Record Reviews
37 Reviews Found. Use search to find more reviews or follow the links in the review text.
  | STANLEY CLARKE ~ JOURNEY TO LOVE
EPIC 468221 (Barcode: 5099746822125) ~ USA ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion
Recorded: 1975
3rd album by one of the most important Jazz / Fusion players / composers Stanley ClarkeFind albums by this artist. A brilliant instrumentalist on both the acoustic and electric basses, Clark first came to the attention of Fusion fans as a member of Chick CoreaFind albums by this artist’s Return To ForeverFind albums by this artist, where he played some of the most innovative bass parts of the genre. His ability to switch between the acoustic and electric bass and his incredible musicality and sense of rhythm made him the world’s leader on his instrument, to be surpassed later only by the mighty Jaco PastoriusFind albums by this artist (please note Clarke plays fretted bass guitar and Pastorius fretless bass guitar, which are quite different in many ways). This album is considered his best release ever. With a stellar cast including Chick Corea, John McLaughlinFind albums by this artist, Jeff BeckFind albums by this artist, Lenny WhiteFind albums by this artist, George DukeFind albums by this artist, Steve GaddFind albums by this artist and David SanciousFind albums by this artist, Clarke presents a series of brilliant compositions, each one in a different style and instrumentation. The absolute highlight of the album is the acoustic trio (with Corea and McLaughlin) dedicated to John Coltrane. Also the “Concerto For Jazz / Rock Orchestra”, performed with a brass section, is an amazing piece of classic Fusion. This is an absolute must for any Fusion / good music fan.
| | | CD 1 Recommend To A Friend |
  | STANLEY CLARKE ~ NIGHT SCHOOL
HEADS UP 7118 (Barcode: 053361711894) ~ USA ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion
Recorded: 2002 Released: 2007
It’s no secret that Stanley ClarkeFind albums by this artist is one of my favorite bass players ever. His amazing sensitivity, complete control of both the acoustic and electric versions of the instrument and his innovative approach to music are his trademarks for the last 40 years, rivaled only by Jaco PastoriusFind albums by this artist, whom he preceded as one of the forefathers of Fusion, when he was a member of Chick CoreaFind albums by this artist’s Return To ForeverFind albums by this artist. Unfortunately Clarke’s recorded legacy as a leader is not really reflective of his true abilities and he has been largely absent from the scene in the last two decades. Therefore having a new document of his amazing talents handy is a joyous occasion. The concert presented here documents Clarke leading a group of over 30 musicians (a list of which reads like a who’s who of jazz and Fusion) in various formations, from solo performances to quartets, quintets and a big band, all fronted by Clarke himself. The concert culminates with a band, including no less than eleven bass players (all taking a solo in turn), jamming over Clarke’s “School Days”. This “bass orgy” is one of the most incredible performances I’ve ever watched / listened to and the entire DVD is an absolute must to any serious Fusion fan anywhere on this planet. The DVD also includes bonus material and interviews. Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound, 120 minutes.
| | | DVD 1 Recommend To A Friend |
  | LABORATORIUM ~ ANTHOLOGY 1971-1988
METAL MIND 001 (Barcode: 5907785028173) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion
Recorded: 1971 - 1988 Released: 2006
This Box Set compiles all the albums released by the Polish Jazz-Rock Fusion ensemble LaboratoriumFind albums by this artist, which was without a shadow of a doubt one of the best and most important Fusion outfits in Eastern Europe before the fall of the Iron Curtain. Over the years the band managed to release ten albums, an unprecedented achievement at the time, of which seven were studio recordings, two were recorded live and the last one was a compilation of previously unreleased tracks. Two of the studio albums were released on the legendary Polish Jazz Series (Volumes 49 and 58). All the ten albums were remastered for this Box Set release and expanded with a plethora of bonus tracks, which include studio outtakes, radio and live performances and mini-sleeved. The booklet includes a detail history of the band and reflections about the albums by the band´s founder / leader keyboardist / composer Janusz GrzywaczFind albums by this artist.
As all ensembles Laboratorium changed lineups over the years, but enjoyed relatively steady personnel for extended periods of time, which undoubtedly added to their success. Most of their material, which is covered by their second to sixth albums (and the compilation album), was recorded by a steady lineup, which included in addition to the leader also saxophonist / vocalist Marek StryszowskiFind albums by this artist, guitarist Pawel ScieranskiFind albums by this artist, bassist Krzysztof ScieranskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Mieczyslaw GorkaFind albums by this artist. On the later albums the lineup includes Grzywacz and Stryszowski (who are the only musicians appearing on all the ten albums) with guitarist Ryszard StylaFind albums by this artist, bassist Krzysztof OlesinskiFind albums by this artist, drummer Andrzej MrowiecFind albums by this artist and percussionist Jan PilchFind albums by this artist. The debut recording, which initially occupied only one side of an LP, features the legendary Polish violinist Zbigniew SeifertFind albums by this artist and is stylistically quite close to Free Jazz in contrast to the Fusion direction adopted later.
The band performed only original music, which of course was a courageous decision, and with a singular exception, all the music enclosed herein was composed by Laboratorium members, mostly by the leader but also by others or co-composed by the band. Over the years Grzywacz emerged as a first rate tune-weaver with an excellent ability to write great melodies and riffs, which make the music accessible, even when it becomes quite complex. The music remains intelligent and ambitious throughout, with a remarkable consistency of high-level quality. But the most important factor of Laboratorium was its ability to constantly evolve and change, which is quite evident to anybody listening to the music in the proper historic order. Grzywacz slowly moved from acoustic to electric piano and then to synthesizers, but never indulged in mindless pyrotechnics which so many of his colleague keyboardists fell victim to during that period of time. Laboratorium managed to avoid that terrible, obnoxious 1980s cheesy synthesizer sound, which is a success in itself.
Although most of the music performed by Laboratorium is instrumental, they used the human voice time and again in an instrumental capacity. These vocalese experiments are all quite interesting and present another layer of the band´s musical range. It seems that Polish Jazz is particularly fond of such experimentation since its early days and it´s definitely interesting to hear how Laboratorium handled them.
There are endless moments of musical joy inside this Box Set; virtuosic performances by the musicians, especially those by Krzysztof Scieranski, who stands easily shoulder to shoulder with such bass heroes as Jaco PastoriusFind albums by this artist, beautiful melodies, funky grooves, superb guitar and keyboards solos, in short Fusion heaven for all connoisseurs of the genre. I can´t imagine any Fusion fan anywhere on this planet not being melted away by the beauty of this music.
The Box Set is an individually numbered limited edition and if you can put your hands on a copy, don´t you dare to hesitate even for a moment – it´s worth its weight in gold!
| | Updated: 26/01/2019Posted: | CD 10 Mini-Sleeve Box Set Oversampling Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend |
  | ALBERT MANGELSDORFF ~ THREE ORIGINALS
MPS 731451921322 (Barcode: 731451921322) ~ GERMANY ~ Free Jazz / Improvised Music
Recorded: 1975 - 1980 Released: 1993
This is a reissue / remaster of three iconic albums by the Godfather of modern German Jazz, trombonist / composer / bandleader Albert MangelsdorffFind albums by this artist. All three albums were recorded for and released by the legendary German MPSFind albums on this label label and all were produced by my Friend and Mentor Joachim BerendtFind albums by this artist. I had the pleasure to be in the studio where the first album was recorded and at the Berlin Jazz Days venue where the second album was recorded. All three albums were recorded in a trio setting: trombone / bass / drums.
The albums are:
“The Wide PointFind albums with this title”, recorded in 1975 with Swedish bassist Palle DanielssonFind albums by this artist and American drummer Elvin JonesFind albums by this artist.
“Trilogue - Live!Find albums with this title”, recorded in 1976 with American bassist Jaco PastoriusFind albums by this artist and drummer Alphonse MouzonFind albums by this artist.
“Albert Live In MontreuxFind albums with this title”, recorded in 1980 with French bassist Jean-Francois Jenny-ClarkFind albums by this artist and American drummer Ronald Shannon JacksonFind albums by this artist.
The music is absolutely stellar from start to finish and Mangelsdorff’s exceptional talent as musician, improviser and innovator is fully exposed here. Mangelsdorff proved that there are no limits to any instrument, only to human imagination. These intimate trios are a great display of Free Jazz / Improvised Music at their absolute best, not to mention the exposure of the trombone as a solo instrument.
Mangelsdorff’s contribution to the development of modern German / European Jazz was absolutely crucial at the early post WWII years, with an independent view of the Jazz Artform, quite separate from the American tradition. The privilege of meeting Albert Mangelsdorff and his brother Emil MangelsdorffFind albums by this artist and spending time with them is a worm memory, which I cherish to this day.
Overall, this is a brilliant package of three great albums on 2 CD, which holds some great performances by superb musicians, all of which, except Danielsson, are no longer with us. This music is an absolute must an any comprehensive collection of modern European Jazz and Improvised Music.
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: 29/12/2023Posted: 07/04/2023 | CD 2 Remastered Recommend To A Friend |
  | JOHN MCLAUGHLIN ~ INDUSTRIAL ZEN
VERVE 983932 (Barcode: 602498393284) ~ UK ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion
Recorded: 2006 Released: 2006
Here it is at last – the finest album recorded in the 21st century! As lofty and far-fetched as this might sound, I’m ready to defend this statement for as long as it takes. This masterpiece by the legendary guitarist is a complex, multi-layered work of art. On one hand it is contemporary in every sense, especially as far as the overall sound is concerned, on the other hand however it is also an amalgam of John McLaughlinFind albums by this artist’s entire life as a musician, including every style, genre, direction and sound he played over the years, all of these synthesized into an integral new entity. For people familiar with McLaughlin’s illustrious career it should be quite easy to recognize the familiar elements: the spontaneity of the Miles DavisFind albums by this artist sessions, the fire of Mahavishnu OrchestraFind albums by this artist, the grace of his solo work on acoustic and electric guitar and of course his sensitivity and openness to other cultures as demonstrated in ShaktiFind albums by this artist and Remember ShaktiFind albums by this artist. Every note here is original and yet every note also has traces and links to something accomplished in the past. As far as the sound and instrumentation are concerned, these are completely new to McLaughlin. As the title of the album suggests, he uses plenty of electronics here – synth-guitar, keyboards and even drums are used to produce a plethora of both foreground and background electronic sounds, somewhat similar to the so-called “Industrial” sound used in Rock, but of course infinitely more complex and interesting. In addition, the album is very rhythmic and percussive, with two drummers and percussion players present simultaneously on most tracks. To achieve the maximal effect McLaughlin uses different players on various tracks and the list is most impressive: Mark MondesirFind albums by this artist, Vinnie ColaiutaFind albums by this artist, Dennis ChambersFind albums by this artist, Gary HusbandFind albums by this artist – drums; Otmaro RuizFind albums by this artist, Gary HusbandFind albums by this artist – keyboards; Bill EvansFind albums by this artist, Ada RovattiFind albums by this artist – sax; Matthew GarrisonFind albums by this artist, Hadrien FeraudFind albums by this artist – bass; Zakir HussainFind albums by this artist – tabla; Shankar MahadevanFind albums by this artist – vocals. This superb group of musicians supports their Master with love and devotion, which is evident, every step of the way. Another very interesting aspect of this album is that it seems McLaughlin is paying homage to the greatest Fusion ensemble in history – Weather ReportFind albums by this artist. Two of the tracks are explicitly named after WR members: “For Jaco” (Jaco PastoriusFind albums by this artist) and “Wayne’s Way” (Wayne ShorterFind albums by this artist) but also the entire sound and feel of the album reflects very closely the feel of WR albums. I had a distinct feeling as if listening to a new album by an expanded version of WR including guitar. Perhaps something that was meant to happen but never did (i.e. WR playing with McLaughlin) finally materializes here? Fusion Karma? Whatever the Gods intended is besides the point here; one thing is sure: to create such divine music McLaughlin surely had to have a measure of godly intervention / inspiration. Bless you John for giving us such a wonderful musical gift. You do make life endurable again with your beacon clearly showing the direction to ships sailing the oceans of musical ennui.
| | | CD 1 Essential Recommend To A Friend |
  | JONI MITCHELL ~ ARCHIVES – VOLUME 4 (THE ASYLUM YEARS 1976-1980)
RHINO 603497823680 (Barcode: 603497823680) ~ CANADA ~ Classic Rock
Recorded: 1975 - 1979 Released: 2024
This is the 4th archival Box Set presenting recordings by the iconic Canadian singer / songwriter Joni MitchellFind albums by this artist. It includes six CDs worth of material spanning the years 1975 to 1979. The recordings include home and studio demos, live performances, alternate album tracks and other sources. All of the songs (except a few cases) are Mitchell originals and all were never previously released.
CD1 presents eighteen tracks form various live concerts in 1975 and the 1976 US tour and one home recording.
CD2 presents seventeen more tracks from the 1976 US tour.
CD3 presents nine demos for the “HejiraFind albums with this title” album, three live concert tracks and two tracks from the “Hejira” sessions.
CD4 presents two tracks from the “Don Juan`s Reckless DaughterFind albums with this title” album sessions, three tracks from the “MingusFind albums with this title” album sessions, eight live concert tracks from 1978 and four alternate tracks from “Mingus” sessions.
CD5 presents one track from “Mingus” sessions, two live concert tracks from 1979, two tracks from the 1979 tour rehearsals and nine live concert tracks from the 1979 US tour.
CD6 presents sixteen additional live concert tracks from the 1979 US tour.
This wonderful time capsule enables listeners to take a time machine some forty-five years back in time and imagine they are sitting in a studio console room just a few meters away from Mitchell, who is singing her heart out or attending her concerts. At those peak moments of her career she was absolutely marvelous as a performer and a completely unique songwriter, who would change the face of music in the forthcoming decades. Accompanied by the top Jazz players of the period, including Herbie HancockFind albums by this artist, Wayne ShorterFind albums by this artist, Charles MingusFind albums by this artist, Jaco PastoriusFind albums by this artist and others, she sounds simply marvelous.
Overall, this is a brilliant Box Set of enormous historical importance and an absolute must to all true Mitchell fans. The excellent sound quality of these recordings allows taking a fully enjoyable trip back in time, visiting the source of Mitchell’s illustrious career, with a hope that the next volumes of the archival series will bring many more hours of previously unheard material. This is beyond recommendation!
| | Updated: 16/11/2024Posted: 16/11/2024 | CD 6 Mini-Sleeve Box Set Remastered Recommend To A Friend |
  | AIRTO MOREIRA ~ I`M FINE, HOW ARE YOU?
WARNER BROS. 081227957056 (Barcode: 081227957056) ~ BRAZIL ~ Jazz-World Fusion
Recorded: 1977 Released: 2014
This is a reissue / remaster of an album by Brazilian drummer / percussionist / composer / bandleader Airto MoreiraFind albums by this artist, recorded with a large group of Brazilian and American musicians, which includes keyboardist Hugo FattorusoFind albums by this artist, guitarist Charles JohnsonFind albums by this artist, trombonist Raoul de SouzaFind albums by this artist, bassist Byron MillerFind albums by this artist, and famous guests, who play on selected tracks, like bassist Jaco PastoriusFind albums by this artist, saxophonist Tom ScottFind albums by this artist, vocalist Ruben RadaFind albums by this artist or Moreira’s wife Flora PurimFind albums by this artist (who sings on one track). The album presents eight tracks, four composed or co-composed by Moreira, one composed by Purim, and three co-composed by Rada and Fattoruso.
The music is the usual wonderful amalgam of Brazilian rhythms and melodies, with a Jazzy tinge, splendidly performed by the entire crew. This album is distinctly on the lighter side of the Jazz spectrum, but nonetheless offers great musicianship and the familiar Brazilian flavor, which is always great fun to listen to. The last track, which features Pastorius, is particularly interesting to his many fans, as his playing here is absolutely stunning.
Overall, fans of Jazz-World Fusion with Brazilian flavoring should love this album, as all his other recordings, and of course he is an absolute genius as far as mixing the Brazilian elements with Jazz is concerned.
| | Updated: 06/07/2024Posted: 05/07/2024 | CD 1 Remastered Recommend To A Friend |
  | JACO PASTORIUS ~ JACO PASTORIUS
EPIC 64977 ~ USA ~ Jazz
Recorded: 1976
1st album and one of the most revolutionary and influential Jazz debuts of all time. It takes about 10 seconds into the first track to understand that the role of the bass as an instrument and perhaps the entire Jazz idiom will not stay the same after this music hits the ears of the listeners. But it is not only the virtuosity of Jaco PastoriusFind albums by this artist as a player and his Promethean approach to playing the instrument, but also his skills as a composer and arranger, all these at the age of 25, that make this album and the man so unique. Pastorius presents here a widely diverse set of compositions, ranging in style from Soul / Rock to Classical, all perfectly crafted and surprisingly mature. A long list of superb Jazz players (Wayne ShorterFind albums by this artist, Michael BreckerFind albums by this artist, Don AliasFind albums by this artist and Hubert LawsFind albums by this artist to mention but a few) and classical string players were involved in making of this album, but the most sympathetic and supportive role was played by pianist Herbie Hancock, who is the main soloist – often more dominant than Pastorius himself. This album shook the entire Jazz (and Rock) world and it is no wonder that as a result Pastorius was asked to join the best band on the scene at that time – Weather ReportFind albums by this artist – where he stayed for about six years as an equal partner and a third lead voice alongside Joe ZawinulFind albums by this artist and Wayne ShorterFind albums by this artist. What a tragedy it was to hear about Jaco’s death in 1987 just over a mere decade after this masterpiece was recorded, mentally ill and addicted to drugs. This album belongs to the Pantheon of Jazz recordings and is an absolute must!
| | | CD 1 Remastered Bonus Tracks Essential Recommend To A Friend |
  | JACO PASTORIUS ~ WORD OF MOUTH
ATLANTIC 248246 (Barcode: 093624824626) ~ USA ~ Jazz
Recorded: 1980 Released: 2000
2nd album. Jaco PastoriusFind albums by this artist was one of the most tragic stars on the jazz firmament – a musical genius, whose life was wasted by a combination of mental illness and drug abuse. I am talking about a man who single-handedly re-defined the statue and the technique of the bass in jazz, a brilliant performer and immensely gifted composer and arranger. Tragically Pastorius recorded only three albums as a leader in the decade and a half he was active (all other albums are live recordings, which were never meant to be released). Following his eponymous self titled debut from 1976, he devised this album as a showcase of modern Big Band with the bass as a lead instrument. The recording involved over 70 musicians (a list of which reads like the Encyclopedia Britannica of Jazz) and was done in several studios around the world. The result is an absolutely brilliant album, which sounds as fresh today as it was when I heard it for the first time 25 years ago. Most of the material in penned by Pastorius, with the exceptions being a BeatlesFind albums by this artist tune (Blackbird – one of their best) and a classical theme by Bach. There is plenty of superb solos by the participating musicians, including Pastorius himself, but the aim of the recording is not to highlight individual players but to present the Big Band as an extended instrument in the hands of the composer / arranger (very much as other famous jazz orchestras have been earlier – Duke EllingtonFind albums by this artist for example). Absolutely essential!
| | | CD 1 Digipak Remastered Essential Recommend To A Friend |
  | JACO PASTORIUS BIG BAND ~ WORD OF MOUTH REVISITED
HEADS UP 3078 ~ USA ~ Jazz
Recorded: 2003
1st album by the Jaco PastoriusFind albums by this artist tribute Big Band, conducted and led by Peter GravesFind albums by this artist. Graves was the leader of the Big Band, in which Pastorius played for five years (1970-1975) and where he perfected his chops, before leaving to record his eponymous debut album and then joining Weather ReportFind albums by this artist, where he stayed for another five years (1976-1981). Pastorius revolutionized the way bass guitar would be played from his days onward and earned a momentous respect for the instrument, placing it alongside the leading instruments in any musical setting. He died in tragic circumstances in 1987. Graves collected some of the original Big Band members, added many superb contemporary players and invited the best bass players on the scene (Marcus MillerFind albums by this artist, Jimmy HaslipFind albums by this artist, Gerald VeasleyFind albums by this artist, Victor BaileyFind albums by this artist, and others) to create this tribute recording. The music includes tunes from the early Big Band days, Jaco’s solo albums and Weather Report albums. The band swings like hell, the bassists fly and soar and the music is exceptional all the way through. Between the music tracks there are inserts of Jaco’s spoken commentary during the recording sessions of his albums, which enhance the atmosphere and make this recording even more special. For any Pastorius or / and bass guitar fan this is a wet dream come true – an absolute must! This enhanced CD includes bonus material and a link to video clips documenting the recording session.
| | | CD 1 Digipak Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend |
  | MARCIN PENDOWSKI ~ GUMOLIT
JUDASZ 2020/01 ~ POLAND ~ Brass Rock
Recorded: 2017 - 2020 Released: 2020
This is the second album by Polish Jazz bassist / composer Marcin PendowskiFind albums by this artist (a.k.a. PendofskyFind albums by this artist), one of Poland’s best kept secrets. Recorded over four years with no less than twenty musicians / friends / guests, the album presents eleven tracks, all original compositions, two of which are bonus tracks.
Pendowski is a sensational bass player, who is mostly known for his session work and jamming in Warsaw Jazz clubs. His debut album “PendofskyFind albums with this title” from 2014 arrived and disappeared from the scene almost completely unnoticed, despite the fact that it remains a Funk / Groove classic to this very day. If Pendowski would have appeared on the NYC scene, he could probably reach fame and glory (See Jaco PastoriusFind albums by this artist), as his technically brilliant and imaginative bass playing and Big Balls feeling for Fusion / Groove / Soul / Funk is simply unparalleled and absolutely world class.
This album offers a somewhat different approach, as Pendowski added the Brass Rock magic to his instrumentation, expanding the sound beyond imagination. Sounding like the best days of Blood, Sweat & TearsFind albums by this artist, ChicagoFind albums by this artist and Tower Of PowerFind albums by this artist combined, but based all around the virtuosic bass parts, this music is absolutely irresistible.
Pendowski also has a great talent to write incredibly catchy riffs, like only very few other can, and if one is able to listen to this album and remain sitting, one is probably deaf or brain-dead. This music Rocks, from the first note to the last!
Hopefully this album will be finally discovered, although it might again prove to be simply too good for its own good and remain undiscovered again, which would be a crying shame.
Thank you Marcin for this music, you are a genius and I hope we won’t have to wait for another six years for the next album. Next time I am in Warsaw; the drinks are on me of course. Warsaw / Poland / the World / wake up, Pendofsky is in town!
| | Updated: 21/05/2021Posted: 21/05/2021 | CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend |
  | FLORA PURIM ~ THE COMPLETE WARNER RECORDINGS
WOUNDED BIRD 2985 (Barcode: 664140298521) ~ BRAZIL ~ Jazz-World Fusion
Recorded: 1977 - 1979 Released: 2023
This is a 2CD reissue of three studio albums by the legendary Brazilian Jazz vocalist / songwriter Flora PurimFind albums by this artist, released on Warner Bros.Find albums on this label Records in 1977, 1978 and 1979 respectively.
These albums were recorded while Purim was at the peak of her popularity in the US, and she flirts with some Smooth Jazz and Latin Jazz material, in addition to her usual Brazilian Jazz, but they are nevertheless still absolutely gorgeous. Some of the best US Jazz musicians at the time accompany her on these albums, including of course her husband drummer / percussionist Airto MoreiraFind albums by this artist, trumpeter Randy BreckerFind albums by this artist, bassist Jaco PastoriusFind albums by this artist, keyboardists George DukeFind albums by this artist and Herbie HancockFind albums by this artist and numerous others.
CD1 includes the album “Everyday, EverynightFind albums with this title”, from 1978. It presents eleven tracks. This edition adds two bonus tracks, which are outtakes from the album’s recording session.
CD2 includes the album “Nothing Will Be As It Was…TomorrowFind albums with this title”, from 1977, which presents eight tracks, and the album “Carry OnFind albums with this title”, from 1979, which presents ten tracks.
To this very day Purim is one of the most important Jazz vocalist of all time, a pioneer of the Brazilian Jazz wave that swept the world in the 1970s and a very gifted songwriter as well. She is one of my favorite vocalists and I am incredibly happy to have had the opportunity to meet her several times.
Overall, these are excellent vocal Jazz / Jazz-World Fusion albums, which are absolutely an essential addition to every Vocal Jazz collection and which lost absolutely nothing of their brilliance over time. The reissue is a most welcomed opportunity to grab a copy of the them. Purim’s many followers need no encouragement of course and many young Jazz vocalists can learn a lot from these recordings. Sublime stuff!
| | Updated: 21/10/2023Posted: 21/10/2023 | CD 2 Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend |
  | WOJCIECH STANISZ QUARTET ~ SZUFLANDIA
VOICE MUSIC 1006 (Barcode: 5906489287312) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion
Recorded: 2021 - 2023 Released: 2023
This is the debut album by Polish Jazz bassist / composer Wojciech StaniszFind albums by this artist, recorded in a quartet setting with guitarist Piotr WieczorekFind albums by this artist, keyboardist Marcin JagielloFind albums by this artist and drummer Jan SzkudlarekFind albums by this artist. Several guest musicians appear on selected tracks. The album presents ten tracks, all original compositions by Stanisz.
The music is a mixture of Jazz-Rock Fusion, Funk and Grove, based on solid melodic tunes, with a lot of bass guitar up front, which obviously owes a lot to the genius of Jaco PastoriusFind albums by this artist, albeit almost five decades later that can be hardly considered as innovative. But the musicianship of all the quartet members is certainly commendable and the album is a lot of fun to listen to.
Stanisz plays several nice solos, which certainly reflect his skill and command of his instrument, and even virtuosity. His compositions are all well-constructed and coherent, which makes the album accessible to a wide range of listeners on the lighter side of the Jazz spectrum.
Overall, this is a nice debut effort, which presents mostly the skills of the leader as performer and composer, and offers a pleasant listening experience, but lacks creative depth, which usually comes with years of experience and learning. This album certainly is a great starting point and hopefully more ambitious recordings will follow in the future.
| | Updated: 16/04/2024Posted: 08/04/2024 | CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend |
  | MIKE STERN ~ UPSIDE DOWNSIDE
WOUNDED BIRD 1656 (Barcode: 664140165625) ~ USA ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion
Recorded: 1986 Released: 2007
American guitarist / composer Mike SternFind albums by this artist has been one of the most prominent figures in the Jazz and Fusion fields for the last three decades. His virtuoso performances and excellent writing are a source of musical joy and his consistently superb standards serve as a model, followed by generations of young guitarist around the world. Stern first came to the attention of the music lovers in the mid 1970s as the lead guitarist for the then current lineup of Blood, Sweat & TearsFind albums by this artist. Later on he joined drummer Billy CobhamFind albums by this artist and played on several of his exceptional Fusion albums, finally to be featured in the Miles DavisFind albums by this artist comeback ensemble in 1981. After two years with Miles, Stern let to join Jaco PastoriusFind albums by this artist and again participate in some revolutionary Fusion recordings, only to rejoin Miles in 1995 for another year. That year marked Stern´s first release as a leader, with his album "NeeshFind albums with this title" scoring enthusiastic reviews, but gaining little public attention as it was released on a small obscure label. In 1986 Stern signed with AtlanticFind albums on this label, subsequently releasing 10 excellent albums on the label until he left in 2001. This album is the Mike Stern´s 1st release on Atlantic, which remains to this day as one of the greatest classic Fusion albums of all times. With the help of keyboardist Mitch FormanFind albums by this artist, saxophonist Bob BergFind albums by this artist, bassist Mark EganFind albums by this artist, drummer Dave WecklFind albums by this artist and several guest musicians (including Jaco Pastorius), Stern lies down a model for modern Fusion, with great melodies, superb guitar lead lines and rhythmic versatility. Constantly moving between atmospheric ballads and soaring neck-breaking races, there is not one dull moment on this album and it lost absolutely nothing of its initial impact. This is an absolute must for every Fusion enthusiast as well as guitar freak on earth. A must!
| | | CD 1 Recommend To A Friend |
  | ROBERT SZEWCZUGA ~ MOONRISE
METAL MIND 0788 (Barcode: 5907785039995) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Funk Fusion
Recorded: 2017 Released: 2017
This is the debut album as a leader by young Polish bassist Robert SzewczugaFind albums by this artist, recorded in a trio setting with keyboardist Michal RoratFind albums by this artist and drummer Pawel DobrowolskiFind albums by this artist. Several guest musicians are featured on selected tracks. The album presents ten original compositions, presumably all by Szewczuga, although that is not mentioned on the album´s artwork.
The music is all within the Fusion / Funk / Groove framework, based on solid melodies, which serve as vehicles for the lengthy improvisations, mostly by the leader. The relaxed atmosphere and beautiful sound quality add to the overall effect, creating an album that is a real pleasure to listen to from start to finish.
Szewczuga makes sure that his electric bass playing remains the focal point of this recording, playing with virtuosity and vigor that bring fond memories of Jaco PastoriusFind albums by this artist´ work. Both Rorat and Dobrowolski stand shoulder to shoulder with the leader and support him exactly as appropriate within this environment, emphasizing the Funk and Groove elements. The track featuring Apostolis AnthimosFind albums by this artist on guitar is a classic Fusion tune and a great example of what can still be achieved in that idiom today. The track featuring the vocalist GhostmanFind albums by this artist is a wonderful reminder of his quality and a longing for more of his recorded work.
Overall this is an excellent album, which is fun to listen to and proudly represents the role of electric bass in contemporary music, which sadly is often overlooked. Szewczuga´s exquisite sensitivity, which is well demonstrated by his work as a sideman, is even more prominent herein.
For electric bassists and fans of the instrument this is an absolute must, an orgy of talent and virtuosity. Wholeheartedly recommended!
| | Updated: 30/03/2018Posted: 30/03/2018 | CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend |
  | TRIO OF DOOM ~ TRIO OF DOOM
COLUMBIA 96450 (Barcode: 827969645024) ~ USA ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion
Recorded: 1979 Released: 2007
A power Fusion trio consisting of musicians of such caliber as John McLaughlinFind albums by this artist (guitar), Jaco PastoriusFind albums by this artist (bass) and Tony WilliamsFind albums by this artist (drums) usually only happens in the wildest and wettest of dreams by serious Fusion-heads, but if fact this one did happen in reality and even recorded both live and in the studio. Trio Of DoomFind albums by this artist was a one-time collaboration assembled for the occasion of the historic Havana Jam Festival in Cuba, where for the first time US performers were allowed to play before the Cuban audience. The festival took place for 3 days in early March of 1979 and presented a wide variety of US artists (pop, rock & jazz) and was recorded by ColumbiaFind albums on this label. Selections were later released on 2 albums, including 3 of the tracks on this album. Although McLaughlin never played before with Pastorius, both of them did play with Williams: McLaughlin as a member of his group LifetimeFind albums by this artist and Pastorius in Weather ReportFind albums by this artist, when Williams played on Mr. GoneFind albums with this title. The trio’s rehearsals were very successful, but the actual concert at Havana’s Carl Marx (what else?) hall turned out to be unsatisfactory due to a hectic and out-of-focus performance by Pastorius. The legend has it that Williams almost kicked the hell out of Pastorius after the gig (being a men of enormous physical strength this was no laughing matter), but seeing how spaced-out Pastorius was punched a hole in a wall instead. When Columbia informed McLaughlin that they want to use the Havana material for their albums, McLaughlin opposed and eventually a recording session was set up a week later to repeat the live performance in the studio. The resulting studio material was then used to overdub parts of the live recording, which appeared on the Havana Jam albums. This album brings us (28 years later) the entire live and studio material recorded by the Trio Of Doom in its original form, most of it previously unreleased in any form. The music is of course electrifying and almost super-human. All three musicians at the peek of their performing powers, with years of experience and enormous talents just can’t go wrong. Williams is in fact the moving power behind the trio, with his phenomenal technique and sublime interplay with his partners. This music kicks serous ass and whatever minor imperfections overshadowed the outcome at the time, those are long time gone and thankfully forgiven / forgotten. We can all enjoy this glorious Fusion gem, which is finally out of the vaults. Viva Fusion!
| | | CD 1 Remastered Recommend To A Friend |
  | WEATHER REPORT ~ FORECAST: TOMORROW
COLUMBIA 85570 (Barcode: 828768557020) ~ USA ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion
Recorded: 1969 - 1985 Released: 2006
This magnificent Box Set summarizes the 15 years (and 15 studio albums) of activity by the seminal Jazz / Fusion band Weather ReportFind albums by this artist, which shaped the future of the genre probably more than any other band in history. The set includes 3 CDs and a DVD. The CDs give a solid overview of the band’s output over the years (1971-1985), starting with a few pre-WR cuts (to show the direction Wayne ShorterFind albums by this artist and Joe ZawinulFind albums by this artist were taking) and even trying to predict the future by including a DJ remix of one of the tunes. To spice things a bit a few previously unreleased tracks are included. The true gem of the set is the 2 hours long DVD, filmed during WR Heavy WeatherFind albums with this title tour (with Jaco PastoriusFind albums by this artist and Peter ErskineFind albums by this artist), which is outstanding in every respect (sound and vision) and alone is worth the price of the entire Box Set. If you don’t own all the WR albums already (or any WR albums – shame on you) this is a wonderful opportunity to enter the magic word of WR and get hooked. If you do own the albums, you’ll still want the set for the bonus tracks and the DVD – in short it’s a winner any way you look at it!
| | Updated: 26/01/2019Posted: | 3CD+DVD 4 Box Set Essential Recommend To A Friend |
  | WEATHER REPORT ~ LIVE AT MONTREUX 1976
EAGLE VISION 629 (Barcode: 5034504962972) ~ USA ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion
Recorded: 1976 Released: 2007
Every piece of music by the legendary Fusion pioneers Weather ReportFind albums by this artist is worth it’s weight in gold, and considering this one is a well filmed and well recorded brilliant performance at the Swiss Montreux Jazz Festival, this is truly a priceless addition to the band’s legacy. WR appeared twice at Montreux, this being the first of the two. The lineup is probably the strongest one of the band’s mid-life period, and includes Joe ZawinulFind albums by this artist, Wayne ShorterFind albums by this artist, Jaco PastoriusFind albums by this artist, Alex AcunaFind albums by this artist and Manolo BadrenaFind albums by this artist – the same band that was to record Heavy WeatherFind albums with this title a few months later. Everything that made WR great is evident here – the individual soloing, the incredible interplay and telepathic connection between the players, the great tunes and the total devotion to their music. It must have been pretty hot on the July night, as everybody sweats intensely, and the music is nothing but brilliant. I was lucky to see WR quite a few times, and this DVD is a great evidence of how incredible this band was live, even at times when their studio efforts suffered. This is an absolute must to all WR fans and all Fusion-heads out there. Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound and DTS, 84 minutes.
| | Updated: 17/06/2016Posted: | DVD 1 Recommend To A Friend |
  | WEATHER REPORT ~ LIVE IN BERLIN 1975
ART OF GROOVE 80020 (Barcode: 885513800206) ~ USA ~ Jazz-Rock-World Fusion
Recorded: 1975 Released: 2010
This is a live recording by the legendary Fusion ensemble Weather ReportFind albums by this artist, captured during the Berliner Jazztage Festival, at the transition period between their original incarnation and their entry into the more Funk and Groove oriented period, but just before bassist Jaco PastoriusFind albums by this artist joined the band, which would lock their classic mid-period which lasted between 1976 and 1982. The lineup captured here consists of keyboardist Joe ZawinulFind albums by this artist, saxophonist Wayne ShorterFind albums by this artist, bassist Alphonso JohnsonFind albums by this artist, drummer Chester ThompsonFind albums by this artist and percussionist Alex AcunaFind albums by this artist. That particular lineup in fact never appeared on any album recorded by the band. Therefore this show captured by the German ZDF, presented here on CD and DVD, is of particular interest to Weather Report fans.
The music is right in between the two periods of the band: it features the groovy bass lines that characterize the second period but it also ventures into extensive and pretty Free improvised passages, which are less structured than the music of Weather Report that was about to follow and characterize the first period. As a result this live show is pretty unique and adventurous, as opposed to later live recordings by the band. Both Zawinul and Shorter play some pretty wild solo parts, including Zawinul´s acoustic piano solo, which is almost never present on other live recordings.
In short this is not to be missed by the Weather Report fans, since in addition to the very interesting content the music is relatively well recorded and the balance between the instruments, which most live Weather Report recordings suffer from, if well captured this time. The only disadvantage is the fact that the music last only for just over forty minutes. Definitely some of the best live Weather Report moments are waiting herein to be heard.
| | Updated: 17/06/2016Posted: 17/06/2016 | CD+DVD 2 Digipak Recommend To A Friend |
  | WEATHER REPORT ~ LIVE IN COLOGNE 1983
ART OF GROOVE 80052 (Barcode: 885513800527) ~ USA ~ Jazz-Rock-World Fusion
Recorded: 1983 Released: 2011
This is a live recording by the legendary Fusion ensemble Weather ReportFind albums by this artist, captured by the German WDR at the beginning of final period of their activity and presents the last steady lineup of the group: keyboardist Joe ZawinulFind albums by this artist, saxophonist Wayne ShorterFind albums by this artist, bassist Victor BaileyFind albums by this artist, drummer Omar HakimFind albums by this artist and percussionist Jose RossyFind albums by this artist. The music is spread across two CDs and is excellently recorded, being probably one of the best live Weather Report recordings as far sound quality is concerned.
This revitalized lineup, formed following the departure of Jaco PastoriusFind albums by this artist, created an influx of new creative energies into the group that was slowly going out of steam. This music was recorded before the album "ProcessionFind albums with this title" was recorded in the studio by this lineup, and includes several early version of the album´s tunes, but also rearranged versions of Weather Report favorites. The band is in excellent shape and seems to be very excited and relaxed, which if felt in the music. In addition the album also features a wonderful Zawinul / Shorter duet as well as a short Rossy / Hakim duet, which of course can only be heard on live recordings such as this one.
There is very little live Weather Report material available from this period and therefore this album is a true gem for the many fans of the group, filling many gaps. It is worth to remember that Weather Report never played bad music, contrary to what some people would like you to believe, which this album proves splendidly. Personally I remember hearing them at that time and those memories, compared to memories from gig in earlier periods always stood up to the challenge.
Overall this is a great tribute to the memory of one of the most important Fusion bands of all times, which deserves an honorable place in any decent record collection, especially of course in collections owned by the band´s numerous fans. In short this is a must have if you love or ever loved this band!
| | Updated: 18/06/2016Posted: 18/06/2016 | CD 2 Digipak Recommend To A Friend |
  | WEATHER REPORT ~ LIVE IN OFFENBACH 1978
ART OF GROOVE 80090 (Barcode: 885513800909) ~ USA ~ Jazz-Rock-World Fusion
Recorded: 1978 Released: 2011
This is a live recording by the legendary Fusion ensemble Weather ReportFind albums by this artist, captured when it enjoyed the peak of its popularity. The band in its kernel lineup with keyboardist Joe ZawinulFind albums by this artist, saxophonist Wayne ShorterFind albums by this artist, bassist Jaco PastoriusFind albums by this artist and drummer Peter ErskineFind albums by this artist performs over two hours of their classic material. The show, captured by the German WDR, is presented here on two CDs and a DVD, which includes the same material as the CDs.
As I have already written extensively in my review of the Weather Report´s album "The Legendary Tapes: 1978-1981Find albums with this title", additional releases of the band´s live material are often quite problematic for a variety of reasons: the sound quality, performance quality and other considerations. The numerous fans of the band are therefore faced with the dilemma of craving for more previously unreleased material on one hand and getting recordings which are of problematic quality and basically offer nothing new beyond what was already revealed many times in the past on the other hand.
To put things in perspective, this is still Weather Report – one of the greatest Fusion bands ever, so the music is splendid all the way through, as expected. The only shortcoming of this release is the comparison with very similar live recordings, which present almost identical musical content in somewhat better quality, both sonically and artistically.
For die-hard Weather Report fans this is of course an absolute must have, but others who already own many live albums by the band, might think twice about it. Personally I enjoyed both the audio and the video presentations, but I am definitely far from being objective about something, that dominated the soundtrack of my life for many years.
| | Updated: 17/06/2016Posted: 17/06/2016 | 2CD+DVD 3 Digipak Recommend To A Friend |
  | WEATHER REPORT ~ THE COLUMBIA ALBUMS 1976-1982
SONY 886979394025 (Barcode: 886979394025) ~ USA ~ Jazz-Rock-World Fusion
Recorded: 1976 - 1982 Released: 2011
When bassist / composer Jaco PastoriusFind albums by this artist joined the ranks of Weather ReportFind albums by this artist in 1976, a new phase of stability and prosperity opened for the band, which would last for almost the entire next seven years period and produce an incredible body of work, considered today as part of the classic Jazz, Fusion and Funk heritage. The six albums recorded during that period and included in this Box Set, including the live double LP, are all perfect examples of the band´s incredible writing and performing talents and their everlasting search for new sounds, musical explorations and means of expression.
Pastorius brought into the band not only his youthful energy, but also his unparalleled virtuosity, extreme rhythmic sensitivity and of course his compositions, which were every bit as good as those of the group founders keyboardist / composer Joe ZawinulFind albums by this artist and saxophonist / composer Wayne ShorterFind albums by this artist. His musical personality was in fact a perfect choice for the direction the band was taking already by the end of the previous phase, which meant more pre-composed melodic themes and more individual soloing, although the overall concept of group improvisation on top of a solid and resourceful rhythm section continued to apply.
With Shorter gradually taking a step back from the front line, allowing Zawinul to dominate the group´s repertoire with his compositions and musical direction, it was Pastorius who kept Weather Report as an organic group, rather than a Zawinul backup group, which they would eventually turn into following the departure of Pastorius at the end of this phase. In spite of these internal tensions and changes, in retrospect this phase in the group´s lifetime proved to be the most productive and also commercially successful, both as a recording and a touring act.
The bonus tracks used here come mostly from the compilation album "Live And UnreleasedFind albums with this title" and two are previously unreleased. This Box Set is a companion release to the "The Columbia Albums 1971-1975Find albums with this title" Box Set, which covers the first phase of the band´s activity. Hopefully the four remaining Weather Report albums, recorded 1983-1986, will also get a similar reissue treatment, to complete this seminal band´s complete discography.
This is an essential release and should be a part of any decent music collection, especially in view of its accessibility, which should appeal to quite a wide spectrum of listeners. They don´t make music like this any more…
| | Updated: 26/01/2019Posted: | CD 6 Mini-Sleeve Box Set Remastered Bonus Tracks Essential Recommend To A Friend |
  | WEATHER REPORT ~ THE LEGENDARY TAPES: 1978-1981
COLUMBIA 888751412729 (Barcode: 888751412729) ~ USA ~ Jazz-Rock-World Fusion
Recorded: 1978 - 1981 Released: 2015
This is a collection of archival recordings by the seminal Weather ReportFind albums by this artist, one of the most important and groundbreaking ensembles which shaped the state of music as we know it and at the same time also achieved immense popularity both as recording and live acts, which of course helped to spread the gospel. The music on the four CDs which are included herein was recorded live by two lineups of the ensemble: the quartet with keyboardist Joe ZawinulFind albums by this artist, saxophonist Wayne ShorterFind albums by this artist, bassist Jaco PastoriusFind albums by this artist and drummer Peter ErskineFind albums by this artist (1978), and the quintet which adds percussionist Robert Thomas, Jr.Find albums by this artist (1980-1981). All the recordings are "bootleg" quality and in fact originate from recordings captured on portable cassette recorders (for those people who don´t know what this is, please Wiki it), which means that in spite of an effort to improve the sound quality it remains mostly Lo-Fi, sometimes almost painfully so.
Peter Erskine, who is the producer of this collection, in his extensive liner notes explains the circumstances of these recordings and adds his personal comments on a track by track basis. He wisely points out the differences about the two facets of Weather Report: the studio recordings which created a long series of incredible albums using advanced studio technology and a long process of mixing, editing and overdubbing following the recording, and the live performances, like the ones captured here, which were, as he puts it: "completely, totally, unapologetically and insanely live".
Since I already wrote extensively about Weather Report and their albums, I´ll say only what I find relevant about this specific release. When it was first announced by ColumbiaFind albums on this label I already had some mixed feelings about it. A four CDs worth of previously unreleased material by one of the most popular Jazz / Fusion bands of all times sounds simply too good to be true. When the actual set arrived on my desk, sadly my suspicions turned out to be painfully accurate. Although there are plenty of great moments on these four CDs, the overall result is simply disappointing for many reasons.
Firstly there is the sound quality and the recording quality (i.e. balance, distortion and other aspects of live recordings) which turn out to be a major hindrance when listening to this material. I often say that where there is sublime music, the sound quality is only secondary; sadly this does not seem to help in case of this collection.
Secondly there is nothing here that we haven´t already heard. Of course in case of Jazz every live performance is unique, but often the unique performance can be very similar to other unique performances and as such are of lesser importance. Obviously some performances are less inspired that others, and when looking at an artist´s legacy, I prefer to remember and cherish the most inspired ones. And yes I agree that Pastorius was a Genius, but if I hear one more Pastorius solo I´ll go ballistic.
Thirdly I am always worried about the motivation behind releasing archival material. Was this material released based on its strength, artistic merit and historic importance, or simply to squeeze some more money from the dwindling music buying public in a collapsing music market? I´ll let the listener be the judge of that.
And lastly the collection was released in a completely non-standard packaging (sizewise), somewhere in between the CD and the DVD size. Someone wanted to be creative all of a sudden? We, the oppressed buying public, have to be able to store these artifacts somehow and this one does not fit in the standard CD shelves!
For me Weather Report are a legend and I´d really love to keep it like that. This collection does put a slight dent on the ensemble´s iconic status, as far as I am concerned, which I deeply regret. On the other hand forever, four hours of previously unreleased material by Weather Report is devilishly tempting…
| | Updated: 01/06/2018Posted: 25/12/2015 | CD 4 Mini-Sleeve Recommend To A Friend |
  | NORMA WINSTONE ~ IT`S LATER THAN YOU THINK
PROVOCATEUR 1037 (Barcode: 5038491103721) ~ UK ~ Jazz
Recorded: 2004 Released: 2006
British singer Norma WinstoneFind albums by this artist has been my favorite Jazz singer for almost 40 years now, ever since I heard her performing in the late 1960s in the midst of the burgeoning British Jazz scene at the time. I always followed her extraordinary career closely and of course collected all her recordings, which in retrospect constitute a massive body of marvelous music. At the peak of the British Jazz scene in the late 1960s – 1970s she sang with the best: Michael GarrickFind albums by this artist, Mike WestbrookFind albums by this artist, Michael GibbsFind albums by this artist, John SurmanFind albums by this artist and many others, contributing not only her extraordinary vocal performances but also her talent as a lyricist. With the decline of the local scene she continued on the European scene, both as a soloist and with the trio AzimuthFind albums by this artist (with her husband, pianist John TaylorFind albums by this artist and trumpeter Kenny WheelerFind albums by this artist). She is an enormously versatile performer, feeling at ease in any environment, from classic Jazz standards to Avant-Garde explorations. I always found her to be the most sensitive, highly musical and open-minded interpreter of both the music and the lyrics, which turn everything she touches into High Art. Happily for the music lovers, her talent and abilities seem to be untouched by time and she’s able to deliver her best up to this very day, which is well documented on this album as well. Accompanied by the splendid NDR Big BandFind albums by this artist (Northern German Radio Big Band resident in Hamburg), one of the best Jazz Big Bands in the world today, Norma delivers a wonderful set of songs, all brilliantly arranged by Colin TownsFind albums by this artist, who also conducted the band. The choice of material is fascinating and quite challenging as well, as Norma performs songs written by such dissimilar composers as Joni MitchellFind albums by this artist, Leonard CohenFind albums by this artist, Randy NewmanFind albums by this artist and Jaco PastoriusFind albums by this artist. Her highly personal delivery and the beautiful arrangements metamorphose these songs into completely new musical vistas, to the delight of any sensitive listener. The Big Band is used intelligently and skillfully, to serve as a perfect companion to her vocal delivery, without being overwhelming, in spite of its inherent might. The musicians are all virtuosi and highly experienced soloists, which is clearly evident from the instrumental solos, and include such renowned Jazz musicians as saxophonist Christof LauerFind albums by this artist and pianist (and my dear friend of Polish origin) Wladyslaw SendeckiFind albums by this artist. The recording and sound quality are stunning and resemble the sonic excellence of other European labels like ECMFind albums on this label Records. For me this is a great example of a perfect album – the music, the musicians and a voice of a Diva – what else can one ask for? Essential food for the soul.
| | Updated: 12/04/2019Posted: | CD 1 Essential Recommend To A Friend |
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