Record Reviews

PER HUSBY ~ DEDICATIONS HOT CLUB 21 (Barcode: 7029660010412) ~ NORWAY ~ Big Band Jazz Recorded: 1985 Released: 1990 This is an insanely beautiful album by Norwegian pianist / composer / arranger / bandleader Per HusbyFind albums by this artist and his Orchestra / Big Band, which features the vocal talents of Norwegian singer Karin KrogFind albums by this artist and British singer Georgie FameFind albums by this artist, my favorite Jazz singers in the whole world. The Orchestra includes the absolutely best Scandinavian players and the British guests: trumpeter Martin DroverFind albums by this artist and saxophonist John SurmanFind albums by this artist. The album is dedicated to the American pianist / composer Tadd DameronFind albums by this artist. The album presents eight tracks, five of which are compositions by Dameron, two by Husby and one is a medley of a composition by Swedish Jazz composer Lars GullinFind albums by this artist and a composition by Husby dedicated to Gullin. The music was recorded at the fabulous Rainbow Studios and engineered by the legendary Jan Erik KongshaugFind albums by this artist. The album is full of brilliant arrangements and superb performances by the instrumentalists, which are nothing less than astounding, and the entire Big Band sound is just breathtaking. The vocals are the proverbial cherry on top. This has been one of my favorite albums since the date it was released but I managed to get a copy of the CD only recently after a long hunt ;) This project has a twin album called “If You Could See Me NowFind albums with this title”, recorded a year later by the Husby / Krog / Fame team, this time with an American Big Band. The comparison between the two is a true lesson in the differences between American and European Jazz, especially in the Big Band idiom. Overall, this is a classic album both for Big Band Jazz lovers and Jazz vocals lovers, which has but a few competitors. Sadly, it is rather obscure despite its sublime class and aesthetic values, but hey this is the fate of so many great albums produced outside of the mainstream American Jazz machine. Wholeheartedly recommended to all true Jazz lovers.

Updated: 29/03/2023Posted: 29/03/2023

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

VAN MORRISON ~ NO GURU, NO METHOD, NO TEACHER EXILE 600753087626 (Barcode: 600753087626) ~ IRELAND ~ Classic Rock Recorded: 1985 Released: 2008 This is a reissue / remaster of the 16th studio album by legendary Northern Irish singer / songwriter Van MorrisonFind albums by this artist, who is accompanied by a splendid group of musicians, which includes keyboardist Jef LabesFind albums by this artist, guitarist Chris MichieFind albums by this artist, bassist David HayesFind albums by this artist, drummer Babatunde LeaFind albums by this artist and a brass section with trumpeter Martin DroverFind albums by this artist and saxophonist Richie BuckleyFind albums by this artist. Kate St. JohnFind albums by this artist adds some heartbreaking oboe soloing. The album presents ten tracks, all of which are originals by Morrison. This reissue adds two bonus tracks: one alternate take and one previously unreleased song. This was the 5th album Morrison released in the 1980s. Musically the album offers Morrison’s usual mix of Celtic, Blues, Folk, Gospel and Jazz influences. In some respects, this album returns to the early days of his career, with the songs being mostly lyrical, but he delivers, as usual, a mixture of cross-genre songs, all blessed by his outstanding ability to weave beautiful melodies and write heartfelt lyrics, like only a few others Artists are able to do. Overall, this is a piece of music that is worth being remembered, and although Morrison’s recorded legacy offers a few dozen releases, he never recorded a bad album and everything he ever put out is worth an honorable place in a decent record collection. It is one of those Artists you can never have too much of…

Updated: 30/01/2025Posted: 30/01/2025

CD 1 Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend