Record Reviews
69 Reviews Found. Use search to find more reviews or follow the links in the review text.
  | ARILD ANDERSEN ~ CELEBRATION
ECM 2259 (Barcode: 602527909479) ~ NORWAY ~ Jazz
Recorded: 2010 Released: 2012
Norwegian bassist / composer Arild AndersenFind albums by this artist has been one of my favorite musicians since decades and his immense talent and class were always beacons of light in the dark. His elegance and natural cool emphasize the best qualities of Scandinavian Jazz in particular and European Jazz in general. His numerous recording, mostly for ECMFind albums on this label, are all exemplary and his unshaken quality over the years is simply legendary.
This album finds Andersen in quite unusual circumstances, cooperating with a large Jazz Orchestra, in this case the Scottish National Jazz OrchestraFind albums by this artist directed by saxophonist Tommy SmithFind albums by this artist. He and the orchestra perform five compositions by fellow ECM musicians: Dave HollandFind albums by this artist, Jan GarbarekFind albums by this artist, Chick CoreaFind albums by this artist, Keith JarrettFind albums by this artist and Trygve SeimFind albums by this artist (Garbarek and Seim being also fellow Norwegians) and one of his compositions, celebrating the music of ECM, which is considered by many to be the most important contribution to contemporary musical Culture in the last four decades.
The six compositions have been arranged for the large orchestra, with the arrangements being very delicate and spacey, opening up slots for beautiful bass solos performed by Anderson and other musicians. The overall atmosphere of the music is very lyrical and somewhat subdued, applying the famous Scandinavian touch to the entire project, even in the case when the original music originates well beyond that sphere of influence. Andersen stands in the focal point performing some absolutely amazing bass solos, which could drive most bass players to complete despair. As stated before, the orchestra takes a step back, playing subtly and beautifully, but always remaining in the background, where it belongs in this particular project. This modesty and proper perspective deserve a great praise.
The music was recorded live and as usual for an ECM production offers a wonderful sonic quality in addition to the obvious musical virtues. Those familiar with Andersen´s achievements will love this music and those still ignorant of them should use this opportunity to repent. Brilliant stuff!
| | | CD 1 Slipcase Recommend To A Friend |
  | GORDON BECK ~ REFLECTIONS
ART OF LIFE 1005 (Barcode: 804640100522) ~ UK ~ Jazz
Recorded: 1997 Released: 2003
Pianist / composer Gordon BeckFind albums by this artist is a living legend. Considered as one of the true forefathers of modern British and European Jazz, has been a source of inspiration and musical joy to Jazz connoisseurs since the 1960s. Fortunately for us, Jazz lovers, Beck continues his remarkable career, producing exquisite musical marvels, now in his 7th decade. He seems to be untouchable by time and his playing is as vigorous and energetic, as it was 40 years ago. This marvelous solo piano concert brilliantly recorded by the BBC, portraits Beck, as he truly is – a romantic, gentle and highly intelligent musician with thousands of volts running through his magic fingers. The album is a tribute to the genius of Bill EvansFind albums by this artist, including one of his compositions and standards Evans often played. But it is way beyond just a tribute; it is a re-examination of the entire Jazz piano tradition, and even a reflection on Beck’s entire lifetime as a pianist. Although very much an innovator and ceaseless explorer, Beck never ignored the 100 years of piano playing by other Jazz piano giants. Therefore in addition to traces of Evans, there are subtle hints of such divers musicians as Thelonious MonkFind albums by this artist, Oscar PetersonFind albums by this artist, Keith JarrettFind albums by this artist and countless other piano players creating an amalgam, which in Beck’s hands become a unique new creation. Listening to the uplifting music could be one of the most enjoyable hours ever spent while listening to music and I wish every Jazz enthusiast would come across it. The album also includes a bonus track, which has Beck performing a composition by his life-long musical partner, guitarist Allan HoldsworthFind albums by this artist, who collaborated with Beck on many recordings. This album is an absolute must have for Jazz piano lovers of all ages, a work of rare sensibility and artistic perfection. Wholeheartedly recommended!
| | | CD 1 Digipak Remastered Recommend To A Friend |
  | NIKOL BOKOVA ~ NAKED PIECES
SOLEIL ET PLUIE 1002 (Barcode: 8785260878881) ~ CZECH REPUBLIC ~ Jazz-Classical Fusion
Recorded: 2022 Released: 2022
This is the fifth album by Czech Jazz / Classical pianist / composer Nikol BokovaFind albums by this artist, her first solo piano album and her second release on her own record label. The album presents ten tracks, all of which are original compositions by Bokova.
The music is strongly related to the Classical Music side of Bokova’s musical persona and although obviously improvised, it sounds mostly like interpretations of Classical pieces. There is a distinct melodic presence and the sound / atmosphere / mood / ambience all pull towards Classical Music rather than Jazz. But the same can be said about many similar albums by some of the greatest Jazz Artists, with Keith JarrettFind albums by this artist immediately coming to mind, which means that these Classical influences / manifestations should not be taken as criticism, but rather as a classification, in order to find the right audience for the music.
After listening to the music for the second time in order to avoid false first impressions, I am happy to say that Bokova managed to win me over unconditionally, as the music is definitely a demonstration of both brilliant performances and convincing compositional qualities. She is what she is and trying to pigeonhole her Art is simply futile, so it’s best simply to accept her for what she is – a wonderful musician / composer tightrope dancing between the genres, skillfully and perfectly poised high in the air.
I admit of having some reservations about her music earlier on and even stating them openly, but I now humbly admit that my reservations were all misjudged, and her consistency simply convinced me to listen again and open my mind. Nobody’s perfect… please forgive me Milady.
Overall, this is a stunning piece of music, regardless of what one wants to categorize it stylistically, which requires attentive listening but offers a rewarding depth and aesthetic abundance. The sound quality is absolutely marvelous, which of course is an added asset, especially in case of a solo piano recording. Not to be missed!
| | Updated: 13/08/2023Posted: 13/08/2023 | CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend |
  | JOHN BOSTOCK ~ SEEING SKY
NOT ON LABEL ~ ISRAEL ~ Jazz
Recorded: 1998 - 2006 Released: 2007
Australian born pianist / composer John BostockFind albums by this artist has been living in Israel since the late 1980s and is one of the most interesting musicians active in the country. His activities encompass the fields of contemporary Classical Music, Improvised Music and Jazz. He won several important awards for his classical compositions and his Jazz activities include many performances and recordings, with two albums as a member of Albert BegerFind albums by this artist’s group and a piano trio album Journey To GythiaFind albums with this title from 2004. This new album collects Bostock’s solo piano pieces, recorded over a period of eight years. He composed all the music, except one standard, which ranges from completely improvised pieces and spontaneous compositions to improvisations on written themes. It might come as a great surprise to the listener to find out how beautifully melodic this music is, even when completely improvised. Full of lyricism and melancholy, the melody lines come and go, shifting in the shadows of the music. An attentive listener can immerse himself in the magic completely, floating on the gentle waves in total bliss (not recommended for driving!). Although sometimes resembling Keith JarrettFind albums by this artist’s solo recordings, this music has none of Jarrett’s tenseness and stressfulness. The sound quality is exceptional and the piano sounds completely realistic with great presence and sound clarity. This is a real gem and a true piece of musical bliss – an island of serenity in the havoc that surrounds us all. Highly recommended!
| | | CD 1 Recommend To A Friend |
  | BURTON / METHENY / SWALLOW / SANCHEZ ~ QUARTET LIVE
CONCORD 888072313033 (Barcode: 888072313033) ~ USA ~ Jazz
Recorded: 2007 Released: 2009
In the 1960s the celebrated American vibraphonist / composer Gary BurtonFind albums by this artist led a quartet, which also included guitarist Larry CoryellFind albums by this artist, bassist Steve SwallowFind albums by this artist and drummer Roy HaynesFind albums by this artist (and later Bob MosesFind albums by this artist). That quartet recorded a series of brilliant albums, which in retrospect clearly show how pioneering and revolutionary that music was at the time, giving birth to Jazz-Rock Fusion years ahead of anybody else in the US. The young and up-coming guitarist Pat MethenyFind albums by this artist joined that same quartet just a few years later (mid-1970s), adding his unique input to the quartet´s sublime legacy.
This live recording at the legendary Yoshi´s Jazz club in Oakland captures a reunion of the original (1970s) quartet with the exception of the Mexican drummer Antonio SanchezFind albums by this artist, who is of course a member of the much younger generation of Jazz players, but his remarkable qualities suited the occasion perfectly. They perform a series of mostly original compositions by the three veteran group members, which have all been performed at the time by the original quartet. A few compositions originating from outside the quartet, but performed at the time, as also included, those being by Chick CoreaFind albums by this artist, Carla BleyFind albums by this artist, Keith JarrettFind albums by this artist and Duke EllingtonFind albums by this artist.
This quartet treats these compositions quite differently in comparison to the original performances, bringing the arrangements up to date both sonically and stylistically, which awards them a second life. The overall level of performance is of course stellar, which is not surprising considering the aggregation of talent present. It is really great to hear Metheny play Jazz again, which he scarcely does with his own group. Both Burton and Swallow seem to be completely untouched by time and sound in top form. It is truly uplifting to see Jazz veterans being able to create music, which is fresh and valid today, as it was decades ago. Great stuff!
| | | CD 1 Recommend To A Friend |
  | GARY BURTON ~ COMMON GROUND
MACK AVENUE 1061 (Barcode: 673203106123) ~ USA ~ Jazz
Recorded: 2011 Released: 2011
This is an album by American vibraphonist / composer / bandleader Gary BurtonFind albums by this artist, recorded with his “New Gary Burton Quartet”, the last quartet he led before his retirement in 2017. It is the first album by this quartet, which was followed by the 2nd album from 2013, called “Guided TourFind albums with this title”, which would be the last studio album Burton recorded. The quartet includes guitarist Julian LageFind albums by this artist, bassist Scott ColleyFind albums by this artist and Mexican drummer Antonio SanchezFind albums by this artist. The album presents ten tracks, with only one being an original composition by Burton, two each by Lage and Sanchez, one by Colley, two by Ukrainian pianist / composer Vadim NeselovskyiFind albums by this artist, a member of Burton previous quartet, one by Keith JarrettFind albums by this artist and finally one is a standard. The album offers wonderful sound quality.
The music is all strictly within melodic mainstream Jazz idiom, brilliantly executed by Burton, who is in perfect form and the young excellent musicians, who accompany him. Although not composed by Burton, the music is very much within his usual style, which prefers the European Jazz esthetics, with complex harmonies and subtle lyricism, which were always his trademark. Therefore, although not innovative or surprising, the music is a perfect continuation of Burton’s recorded legacy.
The dialogues between the vibraphone and guitar, which are a leading feature in Burtons groups (Larry CoryellFind albums by this artist, Mick GoodrickFind albums by this artist, Pat MethenyFind albums by this artist and others) through the years, proves again to be his favorite harmonic collaboration, which never fails to deliver.
Overall, this is a beautiful album in every respect, which for the many Burton’s followers (yours truly included) delivers exactly what they love to hear and serves as an ideal closure of his long career, which enriched our life for so many years.
| | Updated: 16/06/2025Posted: 16/06/2025 | CD 1 Recommend To A Friend |
  | CHICK COREA ~ SOLO PIANO
ECM 2140/42 (Barcode: 602527196527) ~ USA ~ Jazz
Recorded: 1971 - 1983 Released: 2010
This wonderful Box Set contains the solo piano recordings by US pianist / composer Chick CoreaFind albums by this artist released on the ECMFind albums on this label label, which are "Piano Improvisations Vol.1Find albums with this title" (ECM 1014), "Piano Improvisations Vol.2Find albums with this title" (ECM 1020), both recorded in 1971, and "Children`s SongsFind albums with this title" (ECM 1267) recorded in 1983. Along with Keith JarrettFind albums by this artist´s "Facing YouFind albums with this title", also recorded in 1971, Corea´s piano improvisations were bold, intimate and innovative statements by these two musicians, which of course emphasizes the special character and artistic approach, which ECM initiated early on and was about to support in years that followed. The music is of course delightful and highly inspiring, bordering on Jazz and contemporary Classical music. Corea is a wonderful player and his immense talent, both as performer and composer, is especially evident on these recordings. Wholeheartedly recommended!
Side Note: The first two CDs of this Box Set were not reissued on CD individually, so this is the only way to obtain them in CD form.
| | Updated: 26/01/2019Posted: | CD 3 Mini-Sleeve Box Set Recommend To A Friend |
  | CHICK COREA ~ TRILOGY
STRETCH 888072356856 (Barcode: 888072356856) ~ USA ~ Jazz
Recorded: 2010 - 2012 Released: 2014
This is an album by the American Jazz pianist / composer / bandleader Chick CoreaFind albums by this artist recorded with his trio which includes bassist Christian McBrideFind albums by this artist and drummer Brian BladeFind albums by this artist. Three guest musicians appear on selected tracks. The music was recorded live during two extended tours by this trio. The album presents seventeen tracks, which are a mixture of five Corea originals, eleven standards and one Classical piece arranged by Corea, spread over 3 CDs.
Corea (born 1941) has been one of the most prominent American Jazz musicians in the last six decades and his contribution to the genre is simply beyond putting it into words. He performed in many diverse Jazz environments but his solo piano and the classic piano trio work was always my absolute favorite part of his astounding musical heritage. As much as I admire his own compositions, his interpretations of Jazz standards are among the finest out there, in the same stratum as those by Herbie HancockFind albums by this artist and Keith JarrettFind albums by this artist.
I have followed Corea´s recordings zealously for decades and had the pleasure to listen to him play many a time as well as meet him in person on several occasions. Anybody who ever heard Corea play live must have observed his superb ability to communicate with the audience and create an unprecedented rapport, which is almost always also present on his live recordings, including this one.
The trio plays together marvelously and the age difference between the Master and his rhythm section is completely insignificant. A perfect balance as far as dividing the roles and exchanging solos, which is flawlessly documented by the outstanding recording quality, turns this album into an ecstatic (but also highly aesthetic) listening experience.
Yes there is nothing new here and we have heard it all before – so what? Jazz of such high quality is like air and water – there is never too much of it. Corea proved over time that he is one of the most inquisitive American musicians, who tried everything Jazz has to offer between Jazz-Rock Fusion to Avant-Garde explorations, so he certainly can´t be accused of clinging to the weathered American Jazz formulas. Playing classic mainstream Jazz as good as the music presented here is always high Art. Hats off to you Maestro!
| | Updated: 17/07/2019Posted: 17/07/2019 | CD 3 Digipak Recommend To A Friend |
  | LARRY CORYELL / PHILIP CATHERINE ~ TWIN-HOUSE
WOUNDED BIRD 0123 (Barcode: 664140012325) ~ USA ~ Jazz
Recorded: 1976 Released: 2007
1st album by this magnificent guitar duo: American Larry CoryellFind albums by this artist and Belgian Philip CatherineFind albums by this artist, both established virtuosi with impressive record, who cooperate here to combine their talents in order to create a whole, which is even greater than the sum of its parts. Although both guitarists are mostly known for their activity in Jazz-Rock Fusion, this album presents them in completely acoustic setting, exchanging riffs, chords and ideas. The result is a beautiful conversation of two Masters, both technically and aesthetically awe inspiring. The music on this album was mostly written by Catherine, but they also play one Keith JarrettFind albums by this artist composition and a striking version of a Django ReinhardtFind albums by this artist tune. Guitar enthusiasts will find this album essential listening, but it is interesting to every Jazz lover. This album was unavailable for so many years and seeing it back in circulation is a great pleasure. Enjoy!
| | | CD 1 Recommend To A Friend |
  | MILES DAVIS ~ MILES AT THE FILLMORE 1970: THE BOOTLEG SERIES VOL.3
COLUMBIA 887654338129 (Barcode: 887654338129) ~ USA ~ Jazz
Recorded: 1970 Released: 2014
This is the 3rd installment of the "Bootleg Series" live recordings by American trumpeter / composer Miles DavisFind albums by this artist, released by ColumbiaFind albums on this label Records. The recordings in this set originate mainly from the performances at the Fillmore East by the Miles Davis septet during four consecutive nights between June 17 and June 20, 1970. Three additional tracks originate from an earlier Miles Davis sextet performance at Fillmore West on April 11, 1970, recorded just a few days after Columbia released "Bitches BrewFind albums with this title" (on March 30, 1970), which changed the face of music forever.
The sextet and septet were the post-"Bitches Brew" working groups, which featured saxophonist Steve GrossmanFind albums by this artist, keyboardist Chick CoreaFind albums by this artist and Keith JarrettFind albums by this artist (in the septet only, first double keyboards group by Miles), bassist Dave HollandFind albums by this artist, drummer Jack DeJohnetteFind albums by this artist and percussionist Airto MoreiraFind albums by this artist. Except for Grossman and Jarrett all the other musicians took part in the recording of "Bitches Brew".
The music is of course a direct follow up to the studio versions of these tunes and Davis makes no attempt to "ease up" or compromise the music and its intrinsic freedom and improvised nature, even though the Fillmore venues were at the time the Mecca and Medina of American Rock. Davis considered his music to be an integral part of the revolutionary wave of music created at the time, typically ignoring ridiculous genre divisions, and the audiences seem to share his attitude wholeheartedly.
Live recordings are always the best opportunity to check out the authenticity and integrity of musicians and these recordings are a great proof of the fact that the "Bitches Brew" magic really happened in the studio as a result of superb playing and visionary leadership, rather than post-production work by Teo MaceroFind albums by this artist. The overall level of the individual performances is of course incredibly high and inspired, full of intensity and virtuosic mastery.
Although the Fillmore West tracks suffer from some sound quality plight, this music is an absolute must to all Miles Davis fans. The four consecutive nights at Fillmore East present a similar set list, but the actual performances are so dramatically different that listening to them opens up a whole new way of comprehending the music of Miles Davis and understanding the concept of Jazz and its unique nature.
Four and a half decades later this music still kicks ass as only very few other sound sculptures are able to, and hopefully will continue to do so in the decades to come. Spearheading the Golden Decade, Miles Davis justifies his Godly status in full.
| | Updated: 31/12/2024Posted: | CD 4 Digipak Remastered Essential Recommend To A Friend |
  | MILES DAVIS ~ THE CELLAR DOOR SESSIONS 1970
COLUMBIA 93614 (Barcode: 827969361429) ~ USA ~ Jazz
Recorded: 1970 Released: 2005
It would be incredibly presumptuous to write any kind of serious musical review of this music in a limited format, so I’ll only stick to the very basics here. The music contained in this set was recorded live on December 16-19, 1970 in a dinky little Washington, DC club called “Cellar Door”. Why would Miles play in such a venue at all remained a mystery (one of many around Miles’ life and work), as he could easily sell out any concert hall in the US. In retrospect it now becomes obvious that Miles simply wanted a sort of limited exposure live recording opportunity to record his new band, which was yet another change of direction in his career. Following the groundbreaking Bitches BrewFind albums with this title and Jack JohnsonFind albums with this title sessions, Miles decided to strip down his ensemble to the bare minimum and concentrate on a more rock / funk oriented sound. Miles was always intensely attentive to everything that was happening around him musically and his frequent performances at the Fillmore venues exposed him to scores of rock bands, which enjoyed immense popularity with the crowds. Miles concluded that he could easily play music, which would be as acceptable to the rock crowds as the rock music they were accustomed to, hell he could do it better! This sessions prove that he was absolutely right. For the new group Miles kept Keith JarrettFind albums by this artist on electric piano, since Keith was already at ease with rock oriented material he played in his earlier stints. He also kept Jack DeJohnetteFind albums by this artist on drums, as John could rock better that any of the rock drummers around, considering his immense talent and technique. The saxophone spot was taken by Gary BartzFind albums by this artist (Steve GrossmanFind albums by this artist was having serious drug-related problems), a young and extremely capable player who sounded remarkably similar to John ColtraneFind albums by this artist, but felt comfortable with the funky rhythms. The biggest change (and surprise) was the bass spot, which Miles assigned to the tender MotownFind albums on this label (yes – the Jackson 5Find albums by this artist!) electric bassist Michael HendersonFind albums by this artist. Henderson’s pulsating funky rhythms set the essence for these sessions, not only serving as a rock solid foundation upon which the musicians are free to develop their improvisations, but also being the glue that keeps the music together. The quintet of Davis, Bartz, Jarrett, Henderson and DeJohnette play on all the 6 CDs in this set. The Brazilian percussionist Airto MoreiraFind albums by this artist joins the quintet on the 3rd day (expanding it to a sextet) and is heard on 4 CDs. Moreira’s contribution to Miles’ music deserve a chapter in itself - in these sessions he skillfully adds color and polyrhythmic accents, always with taste and precision. On the last day the group is extended to a septet with John McLaughlinFind albums by this artist joining in on his fire blazing electric guitar, like there is no tomorrow. This truly turns the whole ensemble into the “greatest fucking rock band you ever heard”, to quote Miles. McLaughlin is in his usual great form, which means he is just way ahead of anything else done at that time on guitar. What about Miles himself? Let me just say that he plays some of his best notes ever on these sessions, full of vigor, passion and inspiration. What else can I say here? This music is beyond comparison, beyond criticism, beyond all the bullshit people say about music… If you didn’t hear it you simply don’t exist - musically that is ;).
| | | CD 6 Box Set Oversampling Remastered Bonus Tracks Essential Recommend To A Friend |
  | MILES DAVIS ~ THE COMPLETE JACK JOHNSON SESSIONS
COLUMBIA 86359 ~ USA ~ Jazz
Recorded: 1970
This is the 7th chapter in the ColumbiaFind albums on this label’s epic series of Miles DavisFind albums by this artist Box Sets, which is a monumental reissue project of recordings by the most important Jazz musician of the 20th century. Recorded between February and June 1970 this monumental document defines “Electric Jazz” – anything recorded since, be it Jazz, Rock or Fusion, has its roots here. These almost five hours of music remained mostly unreleased till this set was issued, as the original A Tribute To Jack JohnsonFind albums with this title album contained less than 10 % of the music included herein. Although a few other “cooked” albums included snippets of this music (Live-EvilFind albums with this title, Get Up With ItFind albums with this title, DirectionsFind albums with this title and Big FunFind albums with this title) they were never available in their full form. By the time this material was recorded Miles’ approach to creating music changed dramatically: he was more of a captain giving the crew a general direction as to where he wanted to go, ratter that a navigator concerned with the exact details as to the course taken. An enormous amount of freedom was granted to the stellar collection of participants (Keith JarrettFind albums by this artist, Herbie HancockFind albums by this artist, Chick CoreaFind albums by this artist – keyboards, Steve GrossmanFind albums by this artist, Bennie MaupinFind albums by this artist, Wayne ShorterFind albums by this artist – saxes, Dave HollandFind albums by this artist, Ron CarterFind albums by this artist, Michael HendersonFind albums by this artist – bass, John McLaughlinFind albums by this artist, Sonny SharrockFind albums by this artist – guitar, Jack DeJohnetteFind albums by this artist, Gene PerlaFind albums by this artist – drums, Airto MoreiraFind albums by this artist, Hermeto PascoalFind albums by this artist – percussion) and for the first time Miles promoted John McLaughlin to be the primary soloist, much more dominant than his trumpet. McLaughlin of course was up to the job and presents some incredible guitar playing, firmly establishing the electric guitar as the leading instrument in instrumental music for the years to come. His fearless ventures into the uncharted territory of Fusion and even Rock would become a beacon for generations of guitar players, a source of inspiration and a vital learning tool. The unrestrained, almost jam-like atmosphere of the sessions inspired all the participants to search for the best they could achieve and the resulting music is simply phenomenal. This is visionary and groundbreaking, Promethean and pioneering musical creation, an absolute must to any Jazz fan that takes his music seriously..
A special note to collectors:
The initial release of all the Miles Davis Box Sets in this reissue series is packaged in an exquisite metal-bound (except chapter 5 which is cardboard-bound) frame housed in a hard cardboard CD-sized slipcase (except for chapters 1 & 8 which have a metal slipcase). Once the initial release is sold out, the CDs are repackaged in a tall-box digipack book format. Naturally the tall-box issues have a much lower retail price tag. All the initial release CD-sized issues become priceless collectors’ items in time.
| | Updated: 26/01/2019Posted: | CD 5 Box Set Oversampling Remastered Bonus Tracks Essential Recommend To A Friend |
  | JACK DEJOHNETTE ~ MADE IN CHICAGO
ECM 2392 (Barcode: 602537809356) ~ USA ~ Jazz
Recorded: 2013 Released: 2015
Although born, raised and musically educated in Chicago, pianist / Master drummer / composer / bandleader Jack DeJohnetteFind albums by this artist left the Windy City and moved on to the Big Apple in 1966, leaving behind his schoolmates and bandmates from the Chicago loft scene. He soon got involved with such pivotal Jazz figures like Charles LloydFind albums by this artist, Bill EvansFind albums by this artist, Stan GetzFind albums by this artist, Miles DavisFind albums by this artist and Keith JarrettFind albums by this artist, and later on led many of his own ensembles, living one of the most fulfilling and artistically creative lives in American Jazz history.
In the meantime his Chicago cohorts: pianist Muhal Richard AbramsFind albums by this artist and saxophonists Roscoe MitchellFind albums by this artist and Henry ThreadgillFind albums by this artist became the core of the AACM, one of the most important American Jazz platforms, which gave birth to countless revolutionary recordings and kept the American Jazz developing and expanding the boundaries set by the stale mainstream traditionalism.
The celebrations of DeJohnette´s seventieth birthday created the opportunity to bring DeJohnette together again with Abrams, Mitchell and Threadgill. The specially formed quintet was formed by adding the Chicago born and based bassist Larry GrayFind albums by this artist and the quintet recorded the music presented here live. They perform six original compositions, two of which are by Mitchell, one each by Abrams, DeJohnette and Threadgill and one is credited to all five quintet members.
People familiar with the recordings by the Chicago scene musicians will find this music pretty familiar stylistically and the AACM aesthetic prevails throughout, with long, slowly developing themes and extended improvisations setting the tone. The melodic threads, stated usually after a moody preamble, are then extensively improvised upon, only to be repeated by the end of each track. There is a lot of space and freedom in this music, which allows all the musicians to state their own ides as well as exchange ideas with the other members of the quintet.
This is definitely not the kind of music that DeJohnette usually plays outside of this specific project and his ability not only to blend in but also contribute significantly to the overall result is truly remarkable. His incredible sensitivity, elegance and technical brilliance are here right in the open, for the listener to enjoy.
As much as this album celebrates DeJohnette´s lifetime achievements, even more so it celebrates the Chicago Jazz scene, which is undoubtedly the most creative and adventurous center of ambitious music in the USA, burgeoning with inventiveness and passion, not only amongst the older generation but also involving many your Jazz and Improvising Music artists. Should this album prompt more listeners to plunge deeper into Jazz Made in Chicago, DeJohnette added another milestone to his magnificent career.
| | | CD 1 Slipcase Recommend To A Friend |
  | MICHAEL GIBBS ~ JUST AHEAD
BGO 679 (Barcode: 5017261206794) ~ UK ~ Jazz
Recorded: 1972 Released: 2005
Composer / arranger / bandleader Michael GibbsFind albums by this artist was one of the most prominent figures on the burgeoning British Jazz scene at its peak. He performed (as trombonist), composed and arranged music for many ensembles active at the time, in parallel to leading his own band, which is captured here during a residency at the legendary Ronnie ScottFind albums by this artist’s club in London. The band included the top British Jazz players of the time, most of which played on Michel’s previous two studio recordings: Kenny WheelerFind albums by this artist, Henry LowtherFind albums by this artist, Harry BeckettFind albums by this artist (trumpet), Chris PyneFind albums by this artist, Malcolm GriffithsFind albums by this artist, Geoff PerkinsFind albums by this artist (trombone), Ray WarleighFind albums by this artist, Stan SulzmannFind albums by this artist, Alan SkidmoreFind albums by this artist (saxophone), Dave MacRaeFind albums by this artist, John TaylorFind albums by this artist (piano), Chris SpeddingFind albums by this artist (guitar), Roy BabbingtonFind albums by this artist (bass), John MarshallFind albums by this artist (drums) and Frank RicottiFind albums by this artist (vibes & percussion). The music covers a wide range of styles, from the typical atmospheric and moody compositions by Gibbs, to scorching Jazz-Rock Fusion exemplified mostly by Spedding’s lead guitar parts and even Blues. Gibbs pays a tribute to some of his American pioneering colleagues: Gary BurtonFind albums by this artist, Steve SwallowFind albums by this artist, Carla BleyFind albums by this artist and Keith JarrettFind albums by this artist, whom he befriended during his studies in the US, by including his arrangements of their tunes. Notably Gibbs kept looking across the Atlantic for inspiration, being somewhat different in that respect from most of his British contemporaries, who wanted to emancipate themselves from American influence as much as possible. Nevertheless his unique approach to composition and arrangement was clearly much more advanced than most stuff coming over from America. The raw energy and the virtuosity of the players make this album one of the greatest documents of the era, which remains a timeless masterpiece. A must for British Jazz lovers!
| | | CD 2 Slipcase Remastered Recommend To A Friend |
  | CHARLIE HADEN ~ THE COMPLETE REMASTERED RECORDINGS ON BLACK SAINT & SOUL NOTE
CAM JAZZ 1001 (Barcode: 8024709111227) ~ USA ~ Jazz
Recorded: 1977 - 1990 Released: 2010
This superb Box Set collects all the albums recorded by the legendary US bassist / composer Charlie HadenFind albums by this artist on the twin Italian independent labels: Black SaintFind albums on this label and Soul NoteFind albums on this label. Haden needs no introduction to any serious Jazz connoisseur; suffice to say that from the early days with Ornette ColemanFind albums by this artist in the late 1950s, his bass playing would definitely establish "The Shape Of Jazz To Come", paraphrasing on the title of Haden´s first recording with Coleman. Later on he was a member of the legendary Keith JarrettFind albums by this artist US quartet and later cooperated with the most distinguished Jazz musicians around the globe. His virtuosic bass playing and excellent compositions are always a source of great musical joy. The musicians playing on these five albums include: drummer Billy HigginsFind albums by this artist, pianist Enrico PieranunziFind albums by this artist, trumpeter Chet BakerFind albums by this artist, drummer Paul MotianFind albums by this artist, pianist Geri AllenFind albums by this artist, trumpeter Don CherryFind albums by this artist, saxophonist Dewey RedmanFind albums by this artist and drummer Ed BlackwellFind albums by this artist. Remastered, mini-sleeved, and with a great bargain price – this Box Set an absolute must for any serious Jazz collector.
Side Note
The Italian independent record label Black SaintFind albums on this label was founded by the music critic / author / producer Giacomo PellicciottiFind albums by this artist in 1975. It was taken over by the producer Giovanni BonandriniFind albums by this artist in 1978 and a year later (1979) a sister label, called Soul NoteFind albums on this label, was established. The twin labels were run by Giovanni and later his son Flavio BonandriniFind albums by this artist, until they were sold in 2008 to the Italian KEPACH Music Group, which already owned the CAM JazzFind albums on this label label, and which also bought another Italian independent record label Dischi Della QuerciaFind albums on this label.
The mission of the Black Saint / Soul Note labels was to record and document the Free Jazz / Improvised Music / Avant-Garde scene, mostly from the US but also from Europe, which continued between mid 1970s and late 1990s and produced a staggering collection of almost 550 albums recorded by world's most important Jazz innovators active at the time, providing an opportunity to American (mostly Afro-American) musicians, who would have never managed to make these recordings at home, ridden by racism, alienation and closed-mindedness. Without these two labels most of this fantastic human creativity would have been never documented.
However, the Black Saint / Soul Note Box Sets produced under the CAM JazzFind albums on this label moniker are an archetypal example of how good intentions turn sour. Although these new editions often bring back to life some of the best music ever made on this planet, which in many cases has been lost in the tides of time and was unavailable on the market for ages, they suffer from an unforgivable disregard to the essence of cultural values and general sloppiness, contrary to human decency, which requires us to treat our cultural legacy with respect and loyalty.
These Box Sets have no booklet which presents researched historical background and exact discographical information of the albums included, and most importantly an overview of the music and its meaning and contribution to the Jazz Art form. Although the original LP sleeves are reproduced, the information is in most cases too small to be readable at all. In short the fact that these Box Sets are meant to be inexpensive, does not mean that they have to be cheap!
| | Updated: 10/04/2020Posted: | CD 5 Mini-Sleeve Box Set Remastered Recommend To A Friend |
  | ANDRZEJ JAGODZINSKI TRIO ~ BACH
STUDIO REALIZACJI MYSLI TWORCZ (Barcode: 5907222840047) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Classical Fusion
Recorded: 2020 Released: 2020
This is an album by veteran Polish Jazz pianist / composer Andrzej JagodzinskiFind albums by this artist recorded with his fabulous trio with bassist Adam CegielskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Czeslaw BartkowskiFind albums by this artist. As the title suggests, the album is dedicated to the music of Johann Sebastian BachFind albums by this artist and presents six of his compositions, beautifully transformed into the Jazz idiom.
Playing Bach by Jazz musicians is of course nothing new and the romance goes back to the early 1960s, when French pianist / composer Jacques LoussierFind albums by this artist made a grand career by Jazzing up Bach’s compositions for the crowds, and many other Jazz musicians since tried to tackle this task, including Keith JarrettFind albums by this artist and Brad MehldauFind albums by this artist, with varying results. Bach’s music, which undoubtedly is one of the absolute pinnacles of Human artistic ingenuity, in most cases is best served by being left alone in its original form and shape, with rare exceptions.
I am happy to see (or rather hear) that Jagodzinski and his trio are up to the challenge of successfully transforming Bach’s music into the Jazz realm, served by their great sensitivity, talents and of course extensive experience. They manage to avoid trivializing this great music, keeping the original sense of flow, melody and rhythm intact, and adding the Jazzy ornamentations with carful respect of the original compositions. This is not altogether surprising taking into consideration the sublime Jazz oriented interpretations of the music by Polish National composer Frederic Chopin, which Jagodzinski and his cohorts managed to create in the past.
The performances are absolutely stellar, as expected, and although the piano is naturally in the epicenter of the sonic experience, the rhythm section also contributes some superb parts, which deserve no less admiration. Personally I hear a bit of Chopin on these interpretations of Bach, which again is hardly surprising, as Chopin’s music flows in the blood (or sub consciousness) of every Polish musician at all times.
Overall this is a wonderful album in every sense, both emotionally and intellectually, which deserves to be heard by every true lover of Jazz-Classical Fusion, Bach’s followers and Jazz piano trio enthusiasts all over the world. A true elixir for mind and body at these crazy days of misfortune and suffering.
On a personal note, almost exactly to a day last year I had the immense pleasure to attend a concert at a small Jazz club outside of Warsaw, where messieurs Jagodzinski, Cegielski and Bartkowski (and others) were performing. This was an unforgettable evening of great music and friendship, especially since it was the last live concert I managed to attend before the pandemic and the last time I was abroad…
| | Updated: 05/02/2021Posted: 05/02/2021 | CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend |
  | KEITH JARRETT ~ AFTER THE FALL
ECM 2590/91 (Barcode: 602567165064) ~ USA ~ Jazz
Recorded: 1998 Released: 2018
This is an archival live album by the iconic American pianist / composer / bandleader Keith JarrettFind albums by this artist, recorded with his regular trio, which included bassist Gary PeacockFind albums by this artist and drummer Jack DeJohnetteFind albums by this artist. The 2CD album presents twelve tracks, all of which are standards.
This legendary trio, often referred to as the “standards trio”, recorded twenty-one albums between 1983 and 2009, the first three of which were studio albums and the rest were live recordings. This album, recorded in 1998, was only released twenty years later (2018) and is (so far) the last release by the trio on the ECMFind albums on this label label.
The recording follows a period of two years of Jarrett’s break in his musical activity (1996-1998), as a result of the CFS illness. He continues to perform, albeit rather sporadically, until 2016, and in 2018 suffered two major strokes, which put an end to his illustrious career.
The music is, as always, heartbreakingly beautiful, with Jarrett undoubtedly shining as one of Jazz greatest interpreters of standards and the trio as one of the best ever classic piano trios in the history of Jazz. One might wonder if we need twenty-one albums to get a proof of the trio abilities, that in addition to dozens of Jarrett’s solo piano, Classical Music and a myriad of other recordings, with the answer to this question remaining open. He certainly proved a milking cow for ECM since his legendary “The Köln Concert” album from 1975.
Overall, this is obviously a brilliant display of Jarret’s and the trio’s as a whole mighty gift of creating brilliant Jazz, and as such becomes an instant classic, and a must in every Jarret’s completist collection. The sound quality is a tad below the usual ECM “perfection”, which is perhaps why this material was hidden for two decades, but on the other hands this adds a bit to the authenticity. Lovers of Jazz piano trio should be in tears, when listening to this stuff, despite the fact that it adds little to Jarrett’s established status.
| | Updated: 26/05/2023Posted: 26/05/2023 | CD 1 Slipcase Recommend To A Friend |
  | KEITH JARRETT ~ ALWAYS LET ME GO – LIVE IN TOKYO
ECM 1800/01 (Barcode: 044001878626) ~ USA ~ Jazz
Recorded: 2001 Released: 2002
This live recording by the greatest piano trio in the world: pianist / composer Keith JarrettFind albums by this artist, bassist Gary PeacockFind albums by this artist and drummer Jack DeJohnetteFind albums by this artist is often referred to as one of their most spectacular moments. Infinitely complex musically and overwhelming emotionally, this music is an endless well of pleasures for any sensitive listener, which could last for one´s lifetime and probably will do so forever. This concert finds the trio performing music composed by Jarrett (except for two compositions credited to the trio), two of which span well over half an hour each, an unprecedented scope for a piano trio performance. Everything here is simply perfection incarnate and divine inspiration, so whatever else I could say is honestly completely redundant. An absolute must!
| | | CD 2 Slipcase Recommend To A Friend |
  | KEITH JARRETT ~ AT THE BLUE NOTE – THE COMPLETE RECORDINGS
ECM 1575/80 (Barcode: 731452763822) ~ USA ~ Jazz
Recorded: 1994 Released: 1995
Keith JarrettFind albums by this artist on piano, Gary PeacockFind albums by this artist on bass and Jack DeJohnetteFind albums by this artist on drums / 3 nights / 6 Sets / 38 tunes / almost 8 hours / 6 CDs / 1 Box – these "statistics" say it all really. This is the best music (mostly timeless standards and some Jarrett originals) played by the best musicians (the above) in the best possible setting (piano trio), in short heaven on earth. Anybody saying this is excessive and self-indulging is simply nuts – there is no such thing as too much of great music. Listening to these performances is not only a sublime aesthetic experience but also a great opportunity to witness how the process of improvisation works, day after day, hour after hour, never repeating and always re-inventing the invented each time anew. The only question is: Can you afford it? If so, grab it, if not, starve and then grab it!
Visitors' Comments
Christopher Brice
I love the Jarrett Trio and I love marathon sessions of playing related CDs, so this was bound to be a special experience, but it is even better than I hoped. Having said that, for an even more thrilling version of Ellington´s "Things Ain´t What They Used To Be," listen to the encore on the Jarrett Trio´s "The Cure," recorded live at NY City Hall a few years earlier and not yet on Jazzis. (PS - not to be confused with the mock-Cockney song "Fings Ain´t Wot They Used To Be")
| | | CD 6 Box Set Recommend To A Friend |
  | KEITH JARRETT ~ BELONGING
ECM 1050 (Barcode: 042282911520) ~ USA ~ Jazz
Recorded: 1974 Released: 2000
During the 1970s, the legendary US pianist / composer Keith JarrettFind albums by this artist was leading a "double life", recording in parallel as a leader of two quartets: The recordings of the US quartet were released on ImpulseFind albums on this label and those of the Scandinavian quartet on ECMFind albums on this label, a relatively new (at the time) small European (German) label, which in time was destined to become the world´s leading record label associated with the most important musicians active in the late 20th Century. This album was the first recording of the Scandinavian quartet, which consisted of Norwegian saxophonist Jan GarbarekFind albums by this artist, Swedish bassist Palle DanielssonFind albums by this artist and Norwegian drummer Jon ChristensenFind albums by this artist. Jarrett explored completely two different musical idioms with his two quartets: The US quartet, firmly based in the US Jazz tradition, boldly expanded the borders of the genre, whereas the Scandinavian quartet plunged head-on into the European Jazz universe, which was revolutionizing the Jazz language by moving away from the restriction set by American Jazz and amalgamating previously untouched musical areas, which included, among others, the European Classical tradition and Folklore. Jarrett was amongst the first US Jazz musicians to discover the new universe and crossed over the Atlantic pond to take part in the "new thing" without hesitation. For this album Jarrett composed a set of brilliant composition, completely different from his work in the US, and these composition performed by the Scandinavian quartet emerged as one of the greatest moments of his career. The album is simply stunning, with beautifully melodic, contemplative and atmospheric music, which charms the listener immediately, basically transforming him into a new universe. The "Scandinavian sound" of this album was about to become a point of reference for future recordings and an integral part of the "ECM sound", forever associated with the label´s output. A work of pure genius, this is an essential and everlasting piece of heavenly music!
| | | CD 1 Essential Recommend To A Friend |
  | KEITH JARRETT ~ BIRTH
WOUNDED BIRD 1612 ~ USA ~ Jazz
Originating from the same session as `The Mourning of a Star`, this quartet recording presents the birth of Jarrett`s US group, which continued to record some amazing music in years to come. There is much experimentation here, with musicians switching instruments and playing quite freely, but the genious is eveident already. Challenging, but intellectually rewarding, this is a piece of jazz history.
| | | CD 1 Recommend To A Friend |
  | KEITH JARRETT ~ BYE BYE BLACKBIRD
ECM 1467 (Barcode: 731451307423) ~ USA ~ Jazz
Recorded: 1991 Released: 1993
US pianist / composer Keith JarrettFind albums by this artist was of course a member of the Miles DavisFind albums by this artist ensembles at the most pivotal period of their existence, and therefore his association with Miles surely influenced his future development. This album, recorded immediately (two weeks later) after Miles Davis died, is a loving tribute to the Great Master. Accompanied by his regular trio: bassist Gary PeacockFind albums by this artist and drummer Jack DeJohnetteFind albums by this artist; Jarrett performs eight compositions, six of which were often performed and recorded by Miles and two new compositions dedicated to him. The performances are of course stellar, as usual for this trio, and the album is a must for any serious Jazz connoisseur. Miles remembered!
| | | CD 1 Recommend To A Friend |
  | KEITH JARRETT ~ CHANGELESS
ECM 1392 (Barcode: 042283961821) ~ USA ~ Jazz
Recorded: 1987 Released: 1989
This is a live recording by the piano trio with pianist / composer Keith JarrettFind albums by this artist, bassist Gary PeacockFind albums by this artist and drummer Jack DeJohnetteFind albums by this artist, captured during their 1987 US tour, which present a set of original compositions by Jarrett. In the liner notes of this album Jarrett explains that these are really improvised pieces, which crystallized during the trio´s rehearsals and live concerts, rather than conventional compositions. Regardless of their origin, they are as emotional and fascinating as everything else these musicians created. They play music in a way no other piano trio does, with exceptional perception of the music, freedom of expression between the players and a telepathic connection between them. Anything said beyond this is simply superfluous, as I´ve already written extensively on this subject. This album, same as all the others of its kind, is an absolute must for any serious Jazz connoisseur and piano trio lovers in particular. Brilliant!
| | | CD 1 Recommend To A Friend |
  | KEITH JARRETT ~ CHANGES
ECM 1276 (Barcode: 781182127623) ~ USA ~ Jazz
Recorded: 1983 Released: 1984
Brilliant album by the Keith JarrettFind albums by this artist trio with bassist Gary PeacockFind albums by this artist and drummer Jack DeJohnetteFind albums by this artist, recorded at the same session which resulted in the two "Standards" albums. This album, which includes Jarrett´s original compositions, is closer to the "usual" music performed by the trio, but the atmosphere prevailing at these sessions is firmly present within, which integrates this music with the two standards albums into a coherent musical entity. The performances by Peacock and DeJohnette are also stellar and complement the leader´s vision perfectly, setting a new standard as far as playing standards is concerned. In retrospect this is some of the most impressive Jazz ever recorded and an everlasting musical adventure. A must to any serious listener and an essential piece of Jazz history!
| | | CD 1 Recommend To A Friend |
  | KEITH JARRETT ~ EYES OF THE HEART
ECM 1150 (Barcode: 042282547620) ~ USA ~ Jazz
Recorded: 1976 Released: 1988
This live recording by the US quartet led by pianist / composer Keith JarrettFind albums by this artist with saxophonist Dewey RedmanFind albums by this artist, bassist Charlie HadenFind albums by this artist and drummer Paul MotianFind albums by this artist was originally released as a 3-sided 2LP set (one of a very few such releases, with side 4 left blank), due to the limited playtime of the vinyl format - now it fits perfectly on one CD. The music includes basically one tune (the album´s title), which is split into two parts (again as a result of LP´s sides) and an encore played by the quartet during the concert, which resided on the third vinyl side. While composed by Jarrett, the music is largely improvised, especially when extended into a half an hour long performance. The emotional depth is staggering and the virtuosity of the players, although universally known as a fact, is always astounding. A rare moment of musical ingenuity and aesthetic beauty captured for eternity… a must!
| | | CD 1 Recommend To A Friend |
  | KEITH JARRETT ~ FACING YOU
ECM 1017 (Barcode: 602517758452) ~ USA ~ Jazz
Recorded: 1971 Released: 2008
This monumental and revolutionary album was the first release by US pianist / composer Keith JarrettFind albums by this artist on the (then) very young German ECMFind albums on this label label. In retrospect, from a 40 years perspective, it´s obvious that it was a pivotal point as much for Jarrett as for ECM, with both names achieving legendary status in years that followed this recording. It was also the first solo piano recording by Jarrett, opening a completely new musical universe for him and for music connoisseurs, a path he was about to follow almost in parallel to his more conventional Jazz recordings and later Classical music recordings. Jarrett´s solo piano performances are mostly improvised and present a mind-flow of on-the-spot spontaneous music creation, which requires total concentration and a trance-like state of mind by the artists. The approach on this, first of a kind recording, is however transitional, as Jarrett plays here mostly pre-composed material, which is expanded by his improvisations, but is altogether less spontaneous then his later recordings of this type. Therefore this is a perfect introduction to his solo piano work, serving as a process-in-progress showcase. Of course the music and the performance lost absolutely nothing of its beauty and power over time and it´s still a superb piece of music. I can´t imagine anybody not having this in their music collection.
| | | CD 1 Mini-Sleeve Recommend To A Friend |
  | KEITH JARRETT ~ HAMBURG `72
ECM 2422 (Barcode: 602547042569) ~ USA ~ Jazz
Recorded: 1972 Released: 2014
The piano trio with bassist Charlie HadenFind albums by this artist and drummer Paul MotianFind albums by this artist was Keith JarrettFind albums by this artist´s first ensemble as a leader and he recorded several albums with the trio before adding saxophonist Dewey RedmanFind albums by this artist, creating the so called American quartet. By the time this music was recorded the trio did not perform any more as such and it is probably one of the last if not the last concert they played together, which was recorded. Jarrett plays primarily the piano but also flute, soprano saxophone and percussion. The album includes six compositions, four of which are his ("Everything That Lives Laments" was recorded on the trio´s last album "The Mourning Of A StarFind albums with this title" / "Take Me Back" was recorded on Jarrett´s "ExpectationsFind albums with this title" album just a couple on months earlier), one is by his (then) wife Margot and one by Haden (the famous "Song For Che").
This was a transition period for Jarrett, following his early solo career and the stint with Miles Davis, but before he found his true individual voice, which reached its apex in his trio with bassist Gary PeacockFind albums by this artist and drummer Jack DeJohnetteFind albums by this artist. The seeds of greatness are of course there, but not the fully blossomed genius. Therefore this album suffers from the same problems all the rest of the recordings by that trio suffer from: a lack of focus and consistency. On the other hand it is the best sounding recording (which is hardly surprising) of this trio´s releases.
Overall this is a very important historical document as far as Jarrett´s career is concerned, obviously essential to Jarrett´s enthusiasts following his career closely (and buying absolutely every album he is on), but hardly Jarrett at his absolute best, a curiosity rather than a groundbreaking statement.
God only knows (and perhaps Manfred EicherFind albums by this artist, but it is highly possible they are one and the same) how spacious the ECMFind albums on this label vaults are and how many more archival Jarrett´s albums are going to surface in the future. Hopefully they will prove to be more exciting than this one.
| | | CD 1 Slipcase Remastered Recommend To A Friend |
  | KEITH JARRETT ~ INSIDE OUT
ECM 1780 (Barcode: 044001400520) ~ USA ~ Jazz
Recorded: 2000 Released: 2001
The Keith JarrettFind albums by this artist trio, with bassist Gary PeacockFind albums by this artist and drummer Jack DeJohnetteFind albums by this artist is undoubtedly the most famous Jazz ensemble on the scene since at least two decades. All these musicians are absolute Masters of the trade, but what makes this trio tick is the telepathic conversation, that connects them into a perfect unison. A long and impressive array of recordings by this trio, released on the ECMFind albums on this label label, is one of the pillar stones of modern Jazz, regardless of the fact if they play standards or original compositions by Jarrett. Each and every one of these recordings has something to offer and even if one already owns some of them, one more is always welcome. This album is a live recording at the Royal Festival Hall in London and the trio plays four original compositions and one standard. The music is just perfect, as is the recording quality, for which the label is famous. An absolute must!
| | | CD 1 Slipcase Recommend To A Friend |
  | KEITH JARRETT ~ LIVE IN HAMBURG 1972
JAZZ LIPS 761 (Barcode: 8436019587614) ~ USA ~ Jazz
Recorded: 1972 - 1974 Released: 2008
This is an unofficial (politically correct alias for good old bootleg) album by the great American pianist / composer Keith JarrettFind albums by this artist, recorded live in June 14, 1972 with his trio, which also included bassist Charlie HadenFind albums by this artist and drummer Paul MotianFind albums by this artist. The trio performs twelve original compositions, all composed by Jarrett. Jarrett also plays saxophone, flute and percussion on some of these tracks. The album also includes four live tracks recorded a couple of years later in NY, this time with a quintet that includes trumpeter Chet BakerFind albums by this artist, saxophonist Lee KonitzFind albums by this artist, Haden on bass and drummer Beaver HarrisFind albums by this artist, all of which are standards. Also included are two solo piano pieces recorded in 1974, both original compositions / improvisations by Jarrett.
Listeners familiar with Jarrett´s discography can easily pinpoint these tracks as trio versions of the tracks recorded by the so called American Quartet, which included this trio and saxophonist Dewey RedmanFind albums by this artist. They appeared on the album "El JuicioFind albums with this title", recorded in 1971 but released only in 1975 on AtlanticFind albums on this label and on the album "ExpectationsFind albums with this title" recorded in October 1972, i.e. after this live performance, and released on ColumbiaFind albums on this label. The full genealogy of all the tracks is described in the album´s booklet.
The bonus tracks with the quintet are quite unusual, as Jarrett rarely ever played standards at that time and it is the only recording meeting between him and Baker or Konitz.
Jarrett enthusiasts should find this album fascinating at least, as it offers almost two hours of previously unavailable material from the pianist career, which, as usual, is not only excellent musically, but also reveals his performance style and mannerisms in his early period, especially in view of the fact that the American Quartet or the trio did not release any official live material.
The sound quality is a bit Lo-Fi here and there, but considering the historical importance of this music and its rarity, this can be easily forgiven. It would have been nicer to have this music officially released, but considering the revolting politics of the music industry and the nasty habit of keeping unreleased treasures hidden in the vaults, such treasures are bound to pop up sooner and later.
If you can get it (which I doubt) grab it with both hands and cherish it!
| | Updated: 01/06/2018Posted: 30/10/2016 | CD 2 Recommend To A Friend |
  | KEITH JARRETT ~ MY FOOLISH HEART – LIVE AT MONTREUX
ECM 2021/22 (Barcode: 602517373266) ~ USA ~ Jazz
Recorded: 2001 Released: 2007
No other piano trio on this planet plays the standards the way the pianist Keith JarrettFind albums by this artist, bassist Gary PeacockFind albums by this artist and drummer Jack DeJohnetteFind albums by this artist do – divinely, perfectly, differently… In the liner notes accompanying this release Jarrett writes as follows: "I want to thank Gary and Jack for sharing the struggle for artistic survival in a word of fakery, thoughtlessness, mimicry, diffidence, apathy, unconsciousness, laziness, empty virtuosity, ignorance and self-deceit." I must say that these words match exactly what I think and feel since many years and time only makes them more relevant. Therefore music of such beauty and artistic value must be cherished, even if by just a few. This album is the second document of the trio´s European tour of 2001, following "The Out-Of-TownersFind albums with this title". Of all the live "Standards" recordings, this one surpasses them all (if such thing is at all possible) and is an absolute model and an essential piece of music history!
| | | CD 2 Slipcase Recommend To A Friend |
  | KEITH JARRETT ~ PERSONAL MOUNTAINS
ECM 1382 (Barcode: 042283736122) ~ USA ~ Jazz
Recorded: 1979 Released: 1989
This monumental album is the only live recording by the legendary Scandinavian Quartet led by US pianist / composer Keith JarrettFind albums by this artist, with Norwegian saxophonist Jan GarbarekFind albums by this artist, Swedish bassist Palle DanielssonFind albums by this artist and Norwegian drummer Jon ChristensenFind albums by this artist. Starting with the 1974 album "BelongingFind albums with this title" this quartet recorded a series of brilliant albums released on the ECMFind albums on this label label, which to a large extent defined the "Scandinavian sound" as well as the "ECM sound", but also revolutionized the entire Jazz idiom. Unrestricted by the American Jazz limitations, Jarrett was able to discover new musical universes, which he did with passion and determination, always excelling himself both as a player and a composer. This album was recorded at the absolute artistic peak of the quartet, which after playing and recording together for half a decade, developed truly telepathic unity and perfect harmony. Although released only a decade after it was recorded, this album is a brilliant "time capsule", which remains a source of admiration and inspiration. Absolutely brilliant stuff!
| | | CD 1 Recommend To A Friend |
  | KEITH JARRETT ~ RIO
ECM 2198/99 (Barcode: 602527766454) ~ USA ~ Jazz
Recorded: 2011 Released: 2011
This album presents the music recorded live in Rio de Janeiro during a solo piano concert by the great Magician himself – Keith JarrettFind albums by this artist. Fifteen unnamed pieces stretch over two CDs, which seem to last but a brief moment, when listened to. For those familiar with Jarrett´s gigantic recorded legacy let me just say that this is a more melodic, optimistic, almost smiling Jarrett of them all. Something good must be happening to the great Artist, which he passes on to us, using his magic fingers and his enormous heart. All the rest is irrelevant… simply grab this is enjoy it for what it stands for: the epitome of pure Art, created by an Artist for Art-loving People.
| | | CD 1 Slipcase Recommend To A Friend |
  | KEITH JARRETT ~ SETTING STANDARDS
ECM 2030/32 (Barcode: 602517373440) ~ USA ~ Jazz
Recorded: 1983 Released: 2008
This wonderful Box Set contains the complete recordings by the Keith JarrettFind albums by this artist trio with bassist Gary PeacockFind albums by this artist and drummer Jack DeJohnetteFind albums by this artist during the January 1983 sessions in NY, which were released on three separate albums on the ECMFind albums on this label label: "Standards, Vol.1Find albums with this title" (ECM 1255), "Standards Vol.2Find albums with this title" (ECM 1289) and "ChangesFind albums with this title" (ECM 1276). Jarrett´s treatment of the standards is of course completely unique and unparalleled by any other interpretation available on record. His strong personality and vision transforms these melodies into a new plane, which is a mixture of the Jazz tradition and Jarrett´s only one of its kind universe. The third album, which includes Jarrett´s original compositions, is closer to the "usual" music performed by the trio, but the atmosphere prevailing at these sessions is firmly present within, which integrates this music with the two standards albums into a coherent musical entity. The performances by Peacock and DeJohnette are also stellar and complement the leader´s vision perfectly, setting a new standard as far as playing standards is concerned. In retrospect this is some of the most impressive Jazz ever recorded and an everlasting musical adventure. A must to any serious listener and an essential piece of Jazz history!
Side Note: These three albums were released on CD but are not available individually any more, so this is the only way to obtain them in CD form.
| | Updated: 26/01/2019Posted: | CD 3 Mini-Sleeve Box Set Essential Recommend To A Friend |
  | KEITH JARRETT ~ SLEEPER
ECM 2290/91 (Barcode: 602537055708) ~ USA ~ Jazz
Recorded: 1979 Released: 2012
This album contains the recording of the April 1979 Tokyo concert by the pianist / composer Keith JarrettFind albums by this artist and his European quartet with saxophonist Jan GarbarekFind albums by this artist, bassist Palle DanielssonFind albums by this artist and drummer Jon ChristensenFind albums by this artist, which was recorded some 23 years before the date of its release. It comprises of seven original compositions by Jarrett, spread over two CDs with a total playing time close to two hours. The sonic quality of this live recording is breathtaking and considering that the quartet was at that time at the absolute artistic peak having just released the studio album "Personal MountainsFind albums with this title", the album is simply an icon of contemporary music, Jazz and way beyond.
It makes no sense to repeat statements about Jarrett and his quartet and their music, since so much has already been written on the subject. Obviously this is some of the best music ever created on this planet and an absolute "must hear" for every person, who is a true a music lover. Although recorded almost a quartet of a century ago, this music stays completely timeless and even more relevant today than at the time it was recorded, considering the state of music today.
This release makes one wonder how much more music is stored in the ECMFind albums on this label vaults and if keeping it hidden from the audiences is moral? Of course there are economic considerations involved, which raises the question as to this release´s full price status; after all it is an archival release, with the material already recorded and no new investment considered necessary, except for the manufacturing and copyright costs? Times are difficult for everybody, and even more so for music lovers, and if people can´t afford to buy this album they will, yet again, obtain an illegal download. An error of judgment, as far as I can tell, by a label that is usually a beacon of excellence.
But earthly considerations aside, this is Godly music and should be treated as such. Ergo, essential stuff!
| | | CD 2 Slipcase Essential Recommend To A Friend |
  | KEITH JARRETT ~ SOMEWHERE
ECM 2200 (Barcode: 602527663708) ~ USA ~ Jazz
Recorded: 2009 Released: 2013
This is a live recording by the celebrated pianist / composer Keith JarrettFind albums by this artist and his trio with bassist Gary PeacockFind albums by this artist and drummer Jack DeJohnetteFind albums by this artist, which is the best piano trio that ever walked upon this earth. Recorded in 2009, this is chronologically the most recent recording by the trio, which epitomizes the Art of the Jazz piano trio since its inception three decades ago. They perform eight pieces, two of which are Jarrett´s originals and six are standards. The two originals are intertwined with two of the standards, which results in the album having only six separate tracks.
The only document we have at our disposal of the trio´s performances preceding this one is the 2002 recording released as "Up For ItFind albums with this title", which sadly looked as perhaps being their final recorded hour, and therefore the release of this album is an extraordinarily joyous occasion, which opens the gates of hope for more material by these astonishing musicians. Sine the vaults of ECMFind albums on this label are kept more secret than those of the Pentagon, there is no certainty either way.
There is really no point in explaining yet again why this is unparalleled music, performed by Master musicians; if anybody reading these lines is not convinced, it might be just too late for them. Listening to this music exemplifies the essence of Jazz, its Artistry and its beauty. Improvisation, the missing link which bridges between ordinary music and extraordinary music, is presented here clearly, explicitly and masterly, straight from the horse´s mouth, for all to follow and enjoy. Anything else is simply superfluous.
| | | CD 1 Slipcase Recommend To A Friend |
  | KEITH JARRETT ~ STANDARDS LIVE
ECM 1317 (Barcode: 602517758476) ~ USA ~ Jazz
Recorded: 1985 Released: 2008
The Keith JarrettFind albums by this artist trio, with bassist Gary PeacockFind albums by this artist and drummer Jack DeJohnetteFind albums by this artist is undoubtedly the most famous Jazz ensemble on the scene since at least two decades. All these musicians are absolute Masters of the trade, but what makes this trio tick is the telepathic conversation, that connects them into a perfect unison. A long and impressive array of recordings by this trio, released on the ECMFind albums on this label label, is one of the pillar stones of modern Jazz, regardless of the fact if they play standards or original compositions by Jarrett. Each and every one of these recordings has something to offer and even if one already owns some of them, one more is always welcome. This album is a live recording in France and the trio plays six classic standards, and no other musicians is able to make standards sound like Jarrett does. The music is just perfect, as is the recording quality, for which the label is famous. An absolute must!
| | | CD 1 Mini-Sleeve Recommend To A Friend |
  | KEITH JARRETT ~ STANDARDS VOL.1
ECM 1255 (Barcode: 042281196621) ~ USA ~ Jazz
Recorded: 1983 Released: 1985
Brilliant album by the Keith JarrettFind albums by this artist trio with bassist Gary PeacockFind albums by this artist and drummer Jack DeJohnetteFind albums by this artist, presenting Jarrett´s treatment of standards, which is of course completely unique and unparalleled by any other interpretation available on record. His strong personality and vision transforms these melodies into a new plane, which is a mixture of the Jazz tradition and Jarrett´s only one of its kind universe. The performances by Peacock and DeJohnette are also stellar and complement the leader´s vision perfectly, setting a new standard as far as playing standards is concerned. In retrospect this is some of the most impressive Jazz ever recorded and an everlasting musical adventure. A must to any serious listener and an essential piece of Jazz history!
| | | CD 1 Essential Recommend To A Friend |
  | KEITH JARRETT ~ STILL LIVE
ECM 1360/61 (Barcode: 042283500822) ~ USA ~ Jazz
Recorded: 1986 Released: 1988
This is the second live "standards" recording by the piano trio with pianist / composer Keith JarrettFind albums by this artist, bassist Gary PeacockFind albums by this artist and drummer Jack DeJohnetteFind albums by this artist, following the "standards" studio recordings in the early 1980s. The trio will record a long series of live "standards" albums in the scope of the following two decades. They play standards in a way no other piano trio does, with exceptional perception of the music, freedom of expression between the players and a telepathic connection between them. Anything said beyond this is simply superfluous, as I´ve already written extensively on this subject. This album, same as all the others of its kind, is an absolute must for any serious Jazz connoisseur and piano trio lovers in particular. Brilliant!
| | | CD 2 Recommend To A Friend |
  | KEITH JARRETT ~ THE CARNEGIE HALL CONCERT
ECM 1989/90 (Barcode: 602498562246) ~ USA ~ Jazz
Recorded: 2005 Released: 2006
Thirty years after he recorded the legendary album "The Köln ConcertFind albums with this title", US pianist / composer Keith JarrettFind albums by this artist is again alone at the piano, playing for an enthusiastic crowd at the legendary NY Carnegie Hall. Including almost two hours of music, which starts with 10 improvised pieces, followed by 5 interpretations of his better known compositions, this album presents a matured, but definitely not burned out Genius, who can still move mountains with his music. Since all music connoisseurs are by now obviously familiar with Jarrett´s solo piano recordings, there is little need to say much more here, except for stating that he lost nothing of his imaginative powers and is still able to move the listener deeply. I´m sure that Jarrett´s followers wouldn´t miss adding this one to their collection. Spectacular stuff!
| | | CD 2 Slipcase Recommend To A Friend |
  | KEITH JARRETT ~ THE CURE
ECM 1440 (Barcode: 042284965026) ~ USA ~ Jazz
Recorded: 1990 Released: 1991
This is a live "standards" recording by the piano trio with pianist / composer Keith JarrettFind albums by this artist, bassist Gary PeacockFind albums by this artist and drummer Jack DeJohnetteFind albums by this artist, following the "standards" studio recordings in the early 1980s, except for one original Jarrett piece, which gives the album its title. The trio will record a long series of live "standards" albums in the scope of the following two decades. They play standards in a way no other piano trio does, with exceptional perception of the music, freedom of expression between the players and a telepathic connection between them. Anything said beyond this is simply superfluous, as I´ve already written extensively on this subject. This album, same as all the others of its kind, is an absolute must for any serious Jazz connoisseur and piano trio lovers in particular. Brilliant!
Visitors' Comments
Christopher Brice
Among the many wonderful albums by this trio, The Cure manages to be outstanding, particularly for the final track, with its almost painfully restrained and very exciting drum work
| | | CD 1 Recommend To A Friend |
  | KEITH JARRETT ~ THE IMPULSE YEARS 1973-1974
IMPULSE! 237 (Barcode: 011105023726) ~ USA ~ Jazz
Recorded: 1973 - 1974 Released: 1997
During the 1970’s Keith JarrettFind albums by this artist was living a double musical life, leading two completely different quartets – The American one (which recorded on Impulse!Find albums on this label - captured here) and the European / Nordic one, with which he recorded on ECMFind albums on this label. The ECM recordings brought him much glory and fame (in addition to his famous solo-piano recordings on that label), but the recordings with the American quartet, which included Dewey RedmanFind albums by this artist on reeds, Charlie HadenFind albums by this artist on bass and Paul MotianFind albums by this artist on drums, remain somewhat overlooked / neglected by the jazz enthusiasts. This is of course a great pity, as these revolutionary performances include some of the finest Jarrett’s moments captured on record, as well as brilliant achievements by the members of his quartet. This brilliant Box Set is the companion to the other set, which includes Jarrett’s other recordings on Impulse! (Mysteries: The Impulse Years 1975-1977Find albums with this title, which unfortunately seems to be out of print). It includes material previously released on four Jarrett albums: Fort YawuhFind albums with this title, Treasure IslandFind albums with this title, Death And The FlowerFind albums with this title and BackhandFind albums with this title, but totals in almost double amount of music, with many previously unreleased tracks and tracks released here in their unedited (full) form. The music is of course typical Jarrett, moving constantly between melody and free form, somewhat expanding on the Ornette Coleman legacy, but always very individual and unique only to Jarrett. Redman is also at his best here, especially when captured live (the first 2 CDs were recorded live at the Village Vanguard). This is undoubtedly some of the best American jazz ever and hopefully more people will decide to re-visit these wonderful musical moments.
| | Updated: 26/08/2020Posted: | CD 5 Box Set Remastered Bonus Tracks Essential Recommend To A Friend |
  | KEITH JARRETT ~ THE KÖLN CONCERT
ECM 1064/65 (Barcode: 042281006722) ~ USA ~ Jazz
Recorded: 1975 Released: 1983
This is one of the most widely known, best selling and also most widely discussed Jazz albums ever released, so I´ll be brief here. I had the immense pleasure to be present at the Köln (Cologne) Opera House when this album was recorded; therefore I´m probably quite biased. US pianist / composer Keith JarrettFind albums by this artist, alone at the piano, creates an entire musical universe, directly from his mind via his fingers and the keyboard. The music is a spur of the moment, spontaneous flow of notes, which make perfect sense even in the absence of clearly defined melody or conventional harmony. It is ecstatic, emotional, natural, almost Zen like, self-centered and above all magnificent and almost painfully beautiful. Although this album was followed by many other solo piano recordings by Jarrett, he rarely arrived again at the same level of inspiration and totality as he did here. The music lasts for just over 66 minutes and the album was originally released as a double LP. It´s not surprising that the album was widely listened to by people, who don´t usually listen to Jazz or even plainly dislike Jazz, as it truly transcends genres and stylistic definitions. This is music to be experienced, not only to be listened to. I have often seen people calling this "the most overrated album in music history" – all I can tell these people is to stick it, which I hope will be appropriately painful. Beyond essential!
| | | CD 1 Essential Recommend To A Friend |
  | KEITH JARRETT ~ THE MOURNING OF A STAR
WOUNDED BIRD 1596 ~ USA ~ Jazz
After leaving Miles Davis, Keith Jarrett led two parallel groups - one in the US with the great Charlie Haden, Paul Motian and Dewey Redman and the other in Europe with Scandinavian players Jan Garbarek, Palle Danielsson and Jon Christensen. The US group recorded a series if revolutionay and exciting albums starting in 1971, of which this is the first (as a trio). Jarrett was still developing and perfecting his most personal style and these recordings give a fascinating glimpse at that process.
| | | CD 1 Recommend To A Friend |
  | KEITH JARRETT ~ THE OUT-OF-TOWNERS
ECM 1900 (Barcode: 602498196106) ~ USA ~ Jazz
Recorded: 2001 Released: 2004
The Keith JarrettFind albums by this artist piano trio with bassist Gary PeacockFind albums by this artist and drummer Jack DeJohnetteFind albums by this artist is not only the most famous Jazz ensemble but also the best there is in that niche. Playing together since 1983, they sure had enough time together to become inseparable as a music-making unit. They certainly don´t have to prove anything anymore, which allows them to select freely what they want to play together. The decision to play mostly standards is a courageous one, as playing standards is sometimes considered limited and unimaginative. But that does not apply to what this trio is doing, even if they are doing it for so long. The way they re-invent standards and expand them with their own additions is simply miraculous and unparalleled. And so every new album by this trio is simply another musical adventure, we can all enjoy. This live recording is a bit special, as it includes a solo piano track (the last track on the album), which so far was never part of the trio´s albums. This is beyond recommendations and praises, just get it and enjoy.
| | | CD 1 Slipcase Recommend To A Friend |
  | KEITH JARRETT ~ TOKYO `96
ECM 1666 (Barcode: 731453995529) ~ USA ~ Jazz
Recorded: 1996 Released: 1998
This is a live recording by the piano trio led by pianist / composer Keith JarrettFind albums by this artist with bassist Gary PeacockFind albums by this artist and drummer Jack DeJohnetteFind albums by this artist. Following the "standards" studio recordings in the early 1980s, the trio recorded a long sequence of live "standards" albums during the following two decades. They play standards in a way no other piano trio does, with exceptional perception of the music, freedom of expression by the individual players and a telepathic connection between them. Anything said beyond this is simply superfluous, as I´ve already written extensively on this subject. This album, same as all the others of its kind, is an absolute must for any serious Jazz connoisseur and piano trio lovers in particular. Brilliant!
| | | CD 1 Slipcase Recommend To A Friend |
  | KEITH JARRETT ~ UP FOR IT
ECM 1860 (Barcode: 044003831728) ~ USA ~ Jazz
Recorded: 2002 Released: 2003
In the liner notes accompanying this CD, pianist / composer Keith JarrettFind albums by this artist describes the circumstances surrounding this particular live recording by the trio with bassist Gary PeacockFind albums by this artist and drummer Jack DeJohnetteFind albums by this artist at the Juan-les-Pins Jazz Festival (southern France). Following an extremely difficult period full of personal problems, experienced by these great musicians (including health problems, with are always the worst), they were all ready to hit bottom at that particular moment. But a miraculous ray of sunshine uplifted their spirits and enabled them to go on stage, being "up for it" – to play a wonderful set of standards. No other trio on this planet plays the standards the way they do and pray God they will continue to do so as long as they are able. As always, this is divine stuff, every little sound-bit, every pause, every nuance and every breath of air. An absolute must!
| | | CD 1 Slipcase Recommend To A Friend |
  | KEITH JARRETT ~ WHISPER NOT
ECM 1724/25 (Barcode: 731454381628) ~ USA ~ Jazz
Recorded: 1999 Released: 2000
This is a live recording by the piano trio led by pianist / composer Keith JarrettFind albums by this artist with bassist Gary PeacockFind albums by this artist and drummer Jack DeJohnetteFind albums by this artist. Following the "standards" studio recordings in the early 1980s, the trio recorded a long sequence of live "standards" albums during the following two decades. They play standards in a way no other piano trio does, with exceptional perception of the music, freedom of expression by the individual players and a telepathic connection between them. Anything said beyond this is simply superfluous, as I´ve already written extensively on this subject. This album, same as all the others of its kind, is an absolute must for any serious Jazz connoisseur and piano trio lovers in particular. Brilliant!
| | | CD 2 Slipcase Recommend To A Friend |
  | KEITH JARRETT ~ YESTERDAYS
ECM 2060 (Barcode: 602517744479) ~ USA ~ Jazz
Recorded: 2001 Released: 2009
This live recording by the best Jazz piano trio in the world: pianist / composer Keith JarrettFind albums by this artist, bassist Gary PeacockFind albums by this artist and drummer Jack DeJohnetteFind albums by this artist, is a companion release to the album "Always Let Me Go – Live In TokyoFind albums with this title", as it was recorded at the same series of concerts. This album, however, presents the trio playing standards, as opposed to the original material collected on the a.m. album. As all the other "Standards" albums released by this trio, this one is also perfect in every way and obviously different again from everything else already available. There is no point of going into how great this music is – the people who know this already will not hesitate for a moment and the ones who don´t want to know, don´t matter AFAIAC. An absolute must!
| | | CD 1 Slipcase Recommend To A Friend |
  | KEITH JARRETT / JACK DEJOHNETTE ~ RUTA AND DAITYA
ECM 1021 (Barcode: 731451377624) ~ USA ~ Jazz
Recorded: 1971 Released: 1993
This is an early collaboration between US pianist / composer Keith JarrettFind albums by this artist and drummer Jack DeJohnetteFind albums by this artist, which will later on evolve into world´s most famous Jazz trio with the addition of bassist Gary PeacockFind albums by this artist. The music herein was privately recorded by these two musicians while they were still members of the Miles DavisFind albums by this artist ensemble. Following the release of Jarrett´s "Facing YouFind albums with this title" album on ECMFind albums on this label, he offered ECM these recordings and the label released them willingly. The music is mostly co-composed by Jarrett and DeJohnette, with just a few compositions credited to Jarrett alone. The atmosphere is intimate and quite free, evidently mostly improvised, as appropriate for the period. Jarrett plays both acoustic and electric piano and this is one of the latest recording where he was using electric piano, soon to be totally dedicated to the acoustic piano. DeJohnette plays wonderfully and the duo setting emphasizes his unusual approach to rhythm and his truly amazing musicality and ability to listen to his partners. This is a great chapter, although relatively unknown, in the history of these great musicians. A must!
| | | CD 1 Recommend To A Friend |
  | SLAWOMIR JASKULKE ~ MOMENTS
UNIVERSAL 602537345595 (Barcode: 602537345595) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz
Recorded: 2012 Released: 2013
This is the fifth solo album by Polish Jazz pianist / composer Slawomir JaskulkeFind albums by this artist and his second solo piano recording. Jaskulke has been a dominant figure on the young Polish Jazz scene since the turn of the Century, participated in numerous projects and recorded over thirty albums, mostly as a sideman. This album presents eight original compositions by Jaskulke the composer, which all receive an extended treatment by Jaskulke the pianist.
The immediate impression of the music on this album is quite surprising, especially to people who are familiar with Jaskulke´s earlier recordings. It seems he went through a deep transformation over time, during which the Classical music influence won over his initial focus on Jazz, taking him towards new pastures. One might even quite seriously wonder if this music is Jazz at all; a serious question not about how to label this music, which of course is irrelevant, but how to react to it aesthetically. A sort of question one might also ask about the solo piano works of Keith JarrettFind albums by this artist, where there is no clear answer to that dilemma. The music is melodic, lyrical and melancholic, with few, if any, rhythmic changes. After stating the melodic theme of each composition, Jaskulke enters a hypnotic, dreamlike phase of variations (rather than improvisations), returning intermittently to the melodic theme. Any listener, without prior knowledge of the artist involved, would most probably come to the conclusion that this is contemporary Classical piano music.
Gone is Jaskulke´s percussive attack on the keyboard, his long arpeggios and his youthful carefree chutzpah, all to be replaced by poise, introvert soul-searching and almost lethargic delivery. Obviously his excellent technique as a player is still very much there, but it is less dazzling and flamboyant. Are we talking about "growing up" I wonder, a wiz-kid becoming a celebrity? I have no answers only a lot of questions, but it seems a bit early in his career to "take it easy".
At least the music is all beautifully recorded, with an incredible sound quality, ambience, balance, separation, etc. A Steinway and a superb recording engineer are always worth their cost in gold. This is (sound wise) as good as any ECM recording!
I´m pretty sure this album will win many ecstatic reviews and make numerous listeners very happy. Good for them! It probably even deserves it; and it must be simply me looking for the imperfections of the universe. Talking of which I wonder is the fact that several albums I didn´t fall head over heels in love with lately were all released by UniversalFind albums on this label Music Polska? A coincidence, one wonders?
| | | CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend |
  | PENTTI LAHTI / AHVENLAHTI – OJANEN / MIRCEA STAN / JUKKA RUOHOMAKI ~ JAZZ LIISA VOL. 11 & VOL. 12
SVART 036 ~ FINLAND ~ Jazz
Recorded: 1974 Released: 2016
The "Popstudio" / "Jazzstudio" broadcasts were usually dedicated to one band / artists, but in some cases two acts were combined into one show, which allowed each of them just about twenty minutes to perform, as is the case on these two sessions.
Saxophonist / composer Pentti LahtiFind albums by this artist was one of the modern Finnish Jazz pioneers and a prominent figure on the local scene. The band captured on this live radio broadcast finds him playing alongside trombonist Mircea StanFind albums by this artist, pianist Olli AhvenlahtiFind albums by this artist, bassist Ilkka WillmanFind albums by this artist and drummer Tapani IkonenFind albums by this artist. They perform two standards and an original composition by Stan, all kept pretty much close to mainstream Jazz with a bit of World Music tinge on the piece by Stan, who immigrated to Finland from Romania and incorporated some Romanian folklore influence in this tune.
The piano duo comprising of Olli Ahvenlahti and Eero OjanenFind albums by this artist is a classic example of the "Art of the Duo" and their mutual affinity and wonderful interplay are captured perfectly on this live radio broadcast. They perform two compositions, one an original by Ojanen and the other a Keith JarrettFind albums by this artist piece, which is then partly repeated again as an encore.
The quintet led by trombonist Mircea Stan is basically identical to the one led by Lahti on the first radio broadcast included here, except for the bassist Pekka SarmantoFind albums by this artist. This time they perform three original compositions by Stan, with some Romanian music influences but also including Latin and Hard Bop stylistics, typical of his work. This music is less mainstream oriented than the Lahti session and includes many open, Free Jazz oriented parts.
The synthesizer player Jukka RuohomakiFind albums by this artist combines electronic music and Jazzy improvisation sharing forces with trombonist Mircea Stan, moog player Olli Ahvenlahti and synthesizer player Erkki KurenniemiFind albums by this artist. Together they perform just one extended piece, co-composed by all four players and basically collectively improvised.
Overall this is some of the most staggering music created in Europe in the early to mid 1970s that one is able to hear and for European Jazz connoisseurs this is an absolute must have!
Side Note
The Finnish independent label SvartFind albums on this label Records released an unprecedented series of albums called Pop Liisa and Jazz Liisa, which present priceless historical recordings of Finnish Rock, Progressive Rock, Jazz-Rock Fusion and Jazz music, recorded live and broadcasted from the Liisankatu Studios in Helsinki under the "Popstudio" and "Jazzstudio" monikers between 1972 and 1977. The studios were owned by the YLE (Finnish Broadcasting Company), a public broadcasting service, which not only allowed the burgeoning Finnish music scene at the time to be exposed but also carefully archived the recordings for future generations. All this incredible music was previously unissued and collectively is probably the most important document of Finnish music from that period ever assembled.
The music was released on 36 LPs (Pop Liisa Vol. 01 to Vol. 18 and Jazz Liisa Vol. 01 to Vol. 18) and on 18 CDs with every two consecutive volumes combined on one CD.
The sound quality is absolutely superb, often better than the sound quality on the LPs released by these artists at the time. Many of the groups appearing on these albums never managed to record an album and these recordings are the only recorded legacy in existence of their activity. The released are accompanied by well researched and intelligent liner notes.
This archival project is an outstanding example of how Cultural Legacy should be treated as well as of exemplary dedication to record producing professionalism.
| | Updated: 10/06/2020Posted: 10/06/2020 | CD 1 Remastered Recommend To A Friend |
  | CHARLES LLOYD ~ RABO DE NUBE
ECM 2053 (Barcode: 602517548114) ~ USA ~ Jazz
Recorded: 2007 Released: 2008
This is a live recording by American saxophonist / flautist / composer Charles LloydFind albums by this artist and his quartet which includes pianist Jason MoranFind albums by this artist, bassist Reuben RogersFind albums by this artist and drummer Eric HarlandFind albums by this artist. They perform together seven compositions, six of which are Lloyd´s originals and the title track was composed by the great Cuban musician / composer Silvio RodriguezFind albums by this artist.
Of all the great Jazz heroes of my youth, Lloyd seems to be the very last Mohican still alive and kicking, as if he was living in a time capsule; time has been very kind to him and his vitality and amazing talent flourish completely untouched and unblemished. A while ago I listened to all the mid to late 1960s recordings by the Charles Lloyd legendary quartet with pianist Keith JarrettFind albums by this artist, bassists Ron McClureFind albums by this artist / Cecil McBeeFind albums by this artist and drummer Jack DeJohnetteFind albums by this artist and that music sounds even better today than it sounded then, and in parallel Lloyd is able to play the way he does now, four decades later. This is simply amazing!
Of course the fact that Lloyd manages to surround himself with some of the absolutely best young and upcoming musicians (as he always did) is part of the secret formula. Moran is a major contender to the exclusive top Jazz pianists "club" and the rhythm section is also inspired and technically very proficient. Most importantly however is the fact that they show an immense respect for the Master, supporting his at all times sympathetically and unpretentiously, waiting for their solo spots patiently.
Staying contemporary for five decades is definitely a super rare ability, so thank God for Charles Lloyd and his music.
| | | CD 1 Slipcase Recommend To A Friend |
  | PAUL MOTIAN ~ PAUL MOTIAN
ECM 2260/65 (Barcode: 602537223466) ~ USA ~ Jazz
Recorded: 1972 - 1984 Released: 2013
This superb Box Set contains the first six albums by the legendary American drummer / composer Paul MotianFind albums by this artist, released on the ECMFind albums on this label label, which are: "Conception VesselFind albums with this title" (ECM 1028) recorded 1972, "TributeFind albums with this title" (ECM 1048) recorded 1974, "DanceFind albums with this title" (ECM 1108) recorded 1977, "Le VoyageFind albums with this title" (ECM 1138) recorded 1979, "PsalmFind albums with this title" (ECM 1222) recorded 1981 and finally "It Should`ve Happened A Long Time AgoFind albums with this title" (ECM 1283) recorded 1984. Except for just two cases all the music is composed by Motian and performed by various ensembles: three are by a trio, two by quintet and one by sextet. The musicians include pianist Keith JarrettFind albums by this artist, guitarists Sam BrownFind albums by this artist and Bill FrisellFind albums by this artist, saxophonists Carlos WardFind albums by this artist, Charles BrackeenFind albums by this artist and Joe LovanoFind albums by this artist, bassists Charlie HadenFind albums by this artist, David IzenzonFind albums by this artist, Jean-Francois Jenny-ClarkFind albums by this artist and Ed SchullerFind albums by this artist and several others
These albums are all superb examples of Motian´s talent as a composer, who is able to weave beautifully melodic tunes, which nevertheless are open enough to serve as vehicles for extensive improvisations. Except for the first album in this Box Set all other ensembles led by Motian are pianoless and relay mostly on guitar as the harmonic instrument, expressing Motian´s deep affection for this instrument.
Of course Motian´s most important contribution to the Jazz idiom was his revolutionary approach to drumming, which in his case almost completely transformed the instrument´s role form time keeping tool to an instrument performing alongside the other instruments in the ensemble.
Motian´s intimate and complex music may be somewhat difficult for a mainstream Jazz fan, but it truly deserves an open-minded effort to be penetrated and then enjoyed in full. This music is after all an important chapter in American Jazz, which is ambitious and highly aesthetic, and which manages to break from the stale traditionalism into new vistas.
Side Note: These albums are not available on CD individually, so this is the only way to obtain them in CD form.
| | Updated: 26/01/2019Posted: | CD 6 Mini-Sleeve Box Set Recommend To A Friend |
  | PIOTR ORZECHOWSKI ~ PIANOHOOLIGAN
NOT ON LABEL ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Classical Fusion
Recorded: 2011 Released: 2011
Polish pianist / composer Piotr OrzechowskiFind albums by this artist (a.k.a. PianohooliganFind albums by this artist) is at the moment the youngest Polish Jazz piano star. Tenderly aged 21 he already has an impressive CV, which many much older musicians could envy, which includes winning several competitions both as instrumentalist and composer. Classically trained, he discovered Jazz as a teenager and has been active on the Jazz scene since. His nickname "Pianohooligan" is quite appropriate for his disregard of music conventions, which he does not hesitate to break at every possible occasion.
This incredible debut demo recording, presents him both as a pianist and composer, in the most difficult setting as a solo performer. The music included starts with a prelude by Johann Sebastian BachFind albums by this artist, continues with an eight-part scherzo composed by Orzechowski, followed by a Keith JarrettFind albums by this artist tune and finally concludes with a fugue by Dmitri ShostakovichFind albums by this artist. This strange collage of musical pieces makes perfect sense when performed by Orzechowski, even though at the first glance one might wonder what all this music has in common.
His incredible virtuosity and individuality, as well as his great sense of melody, harmony and rhythm manage to produce a coherent musical experience, which brigs the listener many moments of bliss and supreme musical joy. The attempt to fuse Classical music and Jazz in this case works beautifully, proving yet again that great music is cross-genre and universally aesthetically perfect. The treatment of the Classical pieces is genuinely sublime and the original music is masterfully crafted. Overall it is a great album from start to finish and honestly quite scary, considering the age of its creator. For people of such talent sky is the only limit!
| | Updated: 18/10/2022Posted: | CD 1 Mini-Sleeve Recommend To A Friend |
  | WLODEK PAWLIK ~ GRAND PIANO
ARMS 06-07 (Barcode: 5900238791051) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Classical Fusion
Recorded: 2008 Released: 2008
Polish pianist / composer Wlodek PawlikFind albums by this artist has been one of the most prolific and multifaceted / versatile musicians on the local scene. His activity spans cross-genre projects, ranging between contemporary Classical, Jazz and music for films, all of which have been warmly received by critics and the public. His discography since the late 1980s includes over 20 albums, which is a remarkable achievement by any standard. This double CD package presents Pawlik playing two sets of solo piano music, recorded during two consecutive night recording sessions. The music is completely improvised and consists of a series of pieces, or as the artist calls them impressions, which were created on the spur of the moment. They are left unnamed and are listed as Track 1 to Track 11 on the first CD and Track 1 to Track 14 on the second, perhaps in order to avoid and unnecessary associations while listening to the music. Solo piano albums, and double albums at that, can present an enormous challenge both to the performer and the listener. Two hours of improvised music can and often do evolve into obsessive New Age doodling, pretentious pseudo-intellectual masturbation or deadly boring elevator muzak. Pawlik skillfully and intelligently manages to avoid any of the above traps, producing a sequence of musical vistas, which sound like a soundtrack to an imaginary movie, constantly changing moods, tempi and harmonic structures, but unified and consolidated by a certain frame of mind of the artist, which he passes to the listener. This is certainly a challenging music, stimulating the listener to take part in the creative process when absorbing it into his consciousness or perhaps sub-consciousness. Perhaps not suitable for everybody, this music can serve as a great source musical pleasure to the apt listener. It is also deeply European in character, with distant echoes of Chopin, Rachmaninoff, Debussy and others at least in spiritum. The obvious Keith JarrettFind albums by this artist association also comes to mind, although Pawlik´s approach to on the spot composition / improvisation is much more introvert and relaxed than Jarrett´s. Solo piano lovers will find this album a chest a treasures, as all serious music connoisseurs. This is a treat!
| | | CD 2 Gold Recommend To A Friend |
  | KUBA PLUZEK ~ ELEVEN SONGS
V 007 (Barcode: 5903111377069) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz
Recorded: 2014 Released: 2015
This is the second album by young Polish Jazz pianist / composer Kuba PluzekFind albums by this artist and his first solo piano outing. It presents, as the title suggests, eleven "songs", or rather compositions, treated in a very melodic way, two of which are his own compositions and the remaining nine are by Polish (Zbigniew WegehauptFind albums by this artist, Andrzej KurylewiczFind albums by this artist) and other (Brad MehldauFind albums by this artist, Michel PetruccianiFind albums by this artist, Dave HollandFind albums by this artist) Jazz musicians / composers or by non-Jazz cinematic composers (Hans ZimmerFind albums by this artist, Luis BacalovFind albums by this artist).
From the very first notes of this album it becomes immediately apparent that Pluzek justifies all the high hopes expressed as a result of his debut album a couple of years earlier. His technique and touch are completely fluid and seamless, which is quite exceptional at his age. His choice of material seems to be no less intelligent and sophisticated than the actual performance, creating a roundness and sense of continuity, which only a few solo piano albums are able to achieve.
The piano playing style Pluzek utilizes on this album is based on extended continuous left hand arpeggios and the right hand stating the melody lines and chord progressions, which is somewhat similar to early Keith JarrettFind albums by this artist solo piano work, and is equally effective. His ability to play around with the tempi and producing a wide range of dynamic shifts is also impressive.
But beyond the technical facets of his playing, Pluzek expresses a beautiful lyricism and romance, which only the greatest piano players are blessed with. His interpretation of the classic ballad "Danny Boy", which has been performed countless times before, is a case in point. The entire experience of listening to this album is full of straightforward joy of music and of life, a rare moment of pure pleasure, which leaves the listener relaxed and deeply satisfied once the journey is over.
Although this is one of the first Polish Jazz albums of 2015, it is already pretty sure to become one of the contenders of the annual competition of top albums for this year. Definitely a commendable successor to the exceptional debut, this album is everything a piano solo album is supposed to be – a spiritual experience!
| | | CD 1 Slipcase Recommend To A Friend |
  | FRANCISZEK RACZKOWSKI TRIO ~ APPRENTICE
FOR TUNE 0066 (Barcode: 5902768701722) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz
Recorded: 2015 Released: 2015
This is the debut album by Polish Jazz pianist / composer Franciszek RaczkowskiFind albums by this artist, recorded in a classic piano trio setting with bassist Pawel WszolekFind albums by this artist and drummer Piotr BudniakFind albums by this artist. It presents seven original compositions, all by Raczkowski.
As the title suggests, Raczkowski is still at the very early stage of his career and is searching for his personal language, both as a player and a composer. His music is floating somewhere between mainstream Jazz and more ambitious explorations of the melodic and harmonic spheres, quite diverse and obviously still uncertain as to the final outcome. As a result the album is somewhat uneven, with some of the pieces being very interesting and others significantly less so. Although the music sounds very melodic, there are but a few clear melodic themes to which the listener can cling to or follow. The rest sounds just as fragmented statements, hold together by the framework of a tune, but not really making sense musically.
The music is very well performed, although Raczkowski does not display a wide dynamic range in his performances, which is splendidly picked up by the rhythm section, which does a wonderful job here. Wszolek keeps the tunes together bravely, even when the music seems to disintegrate, and Budniak keeps it alive with his delicate but masterly strokes.
After repeated listening to this album I could not honestly make up my mind if it presents a pianist / composer of great hope, as some of the statements I read about it claim. The comparisons to Keith JarrettFind albums by this artist are pretty far fetched and might prove more damaging than constructive. I´ll have to wait patiently for the next album to see if Raczkowski is the "next" big thing on the Polish scene. In the meantime this album surely deserves to be listened to and as a debut it is altogether quite nice.
| | | CD 1 Recommend To A Friend |
  | RGG ~ ONE
NOT ON LABEL (Barcode: 5905912559873) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz
Recorded: 2010 Released: 2011
This is the 5th album by the excellent Polish Jazz piano trio RGGFind albums by this artist, which comprises of pianist Przemyslaw RaminiakFind albums by this artist, bassist Maciej GarbowskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Krzysztof GradziukFind albums by this artist. Its release marks the trio´s tenth anniversary and adds a new direction to the remarkable body of music already recorded by the trio. In contrast to its predecessor, that included only spontaneously improvised music, most of the music on this album is composed, either by the trio members or other well known Jazz composers like Carla BleyFind albums by this artist and Richie BeirachFind albums by this artist. Of the thirteen compositions presented here only two are free improvisations, which is unusual for them.
All three RGG members are brilliant instrumentalists, but their performances together clearly create an outcome much bigger than the sum of its parts. The level of interplay, cooperation, mutual respect and understanding is truly phenomenal and the resulting music is able to move emotional mountains. To an attentive listener it is quite clear that even when they play relatively close to the original composition, RGG members display a high level of spontaneity, which is present only within the best piano trios in the world, like that of Keith JarrettFind albums by this artist, Gary PeacockFind albums by this artist and Jack DeJohnetteFind albums by this artist.
Another rare quality of RGG is the active involvement of the bass player and drummer in the process of music creation. This is definitely not a pianist with a rhythm section, but an organic three-headed body making music together.
This album can be a great service to the group as an introduction to their universe; surely anybody listening to it will want to explore their music further. People familiar with the Polish Jazz scene will immediately make the inevitable comparison between RGG and the "other" great Polish piano trio: Simple Acoustic TrioFind albums by this artist (or Marcin WasilewskiFind albums by this artist Trio). Comparisons of this sort are futile and have absolutely no sense, as both these trios play great music, each differently from the other. RGG are definitely closer to the Free / Improvised spirit of the music whereas Wasilewski´s trio is more disciplined and conventional, but both are examples of human talent and ingenuity of the highest ranking, which gives us all the immense pleasure of music.
It´s worth to mention that the album was recorded at the Studio Tokarnia, the best sound studio in Poland, and engineered by the studio´s owner (and a gifted musician himself) Jan SmoczynskiFind albums by this artist, which explains the incredible sound quality of this album. This is an absolute must to every Jazz piano trio connoisseur and of course anybody with a right pair of ears to appreciate great music. Not to be missed under any circumstances!
| | | CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend |
  | RGG ~ SZYMANOWSKI
FONOGRAFIKA (Barcode: 5903292104843) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz
Recorded: 2013 Released: 2013
This is the sixth album by the exquisite Polish Jazz piano trio RGGFind albums by this artist, and their first release following the changeover of their piano player, with Lukasz OjdanaFind albums by this artist replacing the founding member Przemyslaw RaminiakFind albums by this artist. For a piano trio the replacement of the pianist is equivalent more or less to a heart transplant in a human body, which is of course a tremendous upheaval. The fact that such transition not only is possible, but is eventually successful is nothing short of a miracle. Bassist Maciej GarbowskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Krzysztof GradziukFind albums by this artist should be congratulated for going through this experience unspoiled and unshaken in their team spirit. The fact that the trio chose to retain its name (rather than changing it to OGG for example) is a most welcome sign of respect towards their departed colleague and the will to continue the splendid tradition they created so far, a fine and very rare example of camaraderie winning over ego.
But the drama surrounding this album does not end with the personnel change; for the first time the trio decided to pay homage to a Classical composer, in this case the Polish early-20th Century pianist / composer Karol SzymanowskiFind albums by this artist. Szymanowski, a brilliant early-modernist / impressionist, who combined Polish Folklore and modernist compositional tools, is a rather neglected figure on the Polish scene, which is a great shame. Therefore the fact that RGG decided to make him the center of their new recording fits perfectly their non-conformist approach towards music. Of the thirteen tracks on this album, nine are interpretations of compositions by Szymanowski, three are composed by the bassist and the remaining one is a group composition. The original compositions are of course "in spiritu" inspired by the great composer. Following decades of Polish Jazz musicians obsessively interpreting the music of Frederic ChopinFind albums by this artist, it´s truly refreshing to hear some musicians turning the attention to other great Polish composers, like Szymanowski in this case.
What remains unchanged is the trio´s basic approach to music, full of freedom, beautiful silence between the notes, total dedication and amazing intellectual command, which takes the music to lofty peaks. Ideally, the listener of this music should be familiar, at least to some extent, with the original music by Szymanowski, but being realistic, this will be the case only in reference to very few listeners. But this music is so powerful and stunning, that it completely stands on its own as well. RGG managed again to create a sonic universe of its own, which keeps the tradition of the original music at its core alive a Century later, transforming it to contemporary set if aesthetic values and parameters. Perhaps this recording will inspire new listeners to discover Szymanowski, after listening to this gorgeous music: a double winner after all.
It makes no sense to compare Ojdana with Raminiak and additionally it means absolutely nothing as far as the music is concerned; the only thing that matters is the fact that he became an organic part of the trio, fitting ideally with his two partners and cooperating with them symbiotically and creatively. And most importantly the level of talent of virtuosity displayed by RGG was not lessened by an iota, which firmly places them at the very top of Jazz piano trios not only in their native Poland, but worldwide, easily! I´ve already written extensively about the talents of Messrs. Garbowski & Gradziuk, suffice to say they are without a doubt closer to Euterpe then most others I happened to have the pleasure to listen to.
The trio maintains the tradition of recording their albums at the now legendary Studio Tokarnia, under the auspices of the resident sound wizard Jan SmoczynskiFind albums by this artist. The result is nothing short of spectacular, which stands its ground to any ECMFind albums on this label recording, again with ease. Therefore for all intents and purposes this album is equivalent to a Keith JarrettFind albums by this artist trio album on ECM; it simply does not get any better than this.
| | | CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend |
  | KRZYSZTOF SADOWSKI ~ THREE THOUSANDS POINTS (POLISH JAZZ VOL.47)
GAD 031 (Barcode: 5901549197396) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion
Recorded: 1974 - 1997 Released: 2015
This is a reissue (first time on CD) of the third album by Polish Jazz keyboardist / composer Krzysztof SadowskiFind albums by this artist recorded with an ensemble called Organ GroupFind albums by this artist, which also included flautist / vocalist Liliana UrbanskaFind albums by this artist, saxophonists Vesselin NikolovFind albums by this artist and Tomasz SzukalskiFind albums by this artist, guitarist Winicjusz ChrostFind albums by this artist, bass guitarist Wojciech BruslikFind albums by this artist, drummers Zbigniew KitlinskiFind albums by this artist and Wojciech MorawskiFind albums by this artist and finally percussionists Andrzej ZielinskiFind albums by this artist and Bozena BruszewskaFind albums by this artist. The reason for the long lineup is the fact that the album was recorded during two separate sessions with two different lineups.
This album was released at the time as part of the legendary "Polish Jazz" series (as Vol.47) and included originally only four tracks, the first of which gave the album its title and was a twenty one minutes long suite originally found on side A of the LP. The three tracks on side B were shorter and spanned between three to nine minutes in duration. Two of the compositions were originals, both composed by Sadowski; one was a Keith JarrettFind albums by this artist tune and one was a Classical piece. This remastered reissue adds three bonus tracks recorded at the Polish Radio.
The music on this album shows Sadowski at full swing as a Jazz-Rock Fusion musician, firmly based in the Fusion idiom, which was pretty well established by then both on the Polish scene and abroad. He expands his arsenal and uses electric piano and early synthesizer (ring modulator) gadgets. The flute parts are more daring and the vocalese more developed, clearly following the work of Urszula DudziakFind albums by this artist. Nikolov adds a tinge of Balkan spice and Szukalski blows away like only he could, touching upon Free at times. The rhythmic support is very Rock oriented and the overall sound and feel of the music resembles to some extent the best Fusion ensembles active in the West but maintains an East European identity both harmonically and melodically.
In retrospect the album is a great document of the time at which it was recorded, proving that in spite of the relative separation from what was happing beyond the Iron Curtain, Polish Jazz was responding rapidly to the changes in the Jazz idiom, often with ferocity and ingenuity, which were impossible to hold back by the political regime. The grammar mistake in the English version of the title (preserved for historic consistency) is a nice reminder of Socialist bureaucracy (an insider´s joke).
As usual it is my duty to thank GADFind albums on this label Records for taking care of the Polish Jazz heritage, who is sadly a lonely rider on that trail. This superb music definitely needs to be fondly remembered and discovered by new generations!
| | | CD 1 Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend |
  | EMIL VIKLICKY ~ BALLADS AND MORE
ARTA 10161 (Barcode: 8595017416125) ~ CZECH REPUBLIC ~ Jazz
Recorded: 2007 Released: 2008
The piano trio is the perfect Jazz format; it has everything that Jazz is all about: melody, harmony, rhythm, interplay, individual and collective improvisation, in short the essence of Jazz. To make it work as a perfect format, one needs three great musicians to play together in a piano trio setting, and this one is as close to perfect as one dares to hope for, sending that delightful thrill down the listener´s spine, when listening to a Keith JarrettFind albums by this artist or Bill EvansFind albums by this artist piano trio recording. This trio comprises of three Czech Jazz veterans: leader / pianist / composer Emil ViklickyFind albums by this artist, extraordinary bassist Frantisek UhlirFind albums by this artist and drummer Laco TroppFind albums by this artist. All three have been active on the local, as well as international scene for decades. Both Viklicky and Uhlir are recognized worldwide as top performers on their respective instruments and have been my personal favorites since hearing them for the first time ages ago. For this album Viklicky decided to perform a set of Jazz standards rather than playing his own music, which is what he usually does. Only one of the thirteen tracks is his original composition by Viklicky and another one by Uhlir. The rest of the music is composed by well known Jazz artists as diverse as Keith Jarrett and Pat MethenyFind albums by this artist or standards. For a pianist with such a rich songbook, as the one composed by Viklicky, playing compositions by other composers is a matter of choice and of course a great challenge, considering of course the need to present an interpretation worthy of a masterful musician, such as Viklicky indisputably is. Of course the result is exactly as expected: intelligent, delicate, touching, elegant and simply brilliant. Viklicky´s interplays with Uhlir are nothing short of the legendary Bill Evans / Scott LaFaroFind albums by this artist magic and his solos are masterly and aesthetically perfect. Tropp plays mostly very subtly and distinctly low level, which is exactly right for this kind of music. Altogether this is a beautiful and deeply touching piano trio album, one of those you never get tired of, never!
| | | CD 1 Recommend To A Friend |
  | KENNY WHEELER ~ GNU HIGH
ECM 1069 (Barcode: 602517775985) ~ UK ~ Jazz
Recorded: 1975 Released: 2008
This is the first recording on the legendary ECMFind albums on this label label by the outstanding British trumpeter / composer Kenny WheelerFind albums by this artist. After recording several albums as a leader and countless others as a sideman and being an integral part of the British modern Jazz revolution in the UK in the 1960s / 1970s, Wheeler slowly expanded his international career, starting with this extraordinary recording. Accompanied by a brilliant trio consisting of pianist Keith JarrettFind albums by this artist (his last ever recording as a sideman), bassist Dave HollandFind albums by this artist and drummer Jack DeJohnetteFind albums by this artist, the quartet plays just three original compositions by Wheeler, one of which is an extended suite over 21 minutes long. The performances are of course stellar and the album is a timeless classic and an essential piece of Jazz history. From the 35 years perspective this music gets better with time, remaining not only beautiful, but also eternally valuable. Essential!
| | | CD 1 Mini-Sleeve Essential Recommend To A Friend |
|
