Record Reviews

JEAN CLAUDE JONES ~ HOSTING MYSELF KADIMA COLLECTIVE 08 ~ ISRAEL ~ Jazz Recorded: 2005 - 2006 Released: 2006 Jean Claude Jones is the leader and the driving force of the Kadima Collective, a group of Israeli musicians who practice free improvisations as their primary musical habitat. The Kadima Collective record label releases albums, which would have never seen the light of day in any commercial environment. This album is a perfect example of such a release. Jones recorded this album all by himself using only his bass and some electronic devices to create all the sounds. The music is all freely improvised of course and therefore completely adventitious, yet it makes perfect sense to a listener, who is ready to engage in the creative process with the Artist. The album includes only 3 tracks: The first and third tracks are excerpts of a live recording Jones made while the dancer Julyen Hamilton performed an improvised dance to his music. The second track (over 32 minutes long) is composed of 18 shorter episodes recorded in the studio over a period of several months. This is a bold and well-articulated statement by a seasoned and determined Artist, who remains restless and adventurous at all times. For listeners with positively opened ears only.

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JEAN CLAUDE JONES ~ RECOMP KADIMA COLLECTIVE 14 (Barcode: 634479745652) ~ ISRAEL ~ Jazz Recorded: 1997 - 2007 Released: 2008 Israeli bassist and Improvised Music pioneer Jean Claude JonesFind albums by this artist revisits eleven musical pieces recorded live and in studio over a period of ten years, performing, what he calls recomposition of the pieces. In his own words: “As opposed to mere editing, recomp involves the deconstruction, subtraction, rearrangement, and reconstruction of the material. It not only changes the sequencing, but it radically affects the feeling and the flow of the music. It also changes the texture of the weave, the voice of the team, and the original intention, revealing new connections, transitions, and possibilities”. The pieces are duos and trios played with other Israeli Improvised Music musicians like Harold RubinFind albums by this artist (clarinet), Steve HorensteinFind albums by this artist (flute, bass clarinet & saxophone), Daniel HoffmanFind albums by this artist (violin) and others. One duet with world-famous Israeli bass player Avishai CohenFind albums by this artist is also included. As usual, this is very difficult music, suitable for enthusiasts of the genre, but also an extremely rewarding intellectual experience. It’s good to see some people still treating music as Art and not a commercial commodity.

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JEAN CLAUDE JONES ~ WITH FRIENDS KADIMA COLLECTIVE 01 ~ ISRAEL ~ Jazz Recorded: 2002 - 2003 Released: 2003 Jean Claude Jones (bass) is a central figure on the Israeli jazz scene since many years and a pivotal member of the avantgarde / free jazz movement in Israel. Former member of the Kedma trio, he played with litarally everybody on the scene during the years. This is his debut album as a leader and he performs a series of duets with usual friends like Harold Rubin (clarinet), Yuval Mesner (cello) and many others. This is a showcase of his skills as a player and improviser and an important document of the local scene.

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JEAN CLAUDE JONES ~ WITH FRIENDS-DUOS II KADIMA COLLECTIVE 02 ~ ISRAEL ~ Jazz Recorded: 2004 Released: 2004 2nd volume of improvisational duos recorded by Jean Claude JonesFind albums by this artist with his friends in 2004 (with a few earlier pieces). As usual this music is highly intellectual, with very personal approach to inprovised free jazz. Friends include other Israeli improvisers (and members of the Kadima collective) like Harold RubinFind albums by this artist (clarinet), Gan LevFind albums by this artist (reeds), Daniel HoffmanFind albums by this artist (violin), a.m.o. A few guests from abroad are also present, like Ned RottenbergFind albums by this artist. Not easy music, but highly rewarding.

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JOËLLE LÉANDRE ~ LIVE IN ISRAEL KADIMA COLLECTIVE 17 (Barcode: 634479851179) ~ FRANCE ~ Jazz Recorded: 2007 Released: 2008 French bassist Joëlle LéandreFind albums by this artist is one of a relatively few women pioneers on the Free Jazz and Improvised Music scene to earn a legendary status. Her activities on the scene have brought her in contact with the most distinguished performers, both European and American (such as Anthony BraxtonFind albums by this artist). She also worked in the field of contemporary Classical music with composers like Pierre BoulezFind albums by this artist and John CageFind albums by this artist. In 2007 Joëlle visited Israel and her live performances there have been recorded and are now issued on this double CD. The first CD includes 7 solo bass (and voice) performances and the second CD offers her playing in duo, trio and sextet settings with the top Israeli Improvised Music artists: Jean Claude JonesFind albums by this artist – bass, Steve HorensteinFind albums by this artist – baritone and soprano sax, flute, Sameer MakhoulFind albums by this artist – oud and voice, Assif TsaharFind albums by this artist – bass clarinet, Daniel SaridFind albums by this artist – piano, Hagai FershtmanFind albums by this artist – drums, Albert BegerFind albums by this artist – tenor sax and Ariel ShiboletFind albums by this artist – soprano sax. These wonderful musical moments are some of the highlights of the Improvised Music created in Israel, a small but quite lively scene led by Jones and consistently documented on his Kadima CollectiveFind albums on this label label. Connoisseurs of the genre will be quite delighted to hear this stuff.

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ARIEL LANYI ~ 31 BARS KADIMA COLLECTIVE 07 ~ ISRAEL ~ Jazz Recorded: 2006 Released: 2006 1st album by Israeli Jazz prodigy Ariel LanyiFind albums by this artist. It is extremely difficult to write anything about this album due to the fact that it probably is the most sensational jazz recording ever, considering the fact that Ariel was only 8 years old (YES EIGHT) when this music was recorded. Of course there are a few well-known piano prodigies in music’s history, but surely none of these played improvised music and free jazz. Ariel plays classical piano since the age of 4 and discovered jazz accidentally (at the tender age of 7) by pressing an Earl Hines link on the Net. He started to take lessons with Jean Claude JonesFind albums by this artist, leader of the Kadima Collective (a group of Israeli musicians dedicated to improvised music) and soon was discovered to possess exceptional gift for improvisation and a musical attitude of a matured musician. The music included here was recorded on several occasions live and in the studio during the months proceeding his 9th Birthday, when this album was released. The album contains mostly Ariel’s original compositions and improvisations, primarily because composition, free improvisation and Avant-Garde are the main attraction of jazz for him. The few standards that appear here are substantially altered, as appropriate for his genre. Some of the pieces are solo piano performances, others are duos with Israel’s most important improvisers (all of which could easily be Ariel’s grandfathers), like Harold RubinFind albums by this artist (clarinet), Jess KorenFind albums by this artist (sax), Jerry GarvalFind albums by this artist (drums) and Jean Claude Jones (bass). Whatever the starting point of each piece, they all show Ariel’s enthusiasm for free improvisation and his unique mixing of styles, ideas and influences. One thing is sure; nobody in this world would guess, by listening to this music without the knowledge of the facts, that this is a kid. The music is completely mature and exceptionally developed. It’s almost scary to imagine what this kid will be up to in a few years? Check it out for yourself!

Updated: 12/04/2019Posted:

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HAROLD RUBIN / JEAN CLAUDE JONES ~ MUSE & MUSIC KADIMA COLLECTIVE 03 ~ ISRAEL ~ Jazz Recorded: 2004 Released: 2005 This album documents the musical / spiritual meeting between the two leaders of the Israeli improvised music scene. Harold RubinFind albums by this artist started the movement on the late 1980’s, after his legendary group ZaviotFind albums by this artist disbanded, leading a long series of ensembles active in the Tel-Aviv area, where he lives. Jean Claude JonesFind albums by this artist (or J.C. to his friends) arrived on the scene at about the same time, playing with another legendary group KedmaFind albums by this artist (both Zaviot and Kedma released their albums on JazzisFind albums on this label Records). Later on Jones played with many different ensembles in the Jerusalem area, where he lives, and founded the Kadima CollectiveFind albums on this label – an association of improvising artists (cross-genre), which now independently releases various projects on record. Their path crossed many times over the years but they somehow failed to record together and this much overdue album puts things right at last. The intimate duo of clarinet and electro acoustic bass is the foundation of the music, with Harold reciting / voicing his poetry on top and Jones adding live electronics occasionally, all of those based on musical telepathy and interplay between the creators. This is intense stuff, requiring total attentiveness and open-mindedness, but for people who are willing to stretch out their intellectual muscles the rewards are infinite. Sadly, there is very little music of such quality being made anywhere in the wold these days.

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ARIEL SHIBOLET / BETWEEN THE STRINGS TRIO ~ LIVE AT THE TEL AVIV MUSEUM KADIMA COLLECTIVE 13 (Barcode: 634479391576) ~ ISRAEL ~ Jazz Recorded: 2006 Released: 2007 2nd album by Israeli saxophonist Ariel ShiboletFind albums by this artist, this time in cooperation with the Between The Strings TrioFind albums by this artist (Jean Claude JonesFind albums by this artist – bass, Daniel HoffmanFind albums by this artist – violin and Nori JacobyFind albums by this artist – viola), recorded live at the Tel Aviv Museum. The concert includes three parts, starting with a solo soprano saxophone performance by Ariel, continued by a piece by the string trio and concluded by a quartet performance by Ariel with the trio. Over 61 minutes of purely improvised music, challenging and difficult as always, but deeply rewarding to the disciples of the genre. Ariel’s playing is deeply rooted in the tradition of the late period John ColtraneFind albums by this artist, Steve LacyFind albums by this artist and Eric DolphyFind albums by this artist, based on complete control of the instrument, virtuosity and of course relentless passion. The balance between Ariel and the string trio, as well as their cooperative group improvisation is truly inspiring. Contrary to popular opinion improvised music is definitely still alive and kicking, and the fact that it still thrives here in Israel (although abandoned in other places) makes me especially proud, proving the multi-cultural openness of our society.

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JOSEF SPRINZAK / JEAN CLAUDE JONES ~ THE WORLD IS ROUND KADIMA COLLECTIVE 04 ~ ISRAEL ~ Jazz Both Sprinzak & Jones are members of the Kadima Collective - an umbrella organization of Israeli musicians formed to promote Free Improvised Music in Israel. Members originate from variety of music genres, i.e. classical , jazz & rock. Their work includes collaborations with poets and vocal artists. This album is an excellent example of such collaboration. Jones plays bass and electronics and Sprinzak delivers some amazing vocals, based on a story by Gertrude Stein. His artistic language is based on breaking words into syllables, using breathing techniques and extreme vocal production. The result is a kind of music played by the instrument of language. This is something for the more advaturous music lovers, avant-heads and people who enjoy a musical challenge.

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TEMPERAMENTAL TRIO ~ RAW AND THE COOKED KADIMA COLLECTIVE 06 ~ ISRAEL ~ Jazz Recorded: 2006 Released: 2006 The Jerusalem based “Kadima Collective”, under the leadership of Jean Claude JonesFind albums by this artist, has been over the last few years a major source of new Israeli releases, all of which present the local improvised music scene, or what is often referred to as “weird jazz”. Jones and his cohorts create music which is totally free from any commercial / business aspects, which enables them total artistic freedom of expression. Temperamental TrioFind albums by this artist is Stephen HorensteinFind albums by this artist – baritone saxophone, Loic KessousFind albums by this artist – electronics and Jean Claude Jones – bass. They perform a series of collaborative compositions freely floating between free jazz, contemporary chamber music and electronic music. Highly emotional and absorbing, these sound collages are a demanding listening experience for open-minded and experienced listeners.

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