Record Reviews

GERA BAND ~ FATA MORGANA GALEN 21 190 (Barcode: 8594042902054) ~ CZECHOSLOVAKIA ~ Jazz Recorded: 1985 Released: 2021 This is a reissue / remaster of the debut album by the Czechoslovak quartet Gera BandFind albums by this artist, led by trumpeter Michal GeraFind albums by this artist, which also included saxophonist Vaclav BratrychFind albums by this artist, bassist Vit SvecFind albums by this artist and drummer Jaromir HelesicFind albums by this artist. The album presents six tracks, all of which are original compositions by Gera. Gera was active on the Czechoslovak Jazz scene since the mid-1970s, as a member of the excellent Jazz-Rock Fusion ensemble ImpulsFind albums by this artist, the Prague Big BandFind albums by this artist and other formations. He took part in many collaborations with pianist / composer Milan SvobodaFind albums by this artist, which are also documented on albums. Gera Band released two more albums later on. His trumpet was surely one of the most distinctive voices of the local scene. The music is an excellent example of the versatility and musical excellence of the Czechoslovak scene, which was up to date with the musical developments happening beyond the Iron Curtain and across the pond. Overall, this is a most welcome reissue of material that tends to get forgotten over time, but is definitely worth being remembered. As usual the GalenFind albums on this label label does an excellent job in preserving the tradition, saving music treasure from oblivion. Side Note The Czech publishing house and record label GalenFind albums on this label, run by Lubomir HoudekFind albums by this artist, is another player on the local scene, reissuing historical recordings from the deep vaults of the SupraphonFind albums on this label / PantonFind albums on this label labels, supported by the Czech Ministry of Culture. This commendable initiative is a wonderful example of the preservation of Cultural heritage. Hopefully the label's future releases will include information in English in the album's booklets, so that Jazz enthusiasts around the world might be allowed to share the knowledge. For more reissues of Czechoslovak Jazz (and Rock) see also the releases by Indies Happy TrailsFind albums on this label Records.

Updated: 07/03/2025Posted: 07/03/2025

CD 1 Digipak Remastered Recommend To A Friend

IMPULS ~ IMPULS (CZECHOSLOVAK JAZZ-ROCK EXPANDED EDITION) INDIES HAPPY TRAILS 628 (Barcode: 8595026662827) ~ CZECH REPUBLIC ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 1975 - 1977 Released: 2008 This wonderful reissue collects all the recordings by the Czechoslovak ensemble ImpulsFind albums by this artist. It is a brilliant document of the music scene, which thrived in Eastern Europe behind the Iron Curtain, in all the so-called "Socialist" countries, and was every bit as interesting, groundbreaking and visionary as anything else happening at the same time in Western Europe or the USA. In spite of political pressures, artistic censorship and economic hardships, with very limited access to recordings from the West, decent equipment or proper recording facilities, these young and ambitious musicians were exploding with ideas and boldly exploring new territories. The resulting music created at the time remains completely relevant today and should be rediscovered by young audiences, as it lost absolutely nothing of its power and intellectual quality. Impuls was formed by three young and talented Jazz musicians: keyboardist Pavel KostiukFind albums by this artist, guitarist Zdenek FiserFind albums by this artist and trumpeter Michal GeraFind albums by this artist. They were joined by brilliant bassist Frantisek UhlirFind albums by this artist and drummer Jaromir HelesicFind albums by this artist. The three founding members contributed their original compositions, which were the core of the ensemble´s material, but sometimes they also played standards. Impuls was the most Jazzy of all the Czech Jazz-Rock ensembles and the level of their performances and compositions is truly stellar. The bonus material includes an ultra-rare EP and tracks released previously on compilation albums. In retrospect this is some of the best Eastern European Jazz-Rock, which should not be missed by any connoisseur of the genre. A must! 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: 28/02/2020Posted:

CD 1 Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend

JAZZ Q ~ AMULET STUDIO BUDIKOV 038 (Barcode: 8594159980389) ~ CZECH REPUBLIC ~ Jazz-Funk Fusion Recorded: 2020 Released: 2020 This is an album by Czech Fusion ensemble Jazz QFind albums by this artist founded in 1964 (yes you are reading correctly) and led by veteran keyboardist / composer Martin KratochvilFind albums by this artist and here including guitarist Zdenek FiserFind albums by this artist (another veteran ex ImpulsFind albums by this artist), bass guitarist Premysl FauknerFind albums by this artist (yet another veteran and member of early versions of Jazz Q) and drummer Filip JenicekFind albums by this artist (a representative of the young generation). The album presents thirteen original compositions, ten of which were composed by Kratochvil and one each by the other three members of the ensemble. The music is a typical Jazz-Rock Fusion, based on the excellent compositions of the "forever young" Kratochvil, which offers splendidly weaved melodic themes, which serve as basis for extensive soloing by keyboards and guitar, supported amicably by the rhythm section, with occasional soli by bass and drums. There is not much innovation of course, but Fusion has been pretty stable in the last five decades, so the genre´s lovers prefer to stay on the safe side. Kratochvil seems to be completely time defiant and his music sounds as fresh and full of his idiosyncratic tricky melodies as he was half a Century ago and it is a true joy to see (and hear) a veteran musician to be so stable and productive over the years. Fusion and guitar freaks should love this album to bits and are encouraged to find a copy, since they don´t make music like this anymore these days, and it still makes you ass swing impatiently, which is the greatest thing any music can do, especially if played by musician in the eighth decade of his life. Hats off Maestro!

Updated: 22/01/2021Posted: 22/01/2021

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

JAZZ Q ~ TALISMAN STUDIO BUDIKOV 030 (Barcode: 8594159980303) ~ CZECH REPUBLIC ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 2015 Released: 2016 This is an album by Czech Fusion ensemble Jazz QFind albums by this artist founded in 1964 (yes you are reading correctly) and led by veteran keyboardist / composer Martin KratochvilFind albums by this artist and here including guitarist Zdenek FiserFind albums by this artist (another veteran ex ImpulsFind albums by this artist), bass guitarist Premysl FauknerFind albums by this artist (yet another veteran and member of early versions of Jazz Q) and drummer Filip JenicekFind albums by this artist (a representative of the young generation). The album presents twelve original compositions, all of which were composed by Kratochvil. This album follows the album “ZnovuFind albums with this title” (Eng. Again), released three years earlier, which was the first Jazz Q release in over two decades. The music is a typical Eastern European Jazz-Rock Fusion, based on the excellent compositions of the "forever young" Kratochvil, which offers splendidly weaved melodic themes, full of melancholy and lyricism, which serve as basis for extensive soloing by keyboards and guitar, supported amicably by the rhythm section, with occasional soli by bass and drums. There is not much innovation of course, but Fusion has been pretty stable in the last five decades, since the genre´s lovers prefer to stay on the safe side. This music combines highly melodic approach with Funk and Groove, which is quite unique. The fretless bass guitar parts work brilliantly within this idiom and provide a perfect background layer for the synthesizer and guitar parts. Kratochvil seems to be completely time defiant and his music sounds as fresh and full of his idiosyncratic tricky melodies as he was half a Century ago and it is a true joy to see (and hear) a veteran musician to be so stable and productive over the years. Fusion and guitar freaks should love this album to bits and are encouraged to find a copy, since they don´t make music like this anymore these days. It is hard to believe that this music was created and played by a musician in the eighth decade of his life. Hats off Maestro!

Updated: 03/02/2021Posted: 03/02/2021

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend