Record Reviews

NELSON RIDDLE ~ COMMUNICATION MPS 602498147955 (Barcode: 602498147955) ~ USA ~ Big Band Jazz Recorded: 1971 Released: 2004 This is a reissue / remaster of an album by American composer / arranger / conductor Nelson RiddleFind albums by this artist, recorded with a German Big Band / Orchestra comprising of members of the Bavaria Radio Big Band and European studio Jazz musicians, like Swiss drummer Charly AntoliniFind albums by this artist, Dutch trumpeter Ack van RooyenFind albums by this artist and keyboardist Ernst-August QuelleFind albums by this artist, assembled by German conductor Claus OgermanFind albums by this artist, who produced the sessions, which resulted in two albums released by the MPSFind albums on this label label – this album and the album entitled “Changing ColorsFind albums with this title”. The album presents ten tracks, all of which are original compositions, composed especially for this album by contemporary German composers and were all arranged by Riddle. The music is marginally Jazz oriented, but the brilliant arrangements and excellent performances are schoolbook examples of Big Band / Orchestral music and showcase Riddle’s unique approach to arrangements, which lost nothing of its power and sensitivity over time. Overall, this is an excellent example of Big Band / Orchestral Jazz oriented music, which is a tribute to the great talent of Nelson Riddle, who worked with Frank SinatraFind albums by this artist, Barbara StreisandFind albums by this artist, Nat King ColeFind albums by this artist, Ella FitzgeraldFind albums by this artist and other American music icons. Side Note The legendary German MPSFind albums on this label (Musik Produktion Schwarzwald) label, founded by Hans Georg Brunner-SchwerFind albums by this artist (HGBS) in 1963, first as SABAFind albums on this label Records and later on from 1968 as MPS Records, was the most important independent European record label, which had an enormous contribution to the development of European Jazz. For many years MPS cooperated with the legendary German producer / author Joachim BerendtFind albums by this artist, my Friend and Mentor, whose visionary approach and open-mindedness brought the crème de la crème of the Jazz (in the broadest meaning of the word) musicians from all over the world to the label. Between 1963 and 1983 MPS produced about five hundred albums, many of which are among the most important Jazz recordings on this planet. In 1983 the MPS catalog was sold to UniversalFind albums on this label, which sadly resulted in all those artistic treasures to almost disappear from the face of the earth – a situation not only tragic but culturally criminal. Universal reissued a part of the MPS albums (probably 128 titles) on CD between 1999 and 2011 under the "Most Perfect Sound Edition" moniker. Since 2008 the German Promising MusicFind albums on this label label released some of the MPS recordings, but at a very slow pace. In 2014 the German company Edel AG bought the MPS catalogue from Universal and released a series of 25 MPS albums on CD with a new slipcase graphic design, which brought all those excellent albums back to life. In 2015 Edel AG started to record and release new albums under the MPS moniker. In 2016 Edel AG released a series of 10 classic MPS albums on CD, which were beautifully remastered and re-packaged, presenting the original artwork and liner notes, as well as new liner notes and photographs. An obvious labor of love, these reissues are what the MPS catalogue truly deserves. This project was continued in 2017 with another series of 10 classic MPS albums released on CD. In later years some new reissues were released sporadically. Over the years many SABA / MPS albums were reissued in Japan, which is often the only available source for these albums today, but that is a story in itself.

Updated: 18/08/2025Posted: 18/08/2025

CD 1 Oversampling Remastered Recommend To A Friend