Record Reviews

JAZZ Q ~ PORI JAZZ 72 GAD 130 (Barcode: 5903068121074) ~ CZECHOSLOVAKIA ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 1972 Released: 2020 This is an archival release presenting a live performance by Czechoslovak Jazz-Rock Fusion group Jazz QFind albums by this artist during the 1972 Pori Jazz Festival, excellently recorded by the YLE (Finnish Broadcasting Company). The group founded and led by keyboardist / composer Martin KratochvilFind albums by this artist included also guitarist Lubos AndrstFind albums by this artist, bassist Vladimir PadrunekFind albums by this artist and drummer Michal VrbovecFind albums by this artist. The album presents four original extended pieces, one by Kratochvil, two by Andrst and one co-composed by Andrst and Padrunek. One of the pieces was composed for the planned Pori performance another for a planned trip to Tunis, that never materialized and two were written for the group second album "Pozorovatelna (The Watch-Tower)Find albums with this title", which was recorded a few months later. The music is every bit as brilliant as one might expect; soaring, highly energetic Fusion, superbly executed and splendidly composed, easily matching everything in that was happening within the genre in Western Europe and the US at the time. The "Pori 72" mini-suite demonstrates the sophistication of Jazz Q, both on the compositional level and power of execution, which features impressive guitar and electric piano parts as well as virtuosic support by the rhythm section. But the rest of the pieces is equally impressive, and shows the incredibly high level of musical ingenuity present on the Czechoslovak scene at the time, which I wrote extensively about in my numerous reviews of albums released there at the early 1970s. This album is a wonderful addition to the recorded legacy of Jazz Q, and the fact that the music was recorded almost fifty years before it was released is truly astonishing, since the music sounds completely fresh and contemporary. As usual the YLE vaults prove to be a fountain of youth for hidden treasures, and GADFind albums on this label Records again demonstrates its justification as a crucial factor in preserving and exploring East European Culture at its best. A shining gem!

Updated: 01/11/2020Posted: 01/11/2020

CD 1 Remastered Recommend To A Friend

JAZZ Q ~ POZOROVATELNA (THE WATCH-TOWER) (EXPANDED EDITION) GAD 068 (Barcode: 5901549197914) ~ CZECHOSLOVAKIA ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 1973 Released: 2018 This is a reissue of the 2nd album (but really a debut as the earlier album was recorded with another group called Blue EffectFind albums by this artist) by seminal Czechoslovak Jazz-Rock Fusion band Jazz QFind albums by this artist, led by keyboardist / composer Martin KratochvilFind albums by this artist, which at the time also included the legendary guitarist Lubos AndrstFind albums by this artist, bassist Vladimir PadrunekFind albums by this artist and drummer Michal VrbovecFind albums by this artist. British, resident in Czechoslovakia at the time, vocalist Joan DugganFind albums by this artist, guests on one track and violinist Rudolf ChalupskiFind albums by this artist guests on another. This remastered 2CD edition includes the original album on the first CD and bonus material, which includes early versions of the compositions, radio and live recordings, mostly previously unreleased, on the second CD. Except for one tune, all the music is original and was composed mostly by Kratochvil and the other members of the band. Forty five years after this music was recorded it still sounds remarkably fresh and powerful, standing shoulder to shoulder with the best early Jazz-Rock Fusion albums recorded at the time anywhere on the globe. In many respects this music managed to stay more relevant than many of the most influential albums recorded beyond the Iron Curtain, that are still considered classic of the genre today. The music on the original album presents a coherent ambience, full of mystery and suspension, quite minimalistic in many respects, especially in view of other Fusion albums. The melodic content is moody and subdued, and the instrumentalist perform with great delicacy and reserve, almost unheard of in the Fusion idiom. The overall result is that of a magic journey through space and time, which is fascinating and completely absorbing. In spite of the minimalistic approach the four members of the band present plenty of their virtuosic abilities, with Andrst simply tearing the space-time continuum to shreds. His incredible Blues feel, although not dominant here, is absolutely Godly. The bonus tracks reveal other facets of the quartet, with more vibrant and energetic material, all of which offers a superb sonic quality, which bonus tracks often lack. The material is quite mixed and offers a diverse stylistic ambience, with Jazz, Blues and Fusion pieces all present and which allow the players to show more of their excellent capabilities. As a result these bonus tracks are all worth being present here and listened to and are the antidote of the "filler" approach that so many reissues suffer from. Overall this is one of the greatest albums recorded by Eastern European musicians ever, not only within the Jazz-Rock idiom, but generally. Every second of this music counts and having it back in circulation is an absolute delight. This is an absolutely essential piece of musical history and a must have item in any decent music collection. Congrats to GADFind albums on this label Records again for the splendid and dedicated work of love!

Updated: 13/01/2025Posted: 13/04/2018

CD 2 Remastered Bonus Tracks Essential Recommend To A Friend

JAZZ Q ~ SYMBIOSIS (EXPANDED EDITION) GAD 170 (Barcode: 5903068121999) ~ CZECHOSLOVAKIA ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 1973 - 1975 Released: 2021 This is a reissue of the 3rd album by Czechoslovak Jazz-Rock Fusion band Jazz QFind albums by this artist, led by keyboardist / composer Martin KratochvilFind albums by this artist, originally released in 1974. The lineup that recorded this album includes also guitarist Frantisek FranclFind albums by this artist, bassist Vladimir PadrunekFind albums by this artist, drummer Michal VrbovecFind albums by this artist and British vocalist Joan DugganFind albums by this artist, as well as several guests on selected tracks. The original album, which is included here on the first CD, presented five tracks, one of which lasts over sixteen minutes, two composed by Padrunek and three by Kratochvil. This expanded edition includes also a second CD with twelve bonus tracks, recorded between 1973 and 1975, all composed by Kratochvil, originating from radio recordings and club appearances, mostly previously unreleased. As usual with GADFind albums on this label releases, the album includes informative in-depth (bi-lingual) liner notes, photographs and detailed information about dates and places of recording. With the change of the guitar player and addition of a vocalist, the music of Jazz Q expanded to include some Blues-Rock elements in addition to the Fusion elements that characterized the band from its conception. Duggan was a sole native English language female vocalist behind the Iron Curtain, which gave the band immediately a “Western” aura, so desired by all East European bands. Francl was obviously a brilliant guitar player with a deep feel for both Blues and Fusion and combined with Kratochvil’s brilliant compositions, Jazz Q were simply unstoppable. Fusion fans should find the track “Toledo” (on the bonus CD) especially fascinating, as it was recorded three years before Chick CoreaFind albums by this artist’s “My Spanish HeartFind albums with this title”, but sounds as if taken from that album. The music is absolutely timeless and amalgamates many influences, both the obvious ones like Jazz, Rock and Blues, but also subtle Folk and Classical music accents (see the Orchestral pieces on the bonus CD). Combined with the superb musicianship found here, this album is a true gem from start to finish. The fact that this music had no chance to reach listeners in Western Europe at the time is a travesty, which can now be easily rectified. Overall, this is obviously one of the best East European albums recorded at the time, and although it is almost fifty years old, it sounds absolutely fresh and exciting. As usual, hats off to GAD Records for bringing this treasure back to life and expanding it with additional brilliant music, which deserves to be heard and should not be forgotten. No decent Fusion record collection is complete without this album in it. Absolutely essential!

Updated: 13/01/2025Posted: 14/01/2022

CD 2 Remastered Bonus Tracks Essential Recommend To A Friend