artist, keyboardist Ronnie LeahyFind albums by this artist, bassist John PriceFind albums by this artist and drummer Paul BurgessFind albums by this artist. Other musicians appear on some of the songs, like guitarist Ricky ByrdFind albums by this artist, who also wrote a couple of songs present here, guitarist Norman BeakerFind albums by this artist, vocalist Elkie BrooksFind albums by this artist and others.

"Hotel Eingang" is a collection of thirteen Blues-Rock numbers and finds Farlowe accompanied by the excellent guitarist Miller AndersonFind albums by this artist, keyboardist Frank TischerFind albums by this artist, bassist Kris GrayFind albums by this artist and drummer Paul Burgess. A brass section and additional guest musicians are also present. Farlowe wrote the title song and Anderson also contributed one of his songs, with the rest being mostly Blues standards.

Both albums, although different from each other, show the versatility and undiminished capabilities of Farlowe as a first rate vocalist, who despite his age manages to sound as if he was a few decades younger that his chronological age. He is vital and absolutely relevant, full of great chops and as usual sensitivity and feel for the music. Farlowe is ignoring the fads and fashions of contemporary Pop / Rock and sticks to what he knows best – singing his heart out like only he knows how.

Farlowe remains one of the few veteran Rockers, who lost nothing of his relevance and artistic ability over time and who believes in the music he performs, contrary to generations of younger musicians who have very little to say and who completely lost their way over time. As such he is one of the living icons of the better times that music enjoyed in the past.

Overall both albums are an absolute must have for all Farlowe fans and in this remastered edition with bonus tracks and a very reasonable price tag are even more attractive. For people who don´t have the original albums in their collection this is a proverbial "steal".
Updated: 08/05/2023Posted: 25/06/2016CD 2 Digipak Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend

CHRIS FARLOWE ~ WAITING IN THE WINGS
MIG 00962 (Barcode: 885513009623) ~ UK ~ Classic Rock

Recorded: 1991 Released: 2013

This is a reissue of an album recorded by the British Blues-Rock vocalist Chris FarloweFind albums by this artist in the early 1990s, following a five years long period of inactivity in the recording studio. The songs on this album were recorded during several studio sessions, featuring different lineups. As a result no less that six guitar players are featured: Micky MoodyFind albums by this artist (Juicy LucyFind albums by this artist), Alvin LeeFind albums by this artist (Ten Years AfterFind albums by this artist), Albert LeeFind albums by this artist (everybody), Clem ClempsonFind albums by this artist (ColosseumFind albums by this artist), Geoff WhitehornFind albums by this artist (Procol HarumFind albums by this artist), Phil PalmerFind albums by this artist (a great session player) and Tony CrooksFind albums by this artist (The KickFind albums by this artist with bassist Leo LyonsFind albums by this artist, ex-Ten Years After, who also plays here).

Despite the stellar team of musicians and a very solid collection on songs, the album was rejected by the Major record labels and was finally released on a tiny Spanish label BarsaFind albums on this label Records (originally titled simply "Farlowe") and than on FreestyleFind albums on this label Records in UK (with a different mixes of two songs), but disappeared from the market almost immediately. This reissue adds four bonus tracks, two of which are the original mixes of the two a/m songs and two more, which are live recordings.

Obviously produced for the US market, this album has a much more Rock oriented sound and luster, taking Farlowe away from his Blues-Rock roots. Nevertheless it is still a very solid album as far as Farlowe´s vocal delivery is concerned and for his many fans this album deserves a proud place in their collection. Sadly it will take another five years for Farlowe to record another studio album.
Updated: 27/04/2016Posted: 27/04/2016CD 1 Digipak Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend

CHRISTER FREDRIKSEN ~ VIT
LOSEN 170 (Barcode: 7090025831706) ~ NORWAY ~ Electronic & Ambient

Recorded: 2016 Released: 2017

This is the third album by Norwegian guitarist / composer Christer FredriksenFind albums by this artist, and his first solo guitar album. He performs nine of his original compositions, all recorded live and without overdubs.

This is definitely one of the most original albums I have come across lately, which boldly crosses genre borders and combines improvisation and ambient sonic explorations. Fredriksen leaves behind the conventional Jazz format of his two earlier albums and moves into new territory, which has very little to do with Jazz per se, and yet makes perfect sense to a Jazz listener, like me, since it develops the basic deep-rooted melodic themes changing them on the fly, which basically is what Jazz is all about.

The overall sonic aura of the album is somewhat somber and contemplative, as appropriate for music originating in Norway, with the familiar Scandinavian lyricism, but also majestic and even a bit sacred at times, definitely not something one might expect from a solo electric guitar album.

Overall this is an eye (ear) opener in many respects and for people who think they have already heard everything that can be done on a guitar, this album proves them wrong. Fans of Nordic / ambient music will find here everything they can hope for and guitar freaks will probably put the record on "repeat" for a while, to digest this unique concept. Well done indeed!
Updated: 03/02/2017Posted: 03/02/2017CD 1 Mini-Sleeve Recommend To A Friend

CHRIS HINZE ~ SENANG
KEYTONE 794 (Barcode: 8713094793001) ~ NETHERLANDS ~ Jazz-World Fusion

Recorded: 1996 Released: 1996

This is an album by Dutch flautist / keyboardist / composer / bandleader Chris HinzeFind albums by this artist, recorded with a plethora of guest musicians / friends from all over the world, including American saxophonist Michael BreckerFind albums by this artist, German pianist Joachim KuhnFind albums by this artist, American saxophonist Charlie MarianoFind albums by this artist, Hungarian saxophonist Tony LakatosFind albums by this artist, Dutch trumpeter Eric VloeimansFind albums by this artist and many others, including vocalists, percussionist, a choir, a string quartet etc.

The music is a wild mixture of Funky tunes with ethnic elements from many regions, strong percussive pulsations, brilliant Jazz soloing by the guest musicians, in short a unique amalgam of influences, which works together splendidly, and is even danceable, if needed.

Hinze is closely associated with Far East cultural influences, which he absorbed during his travels to the region, as well as meditative techniques and spiritual trends, but his music is always close to the Jazz influences he absorbed during his early days. His group Chris Hinze CombinationFind albums by this artist remains as one of the most important European Jazz and Jazz-Rock Fusion ensembles of the 1970s. Over the years he managed to record an impressive amount of albums, all of which are worth investigation.

Overall, this is a wonderful magic carpet ride above our globe, accompanied by splendid music performed by some of the best Jazz and World Music artists, which flows smoothly and is over way too soon!
Updated: 06/03/2025Posted: 06/03/2025CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

CHRIS KASE ~ A SONG WE ONCE KNEW
SATCHMO JAZZ 00021 (Barcode: 8424295341549) ~ USA ~ Jazz

Recorded: 2000 Released: 2001

This is the third album by American (resident in Spain) Jazz trumpeter / composer Chris KaseFind albums by this artist, recorded in a quintet setting with British Jazz trumpeter Kenny WheelerFind albums by this artist, Spanish pianist Albert BoverFind albums by this artist, German bassists Johannes WeidenmuellerFind albums by this artist and Spanish drummer Marc MiraltaFind albums by this artist. The album presents eight tracks, six of which are original compositions by the leader and two are by Wheeler.

As far as I know this is the only recording by Kase with Wheeler and since it was released over twenty-two years ago it is not very easy to find. This is one of Wheeler’s recordings, which remains almost completely obscure and does not appear in most of his discographies. I was very lucky to get it from Kenny’s private collection.

The quintet offers a highly unusual double trumpet front line, which is obviously heavens on earth for Jazz trumpet lovers. The music is all excellent modern Jazz, with great melodic themes and first-class performances, crowned by the unisono trumpet phrases and trumpet duels, in addition to the “normal” trumpet solos and superb rhythm section support.

Overall, this is an excellent modern Jazz album, performed by first class musicians, which is absolutely worth digging for, not only for the great contributions by Kenny Wheeler, but no less importantly for the splendid music and superb performances by the entire team.
Updated: 30/03/2023Posted: 30/03/2023CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

CHRIS LAURENCE ~ KEN WHEELER: SOME GNU ONES
JAZZ IN BRITAIN 29 (Barcode: 5060774190296) ~ UK ~ Jazz

Recorded: 2020 - 2021 Released: 2021

This is a wonderful EP album by British Jazz bassist / composer Chris LaurenceFind albums by this artist, which presents three pieces composed by the iconic British (of Canadian origin) trumpeter / composer Kenny WheelerFind albums by this artist specifically for Laurence. Two of the pieces were given to Laurence in manuscript form, one of them in incomplete form, which was finalized especially for this recording by Pete ChurchillFind albums by this artist. One of the pieces (“C-Man”) was recorded on the legendary 1992 “KayakFind albums with this title” album by Wheeler, featuring Laurence on bass.

The music was beautifully recorded by a superb team, which includes, alongside Laurence, vibraphonist Frank RicottiFind albums by this artist, guitarist John ParricelliFind albums by this artist, drummer Martin FranceFind albums by this artist, trumpeter Tom WalshFind albums by this artist and a string quintet.

The music is everything one could expect from Wheeler’s compositions, a dreamy, lyrical and superbly melodic Jazz, which is completely timeless and eternal. The superb recording quality and the performances by the participating musicians are nothing short of heavenly.

Overall, this is a true “two birds with one stone”: Wheeler’s sublime music and the playing of Laurence, who has for so long been an unheralded hero of the British Jazz scene, a highly sensitive and totally reliable musician. Despite the less than half an hour time mark, this is an immediate classic recording, which deserves an honorable place in every decent British Jazz collection. Again well done by the small crew of the Jazz In BritainFind albums on this label label.
Updated: 12/12/2021Posted: 12/12/2021CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

CHRIS LAURENCE ~ NEW VIEW
BASHO 18 (Barcode: 832929001826) ~ UK ~ Jazz

Recorded: 2005 - 2006 Released: 2006

Bassist Chris LaurenceFind albums by this artist has been one of the great "silent" heroes of the British Jazz scene for decades, providing his exquisitely solid, yet delicate and always sophisticated bass lines to countless Jazz albums, including many of the pivotal recordings of the late 1960s / early 1970s, which revolutionized European Jazz and emancipated it for the overwhelming stylistic and conceptual US supremacy. But his genius is also recognized and respected beyond the Jazz field, and he has an active career both as a Classical player and studio musician in the Pop / Rock world, where he contributed his talent playing behind some of the biggest names in the music business.

And yet, for all these years, Laurence never recorded as a leader, something that has been finally remedied by this superb release. For this session he opted for an intimate setting of a piano-less quartet, which includes yet another "silent" hero and a veteran of the British Jazz scene – vibraphonist / percussionist Frank RicottiFind albums by this artist, who also participated in countless pivotal recordings, sometimes alongside Laurence. Sadly both Laurence and Ricotti have never really received the proper recognition for the enormous contribution they both made to the British Jazz, with books and on-line sources mentioning them mostly in-passing. Hopefully this will be remedied sometime in the near feature (and before obituaries need to be written). But back to the music; Ricotti´s vibraphone is the ideal companion to Laurence´s bass playing and sets the tone to the laid-back, delicate and slightly melancholic atmosphere that underlines this album´s overall feel. The two other members of the quartet are no strangers, as they have recorded with Laurence before, both being representatives of the second generation of British Jazz heroes: guitarist John ParricelliFind albums by this artist and drummer Martin FranceFind albums by this artist. Parricelli plays both electric and acoustic guitars and his playing on this album is actually the best I´ve heard so far, even superior to the performances on his solo recordings. His licks ornament the music, using just the precise amount of notes needed, leaving flashy excursions aside, which is exactly what is appropriate here. France does a splendid job keeping everything together rhythmically; again exactly what a great drummer needs to do first and foremost.

It goes beyond saying that Laurence´s bass lines are a delight from start to finish, which is only to be expected and Ricotti´s vibraphone performance matches the (unfortunately very few) Masters of that beautiful instrument. The music chosen comes from the songbooks of great British Jazz composers, with whom Laurence recorded in the past, like Stan SulzmannFind albums by this artist, Kenny WheelerFind albums by this artist, John SurmanFind albums by this artist and John TaylorFind albums by this artist. Fellow US musicans – Steve SwallowFind albums by this artist and Andy LaverneFind albums by this artist - also get their share and even one Joni MitchellFind albums by this artist tune is included (Joni´s close ties with the Jazz world are obvious). If all this is not enough, there is also a cherry on top of the proverbial cake: the divine Norma WinstoneFind albums by this artist adds her sublime (as usual) vocals to a couple of the tunes, another gesture of gratitude for the sake of old times. So, please, buy this album and by doing so you will not only get some superb music, but you will pay some long-overdue tribute to this man´s talents and his life-long dedication to the music we love!
Updated: 30/05/2025Posted: CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

OLES BROTHERS / CHRISTOPHER DELL ~ KOMEDA AHEAD
FSR 2014/01 ~ POLAND ~ Jazz

Recorded: 2013 Released: 2014

It is extremely difficult to communicate anything truly innovative about Krzysztof KomedaFind albums by this artist´s music. Since the tragic death of the Godfather of modern Polish Jazz over four decades ago, his enigmatic compositions have been the subject of a vast number of recordings in Poland as well as other countries, where his music was discovered. These recordings cover every Komeda compositions in every possible instrumental settings and stylistic sub-genre, ranging from works of pure genius to unspeakable pastiches. Therefore one should not be surprised by the fact that Jazz connoisseurs approach every new recording of Komeda´s music with extreme caution.

Bassist Marcin OlesFind albums by this artist and his twin brother drummer Bartlomiej OlesFind albums by this artist have paid their dues on the European Jazz scene since the onset of the 21st Century, slowly climbing to the well earned position of one of the top European Jazz rhythm sections. But they are also both formidable composers and activist, spinning a web of international contacts and collaborations, many of which resulted in recording of a succession of fabulous albums over the time. One of such meetings was with the German vibraphonist / composer Christopher DellFind albums by this artist, which led to this Komeda project to be commissioned by the Berliner Jazzfest in 2011, where it was debuted in November of that year.

The concept behind this project was to show Komeda as a composer of complex, expanded musical forms, as reflected by the four long tracks on this album, as well as a weaver of concise magical melodic miniatures, as those presented by the four short tracks. These two facets of Komeda´s work have never been presented earlier as complimenting each other.

The actual performance of the music is also completely unique and innovative. First there is the overall low key, low volume, completely acoustic approach, with each and every note being a crucial piece of the complete puzzle. Secondly there is the minimalism, a reserved approach stating that "less is more" and emphasized by the intrinsic inner calmness of the vibraphone, probably the most delicate and intimate instrument at our disposal. There is not a single note here that sounds redundant or unnecessary. And lastly there is a gorgeous freedom of expression, which is the predominant factor of this music, unrestricted by melody, harmony or rhythm. The Komeda fans will have no trouble to hear the familiar themes in this music, but at the same time they will be able to hear those themes stretched and expanded into previously untraveled territories.

It seems that Oles Brothers & Christopher Dell managed to achieve the goal of discovering and exposing more of the eternal beauty and charm hidden in Komeda´s music, and we, the listeners should be grateful for such discoveries. This music, with its elegance and eloquence, is a superb example of what Culture is all about.

Side Note: The above are the original liner notes, which were supposed to accompany the music as initially intended. However, as it often happens, the somewhat convoluted fate of this album´s release resulted in selecting different liner notes sometime along the line. Since I deeply love the music, as evident in my writing above, I feel that publishing them here is appropriate.
Updated: 02/01/2017Posted: CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

OLES BROTHERS / CHRISTOPHER DELL ~ GORECKI AHEAD
AUDIO CAVE 2018/005 (Barcode: 5905669566544) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Classical Fusion

Recorded: 2017 Released: 2018

This is an album by twin brothers: bassist Marcin OlesFind albums by this artist and drummer Bartlomiej OlesFind albums by this artist, collectively known as Oles BrothersFind albums by this artist, who are synonymous with the Polish Jazz since the break of the 21st Century, recorded with German vibraphone virtuoso Christopher DellFind albums by this artist, with whom they cooperate since many years. As the title suggests, this album is dedicated to the trio´s interpretations of music by the great Polish contemporary Classical Music composer Henryk GoreckiFind albums by this artist. The album presents eleven of Gorecki´s pieces, performed by the trio, and is appropriately entitled "Gorecki AheadFind albums with this title", following the trio´s previous album "Komeda AheadFind albums with this title" dedicated to the music of Krzysztof KomedaFind albums by this artist.

The first public performance of some of the pieces present on this album happened just a day before this music was recorded, during the trio´s concert in the Nozyk Synagogue in Warsaw, which was the opening concert of the 4th Singer Jazz Festival, of which I am the Artistic Director. Towards the end of that concert, which presented the material recorded on "Komeda Ahead", I was suddenly notified that I need to go and open another concert in another venue, which would make it impossible for me to properly close the trio´s concert. In an instantaneous decision I asked the trio to just go on and play until my return, which they graciously, albeit with some surprise, agreed to, and of course since the Gorecki project was to be recorded the next day, they indeed continued the concert playing the music one can now hear on this album. I was then taken by the Chief of Security of the Festival rushing across Warsaw ignoring red lights and travelling against the traffic direction, opened the other concert and safely returned to hear some closing moments of a Gorecki piece and then had the pleasure to formally close the concert with the entire audience participating in a standing ovation, which lasted for many minutes.

Of course this album is anything but another typical Jazz-Classical Fusion project. Oles Brothers and Dell are way beyond the usual triviality and shallowness that often characterizes such projects and their attitude towards the music of other composers, both in the case of Komeda and now Gorecki, is to completely absorb and naturally transform their music into a new dimension, which becomes as much theirs as it originally was the composer´s. Even in a case when the listener is familiar with the original music, the trio´s interpretations take him into a completely new universe, where the original music is completely altered harmonically and rhythmically.

This album is another masterpiece, which expands the Oles Brothers´ and Christopher Dell´s long list of achievements, which covers the entire rich tapestry of contemporary Jazz, completely ignoring genre borders. The music is demanding and requires attentive listening, but at the same time it is immensely rewarding and aesthetically fulfilling, something that Culture should always strive to do. I feel happy to be able to call these musicians my friends and following their careers has been always an absolutely delightful and educational experience.

This album is an absolute must to every sophisticated Jazz, but not only, connoisseur, who looks for deeply emotional and intellectual experience every time music is in the air! Superb stuff!
Updated: 24/04/2018Posted: 24/04/2018CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

OLES BROTHERS / THEO JORGENSMANN / CHRISTOPHER DELL ~ FRAGMENTS & MOMENTS
NOT ON LABEL ~ POLAND ~ Jazz

Recorded: 2007 Released: 2012

This is a limited edition album celebrating the tenth anniversary of musical cooperation between Polish Jazz musicians: bassist Marcin OlesFind albums by this artist and drummer Bartlomiej OlesFind albums by this artist, collectively known as Oles BrothersFind albums by this artist and German clarinetists Theo JorgensmannFind albums by this artist. The album also features the German vibraphonist Christopher DellFind albums by this artist and together as a quartet they present eight original compositions: four of which are credited to all quartet members, two are by Jorgensmann and one each by the Oles brothers.

The album follows the pattern set by the three earlier albums recorded by the Oles Brothers with Jorgensmann, but is also somewhat more "conventional" in a way, with clear melody lines and beautiful serene atmosphere, which turns the listening to this album into a truly relaxed experience. Jorgensmann plays beautifully, as always and the rhythm section accompanies him with superb sensitivity, with the bass taking the lead from time to time as well. Dell is the least dominant participant, which is pretty understandable considering the long and established understanding between the other three musicians, but his solos are perfectly suitable for the music as is his accompaniment behind the clarinet.

Overall this is another example of the great music the Oles Brothers are always involved with, and a document of a fruitful musical cooperation between European musicians. Full of great music and perfect delivery this album should satisfy even the sternest Jazz connoisseurs and provide a listening experience worthy of being revisited.
Updated: 03/01/2017Posted: CD-R 1 Mini-Sleeve Recommend To A Friend

OLES BROTHERS / CHRIS SPEED / SIMON NABATOV ~ WALK SONGS
FENOMMEDIA 004 (Barcode: 5907604327043) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz

Recorded: 2005 Released: 2006

This is a great album recorded by Polish Jazz musicians: bassist Marcin OlesFind albums by this artist and drummer Bartlomiej OlesFind albums by this artist, collectively known as Oles BrothersFind albums by this artist, with the American saxophonist Chris SpeedFind albums by this artist and Russian (living in Germany) pianist Simon NabatovFind albums by this artist. Together, as a quartet, they perform nine original compositions, seven of which were composed by Marcin Oles (who is the formal leader of this session) and two by Bartlomiej Oles.

The music is firmly based in the Jazz tradition, seemingly quite "conventional" melody based modern Jazz, but upon careful listening the complexity and intrinsic Freedom become more and more apparent as the album progresses from one tune into another. Both Speed and Nabatov play some excellent solos and contribute to the general quartet sound, which is glued together by the rhythm section. The overall atmosphere is reminiscent of the work by mid-period John ColtraneFind albums by this artist quartet, which of course is the best model any Jazz musician could strive to achieve.

The tunes use often the specific "walking" bass outline, which is perhaps what Marcin Oles had in mind when he devised this project. But regardless of any intensions, the resulting music is simply some of the finest European Jazz created since the turn of the 21st Century. All four of the quartet members combine their individual power of musical expressions to create a result that is greater than the sum of its ingredients, which is always a wonderful experience. This kind of music shows clearly that music can be sophisticated and complex and be accessible to a diverse group of Jazz connoisseurs.

Like all the other albums by the Oles Brothers, this album emphasizes their talents as composers, in addition to their abilities as players. The ambitious decision to play and record their original music almost exclusively is one of their trademarks and as a result we can all enjoy the wonderful music they are able to weave in their minds. All we can do is raise our hats in a "thank you" gesture.
Updated: 02/01/2017Posted: CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

CHRISTIAN PABST ~ RHYTHM RIOT
JAZZSICK 5186 (Barcode: 885150709191) ~ GERMANY ~ Jazz

Recorded: 2022 - 2023 Released: 2025

This is an album by German (resident in Italy) Jazz pianist / composer Christian PabstFind albums by this artist, recorded in a classic piano trio format with German bassist Andre NendzaFind albums by this artist and Dutch drummer Erik KoogerFind albums by this artist. The album presents seven tracks, all original compositions by the leader.

The music is a wonderful example of modern European Jazz, with strong melodic themes, which are treated with a very open approach, which enables all three musicians to fully express themselves, without breaking the basic “rules”, but at the same time allowing very personal interpretations of the melodic, harmonic and rhythmic structures.

The trio functions on a very symbiotic level, performing fully as a tight ensemble, rather than a piano accompanied by a rhythm section, which is typical of the European approach. As the title suggests, this album is much more dedicated to the rhythmic pulsations than the melodic themes, which become somewhat secondary, but still being beautifully melodic. The entire experiment is of course much more demanding from the rhythm section, which in this case does not seem to mind at all, and stands up to the challenge without a hitch.

Overall, this is another wonderful album by Pabst, who is one of my favorite contemporary German pianists. This material, recorded a while ago, is most welcome release, as I always enjoy Pabst’s music and performances unconditionally, and he never fails to deliver. For Jazz piano trio lovers, this is a true gem, worth digging for!
Updated: 20/04/2025Posted: 20/04/2025CD 1 Mini-Sleeve Recommend To A Friend

CHRISTIAN PABST ~ THE PALM TREE LINE
JAZZSICK 5170 (Barcode: 885150706411) ~ GERMANY ~ Jazz-World Fusion

Recorded: 2022 Released: 2023

This is an album by German (resident in Italy) Jazz pianist / composer Christian PabstFind albums by this artist, recorded in a classic piano trio format with Italian bassist Francesco PierottiFind albums by this artist and drummer Lorenzo BrilliFind albums by this artist. Vocalist Ilaria ForcinitiFind albums by this artist guests on two tracks and accordionist Federico GiliFind albums by this artist guests on one track. The album presents eight tracks, one of which is an original composition by Pabst and the rest originate from various sources.

As the album’s title suggests, the inspiration and the music on this album originates from the “south”, i.e. places where palm trees grow (Italy, Cuba Mexico, etc.), and as a person who sees palm trees from the windows of his house I couldn’t feel more agreeable ;)

The arrangements often take the music away from the familiar origins, but the southern spirit, slightly Latin, somewhat romantic, at other times soaring, is “in the air” at all times, creating a wonderful journey spiced with beautiful melodies and Jazzy ornaments.

The rhythm section is perfect for the task, with wonderfully warm bass lines and delicate drums parts, which drive the piano lines to safe shores. Pabst is a true romantic, with a great touch on the keyboards, which one would not expect normally from a Northerner (scusi). The guests add the proverbial cherry on top, and the entire album is simply a delight, to be accepted with a smile.

Overall, this is a perfect example of Jazz, which is both highly entertaining and sophisticated, without any aesthetic compromises. The performances are brilliant, but not overbearing, the atmosphere is informal, but highly professional, in short this is the way we Southerners treat life – seriously, but with pleasure. I loved this album from start to finish!
Updated: 05/02/2024Posted: 05/02/2024CD 1 Mini-Sleeve Recommend To A Friend

CHRISTIAN SCHWINDT QUINTET ~ FOR FRIENDS AND RELATIVES
ROCKET 068 (Barcode: 6417138607669) ~ FINLAND ~ Jazz

Recorded: 1963 - 1965 Released: 2011

This is a reissue of the seminal album by Finnish drummer / composer / bandleader Christian SchwindtFind albums by this artist, one of the Godfathers of modern Finnish Jazz. This album is considered as the second modern Jazz release in Finland, preceded only by the Esa PethmanFind albums by this artist album "The Modern Sound Of FinlandFind albums with this title", which was recorded in late 1964 / early 1965, whereas this album was recorded in November 1965. Collectors interested in more fine details should check out the phenomenal and pioneering Finnish Jazz Discography by Hans WesterbergFind albums by this artist, published in 1977 or my publication on this subject from 1992, both published by the Finnish Jazz Federation.

The original album presented seven original compositions, which were recorded in two separate sessions. Six compositions were recorded by a new lineup of the quintet that included trumpeter Otto DonnerFind albums by this artist, saxophonist Erik DannholmFind albums by this artist, pianist Heikki SarmantoFind albums by this artist and bassist Tapani TamminenFind albums by this artist. The compositions were three each by Donner and Sarmanto. The seventh composition was recorded with the old lineup of the quintet that included pianist Pentti HietanenFind albums by this artist, who also composed the music, and bassist Pekka SarmantoFind albums by this artist. The expanded reissue adds three bonus tracks (two by Hietanen and one by Donner) recorded in late 1963 and early 1964 by the a.m. old lineup and saxophonist Tuomas KotovirtaFind albums by this artist instead of Dannholm. Sadly for such monumental reissue the research was extremely sloppy and the cover art is a reprint of the original, which includes several mistakes.

The music is of course phenomenal, and reflects the birth of modern Finnish / European Jazz, which was exploding across the continent, finally breaking with the stale American tradition and searching for new ways of expression. It is fascinating to compare this music to the recordings made across Europe at this pivotal time and see the similarities that Jazz musicians in UK, Poland, Germany and other countries were creating at the time, exploring the wonderful Freedom and breaking all existing boundaries on the fly.

In retrospect it is sad that this album is the only recorded legacy by Schwindt as a leader, but let us not forget that he co-founded of the LoveFind albums on this label Records label (with Donner and journalist Atte BlomFind albums by this artist) in 1966, which changed the Finnish music landscape dramatically.

This album is an icon of modern European Jazz and although the music was recorded fifty-five years ago, it still sounds absolutely astounding and completely relevant. Sadly this reissue is now very hard to find and it’s a crime that this album is not available on the market for new generations to learn from!
Updated: 29/08/2020Posted: 29/08/2020CD 1 Remastered Bonus Tracks Essential Recommend To A Friend

CHRIS SPEDDING ~ ONE STEP AHEAD OF THE BLUES
REPERTOIRE 1121 (Barcode: 4009910112120) ~ UK ~ Blues-Rock

Recorded: 2001 Released: 2009

British musician Chris SpeddingFind albums by this artist is one of the greatest guitar heroes of all times, but somehow the spotlight keeps missing him time after time. His incredible work with many top musicians is well documented on record, but his solo efforts are definitely less know. This album, which was first conceived in 1994 and then finally recorded in 2001 remained unreleased for another 8 years until it was finally released on the legendary RepertoireFind albums on this label label, after it was remixed, remastered and expanded with some bonus material. Spedding plays a lovely tribute to the great Blues tradition by including mostly classic Blues material rather than his original compositions. Brilliant stuff and a must to all Blues-Rock enthusiasts!
 CD 1 Slipcase Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend

CHRIS SQUIRE ~ FISH OUT OF WATER (DELUXE EDITION)
CASTLE 1545 (Barcode: 5050749415455) ~ UK ~ Progressive Rock

Recorded: 1975 Released: 2007

1st and only album by YesFind albums by this artist bassist and founding member Chris SquireFind albums by this artist, recorded at a time when all Yes members took a break from group activity and recorded solo projects. This is a very ambitious undertaking, involving a large orchestra and a group of musicians playing music composed by Squire. The band members include Bill BrufordFind albums by this artist on drums, Patrick MorazFind albums by this artist on keyboards (both from Yes), Mel CollinsFind albums by this artist on saxophone (King CrimsonFind albums by this artist), Jimmy HastingsFind albums by this artist on flute and a few others. Squire plays bass and sings lead vocals (his voice sounding remarkably similar to Jon AndersonFind albums by this artist). The result is a classic Prog album, perhaps one of the last Prog classics of the Golden Decade and certainly more interesting than anything Yes as a group were doing at the time. The compositions are concise, but nicely developed, and there is none of the extravagant (and often pompous) typical Yes prolongation and repetition. All the players do a splendid job and Squire’s bass, often in the lead, is powerful and impressive. This new edition adds a bonus DVD, which includes two video clips filmed as promos for the album and a recent (2006) interview with Squire talking about the album. This is a must for all Yes fans and probably most Prog fans all over the world.
 CD+DVD 2 Digipak Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend

STIEFEL, CHRISTOPH ~ ANCIENT LONGING
JAZZLINE 11141 ~ GERMANY ~ Jazz


German keyboardist / composer Christoph StiefelFind albums by this artist is a perfect representative of the new generation of European players - gifted, well educated and with strong ties to the jazz tradition. This quartet recording with saxophonist Charlie MarianoFind albums by this artist, drummer Peter ErskineFind albums by this artist and the great bassist Dieter IlgFind albums by this artist is a pleasure from the first tone to the last. He also composed all the material performed here.
Updated: 06/02/2016Posted: CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

CHRISTIAN MEAAS SVENDSEN ~ AVIN
NAKAMA 010 (Barcode: 7090040250186) ~ NORWAY ~ Avant-Garge Pop

Recorded: 2016 Released: 2017

This is a solo project by Norwegian bassist / composer Christian Meaas SvendsenFind albums by this artist, which adds singer and songwriter to the list of his qualifications. The album presents seven songs (six with lyrics in Norwegian and one instrumental), all by Svendsen, arranged for an octet, which comprises of his musical friends, including members of his NakamaFind albums by this artist ensemble, which is his usual musical environment.

Don´t be fooled by the "conventional" description above, as there is, as expected, nothing conventional about this album. The arrangements, which involve strings and brass (but no drums) are absolutely stunning intricate pieces of "friendly" Avant-Garde, which transport the concept of "songs" into a completely new dimension. Svendsen sings / hums / recites and manipulates his voice in many innovative ways, again transforming the concept of "singing" into previously unexplored territory. He plays acoustic guitar on this album and leaves the bass part to another musician.

To be perfectly honest, any attempt to describe this music verbally is futile and the only way to get exposed to this music is of course by listening to it. In the world where almost everything created in music is derivative and follows patterns, such individuality and total lack of conventionality as present on this album are truly miraculous.

Although this music eschews any precise musical classification, open-headed listeners, who like amalgamations and exciting cross-genre explorations, will find this music irresistible. Jazz, Classical, Pop and everything in between, this music really manages to convince that not everything is lost in human creativity. Hats off!
Updated: 12/04/2019Posted: 19/05/2017CD 1 Mini-Sleeve Recommend To A Friend

HENRIK WALSDORFF / ADAM PULTZ MELBYE / KASPER TOM CHRISTIANSEN ~ GRON
BAREFOOT 022 (Barcode: 5707471027547) ~ GERMANY ~ Jazz

Recorded: 2012 Released: 2012

This is the debut album by the trio consisting of veteran German saxophonist Henrik WalsdorffFind albums by this artist and a young Danish rhythm section: bassist Adam Pultz MelbyeFind albums by this artist and drummer Kasper Tom ChristiansenFind albums by this artist. The album was recorded live at the Dexter club in Odense, Denmark during the trio´s tour. It is an unedited document of the performance and presents five compositions / improvisations, all credited to all three trio members.

All three players are experienced performers in the Free Jazz / Improvised Music field, which is very obvious from the very first moment of the album. The generation gap, which can be a problem under similar circumstances, works out wonderfully here, as Walsdorff carries over post Bee Bop sonorities and melodic motifs, while his young partners contribute their youthful energies and unconventional rhythmic patterns, creating together quite a spectacular effect.

In spite its Avant Garde character, this music should be more easily accessible to wider Jazz audiences than similar such efforts. The melodic character of the saxophone improvisations enables the listener to fill the missing notes and enjoy the ride. These are obviously kindred spirits making music together, which is always a source of aesthetic and intellectual satisfaction. Although no spectacular new ground is being broken here, this is solid and ambitious improvised music, performed with passion, emotion and affinity.

It is worth mentioning that all three musicians take part in many different projects in parallel, as do all three players involved in this project. The days of steady job in one band are over for the Jazz musicians, and the hectic vicious circle of survival takes over. Luckily for us more fascinating music is being created in the process, like the music on this album, but the life of a Jazz musician is becoming ever more complex.
Updated: 17/12/2018Posted: CD 1 Mini-Sleeve Recommend To A Friend

KENNY WHEELER / CHRISTIAN MAURER ~ LIVE AT THE PORGY & BESS
PAO 10720 (Barcode: 9006834107206) ~ UK ~ Jazz

Recorded: 1997 Released: 2000

This is a wonderful live album by British Jazz trumpeter / composer Kenny WheelerFind albums by this artist, recorded at the legendary Viennese Jazz club Porgy & Bess with an Austrian quartet led by saxophonist Christian MaurerFind albums by this artist, which also included pianist Helmar HillFind albums by this artist, bassist Christian SteinerFind albums by this artist and drummer Alfred VollbauerFind albums by this artist. Together the quintet performs six compositions: three originals by Wheeler, one original each by Maurer and Vollbauer and one standard.

The excellently recorded music allows an intimate experience of listening to Wheeler and his younger cohorts playing their hearts out. Obviously invigorated by the presence of these young, but by all means very able players, Wheeler is able to stretch out and play a series of wonderfully relaxed expanded soli, which are all as brilliant as expected.

The most interesting piece on the album is the original piece by Vollbauer, which is the most open-form composition on the album and allows Wheeler to show his Free Jazz chops, which he used relatively rarely in the last years of his career. But of course his splendid balladry and mainstream playing is every bit as marvelous and worth being heard.

The immediacy and obviously less formal atmosphere of this live session is a superb opportunity to get a glimpse of a somewhat less polished Wheeler performance in its full splendor, which is obviously worth its weight in gold.

Overall the is a little known gem which is an absolute must for Wheeler´s many connoisseurs, a must in every serious collection of his extended discography and a piece of Jazz history, which deserves to be preserved for posterity.
Updated: 23/03/2019Posted: 23/03/2019CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

This site was designed and developed by Adam Baruch. All content (texts, photographs, graphics, sound files, etc.) on this web site © 2001-2025 Adam Baruch / Jazzis Ltd.