Record Reviews

VOLKER KRIEGEL ~ BITON GROOVES MOOSICUS 1309 (Barcode: 885513130921) ~ GERMANY ~ Avant-Garde Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 1974 - 1982 Released: 2019 This is an archival 2CD album presenting studio recordings by the iconic German Jazz / Fusion guitarist / composer / bandleader Volker KriegelFind albums by this artist. These recordings were done at the Biton Studios in Frankfurt between 1974 and 1982 and released on five LP albums on the studio’s own label, which are all remastered and included in this reissue. These albums were released as library music for use by Radio / TV / Film industry and did not specify Kriegel’s name or any other details, since he was at the time under contact with MPSFind albums on this label Records. The album presents thirty-seven original compositions, most by Kriegel and some by his band members, which were of course the same musicians that recorded with him the albums released by MPS over the years: keyboardists Rainer BruninghausFind albums by this artist and Thomas BettermannFind albums by this artist, bassists Eberhard WeberFind albums by this artist and Hans Peter StroerFind albums by this artist, percussionist Peter GigerFind albums by this artist, and drummers Klaus WeissFind albums by this artist, Joe NayFind albums by this artist and Evert FratermanFind albums by this artist. Despite the fact that this music was never intended for commercial release and were not available to Jazz / Fusion fans at the time, it is a remarkable collection of excellent compositions, all superbly executed by Kriegel and his ensembles. The tracks are on average under three minutes in duration and the performances obviously do not feature extensive soloing, but the compositions are all first rate and Kriegel’s guitar artistry is documented here at its peak. Overall, this is wonderful European Fusion album, performed by top German Jazz musicians active in the 1970s / 1980s, as well as an important addition to the recorded legacy by Kriegel, which is carefully curated by his archive, which hopefully will be released in its entirety in time. For guitar lovers and European Fusion enthusiasts this is an absolute must!

Updated: 04/05/2022Posted: 04/05/2022

CD 2 Digipak Remastered Recommend To A Friend

VOLKER KRIEGEL ~ HOUSE BOAT MPS 4029759097297 (Barcode: 4029759097297) ~ GERMANY ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 1978 Released: 2014 This is the eighth album on the legendary MPSFind albums on this label label by German guitarists / composer / bandleader Volker KriegelFind albums by this artist, one of the most important pioneering European Jazz musicians, who is also often considered as one of the Godfathers of European Jazz-Rock Fusion. It was recorded with a focus on the guitar / vibraphone interaction (Kriegel´s favorite setting) with vibraphonist Wolfgang SchluterFind albums by this artist, keyboardist Thomas BettermannFind albums by this artist, bassist Hans Peter StroerFind albums by this artist and drummer Evert FratermanFind albums by this artist, the last three members of Kriegel´s group at the time called Mild Maniac OrchestraFind albums by this artist. Additional musicians include percussionist Elmer LouisFind albums by this artist and a few guests. They perform eight tunes, five of which are original compositions by Kriegel, one each is by Stroer and Bettermann and the remaining one is an arrangement of Rock song. The music and the performances are a beautiful example of the "more is less" approach, which is almost never employed in Fusion. Based on wonderful melodic themes and minimal arrangements, this music is all about elegance, subtlety and sophistication. The guitar / vibraphone exchanges are all pure delight, as are all other solo parts on this album. The overall atmosphere and feel of this music is distinctly European, in complete contrast to American Fusion albums, which are mostly all about fast licks and Funky rhythms. Here the mood is relaxed, brilliantly cool and reserved. Kriegel´s sympathy towards the vibraphone goes way back to his early days, as can be heard on the archival "Mainz 1963-1969Find albums with this title" album, which is quite understandable in view of the fact that the vibraphone was more popular in German Jazz than in any other European country with a long list of excellent (albeit much lesser known) vibraphone players. It is still very much true today. Kriegel was not only a virtuosic guitarist, but also a superb composer, as the tunes on this album attest. Listening to this music almost forty years after it was recorded simply states that this music is universal and timeless. It still sounds as beautiful as ever and perhaps even more so in times when hearing high-quality music is a rare event. It is highly recommended to all guitar fans, but also to fans of European Jazz and Fusion, when it was at its peak. Grab it if you can! 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: 27/05/2018Posted: 01/02/2016

CD 1 Slipcase Remastered Recommend To A Friend

VOLKER KRIEGEL ~ JOURNAL MOOD 33.605 ~ GERMANY ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 1981 Released: 1986 This is the 12th album as a leader by German guitarist / composer / bandleader Volker KriegelFind albums by this artist, recorded with many of his close musical companions, which included, amongst others multi-instrumentalist Hans Peter StroerFind albums by this artist, vibraphonist Wolfgang SchluterFind albums by this artist, bassist Eberhard WeberFind albums by this artist and drummers Ralf HubnerFind albums by this artist and Evert FratermanFind albums by this artist. The album presents nine tracks, seven composed by Kriegel, one co-composed with Stroer and one composed by Stroer. Kriegel released ten albums on the legendary MPSFind albums on this label Records label and this was the debut album he released on the MoodFind albums on this label Records label, which he co-owned with Wolfgang DaunerFind albums by this artist, Albert MangelsdorffFind albums by this artist and Ack Van RooyenFind albums by this artist. Kriegel was one of the finest European guitar players of all time and a superb composer. He was a leader of the German Jazz-Rock Fusion movement since the late 1960s and his recorded legacy, expanded posthumously by previously unreleased studio and live recordings, presents some of the finest European Fusion ever recorded. The music is based and deeply melodic themes, which are expanded by lengthy soli by the participating musicians. Kriegel’s guitar virtuosity and unique sound are immediately recognizable and sadly have very little competition since his tragically premature death in 2003. Overall, this is an absolutely stunning European Fusion album, intelligent, sophisticated and completely free of tedious doodling, which sadly completely ruled in Fusion music by the time this album was recorded. Not easy to find but absolutely essential to all true Fusion lovers and guitar enthusiasts! Side Note MoodFind albums on this label Records, established in 1977 and based in Germany, was a small independent record label founded by European Jazz musicians: German Wolfgang DaunerFind albums by this artist, Volker KriegelFind albums by this artist and Albert MangelsdorffFind albums by this artist and Dutch Ack van RooyenFind albums by this artist. The label was active between 1977 and 2006 and released 78 albums, first on vinyl and later on CD. In 2010 the label released 11 2CD albums with reissues of early vinyl albums. The label was the home label of the four founders, as well as the United Jazz + Rock EnsembleFind albums by this artist, Ian CarrFind albums by this artist’s NucleusFind albums by this artist and many other, mostly European musicians. The total output of the label is a superb document of the European Jazz scene between the late 1970s and mid-2000s. Some of these albums are absolutely essential.

Updated: 27/05/2025Posted: 27/05/2025

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

VOLKER KRIEGEL ~ TWO CONCERTS MOOSICUS 1312 (Barcode: 885513131225) ~ GERMANY ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 1979 - 1990 Released: 2019 This is an archival album presenting live recordings by iconic German guitarist / composer / bandleader Volker KriegelFind albums by this artist and his bands. The first CD presents a concert recorded in Lagos, Nigeria in 1979 by the Mild Maniac OrchestraFind albums by this artist, which included keyboardist Thomas BettermannFind albums by this artist, bassist Hans Peter StroerFind albums by this artist, drummer Evert FratermanFind albums by this artist and percussionist Hans BehrendtFind albums by this artist, expanded with two brass players: saxophonist Wolfgang EngstfeldFind albums by this artist and trumpeter Ulrich BeckerhoffFind albums by this artist. Several local musicians guest on two jam tracks. The band plays three original compositions by Kriegel, one by Stroer, one Brazilian tune and the a.m. two jams. The second CD presents a concert recorded in Bochum, Germany in 1990 by a quintet with Bettermann, saxophonist Christof LauerFind albums by this artist, bassist Michael SchurmannFind albums by this artist and drummer Thomas AlkierFind albums by this artist. They perform four original compositions, two each by Kriegel and Bettermann. Kriegel, who sadly departed way too prematurely in 2003, was one of the most original Jazz / Fusion guitarists on the world scale and one of the most important German Jazz musicians. His albums, most of which were released on the legendary MPSFind albums on this label label, are all absolute gems and reflect splendidly the development of the local scene. His ensembles always included top German musicians and his compositions were ideal vehicles for the musicians to play their hearts out. His completely unique guitar style remains as one of the unparalleled highlights of European Fusion. This album is one of four releases (so far) of material from Kriegel’s personal archives by the MoosicusFind albums on this label label, which are great historical documents and all offer wonderful musical experiences. Overall, this is a superb album, which offers some of the best European Fusion ever recorded and as such is a must in any serious Fusion collection. For guitar freaks this material is worth its weight in gold. Hopefully, it might bring some young music lovers to discover this true Master!

Updated: 08/04/2022Posted: 08/04/2022

CD 2 Digipak Remastered Recommend To A Friend