Record Reviews

JOHN COLTRANE ~ THE HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION: THE COMPLETE ATLANTIC RECORDINGS RHINO 71984 (Barcode: 081227198428) ~ USA ~ Jazz Recorded: 1959 - 1961 Released: 1995 This magnificent Box Set compiles everything John ColtraneFind albums by this artist recorded for AtlanticFind albums on this label – his second long-term recording stint with a label following his PrestigeFind albums on this label period and preceding his final years on Impulse!Find albums on this label. The first 6 CDs include all the 10 Coltrane’s LPs released on Atlantic (Giant StepsFind albums with this title, Coltrane JazzFind albums with this title, My Favorite ThingsFind albums with this title, Bags & TraneFind albums with this title, Olé ColtraneFind albums with this title, Coltrane Plays The BluesFind albums with this title, Coltrane’s SoundFind albums with this title, The Avant-GardeFind albums with this title, The Coltrane LegacyFind albums with this title, Alternate TakesFind albums with this title), but the material is organized in chronological order (by session). The 7th CD adds over an hour of never before released material. All this music was recorded over a period of just over two years (January 1959 – May 1961), but it includes some of the most pivotal Jazz recordings ever. The Atlantic period is a superb document of transition for the Jazz Giant. Stylistically it presents the steady move from Bebop and Hard Bop to Free. Instrumentally it shows the shift from tenor saxophone to soprano saxophone. It also reveals the process of crystallization of Coltrane’s great classic quartet (see The Classic Quartet: Complete Impulse! Studio RecordingsFind albums with this title), whereas by October of 1960 three quarters of the quartet (with McCoy TynerFind albums by this artist on piano and Elvin JonesFind albums by this artist on drums) were already in place and only the bassist Jimmy GarrisonFind albums by this artist was to join soon after. Two of the sessions present here are collaborations with other co-credited Jazz Giants: “Bags & Trane” with the great vibraphonist Milt JacksonFind albums by this artist and “The Avant-Garde” with legendary trumpeter Don CherryFind albums by this artist. The music is of course divine – absolutely nothing I can say about it would ever come close to the experience of actually listening to it. This music influenced every Jazz musician and Jazz lover on earth and left a mark on contemporary music, which has no equals to this day. It also shows Coltrane as a great composer for the first time, with some of his greatest melodies like “Giant Steps” and “Naima”. His interpretation of “My Favorite Things” is of course probably the most commonly known Jazz anthem ever. This sublime music is an integral part of Art’s cannon and an everlasting evidence of human (or perhaps super-human) genius. Absolutely essential!

Updated: 12/04/2019Posted:

CD 7 Box Set Remastered Bonus Tracks Essential Recommend To A Friend

THELONIOUS MONK ~ THE COMPLETE BLUE NOTE RECORDINGS BLUE NOTE 724383036325 (Barcode: 724383036325) ~ USA ~ Jazz Recorded: 1947 - 1958 Released: 1994 This superb Box Set contains all the music recorded by the legendary American pianist / composer Thelonious MonkFind albums by this artist for the no less legendary Blue NoteFind albums on this label label. It includes his first sessions as a leader, recorded between 1947 and 1952, a later guest appearance with Sonny RollinsFind albums by this artist (1957) and a live recording with John ColtraneFind albums by this artist (1958). This music was released originally on 78 rpm records, 10-inch LPs, 12-inch (normal) LPs and finally on CDs. This box includes the complete remastered material presented in chronological order and adds many previously unreleased bonuses and an excellent booklet with background information. This music, although recorded at the formative years of Bebop, is distinctly "different" from the Bebop "mainline" and often quite "out there", as Monk´s idiosyncratic compositions and unique playing technique made him stand out already at the very early stages of his career. Fellow musicians would often put Monk and his music in a separate niche, most of them admiring his mind-boggling and often outlandish ideas. Monk´s complete disregard of conventions and visionary approach to music is one of Jazz greatest mysteries. Today, over six decades after this music was recorded, no other musician was able to come even close to Monk´s weird note sequences and harmonies, pauses and rhythmic hiccups, long arpeggios and single notes, in short complete individuality, as rare as bird´s milk. Some even speculate as to his alien origin in lack of a better explanation of his unparalleled genius. The music comprises mostly of Monk´s original compositions, many of which were destined to become Jazz standards and some standards, which often sound quite unusual after receiving the famous Monk treatment. Monk is accompanied by some of the most iconic Jazz figures, like drummer Art BlakeyFind albums by this artist, vibraphonist Milt JacksonFind albums by this artist, trumpeter Kenny DorhamFind albums by this artist bassist Paul ChambersFind albums by this artist and many others. This box is not only full of great music but also an excellent document of Jazz history. Piano Jazz connoisseurs should definitely include this in their "must have" list, but most avid Jazz lovers will find it fascinating and even essential. Although Monk´s later output is better known, this period is by no means less significant and in many respects, especially as far as revolutionizing Jazz composition, is perhaps even more momentous. Buy or die!

Updated: 26/01/2019Posted:

CD 4 Box Set Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend

WARREN WOLF ~ CONVERGENCE MACK AVENUE 1105 (Barcode: 673203110526) ~ USA ~ Jazz Recorded: 2016 Released: 2016 This is an album by American vibraphonist / composer Warren WolfFind albums by this artist, recorded with a stellar lineup, which features pianist Brad MehldauFind albums by this artist (on five tunes), guitarist John ScofieldFind albums by this artist (on two tunes), bassist Christian McBrideFind albums by this artist and drummer Jeff WattsFind albums by this artist. It presents eleven tracks, six of which are original compositions by Wolf and five are standards (the last tune is a medley of a standard and a Classical piece). Sadly the stellar lineup is unable to save this album from the terrible boredom that it offers to the listener. In fact this album epitomizes everything that is wrong with American Jazz: it is outdated, unimaginable, derivative and simply tedious. The original compositions are unremarkable and the standards played here offer absolutely nothing that was not already stated thousands of times before. No ambition, no imagination, no effort… Of course these musicians can play, and they do play very well, but the result remains dull and unimpressive, similar to thousands of other mainstream American albums recorded every year and all sounding exactly the same. The two tracks with Scofield at least offer his remarkable power of expression, but that is by far not enough to save this album from complete failure. The funny thing is of course reading the reviews of this album, written by American critics (look them up). They all think this album is remarkable, outstanding and fabulous, which of course goes to show that the entire American Jazz scene is simply completely hypocritical and rotten. Saying that Wolf is the next Milt JacksonFind albums by this artist or Bobby HutchersonFind albums by this artist is an insult to these two great pioneers. Wolf plays well technically but his playing offers no innovation or progress which was the trademark of all great vibraphonists (or Jazz musicians in general) before him. In short this is just another boring American mainstream album, which sounds nice and lets the listener tap his feet to the steady rhythm, requiring zero intellectual effort to listen to the music, which simply washes off the listener´s mind instantly when the music is over.

Updated: 04/11/2016Posted: 04/11/2016

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend