Record Reviews

CLIMAX BLUES BAND ~ COULDN`T GET IT RIGHT REPERTOIRE 4802 ~ UK ~ Blues A superb retrospective collection spanning the years 1969-1976 by the highly acclaimed UK blues band. Although it includes some of the band`s strongest album tracks, it also includes many previously unavailable singles and their B-sides. For the many band´s fans this is a great summary of their work and for those new to their music - a great introduction.

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CLIMAX BLUES BAND ~ GOLD PLATED REPERTOIRE 4142 (Barcode: 4009910414224) ~ UK ~ Blues-Rock Recorded: 1976 Released: 1991 This is the 9th album by the British Blues-Rock band Climax Blues BandFind albums by this artist, which was one of the many bands that came into existence during the mid to late 1960s British Blues revival, pioneered by Alexis KornerFind albums by this artist and John MayallFind albums by this artist. The band plays a great selection of self-penned material, which mixes Blues, Rock and even Soul, brilliantly executed with plenty of heartbreaking guitar and sax solos, as expected. This album includes the band´s greatest commercially successful single "Couldn´t Get It Right" and is considered as one of the classics of the British Blues-Rock releases and lost nothing of its charm in time. A must to every Blues-Rock fan!

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	CLIMAX BLUES BAND ~ PLAYS ON REPERTOIRE 4077 ~ UK ~ Blues 2nd album from 1969 by this group. With an addition of saxophone their sound is even broader then before. A true classic.
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	CLIMAX BLUES BAND ~ RICH MAN REPERTOIRE 4045 ~ UK ~ Blues 5th album from 1972. Slightly more rocky approach on some tracks, but still a strong blues album. 1 bonus track.
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CLIMAX BLUES BAND ~ THE CLIMAX CHICAGO BLUES BAND REPERTOIRE 4078 (Barcode: 4009910407820) ~ UK ~ Blues-Rock Recorded: 1968 Released: 1990 This is the excellent debut album by the British Blues-Rock band Climax Blues BandFind albums by this artist, which was one of the many bands that came into existence during the mid to late 1960s British Blues revival, pioneered by Alexis KornerFind albums by this artist and John MayallFind albums by this artist. The band plays a great selection of classic Blues material and some self-penned material, brilliantly executed with plenty of heartbreaking guitar solos, as expected. This album is considered as one of the classics of the British Blues-Rock releases and lost nothing of its charm in time. A must to every Blues-Rock fan!

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	CLIMAX BLUES BAND ~ TIGHTLY KNIT REPERTOIRE 4079 ~ UK ~ Blues 4th album from 1971. More of the same fine British blues, with guitar dominated sound and great vocals.
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IMAGINATION QUARTET ~ IMAGINATION QUARTET ANACONDA 001 (Barcode: 5907651680122) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 2011 Released: 2011 This is the excellent eponymous debut album by the young Polish Jazz-Rock / Fusion group Imagination QuartetFind albums by this artist, which comprises of guitarist Michal SoltanFind albums by this artist, saxophonist Damian PinkowskiFind albums by this artist, bassist Dariusz SwitalskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Maciej DziedzicFind albums by this artist. The album includes eleven original compositions, seven by Soltan, two by Dziedzic, one co-composed by these two and one credited to the entire quartet. The group´s music is an interesting mixture of Fusion and Modern Jazz, which allows for a wider degree of freedom in the improvisation than the rigid constraints of straight-forward Fusion. As a result the album is full of surprisingly interesting moments and unexpected ventures. In spite of the fact that these are young and relatively inexperienced musicians, the level of performance and stylistic sophistication is quite surprising. That, combined with some first-rate compositions and the youthful vigor turns this album into a most pleasurable listening experience. As usual, most of the solo performances are by the two front-men (guitar and sax), but the members of the rhythm section get some splendid opportunities to shine as well. As far as debut albums go, this is definitely a very promising one, which will hopefully be followed by more mature statements on the future. Judging by the overall excellent level of this release, Imagination Quartet has all the necessary ingredients to make things happen. This album is recommended to all Fusion fans, which are open-minded enough to accept a different approach to the genre, which digs deeper than most contemporary releases on the scene. Definitely worth investigation!

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KLIMA / WYLEZOL / KOWALEWSKI ~ LUTOSLAWSKI RETUNED HEVHETIA 0114 (Barcode: 8588005257664) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Classical Fusion Recorded: 2014 Released: 2015 This is the debut album by a Polish Jazz trio comprising of clarinetist Szymon KlimaFind albums by this artist, pianist Piotr WylezolFind albums by this artist and bassist Adam KowalewskiFind albums by this artist. Veteran Polish Jazz musician Piotr Baron guests on one track playing bass clarinet. The album´s music was all composed by the contemporary Classical Polish composer Witold LutoslawskiFind albums by this artist, and includes his five dance preludes (composed in 1954 as a five-parts suite) and a sixth unrelated composition, which was initially published under a pseudonym. What prompted to rearrange (or retune) these composition for a Jazz environment was probably the Lutoslawski Year celebrations in 2013 (his 100 Birthday), which were a big cultural event in Poland and brought the composer to the attention of a much wider audience, including many young Jazz musicians. As a result a long list of Polish Jazz albums, like this one, paid tribute to the great composer; for example "Inspired By LutoslawskiFind albums with this title" by Grazyna AuguscikFind albums by this artist, "BukolikiFind albums with this title" by High Definition QuartetFind albums by this artist, "AtomsphereFind albums with this title" by Atom String QuartetFind albums by this artist and many others. The dance preludes suite, which was originally composed for clarinet and piano, was later twice (1955 and 1959) re-orchestrated for larger ensembles, but Klima based his Jazzy approach on the original intimate version, which remains intimate under the new arrangement. As almost always with Lutoslawski, his music is deeply rooted in the Polish Folklore, and these "dances" all bear resemblance of the characteristic folklore melodies and harmonies, at least to people who are acquainted with that music. Klima, both as arranger and player, oscillates between the Classical and the Jazz idioms, as his clarinet tone and phrasing are almost completely Classical whereas his improvised parts are of course Jazz related. Of course Wylezol and Kowalewski are bona fide Jazz musicians, and their contributions have a decisive weight to turn this music into a wonderful Jazz-Classical Fusion. The intimacy of this music, the virtuosi performances, the elegant and respectful treatment of the original inspirations all add up to a superbly balanced and delightful musical adventure, which should prove pleasing and satisfying to all connoisseurs of good music. Hopefully some of the listeners will try to find out how the music sounds in its original Classical incarnations, and perhaps venture into more fabulous music created by Lutoslawski, other might wish to explore other recordings by Wylezol and Kowalewski, also released by the excellent HevhetiaFind albums on this label label. If so everybody wins, both of the Classical and the Jazz enthusiasts. This album is a great example of a cross-genre exploration, which treats the origins with respect and love, creating a new, perfectly valid amalgamation, which manages to preserve the aesthetics of its origins. Wholeheartedly recommended!

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SZYMON KLIMA ~ FOLWARK HEVHETIA 0166 (Barcode: 8588005258395) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-World Fusion Recorded: 2018 Released: 2018 This is the debut album by a Polish Jazz quintet led by clarinetist / composer Szymon KlimaFind albums by this artist, which also includes saxophonist Dariusz RubinowskiFind albums by this artist, guitarist Jakub MizerackiFind albums by this artist, bassist Adam KowalewskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Jakub MiarczynskiFind albums by this artist. The album presents six pieces, which are all interpretations of Polish Folklore in the widest meaning of the idiom, including even Polish Hassidic music, and also include some improvised and inspired motifs created by the quintet members. In 2017 Klima, as a member of the Improvision QuartetFind albums by this artist, released one of the best Polish Jazz albums of that year, the fantastic "Free-Folk-JazzFind albums with this title", and this album is in many respects a continuation of the same approach, although the sound is somewhat different. Instead of the wonderful piano parts, which placed the music closer to the Free Jazz milieu, on this album the guitar takes the music more into Free Rock direction. But the basic characteristics of the previous album, which are above all about the intimate conversations between the musicians and the mutual development of ideas, are still here. The individual contributions by all the quintet members are all superb, and the virtuosic statements chase each other as the music moves forward. Solos, duos, trios and full quintet parts move in and out in a magical flow, which is unstoppable. There is accord and contrast, harmony and discord, all making perfect sense. The "sweet" mellow clarinet sound and the harsh distorted guitar din are able to coexist in perfect coherence and musical logic. The rhythm section is brought up to the level of the other instruments and becomes an integral part of the music, especially in the heat of the group improvisation parts. It seems that Polish Jazz manages time after time to create innovative and challenging statements when re-examining and re-approaching the Polish Folklore musical tradition, which is broad and rich, probably more successfully that similar attempts on other Jazz scenes around the world. This album is another example of the inspiration that Polish Folklore is able to arouse, stimulate and inspire, taking the amalgamated result into unpredicted and previously uncharted territory. Overall this is yet another highly successful and rewarding musical experiment by Klima and his cohorts, which delivers excellent music and challenging, but highly rewarding listening experience. For Polish / European Jazz connoisseurs this is a golden nugget and a must have in every serious / advanced Jazz-World Fusion collection. Hats off!

Updated: 30/04/2018Posted: 30/04/2018

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SZYMON KLIMA / DOMINIK WANIA ~ FANTASTICO HEVHETIA 0209 (Barcode: 8588005258920) ~ POLAND ~ Free Jazz / Improvised Music Recorded: 2020 Released: 2020 As outlandish as it might sound, there is only one musical instrument – the human brain! It is the musician´s brain that commands his body parts to touch keys, pluck strings, beat on stuff, blow into tubes or simply exhale to vibrate his vocal chords, all those in order to produce sound. It is the same brain that invents virtual notes, harmonies, melodies, layers of sound and time measures and sets them all into a particular sequence, which becomes a composition, before it was even played in reality. In case of Improvised Music, as the one presented on this album, these two separate brain functions, i.e. composing and playing, become intertwined and amalgamated, happening simultaneously within the same human brain. In case the music is spontaneously created by two musicians, again as in this case, two human brains are not only simultaneously composing and playing as individuals, but they are also communicating and complementing each other in real time. This is truly mindboggling = Fantastico… But this is only one side of the story, of course. There is another human brain, which receives electrical impulses via its owner´s ears and using its psychoacoustic mechanism translates these pulses into what it perceives as music, creating another version of the original produced by the players, with its own interpretation of harmony, melody and rhythm. Now let´s multiply that brain´s activities by the number of listeners and we have a myriad of parallel musical "universes", all initiated by what happened during the recording session that gave "life" to this music. Incredible, isn´t it = Fantastico… And now let´s assume that the music is able to generate a cascade of both intellectual and emotional reactions within the listener´s brain, such as pleasure, aesthetic satisfaction, appreciation of the sophistication, Artistry and ingenuity and above all gratitude for all the above. Music that is able to produce such a flood of brain enzymes, as is the case here, must be truly unique, or rather Fantastico… Side Note The above are my liner notes included on this album's artwork. I am honored when asked by the Artists to write liner notes for their albums, always hoping that my words reflect the true spirit of the music. This is also a symbol of our mutual respect and friendship developed over the years. The same is also true when Record Labels ask me to write liner notes for their releases, mostly in the case of reissues of archival albums, which is a symbol of their appreciation of my knowledge and historical perspective and my recognition of their dedication to the preservation of the history of recorded music and the effort to keep human Culture and Aesthetics alive.

Updated: 17/10/2020Posted: 17/10/2020

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	KONDO, TOSHINORI / IMA ~ BRAIN WAR JARO 4161 ~ JAPAN ~ Progressive Rock 2nd album from 1992 by the legendary Japanese trumpet player with the experimental Japanese Rock group IMA. Kondo`s breathtaking trumpet phrasing combined with the harsh industrial sound of the group produce an overwhelming effect which is uncomparable to any other music you might have heard. Definitely something to try!
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KONDO, TOSHINORI / IMA ~ HUMAN MARKET JARO 4146 ~ JAPAN ~ Progressive Rock Japanese trumpetter Toshinori Kondo is one of the most enigmatic figures on the music scene. Brilliant virtuoso player, often compared to Miles Davis, he is extremely secretive and keeps in touch with a selected group of musicians. Although most of his recorded work is in the free jazz genre, Kondo recorded several stunning Prog albums in the late 1980`s and early 1990`s with the Japanese industrial / experimental Rock group IMA. This is their 1st album from 1989 and it is breathtaking. The fluent, dazzling trumpet playing by Kondo and the harsh sounds produced by the group compliment each other wonderfully and the resulting music is just stunning!

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KUTIMAN ~ KUTIMAN MELTING POT 047 (Barcode: 673793304725) ~ ISRAEL ~ Jazz-World Fusion Recorded: 2005 Released: 2007 1st album by young Israeli composer / multi-instrumentalist Ophir KutielFind albums by this artist a.k.a. KutimanFind albums by this artist. Although the young generation of Israeli musicians active in the 21st Century already proved time and again that they are capable of producing some amazing music in the Electronic, Rock, Prog and Jazz genres (as witnessed on the numerous CDs found on my site), most of them are deeply influenced by the European classical music tradition and American Rock and Jazz. What the local scene lacks (or rather lacked until this album) almost completely is music, which boasts groove, such as Funk, Soul or Afro-beat. Therefore this album comes as such a delightful surprise, filling the missing gap completely. This Jewish boychik has enough groove to shake the entire country’s butt and a soul as black as the heart of Africa. Of course it all didn’t come from thin air – Ophir did a lot of listening to the right kind of music, which can be traced (but only as influences, not as imitations) in his music: Sly & The Family StoneFind albums by this artist (There’s A Riot Goin’ OnFind albums with this title), Herbie HancockFind albums by this artist’s late 1970’s Funk explorations, late Miles DavisFind albums by this artist (TutuFind albums with this title), African Master musician Fela KutiFind albums by this artist (obvious name reference here) and a lot of Ambient, Lounge and Psychedelic music. All these influences come together, and Ophir’s individual approach glues them into a new and fascinating amalgam. This music although far from trivial or simplistic, hits you right in the place where your soul happens to be located and engulfs you completely, making your body to sway in the process. Although Ophir plays most of the instruments on the album, which BTW is also brilliantly produced, he invited some local musicians and vocalists to take part. These include members of the local Funk band Funk’n’steinFind albums by this artist and the local diva KarolinaFind albums by this artist. Whatever your musical preferences, this music just can’t leave you cold, and if it does (God forbid) then you probably have no soul at all. Absolutely great fun!

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LA TULIPE NOIRE ~ FADED LEAVES MUSEA 4453 ~ GREECE ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 2002 Released: 2003 3rd album by the excellent Greek Prog quintet La Tulipe NoireFind albums by this artist and a most welcome addition to the rather limited output from this country. The vocals (in English) are handled by their leading lady ImaFind albums by this artist and the four men supply great instrumetal work, guitar and keyboards being the most dominant. On this album they develop a more personal sound and style which is a positive step forward compared to their previous work, which was heavily influenced by bands like MarillionFind albums by this artist.

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NAIMA ~ NAIMA INDIES HAPPY TRAILS 772 (Barcode: 8595026677227) ~ CZECH REPUBLIC ~ Jazz Recorded: 1985 - 1986 Released: 2018 This is a reissue of the debut album by Czechoslovak Jazz quartet NaimaFind albums by this artist, which comprised of keyboardist Zdenek ZdenekFind albums by this artist, saxophonist Frantisek KopFind albums by this artist, bassist Jaromir HonzakFind albums by this artist and drummer Martin SulcFind albums by this artist. The album presents six original compositions, all composed by Zdenek except one co-composed by him and Honzak, recorded in 1985. These tracks were released as the debut LP only in 1988. This reissue adds three additional tracks, also composed by Zdenek, recorded in 1986 and produced by my great friend Antonin MatznerFind albums by this artist (now sadly departed), released originally in 1986 (before the debut album was released) as part of a Various Artists compilation. One of these tracks features violinist Martin ZbrozekFind albums by this artist. All the music is beautifully remastered and the album comes with extensive liner notes, extremely well researched and full of discographical information, sadly only in Czech language (which works fine for me, but probably less so for other enthusiasts who also might be interested). The group´s name originates of course from the title of the John ColtraneFind albums by this artist composition, suggested by Kop, who was a dedicated Coltrane follower. In the years that followed Naima released three more albums, following some lineup changes. The music is all melody based, offering mostly ballads, and quite typical of the 1980s European mainstream Jazz, with clear connections to the Jazz tradition but with an updated attitude and sound-wise often close to the European Fusion. The compositions are all well structured and prove that the second generation of the Czech Jazz scene was well versed in the Jazz idiom. The performances are also all excellent, especially those by Kop, who offers brilliant soprano and tenor saxophone soli, which drive the music forward. Zdenek plays fluent piano and synthesizer parts, technically perfect but a bit over-influenced by Chick CoreaFind albums by this artist´s style. Honzak, a great bassist, adds the pulse, and only Sulc suffers from being way too low in the mix making his contributions hardy audible. Overall this album is a great listening experience, accessible to a wide audience, which still sounds great today. For fans of European Jazz and its history, reissues of this kind are an absolute must, and the fact that this music is available on CD for the first time makes it a wonderful treasure. Brilliant stuff! My personal thanks to Jaromir KratochvilFind albums by this artist, the owner of Indies Happy TrailsFind albums on this label, for his friendship and the incredible job he is doing to keep this music alive! Side Note Since the 1950s Czechoslovakia had a highly developed Jazz scene, certainly in proportion to its population, which included many successful ensembles and even Big Bands, as well as Jazz clubs, festivals and publications, all this in spite of state censorship and political limitations. The similar situation existed since the 1960s as far as Rock (including Progressive Rock and Jazz-Rock Fusion) was concerned, resulting in many excellent, interesting and innovative ensembles. The music was relatively well documented by the three state owned record labels: SupraphonFind albums on this label (founded in 1927), PantonFind albums on this label (founded in 1968) and OpusFind albums on this label (founded in 1971 and based in Bratislava, created on the base of Slovak division of Supraphon). Following the "Velvet Revolution" in 1989, the state owned record labels were privatized, with Supraphon dominating the local market. However, Supraphon was quite reluctant as far as exploring its vast back catalogue is concerned, and this is where the small independent Indies Happy TrailsFind albums on this label Records, a reissue label dedicated to the preservation of the recorded legacy of Czechoslovak music, owned and run by the devoted enthusiast / historian Jaromir KratochvilFind albums by this artist, founded in 2007, comes in. Over the years the label released a plethora of brilliant music, reissuing long deleted LPs and extensively exploring the archives in search of bonus material. The quest of Indies Happy Trails is similar to what the GADFind albums on this label Records label, run by Michal WilczynskiFind albums by this artist, is doing for Polish music, with similar consistency and praiseworthy dedication.

Updated: 29/02/2020Posted: 29/02/2020

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OREN NEIMAN ~ FROLIC AND DETOUR NOT ON LABEL (Barcode: 884501114257) ~ ISRAEL ~ Jazz Recorded: 2008 Released: 2009 2nd album by Israeli (resident in US) guitarist / composer Oren NeimanFind albums by this artist, a quartet recording with Neiman on guitar, Kenny WarrenFind albums by this artist on trumpet, Doug DrewesFind albums by this artist on bass and Kenny ShawFind albums by this artist on drums, featuring his original compositions. Neiman moved to NY in 2001, where he studied with some of the best Jazz players on the scene, including guitarist John AbercrombieFind albums by this artist, and soon becoming his protégé. Following the studies he formed his own quartet, recording a debut album in 2006. This new recording, with a new quartet, is quite a unique statement. Neiman concentrates here more on producing a musical statement rather than showing off his guitar playing. In fact it is the trumpeter, who plays most of the leads on the album, with Neiman more in the shadows playing only occasional solo parts, but sometimes they play amazing unisono passages, which remind me of the Larry CoryellFind albums by this artist / Randy BreckerFind albums by this artist excursions in Eleventh HouseFind albums by this artist, but which are stylistically remote from the Fusion played by Eleventh House. Neiman´s music is very difficult to characterize (which is a good thing), obviously influenced by many diverse sources. It is predominantly Jazzy, but it also touches upon ethnic themes and rhythmic patterns, often using odd meters and unusual harmony. Also the unusual sound blend of the guitar / trumpet combination gives the listener the impression of hearing something innovative and rarely attempted before. Warren is an impressive player, with great sensitivity, warm tone and good range, who is able to make his instrument aggressive and lyrical, whichever suits the music at the time. The rhythm section gives a perfect support to the soloists, handling the difficult tempi with ease and elegance. Neiman´s praise goes mainly to his composing abilities, as his instrumental duties here are not the main concern (as far as I perceive it), although his playing is obviously top notch. Overall this is an interesting and challenging album, absolutely worth investigating.

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PLANETA IMAGINARIO ~ BIOMASA CUNEIFORM 268 (Barcode: 045775026824) ~ SPAIN ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 2005 Released: 2008 2nd album by Spanish Jazz-Rock band Planeta ImaginarioFind albums by this artist, a classic 8 piece with guitar, piano, bass, drums and 4 horns, resembling similar bands from the early days of Jazz-Rock like Blood, Sweat & TearsFind albums by this artist and ChicagoFind albums by this artist, but (almost) entirely instrumental. They play all original material, composed by the guitarist (Eneko Alberdi LaskurainFind albums by this artist) and pianist (Marc Capel NadalFind albums by this artist). The recording has a retro sound, which is just right for the band, and the orchestral arrangements are all top notch. This album is great fun all the way through and people who love the Jazzier Canterbury stuff and 1970s Jazz-Rock will love this album to bits. The music is quite a strange mixture of classic Jazz-Rock themes, ethnic influences (African and Middle Eastern) and others, creating a completely original blend, which is refreshing and interesting. Most warmly recommended!

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SALAMON / HADZIMANOV / MOSES ~ DANCES OF FREEDOM SAMO ~ SLOVENIA ~ Free Jazz / Improvised Music Recorded: 2021 Released: 2024 This is an album by Slovenian guitarist Samo SalamonFind albums by this artist, Serbian keyboardist Vasil HadzimanovFind albums by this artist and American drummer Bob MosesFind albums by this artist. The album presents nine tracks, all of which are co-composed by the trio members. The music is a wonderful amalgam of many elements, and although it is mostly improvised, it offers various melodic snippets, references to Balkan Folkloristic themes, Ambient layers and electronically generated effects. There is a confident, clearly defined flow and coherent progress, which makes this music accessible to open-minded listeners, who are patient enough to experience the music slowly, and follow it where the musicians take it. Although this is a trio recording, the music often sounds much fuller, with the instruments often disguised into instruments, which are not used in reality. The brilliant drumming by Moses keeps everything perfectly organized and the consequent tunes offer a diversity, which is rarely present in Improvised Music. Salamon is an extremely prolific musician, who recorded almost fifty albums since the turn of the Millennium, mostly released on his own SamoFind albums on this label Records label, with involve dozens of European Jazz musicians, and he definitely deserves to be followed. Overall, this is another document of Salamon’s feverish activity, which, as always deserves the attention of open-minded and aesthetically minded listeners. He manages to re-invent himself time and again and keeps an excellent company doing so! Highly recommended!

Updated: 16/02/2024Posted: 16/02/2024

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SUPERMINIMALISM ~ PRELUDE LJF 002 ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2023 Released: 2023 This is the debut album by Polish Jazz quintet SuperminimalismFind albums by this artist, comprising of trumpeter Marcin ElszkowskiFind albums by this artist, saxophonists Robert WypasekFind albums by this artist and Jakub LepaFind albums by this artist, bassist Michal AftykaFind albums by this artist and drummer / percussionist Stefan RaczkowskiFind albums by this artist. The album presents seven short original compositions by Raczkowski, totaling in under half an hour, which makes it an EP rather than a full album. The music offers very interesting approach, with minimalistic motives and unusual sound, with brass and rhythm section only. The music is full of internal tension and simply “asks for” to be developed further, but of course it is the artistic choice of the ensemble to leave it sort of hanging in the air. Despite the fact that the music seems like a teaser / sample, of what the quintet is capable of, it is truly fascinating from start to finish, and definitely does the job of arising the listener’s attention perfectly. Overall, this is a wonderful sample of modern Polish Jazz and the talents of the young generation ready to invade the scene. The compositions are fascinating, the performances highly professional and the result simply enchanting – well done!

Updated: 20/12/2023Posted: 20/12/2023

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ERIC VLOEIMANS ~ BESTIARIUM CHALLENGE 70038 ~ NETHERLANDS ~ Jazz Recorded: 1996 Released: 1996 This is the second album by Dutch trumpeter Eric VloeimansFind albums by this artist, who is already an established jazz star in Europe with his outstanding abilities as a player and composer to his credit. On this album his Quartet is transformed into a Quintet with the addition of the famous German saxophonist Peter WenigerFind albums by this artist. All music on this album is original by Vloeimans and the performances brilliant all the way.

Updated: 02/10/2020Posted:

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ERIC VLOEIMANS ~ BITCHES AND FAIRY TALES CHALLENGE 70061 (Barcode: 608917006124) ~ NETHERLANDS ~ Jazz Recorded: 1998 Released: 2010 This is the third album as a leader by Dutch trumpeter / composer Eric VloeimansFind albums by this artist recorded with the dreamy trio comprising of British pianist John TaylorFind albums by this artist and American bassist Marc JohnsonFind albums by this artist and drummer Joey BaronFind albums by this artist, which recorded the great album "RosslynFind albums with this title" for ECMFind albums on this label a few years later. The album presents thirteen original compositions, ten composed by Vloeimans and three short interludes co-composed by him and Taylor. The music is brilliant modern European Jazz, based on open compositions, which allow the quartet to improvise intensively, at times quite freely, and to utilize polyrhythmic structures, which the rhythm section wizardly carries on. The music is diverse and highly interesting from start to finish, and in retrospect this is one of the most interesting European Jazz recordings of the 1990s. Vloeimans and Taylor manage to create a superb synergy, which also characterized the work of Taylor with Kenny WheelerFind albums by this artist, and Vloeimans´ trumpet playing bears many similarities to the idiosyncratic style of Wheeler. Interestingly the American rhythm section displays completely non-American aesthetics, which sets it apart from most rhythm sections originating in the US, and which enables the sublime musical atmosphere created on this album, ideally suited to the two Europeans on board. Of course they are not the only example of American rhythm sections free of the decades-long clichés cemented by Bebop, but they are certainly a most welcome exception. This music lost absolutely nothing of its power and originality over time and still sounds as interesting and fresh as it did at the time it was recorded. Taylor´s enthusiasts will wind his work here as brilliant as ever and since the album seems to be still available, it´s about time to grab a copy – satisfaction guaranteed!

Updated: 02/10/2020Posted: 02/10/2020

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ERIC VLOEIMANS ~ FIRST FLOOR CHALLENGE 70011 ~ NETHERLANDS ~ Jazz Recorded: 1994 Released: 1994 This is the debut album by young Dutch trumpeter Eric VloeimansFind albums by this artist is one of the great stars on the European jazz sky and this. his first solo album, shows why. Exceptional technique and great improvisational ability are his forte and it`s a real pleasure to hear so much energy and joy in the music. This is a quartet recording with guitar, bass and drums as the rhythm section.

Updated: 02/10/2020Posted:

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ERIC VLOEIMANS ~ UMAI CHALLENGE 70087 (Barcode: 608917008722) ~ NETHERLANDS ~ Jazz Recorded: 2000 Released: 2000 This is the fourth album by Dutch trumpeter / composer Eric VloeimansFind albums by this artist recorded in a quartet setting with British pianist John TaylorFind albums by this artist, Italian bassist Furio Di CastriFind albums by this artist and American drummer Joe LaBarberaFind albums by this artist. It is his second recording with Taylor following the "Bitches And Fairy TalesFind albums with this title" album recorded a couple of years earlier. The album presents thirteen tracks, nine of which are original compositions by Vloeimans. The music is typical modern European Jazz, based on excellent compositions, which are melody driven but open enough to allow intensive interplay between the quartet members and extensive improvisations. The individual compositions present a diverse palette demanding serious listening involvement, but are aesthetically rewarding and interesting. The four musicians are highly regarded instrumentalists, which of course is plainly obvious from the very first notes. Vloeimans takes most of the soloing duties upon himself, with Taylor staying relatively in the background, with only occasional soloing, but his beautiful piano accompaniment parts are an integral part of the entire musical fabric. The rhythm section is fully involved in the interplay and both Di Castri and LaBarbera solo occasionally, showing their respective chops. At times the music bring fond memories of the music made by Taylor with his friend and long time collaborator Kenny WheelerFind albums by this artist, which of course is a feast to the listeners´ ears. Overall this is an excellent modern Jazz album, full of great music and excellent performances, which should keep any connoisseur of European Jazz happy and although recorded some twenty years ago, still sounds great today!

Updated: 02/10/2020Posted: 31/08/2020

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

ZIMA STULECIA ~ MINUS 30°C ASTIGMATIC 022 ~ POLAND ~ Electronic & Ambient Recorded: 2021 Released: 2023 This is the debut album by the Polish duo called Zima StuleciaFind albums by this artist, which is yet another offshoot of the EABSFind albums by this artist ensemble, comprising of keyboardist Marek PedziwiatrFind albums by this artist (a.k.a. LatarnikFind albums by this artist) and drummer Marcin RakFind albums by this artist (a.k.a. Cancer GFind albums by this artist). The album presents ten original compositions, which remain uncredited and are assumed to be co-composed by the duo members. For people familiar with the music of EABS and BlotoFind albums by this artist (which also includes these two musicians), the music is not really surprising, considering how unpredictable these young musicians can be, on one hand, and how talented they are, on the other. This time they combine many elements, all of which are somewhat “natural” to their age group, like House, Techno, Ambient and Electronic Music, with a dash of Jazz improvisation, a mishmash of sorts, yet an appealing listening trip, as usual with these guys. Recorded in the midst of the Covid pandemic, the music, at least to me, is laden with somber accents and reflective solemnity, so anybody looking for an easy ride and tuches shakin’ danceable ditty is in for a big surprise. Despite some dangerous proximity to the dreaded New Age schmaltz, the duo manages to arise victorious from this adventure, creating a concise set of musical pieces, that has a storytelling quality and keeps the listener on edge for the duration. And they sure can write a nice melody as well. Overall, this is another piece of music, which the EABS stable releases to the world, which manages to maintain the high Artistic standard they established over time. The change in musical direction or stylistic preferences keeps things interesting and brings new fans of their music aboard, which is always a good thing. In time they managed to convince me that that are what they claim to be: honest, hardworking and heartfelt musicians. So keep on moving on!

Updated: 23/03/2023Posted: 23/03/2023

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ZWEIMAURER ~ JUMBLE ATS 1016 (Barcode: 9005216010165) ~ AUSTRIA ~ Jazz Recorded: 2023 Released: 2024 This is an album by the Austrian Jazz quartet co-led by pianist / vocalist / composer Anna MaurerFind albums by this artist and her father saxophonist / composer / bandleader Christian MaurerFind albums by this artist, jokingly christened ZweimaurerFind albums by this artist (two Maurers). The rhythm section comprises of bass guitarist Robert RieglerFind albums by this artist and drummer Wolfgang RainerFind albums by this artist. The album presents ten tracks, five composed by Anna Maurer, four by Christian Maurer and one is a standard. The music is all wonderfully melodic and mostly up-tempo mainstream Jazz, excellently performed by the quartet and sparkling with energy and vigor. Christian is a superb saxophonist, with years of experience playing with the best musicians in Europe. The young Anna follows her Father in his Jazz footsteps with obvious talent and youthful Groove. Riegler is a monster bass guitar virtuoso, with a Funky / Fusiony feel, which kicks the music forward, and finally Rainer adds an energetic rhythmic drums layer, to make everything work like a clockwork from the neighboring Switzerland. Overall, this is a truly delightful album, which takes the listener on a hurricane driven ride from one tune to the next, full of beautiful melodies and precise execution, which is a breeze of fresh air in the almost lethargic atmosphere that rules in contemporary Jazz. The music is exciting and highly entertaining, without compromising any artistic standards, and offers a delightful listening experience in today’s gloomy reality. Well done!

Updated: 24/08/2024Posted: 24/08/2024

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend