Record Reviews
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  | HAMPTON HAWES ~ HAMP`S PIANO
MPS (JAPAN) 4988005212061 (Barcode: 4988005212061) ~ USA ~ Jazz
Recorded: 1967 Released: 1998
This is a reissue of an album by American pianist / composer Hampton HawesFind albums by this artist, recorded in a classic piano trio format with German rhythm section: bassist Eberhard WeberFind albums by this artist and drummer Klaus WeissFind albums by this artist. The album presents eight tracks, four of which are original compositions by Hawes and four are standards. The album packaging includes the original liner notes by my Friend and Mentor Joachim BerendtFind albums by this artist, who arranged this recording session for the German SABAFind albums on this label label, during Hawes’ European tour. The sound quality is absolutely stunning.
The music, although entirely within the American mainstream setting, is absolutely brilliant from start to finish due to Hawes’ extraordinary technique and lyricism, deeply rooted in the Blues. The German rhythm section plays amicably and without any inferiority complex involved, since by the time this album was recorded both Weber and Weiss had a lot of experience playing with European and American musicians, who either toured or moved to Germany.
Overall, this is a beautiful classic Jazz piano trio album, which should make every Jazz lover happy, and piano trio enthusiasts feeling in seventh heaven. Not to be missed!
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: 19/06/2025Posted: 19/06/2025 | CD 1 Recommend To A Friend |
  | CHARLES MINGUS ~ MINGUS THREE (DELUXE EDITION)
RHINO 603497841035 (Barcode: 603497841035) ~ USA ~ Jazz
Recorded: 1957 Released: 2022
This is an expanded reissue / remaster of an album by American Jazz bassist / composer / bandleader Charles MingusFind albums by this artist, recorded in a trio format with pianist Hampton HawesFind albums by this artist and drummer Dannie RichmondFind albums by this artist. The 2CD album presents the remastered seven original tracks (two Mingus originals, one Hawes original and four standards) on CD1 and eight outtakes from the session, all previously unissued, on CD2.
This is a very rare opportunity to hear Mingus in the classic piano trio setting, where his bass playing is exceptionally fitting for this setting and his soloing is out there to be heard distinctly. The relaxed atmosphere of the recording brigs the best out of all three players, and the music swings splendidly, full of little quirks and turns jokingly exchanged between them.
The presence of the outtakes, which laid undiscovered for fifty-five years in the vault, is a brilliant addition to the album, and allows both the fans to re-examine the different approaches to the same tune, which the trio tried out, and a couple of aborted attempts at them.
Overall, this is a wonderful piece of Jazz history and an exceptional piano trio recording for lovers of Swing and Bebop, played by the best musicians at the time. The remastered sound quality is wonderful and the pleasure of listening to this splendid music can be enjoyed at full. Highly recommended!
| | Updated: 27/06/2024Posted: 27/06/2024 | CD 2 Mini-Sleeve Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend |
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