Record Reviews

GARY BURTON ~ LOFTY FAKE ANAGRAM / A GENUINE TONG FUNERAL BGO 723 (Barcode: 5017261207234) ~ USA ~ Jazz Recorded: 1967 Released: 2006 Vibraphonist / composer Gary BurtonFind albums by this artist is one of greatest American Jazz musicians, with a long and outstanding career and a massive body of work. He is also one of relatively few American Jazz artists, who can be considered as true originals, embracing the Jazz tradition but at the same time constantly expanding the horizons of the music and exploring the terra incognita of the genre. This album takes us back to the early days of Burton’s musical path, when he was leading probably the most forward-thinking Jazz quartet of the day. Together with guitarist extraordinaire Larry CoryellFind albums by this artist, bassist Steve SwallowFind albums by this artist and drummer Bob MosesFind albums by this artist, the quartet ventured into some of the earliest examples of Jazz-Rock Fusion, years ahead of their contemporaries. The two original LPs, although both recorded in 1967, are quite different from each other. On Lofty Fake AnagramFind albums with this title the quartet explores mostly a series of original tunes by Burton and Swallow, with finesse and elegance, but also with fire and passion. On A Genuine Tong FuneralFind albums with this title Burton combines forces with another great and unorthodox American Jazz representative, pianist / composer Carla BleyFind albums by this artist. The music is her first full-scale Jazz composition for a band, which she calls a “Dark Opera Without Words”. The “without word” part was to bee soon remedied on her next spectacular project, the first true modern Jazz opera Escalator Over The HillFind albums with this title, which included a libretto by Paul HainesFind albums by this artist. For the recording of this music the quartet was expanded to a small orchestra with Carla Bley on piano, Steve LacyFind albums by this artist and the brilliant Argentinean player Gato BarbieriFind albums by this artist on saxophone, Michael MantlerFind albums by this artist (Carla’s close partner) on trumpet, Jimmy KnepperFind albums by this artist on trombone and Howard JohnsonFind albums by this artist on tuba. The music is of course completely unique and unprecedented, with Bley’s masterly usage of orchestration to create moods and sonic vistas, all of it years ahead of its time. Together these two recordings provide a glimpse at the period when American Jazz was still bubbling with creativity and excitement. Brilliant and essential stuff!

CD 2 Slipcase Remastered Essential Recommend To A Friend

GIL EVANS ~ SVENGALI RHINO 081227372026 (Barcode: 081227372026) ~ USA ~ Jazz Recorded: 1973 Released: 2003 American (Canadian born) pianist / composer / arranger / bandleader Gil EvansFind albums by this artist was always a beacon of inspiration and a forward thinking innovator, one of the few music individuals that kept pushing Jazz to and beyond its limits. He came to fame after working with Miles DavisFind albums by this artist in the late 1950s and early 1960s, but he continued to produce extraordinary pieces of music until his death in 1988. This album presents a live recording of Evans and his orchestra, performing six extended pieces arranged by him. This reissue includes a full version of one of the tracks as a bonus track, which appears in a shortened version on the original album. The music on this album presents a superb amalgam of cross-genre influences, encompassing all Jazz sub genres from Free to Jazz-Rock Fusion, bonded together by intricate orchestral arrangements, which no one else but Evans could create. The six pieces vary in style and atmosphere, but the album maintains a cohesive musical approach and the overall result is simply stunning. It is evident that the explosion of Jazz-Rock Fusion influenced Evans, who on this album embraces the (then) new development, including electric instruments in the orchestra, and doing it brilliantly and lovingly. Just a year later Evans will make the ultimate Fusion recording of his career, when the orchestra will record an album of Jimi HendrixFind albums by this artist music. The list of musicians participating on this album includes guitarist Ted DunbarFind albums by this artist, tuba player Howard JohnsonFind albums by this artist, saxophonist Billy HarperFind albums by this artist, trumpeters Richard WilliamsFind albums by this artist and Marvin PetersonFind albums by this artist, electric bassist Herb BushlerFind albums by this artist and many others. The individual solos and the overall orchestral performances are all extraordinary and deeply inspiring. The inclusion of synthesizer player David HorowitzFind albums by this artist and his parts on this album are nothing short of prophetic. In retrospect this is one of the classic recordings of the era, which continues to be completely relevant to this very day, as well as a beautiful document of the Genius of Gil Evans. Every true Jazz connoisseur should have a copy of this album in his collection.

CD 1 Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend

JAZZBALTICA ENSEMBLE / DAVID MURRAY ~ BALTIC SUITE GOWI 05 ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 1992 Released: 1993 This is a relatively little known album recorded live by a large assembly of Jazz musicians from several countries situated around the Baltic Sea, called JazzBaltica EnsembleFind albums by this artist, directed by American saxophonist / composer David MurrayFind albums by this artist. The music was recorded during the second JazzBaltica Festival held in Germany. The ensemble included some of the absolutely top-notch Jazz players from the Baltic countries, such as Polish trumpeter Tomasz StankoFind albums by this artist, Swedish bassist Anders JorminFind albums by this artist, Finnish drummer Jukkis UotilaFind albums by this artist and many others. Another American taking part in the ensemble is tuba player Howard JohnsonFind albums by this artist, who very often plays with European Jazz musicians. The music is a suite arranged for a large ensemble / Big Band, which comprises of several earlier compositions by Murray, which were reworked anew and incorporated into a coherent suite. The music is a wonderful example of a Big Band setting, which allows for a series of expanded improvisations by all the participants, either individually or in small groups, accompanied by the entire ensemble. Although clear melodic themes are stated periodically, most of the music is freely improvised and allows for a large degree of individual expression. The solos are all exceptional, which is not surprising considering the incredible level of the musicians involved. Although directed by Murray, this is typically European Jazz, with its relaxed and even somewhat melancholic ambience and sophisticated solos, which open up and explore new sonorities well beyond the standard Big Band arrangements. Several of these solo excursions depart beyond the thematic framework of the pieces, which build up this suite, being completely free spirited and spontaneously created, which is a norm as far as European Big Bands are concerned. Overall this is a superb piece of large ensemble music, exquisitely performed and worthy of an honorable place among other similar efforts of European Jazz. For Tomasz Stanko aficionados, like myself, this is simply a must, especially since so few people know about this album!

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend