Record Reviews

JUTTA HIPP ~ THE GERMAN RECORDINGS 1952-1955 SWR JAZZHAUS 423 (Barcode: 730099042352) ~ GERMANY ~ Jazz Recorded: 1952 - 1955 Released: 2015 This is a brilliant collection of early recordings by the German pianist Jutta HippFind albums by this artist, made in Germany before she left the country to continue her career in the US. The material collects four sessions of radio recordings produced by Joachim BerendtFind albums by this artist and Dieter ZimmerleFind albums by this artist. Hipp is accompanied by the best Jazz musicians active at the time in Germany: saxophonists Hans KollerFind albums by this artist and Joki FreundFind albums by this artist, trombonist Albert MangelsdorffFind albums by this artist, guitarist Attila ZollerFind albums by this artist, bassists Franz RoederFind albums by this artist and Harry SchellFind albums by this artist and drummers Karl SannerFind albums by this artist and Rudi SehringFind albums by this artist. There are seventeen pieces in total on this album, most being standards with just a couple of originals, one each by Mangelsdorff and Freund. Hipp plays brilliantly on all these pieces and her presence fully justifies her extraordinary status of the great revelation of early German Jazz. Sadly shortly after her arrival in the US and recording just three albums in 1956, she abandoned music completely and disappeared from the scene. Although the music on this album comprises mostly of American Jazz standards, Hipp has a very unique approach and inserts many peculiar twists and turns, that make these standards sound differently from how they sound when performed by American musicians, which hints as to the development of European Jazz, which was about to erupt just a few years later. The music is wonderfully remastered and sounds fresh and vibrant, which turns this album not only into an important historical document but also a great fun to listen to. This album is warmly recommended to all fans of European Jazz who follow its development closely.

Updated: 31/03/2021Posted: 03/06/2016

CD 1 Digipak Remastered Recommend To A Friend

HANS KOLLER / BIG BAND ~ NEW YORK CITY MPS 602498134375 (Barcode: 602498134375) ~ AUSTRIA ~ Jazz Recorded: 1968 Released: 2003 Absolutely astounding jazz suite / concerto for Big Band composed by Austrian composer / saxophonist Hans KollerFind albums by this artist and recorded in 1968 (but released only in 1979). The recording was done during a visit in Germany by the brilliant Czech jazz orchestra led by Gustav BromFind albums by this artist (members of the orchestra were all top Czech jazz players, including the phenomenal bassist Jiri MrazFind albums by this artist – who would soon after emigrate to the US and become George MrazFind albums by this artist). The orchestra was “strengthened” for the recording by adding some of the top German jazz players at the time (Emil MangelsdorffFind albums by this artist, Joki FreundFind albums by this artist and others) and the resulting lineup is simply phenomenal. Koller’s music is also outstanding - very modern, with some free elements and devilishly clever polyrhythmic structures. The entire suite has enough drama and substance to amaze even the most sophisticated listener and is years ahead of anything else in that musical domain. It is a prime example of the emergence of European jazz, which points in a new direction, continuing but also significantly altering the American jazz tradition. For any serious jazz aficionado this is a “must have” album essential for comprehension of the development of modern jazz. 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: 28/05/2025Posted:

CD 1 Digipak Oversampling Remastered Essential Recommend To A Friend

EMIL MANGELSDORFF & ALBERT MANGELSDORFF ~ EARLY DISCOVERIES SWR JAZZHAUS 459 (Barcode: 730099045957) ~ GERMANY ~ Jazz Recorded: 1953 - 1963 Released: 2018 This is a wonderful archive album by Godfathers of German Jazz, brothers Emil MangelsdorffFind albums by this artist (saxophone) and Albert MangelsdorffFind albums by this artist (trombone). The 2CD album presents live ad studio recordings from the vaults of the German SWR broadcasting corporation, captured between 1953 and 1963 and produced by my Friend and Mentor Joachim BerendtFind albums by this artist. The various combos include the who’s who of the pioneering German Jazz musicians of the post WWII era, such as saxophonists Joki FreundFind albums by this artist, Hans KollerFind albums by this artist (Austrian resident in Germany) and Heinz SauerFind albums by this artist, clarinetist Rolf KuhnFind albums by this artist, bassist Peter TrunkFind albums by this artist, drummer Joe NayFind albums by this artist and many others. The first CD presets twelve tracks recorded by the Albert Mangelsdorff quintet from 1961, which plays four original compositions by Albert Mangelsdorff and eight standards. The music offers the glimpse of how European Jazz musicians interpreted the American Jazz tradition, mostly Bebop influenced, nearing the inevitable departure towards the more advanced modern European Jazz. The second CD presents three tracks by the German All Stars twelve-piece band (with Mangelsdorff brothers as members), all composed by Freund, and one track by the Albert Mangelsdorff / Peter Trunk duo composed by Albert Mangelsdorff, all recorded in 1963. Next come four tracks by the Joki Freund sextet (with Mangelsdorff brothers as members) playing four original compositions by Freund, recorded in 1957. This is followed by a track by the 1956 version of the German All Stars band, followed by another duo track by Albert Mangelsdorff and Hungarian (resident in Germany) guitarist Attila ZollerFind albums by this artist, recorded in 1953. The last three tracks offer a super-rare appearance by the Austrian pianist Joe ZawinulFind albums by this artist recorded in 1957, before his departure to the US and world fame. All the music is excellently recorded and offers a superb glimpse at the German Jazz scene at the late 1950s / early 1960s, when the European Jazz scene was making its formative first steps towards the independence from the American tradition, after mastering its trademarks. There is a plethora of wonderful solos and ensemble performances present, as well as examples of Albert Mangelsdorff’s love of the duo format, which dominated his entire career. Overall this is a brilliant document of the era and a must to all European Jazz fans, interested in the history and the process of its development. Wholeheartedly recommended!

Updated: 29/12/2023Posted: 05/04/2021

CD 2 Digipak Remastered Recommend To A Friend