Record Reviews

JEFF BALLARD ~ FAIRGROUNDS EDITION 1121 (Barcode: 5060509790524) ~ USA ~ Avant-Garde Jazz Recorded: 2015 Released: 2019 This is a live album by American drummer / composer Jeff BallardFind albums by this artist, recorded with his quintet during a European tour. The quintet also includes guitarist Lionel LouekeFind albums by this artist, keyboardists Kevin HaysFind albums by this artist and Peter RendeFind albums by this artist and Reid AndersonFind albums by this artist on electronics (rather than on bass as expected). Saxophonists Chris CheekFind albums by this artist and Mark TurnerFind albums by this artist guest on selected tracks. The album presents eleven original composition composed or co-composed by the participating musicians. The music offers an interesting mixture of atmospheric pieces, somewhere between Ambient, Jazz and World music, which creates a suspenseful listening experience. The unusual lineup with two keyboards and guitar offers often multi-layered structures, which demand intensive listening in order to be followed. The occasional vocals feel rather out of place, but thankfully those are rather marginal. Overall, this is quite an interesting album, which moves a bit chaotically between Avant-Garde and schmaltz, but for a team of American musicians this is way more ambitious than one might expect. Listeners familiar with the recordings by these musicians might find this album very surprising, as it hardly follows any patterns these musicians are usually associated with. With the vocals removed, this album might even border on excellent.

Updated: 12/10/2022Posted: 12/10/2022

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STEFANO BOLLANI ~ BIG BAND! VERVE 602527720821 (Barcode: 602527720821) ~ ITALY ~ Big Band Jazz Recorded: 2010 Released: 2011 This is a live album by Italian Jazz pianist / composer Stefano BollaniFind albums by this artist, recorded with the excellent German NDR Big BandFind albums by this artist, conducted by Norwegian musician / arranger Geir LysneFind albums by this artist. The album presents five tracks, all original compositions by Bollani, arranged by Lysne. Among the international team of the NDR, we find American drummer Jeff BallardFind albums by this artist, Argentinean percussionist Marcio DoctorFind albums by this artist, German saxophonist Christof LauerFind albums by this artist and others. The music is as much about Bollani’s brilliant piano playing and fascinating compositions, as about the incredible arrangements and performances by the Big Band, which are us usual stellar to say the least. NDR is the leading European Jazz Big Band, with a constantly changing lineup of top Jazz musicians from all over the world. It epitomizes the European orchestral / Big Band approach, which is diametrically different from the American Jazz tradition. The orchestra functions as one body, organically creating a sound, which reflects the rich and complex layers, all contributing to the total outcome. There are no repeated riffs and clear division into sections, but rather an organic music making mechanism, which is basically inseparable. Bollani’s romantic, lyrical pieces are expanded into suite-like continuances, with little space for soloing per se. His piano is elegantly integrated into the orchestral sound, clearly audible but not dominating the proceedings. The resulting music is quite complex, but offers a powerful “punch”, which is extremely effective. This is European aesthetics at its best. Overall, this is a rich and powerful musical experience, delivered by some of the best musicians around, and for the Big Band sound enthusiasts, this is a true engulfing orgy of pulsations and resonances, which one wishes should never stop. Wholeheartedly recommended!

Updated: 21/07/2024Posted: 21/07/2024

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AVISHAI COHEN ~ ADAMA STRETCH 9015 (Barcode: 013431901525) ~ ISRAEL ~ Jazz Recorded: 1998 Released: 1998 1st album by Israeli bassist / composer Avishai CohenFind albums by this artist, recorded while he was a member of Chick CoreaFind albums by this artist’s acoustic trio and the OriginFind albums by this artist sextet and released on Corea’s label StretchFind albums on this label Records. The core lineup, which participates in the album’s recording is a sextet with Cohen, Steve WilsonFind albums by this artist on soprano sax, Steve DavisFind albums by this artist on trombone (both Origin members), Jason LindnerFind albums by this artist on piano, another Israeli – Amos HoffmanFind albums by this artist on guitar and Jeff BallardFind albums by this artist on drums. In addition, some guest artists are also appearing, including Chick Corea, Brad Mehldau and Danilo Perez on piano. Cohen’s ability as a bass player is of course legendary and needs no further discussion here, but his true greatness is his extraordinary ability to compose superb Jazz pieces, which skillfully combine the American Jazz tradition with other musical elements, mainly folklore and World Music. Cohen’s Middle Eastern background is clearly evident in his music, although he is also wide open to other sources of inspiration. Of the twelve pieces on the album Cohen composed eleven using just one standard. The overall effect is truly refreshing and the combined skills of the musicians involved create an album of rare beauty, which contains an immense amount of new and exciting music. A truly remarkable debut, which announces many great things to come out of this extraordinary talent. A must!

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AVISHAI COHEN ~ COLORS STRETCH 9031 (Barcode: 013431903123) ~ ISRAEL ~ Jazz Recorded: 2000 Released: 2000 3rd album by Israeli bassist / composer Avishai CohenFind albums by this artist and his most ambitious project to date. Cohen not only expands his personal musical range by adding electric bass and piano to the list of instruments he plays here, but also expanding the lineup of the participating musicians and even including a string quartet. The core lineup, which participates in the album’s recording is a septet with Cohen, Jimmy GreeneFind albums by this artist on reeds and flute, Steve DavisFind albums by this artist and Avi LebovichFind albums by this artist on trombone, Jason LindnerFind albums by this artist on piano, Amos HoffmanFind albums by this artist on guitar and oud and Jeff BallardFind albums by this artist on drums. In addition, some guest artists are also appearing. Cohen’s ability as a bass player is of course legendary and needs no further discussion here, but his true greatness is his extraordinary ability to compose superb Jazz pieces, which skillfully combine the American Jazz tradition with other musical elements, mainly folklore and World Music. Cohen’s Middle Eastern background is clearly evident in his music, although he is also wide open to other sources of inspiration, like Latin Music. Cohen composed all the thirteen tunes on this album. The overall effect is truly refreshing and the combined skills of the musicians involved create an album of rare beauty, which contains an immense amount of new and exciting music. This is a truly remarkable album, which portrays an extraordinary musical talent at work and shows a new path for the future of Jazz, which hopefully will open new horizons to the somewhat sleepy genre at the start of a new Millenium. A must!

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AVISHAI COHEN ~ DEVOTION STRETCH 9021 (Barcode: 013431902126) ~ ISRAEL ~ Jazz Recorded: 1999 Released: 1999 2nd album by Israeli bassist / composer Avishai CohenFind albums by this artist recorded while he was a member of Chick CoreaFind albums by this artist’s acoustic trio and the OriginFind albums by this artist sextet and released on Corea’s label StretchFind albums on this label Records. The core lineup, which participates in the album’s recording is a sextet with Cohen, Jimmy GreeneFind albums by this artist on sax and flute, Steve DavisFind albums by this artist on trombone, Jason LindnerFind albums by this artist on piano, another Israeli – Amos HoffmanFind albums by this artist on guitar and oud and Jeff BallardFind albums by this artist on drums. Cohen expands his usage of instruments here, adding electric bass, piano, synthesizer and percussion. Cohen’s ability as a bass player is of course legendary and needs no further discussion here, but his true greatness is his extraordinary ability to compose superb Jazz pieces, which skillfully combine the American Jazz tradition with other musical elements, mainly folklore and World Music. Cohen’s Middle Eastern background is clearly evident in his music, although he is also wide open to other sources of inspiration. Of the fourteen pieces on the album, Cohen composed twelve, adding to the repertoire just one folk tune and one composition by the pianist. The overall effect is truly refreshing and the combined skills of the musicians involved create an album of rare beauty, which contains an immense amount of new and exciting music. This is a truly remarkable follow up to the great debut, which announces many great things to come out of this extraordinary talent. A must!

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DORUZKA / WYLEZOL / BALLARD ~ ANDROMEDA`S MYSTERY BIVAK 004 (Barcode: 8594211850018) ~ CZECH REPUBLIC ~ Jazz Recorded: 2021 Released: 2022 This is the debut album by an international Jazz trio comprising of Czech guitarist / composer David DoruzkaFind albums by this artist, Polish keyboardist / composer Piotr WylezolFind albums by this artist and American drummer / composer Jeff BallardFind albums by this artist. The album presents eight original compositions, four by Doruzka, three by Wylezol and one by Ballard. Doruzka emerged in the last decade as one of the most active and highly appreciated musicians on the European scene, appearing on many albums in his home country and in Poland. Wylezol is a well-established musician on Polish scene and personally one of my favorite Polish Jazz pianists, shining among a fierce competition, and Ballard is well known for playing with top Jazz musicians in the US and leading his own bands – which means this album is exploding with talent and creativity from start to finish. The music is all surprisingly well-behaved, modern and probing but based on solid melodic themes, with both Doruzka and Wylezol always weave like magic. Quite naturally Doruzka takes upon himself most of the soloing, always brilliantly supported by the two partners, but Wylezol also contributes some impressive solo parts, which are every time incredibly creative, in addition to being in charge of the bottom bass pulsations created on synths. Ballard stays somewhat in the background and deliveries a dense, polyrhythmic pulsation behind the melodic contents, ornamenting and leading the music simultaneously. The atmosphere created by the trio is somewhat dark and gloomy, despite the beautiful melodies, soaked in lyricism and profundity, which is at times overbearing, which means that this music requires serious listening attitude and focus, like all serious music should do. But the aesthetic values invoked by the music are certainly worth the effort and concentration invested. Overall, this is an elegant, highly unusual album, which offers the listener a multi-layered Artistic experience, deeply rewarding and fulfilling. Not an easy encounter, but deep stuff rarely is easy, as we all know. I was truly enchanted by this music and a heartfelt thank you is offered to you, my Friends, for taking your Art seriously and sharing it with us. Godspeed!

Updated: 13/01/2023Posted: 13/01/2023

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