Record Reviews

JAKOB BRO / JOE LOVANO ~ ONCE AROUND THE ROOM: A TRIBUTE TO PAUL MOTIAN ECM 2747 (Barcode: 602445994908) ~ DENMARK ~ Free Jazz / Improvised Music Recorded: 2021 Released: 2022 This is an album by Danish guitarist Jakob BroFind albums by this artist and American saxophonist Joe LovanoFind albums by this artist, recorded in a highly unusual septet setting with three bassists: American Larry GrenadierFind albums by this artist and Thomas MorganFind albums by this artist and Danish Anders ChristensenFind albums by this artist, and two drummers: American Joey BaronFind albums by this artist and Spanish Jorge RossyFind albums by this artist. The album presents six tracks, two each by Bro and Lovano, one by American drummer / composer Paul MotianFind albums by this artist, to whom the album is dedicated, and finally one co-credited to all seven participating musicians. The music is completely free spirited, mostly improvised with very little melodic continuity. It is mostly about atmosphere and despite the fact that it is performed by obviously highly talented musicians, sounds to me quite estranged and cold. It sadly represents the many ECMFind albums on this label albums, that despite the high potential completely fail to deliver anything worth mentioning. Overall, for me this album says very little, and is one of those records that I continued to listen to until it was finished only from the respect I feel towards the musicians, never to return to it again.

Updated: 14/01/2025Posted: 14/01/2025

CD 1 Slipcase Recommend To A Friend

FABIO GOUVEA ~ DESVIO UNIT 5149 (Barcode: 7640222861497) ~ BRAZIL ~ Jazz Recorded: 2022 Released: 2024 This is the 9th album by Brazilian (currently resident in Switzerland) guitarist / composer Fabio GouveaFind albums by this artist, recorded in a quintet setting with Spanish vibraphonist Jorge RossyFind albums by this artist, French saxophonist Charley RoseFind albums by this artist, Brazilian bassist Thiago AlvesFind albums by this artist and drummer Paulo AlmeidaFind albums by this artist. The album presents nine tracks, all original compositions by Gouvea. The music is an absolutely delightful collection of strongly melodic themes, beautifully arranged by the composer and brilliantly performed by the above excellent team. Gouvea has an impressive record as a musician in his native country, among others as a member of bands lead by my beloved Hermeto PascoalFind albums by this artist and others. He is also a prolific recording artist, both as a leader and sideman. Although the music has some delicate Brazilian influences, it is not a Jazz-World Fusion outing per se, but rather a first-rate modern Jazz one, with universal aesthetics. Despite the fact that Gouvea is an excellent guitarist, he leaves the center stage to the two prime soloists, Rossy and Rose, who both do a splendid job with their highly sensitive fluidity and sheer virtuosity. The Brazilian rhythm section adds some of the “tropical” spicing, but as already stated, it is far from being dominating. I am surprised that I never came across any of his recordings earlier on and hope to remedy this ASAP. Overall, this is a brilliant modern Jazz album, with excellent music and first-class performances by seasoned musicians. Delicately seasoned by Brazilian music elements, the music flows gently and elegantly for the duration and is a wonderful example of good taste and individual talent by the leader and his cohorts. Warmly and wholeheartedly recommended!

Updated: 03/06/2024Posted: 03/06/2024

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

JAROMIR HONZAK ~ EARTH LIFE CUBE / METIER 20-09 (Barcode: 8591562000093) ~ CZECH REPUBLIC ~ Jazz Recorded: 1998 Released: 2000 This is the second album as a leader by Czech bassist / composer Jaromir HonzakFind albums by this artist, recorded with two Polish Jazz musicians: saxophonist Piotr BaronFind albums by this artist and pianist Kuba StankiewiczFind albums by this artist, Czech guitarist David DoruzkaFind albums by this artist and Spanish drummer Jorge RossyFind albums by this artist. Three guests are featured on selected tracks. The album presents eight pieces, seven of which are original compositions by Honzak and one is a Thelonious MonkFind albums by this artist standard. The album´s liner notes were written by my Friend and Mentor Lubomir DoruzkaFind albums by this artist. During his studies at the Berklee College of Music in Boston Honzak met fellow students Stankiewicz and Rossy and invited them to take part in this recording. Stankiewicz brought over Baron and Honzak invited David Doruzka (only eighteen years old at the time of the recording), a promising young musician and future Berklee student, an association that would flourish for years to come. Already at this early stage of his career, Honzak proves his strength as a composer and each of the original compositions presented here are exceptionally well written and coherent, already showing the European musical aesthetics and avoiding the dominance of the Bebop tradition. The beautiful harp / bass duo closing piece and the delicate piano trio and vocalese piece are superb examples of the forthcoming inspirations, which will dominate Honzak´s compositional palette. However the Berklee schooling and American Jazz tradition can be more clearly heard in the way the music is performed on the straightforward quartet numbers, but even those are spiced by Baron´s fiery almost-free soloing and superb piano touches by Stankiewicz. Overall this is a wonderful early recording by Honzak, which is definitely worth of being discovered, even some twenty-two years after it was recorded. The music proves to be timeless and the heartfelt execution still manages to excite. Like great wine, this music ages well over time…

Updated: 29/12/2023Posted: 26/10/2020

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend