Record Reviews

JOHN HANDY / ALI AKBAR KHAN ~ TWO ORIGINALS (KARUNA SUPREME / RAINBOW) MPS 731451919527 (Barcode: 731451919527) ~ USA ~ Jazz-World Fusion Recorded: 1975 - 1980 Released: 1994 This is a reissue / remaster of two albums by American saxophonist John HandyFind albums by this artist and Indian sarod player Ali Akbar KhanFind albums by this artist, originally released on the legendary MPSFind albums on this label label and produced by my Friend and Mentor Joachim BerendtFind albums by this artist. “Karuna SupremeFind albums with this title”, recorded in 1975, features also tabla player Zakir HussainFind albums by this artist and tanpura player Yogish S. SahotaFind albums by this artist. It presents three lengthy tracks, all three composed by Khan, one co-composed with Handy and another co-composed by Ustad AllauddinFind albums by this artist. “RainbowFind albums with this title”, recorded in 1980, features also violinist L. SubramaniamFind albums by this artist, tabla player Shyam KaneFind albums by this artist and tanpura player Mary JohnsonFind albums by this artist. It presents five tracks, two by L. Subramaniam, one each by Khan and Handy and finally one co-composed by all three of them. The reissue includes the original liner notes by Berendt, as well as new liner notes by John McLaughlinFind albums by this artist and Trilok GurtuFind albums by this artist, both important representatives of Indian music related Jazz-World Fusion musicians. The music is of course absolutely sublime, beautifully recorded and probably one of the purest examples of the fusion between Jazz and Indian Music ever recorded. Of course the Indo-Jazz recordings by John MayerFind albums by this artist in UK in the 1960s / 1970s and John McLaughlin / ShaktiFind albums by this artist recordings in the 1970s / 2020s are equally enthralling, this music is obviously way closely related to the spirit of Indian Music, and Handy’s improvisations sound like direct transfigurations of Indian tradition. Overall, this is a marvelous piece of music in every respect, and an absolute must to all hardcore Jazz-World Fusion connoisseurs, especially those interested in the Jazz / Indian Music connections. Sadly, this music is relatively obscure and deserves much more recognition / exposure, being a true classic of the genre!

Updated: 14/03/2026Posted: 14/03/2026

CD 2 Remastered Recommend To A Friend

CHARLES MINGUS ~ MINGUS AT CARNEGIE HALL (DELUXE EDITION) ATLANTIC 603497844326 (Barcode: 603497844326) ~ USA ~ Jazz Recorded: 1974 Released: 2021 This is an expanded reissue / remaster of a live album by legendary American bassist / composer / bandleader Charles MingusFind albums by this artist, recorded on January 19, 1974 at the NY Carnegie Hall. The music was recorded by a sextet, which included trumpeter Jon FaddisFind albums by this artist, saxophonists George AdamsFind albums by this artist and Hamiet BluiettFind albums by this artist, pianist Don PullenFind albums by this artist and drummer Dannie RichmondFind albums by this artist. The sextet was expanded to a nonet on two tracks, with the addition of three saxophonists: John HandyFind albums by this artist, Rahsaan Roland KirkFind albums by this artist and Charles McPhersonFind albums by this artist. This 2CD edition presents seven tracks, adding five tracks (and over seventy minutes) of unreleased material. Four of the tracks last over twenty minutes and one just under twenty minutes. Three of the tracks are original compositions by Mingus, one is by Pullen, one is by Duke EllingtonFind albums by this artist, one is a standard and finally one is a short spoken word introduction. The restored sound is absolutely pristine. The music is, in many respects, a closing chapter of American Jazz, which summarizes the great Bebop period and the entry into Free Jazz, offering a gallery of instrumental Masters, who lament the grand times with obvious nostalgic glace over the shoulder, realizing the fact that the ride is over. The great leader / guru, one of the last standing figures of American Jazz, was playing one of the last live concerts in his career and would be dead in a few years and there was nobody in sight to carry the torch. But the music is of course grand, from start to finish, with incredible soloing and great group improvisations, kept carefully in check by the boss. They were, after all, the crème de la crème of the scene at the time and clearly could outplay anybody out there. Mingus’ compositions are ideal vehicles for the orgy of sound and camaraderie that prevails, and despite the fact that they are not innovating anything, they clearly learned the lesson of the decade preceding this recording, laying any doubts about Bebop being over to rest. Overall, this is a monster album, which deserves an honorable place in every decent Jazz records collection, not only because of the incredible amount of great music it offers, but more importantly because of the message it so vividly sends to the Jazz world: Bebop was great, we took everything there was to take from it, now please let it rest in peace!

Updated: 28/01/2024Posted: 28/01/2024

CD 2 Digisleeve Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend