Record Reviews

FRITZ PAUER ~ BLUES INSIDE OUT MPS 602498112649 (Barcode: 602498112649) ~ AUSTRIA ~ Jazz Recorded: 1978 Released: 2003 This is a reissue / remaster of an album by Austrian pianist / composer Fritz PauerFind albums by this artist, recorded in a classic piano trio format with two American expatriates: bassist Jimmy WoodeFind albums by this artist and drummer Tony InzalacoFind albums by this artist. All three musicians lived at the time of the recording in Germany, which was one of the most important European Jazz centers. The album presents eight tracks, with three of the being original compositions by Pauer, two each are by Woode and Inzalaco and one is a standard. The album was produced by Hans Georg Brunner-SchwerFind albums by this artist, who also served as the session’s sound engineer. This was the last album Pauer recorded for the legendary MPSFind albums on this label label. The music is deeply rooted in the Jazz tradition, but Pauer takes it way further into the European Jazz aesthetics, with his extraordinary improvisations, which often move briefly as far as Free Jazz, swiftly returning to the melodic swing. The resulting see-saw between Swing and more open playing is truly delightful, and the excellent American rhythm section supports the leader with ease and elegance. Pauer, along with Joe ZawinulFind albums by this artist, were the most internationally renowned Austrian Jazz pianists. Overall, this is a fascinating snapshot of the German Jazz scene at the early 1970s, which was a magnet for Jazz musicians from all over Europe and the US, and served as a breeding ground for the exploding European Jazz. For classic Jazz piano trio fans, this album is a delight from start to finish. 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: 18/06/2025Posted: 18/06/2025

CD 1 Digipak Oversampling Remastered Recommend To A Friend

FRITZ PAUER ~ LIVE AT THE BERLIN `JAZZ GALERIE` MPS 602498112632 (Barcode: 602498112632) ~ AUSTRIA ~ Jazz Recorded: 1970 Released: 2003 This is a reissue / remaster of a live album by Austrian pianist / composer Fritz PauerFind albums by this artist, recorded in a classic piano trio format with two American expatriates: bassist Jimmy WoodeFind albums by this artist and drummer Billy BrooksFind albums by this artist. All three musicians lived at the time of the recording in Berlin, which was one of the most important European Jazz centers. The album, Pauer’s recording debut, presents six tracks, the last three being parts of a three-movement suite. Five of the tracks are original compositions by Pauer and one is by Woode. The album was produced by my Friend and Mentor Joachim BerendtFind albums by this artist, who discovered Pauer’s talent, one among his many musical discoveries. The music is deeply rooted in the Jazz tradition, but Pauer takes it way further into the European Jazz aesthetics, with his extraordinary improvisations, which often move briefly as far as Free Jazz, swiftly returning to the melodic swing. The resulting see-saw between Swing and more open playing is truly delightful, and the excellent American rhythm section supports the leader with ease and elegance. Overall, this is a fascinating snapshot of the Berlin Jazz scene at the early 1970s, which together with the Munich scene were a magnet for Jazz musicians from all over Europe and the US, and served as a breeding ground for the exploding European Jazz. For classic Jazz piano trio fans, this album is a delight from start to finish. 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: 16/06/2025Posted: 16/06/2025

CD 1 Digipak Oversampling Remastered Recommend To A Friend

ANNIE ROSS & PONY POINDEXTER ~ WITH THE BERLIN ALL STARS MPS 602498112571 (Barcode: 602498112571) ~ USA ~ Jazz Recorded: 1966 Released: 2003 This is a reissue / remaster of a live album by the vocal duo of British (later American) singer Annie RossFind albums by this artist and American singer / saxophonist Pony PoindexterFind albums by this artist, recorded with a combo of expatriate American Jazz musicians, resident in Germany: trumpeter Carmell JonesFind albums by this artist, saxophonist Leo WrightFind albums by this artist, bassist Jimmy WoodeFind albums by this artist with French guitarist Andre CondouantFind albums by this artist, Austrian pianist Fritz PauerFind albums by this artist and German drummer Joe NayFind albums by this artist, collectively called Berlin All StarsFind albums by this artist. The album presents seven tracks, all Jazz standards, with several of which Ross added her lyrics. The album was produced by my Friend and Mentor Joachim BerendtFind albums by this artist, and was recorded during the 10th German Jazz Festival in 1966 in Frankfurt. The music is absolutely sensational and offers a beautiful display of the scat Jazz vocals supported by a superb swinging combo. The scat / vocalese singing style, perfected by Ross as a member of the Lambert, Hendricks & RossFind albums by this artist vocal trio, is one of my favorite Jazz vocal forms, which sadly disappeared from the Jazz scene, despite several attempts to revive it over the years. Overall, this is a superb opportunity to hear the brilliant Annie Ross in action, supported by some of the finest Jazz musicians active at the time, and enjoy the swinging atmosphere of the German scene in the mid-1960s, which was a Mecca for Jazz musicians from all over the world. A beautiful moment captured for posterity! 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: 03/06/2025Posted: 03/06/2025

CD 1 Digipak Oversampling Remastered Recommend To A Friend

JOHN SURMAN ~ FLASHPOINTS AND UNDERCURRENTS CUNEIFOM 515/516 (Barcode: 045775051529) ~ UK ~ Jazz Recorded: 1969 Released: 2025 This is an archival album by British saxophonist / composer / bandleader John SurmanFind albums by this artist, recorded on April 18, 1969 as part of the German NDR radio station series of concerts called Jazz Workshop. The 62nd edition of the series featured Surman and his tentet, which included eight British musicians: Surman, saxophonists Alan SkidmoreFind albums by this artist, Ronnie ScottFind albums by this artist and Mike OsborneFind albums by this artist, trombonist Malcolm GriffithsFind albums by this artist, trumpeter Kenny WheelerFind albums by this artist, bassist Harry MillerFind albums by this artist and drummer Alan JacksonFind albums by this artist, and two Austrian musicians: trombonist Erich KleinschusterFind albums by this artist and pianist Fritz PauerFind albums by this artist. The entire concert is included on this 2CD album and presents thirteen tracks, ten of which are original compositions by Surman and three (one each) are compositions by Pauer, Wheeler and Kleinschuster. Five of the tracks (in somewhat edited form) were previously released, also on CuneiformFind albums on this label, in 2011 as the CD/DVD album “Flashpoint: NDR Jazz Workshop – April `69Find albums with this title”. Shortly before this music was recorded, Surman recorded his 2nd album as a leader, the iconic “How Many Clouds Can You See?Find albums with this title”. The music is of course absolutely Godly, a brilliant snapshot of the explosive modern British Jazz at its absolute peak, which takes the Jazz tradition exponentially expanded into new space-time continuum. Every one of these musicians is a master of his instrument and Surman’s music is an ideal catalyst which helps the music to explode. Hearing is believing of course, but there are very few albums, which can match the genius and intensity of this music. Since the German radio sound engineers knew how to capture the sound perfectly, listening to this album is an unadulterated ecstasy. Overall, this is probably one of the best examples ever of the early European Jazz at its pivotal stage, taking everything there is to take form the American Jazz tradition between Swing and Free and moving to the next stage of evolution. A quintessential musical moment captured for posterity and serving as a beacon pointing towards the feature.

Updated: 14/06/2025Posted: 14/06/2025

CD 2 Essential Recommend To A Friend