Record Reviews

VIKTOR TOTH ~ TARTIM BMC 150 (Barcode: 5998309301506) ~ HUNGARY ~ Jazz Recorded: 2008 Released: 2009 This is an excellent album by Hungarian saxophonist / composer Viktor TothFind albums by this artist, one of the most prominent young European Improvised Music advocates, who has been very active in the last few years releasing several important recordings and performing many concerts. The album, recorded live in Budapest, includes 13 tracks with original music, of which Toth composed the first nine and the remaining four are collective improvisations. The music is presented gradually, starting with a trio format (the first five tracks), where Toth is accompanied by the excellent bassist Matyas SzandaiFind albums by this artist and the legendary American drummer Hamid DrakeFind albums by this artist. Next the trio is expanded to a quartet with the addition of the trumpeter / violinist Ferenc KovacsFind albums by this artist (on the next four track) and finally the group is expanded into septet with the addition of saxophonist Mihaly DreschFind albums by this artist, viola player Adam JavorkaFind albums by this artist and another drummer Gyorgy JeszenszkyFind albums by this artist, which takes the music into the group improvisation realm. In spite of its adventurous nature, the music is quite straightforward and often retains a strong melodic element, which makes it accessible to a large Jazz-loving audience well beyond Free Jazz / Improvised Music purists. The performances are excellent, with Toth displaying a complete command of his instrument as well as fruitful imagination. The rhythm section is brilliant with Drake dazzling, as usual, with his incredible musicality. This is something people not aware of how good Eastern European Jazz is should definitely try out at the earliest opportunity!

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