Record Reviews

ROBERTO MAGRIS / EUROPLANE ~ CURRENT VIEWS SOUL NOTE 1425 (Barcode: 885444074936) ~ ITALY ~ Jazz Recorded: 2001 - 2003 Released: 2009 This is the 3rd album on the legendary Soul NoteFind albums on this label label by Italian Jazz pianist / composer / bandleader and my Friend Roberto MagrisFind albums by this artist, recorded live during extensive tours with his ensemble EuroplaneFind albums by this artist, expanded into a septet (and an octet on two tracks) and called “Orchestra”, which might appear somewhat exaggerated, but well deserved when the result is heard. The complete list of participating musicians includes seventeen players, from eleven countries, including such mavericks like the Belgian guitarist Philip CatherineFind albums by this artist, Czech bassist Frantisek UhlirFind albums by this artist (another one of my Friends), Polish bassist Vitold RekFind albums by this artist, Italian saxophonist Roberto OttavianoFind albums by this artist, and many other first class instrumentalists. The album presents seven tracks, six of which are original compositions by Magris and one is a standard. The music is based on beautiful melodic themes, which Magris is able to create one after another seemingly effortlessly, and the arrangements create an aural impression indeed very much of a Big Band / Jazz Orchestra. Spiced with superb soloing by these great musicians, this album is a wonderful experience, which should make any Jazz lover truly satisfied. With the European Jazz aesthetics prevailing and the music flowing briskly, the music is over much too soon and one might be tempted to put the player on “repeat”. Overall, this is an album, which deserves regular revisits, like in this case, and after not hearing it in a long while, I regret putting it aside for way too long. If you are able to find a copy these days, don’t think twice! Satisfaction guaranteed!

Updated: 24/04/2026Posted: 24/04/2026

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

ROBERTO MAGRIS / EUROPLANE ~ FREEDOM IS PEACE JMOOD 026 (Barcode: 736649929821) ~ ITALY ~ Jazz Recorded: 2024 Released: 2024 This is a live album by Italian Jazz pianist / composer / bandleader and my Friend Roberto MagrisFind albums by this artist, recorded with his reunited (after a twenty years break) ensemble EuroplaneFind albums by this artist, with includes Hungarian saxophonist Tony LakatosFind albums by this artist, Austrian saxophonist Florian BrambockFind albums by this artist, Slovak trumpeter Lukas OravecFind albums by this artist, German bassist Rudi EngelFind albums by this artist and Slovenian drummer Gasper BertonceljFind albums by this artist. The album presents eight tracks, five of which are original compositions by Magris, one is by Israeli songwriter Boaz SharabiFind albums by this artist, one is by South African pianist / composer Hotep Idris GaletaFind albums by this artist, and finally one is by Andrew HillFind albums by this artist. The music is highly energetic mainstream Jazz, passionately performed by all the members of the ensemble, who are all highly experienced and with impressive recording legacies under their belt. All the compositions are solid and the arrangements by Magris are perfect for this lineup, emphasizing the optimal musical effect at every given moment. Overall, this is a wonderfully entertaining mainstream album, which although does not break any new ground, presents mainstream Jazz with a dose European sophistication and elegance, which makes listening to this music a great pleasure for the entire duration.

Updated: 16/04/2026Posted: 16/04/2026

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend