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ORNIS ~ 1978-1981
INDIES HAPPY TRAILS 573 (Barcode: 8595026665736) ~ CZECHOSLOVAKIA ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion

Recorded: 1978 - 1981 Released: 2021

This is a beautiful archival album, which collects the recordings by the legendary Czech Jazz-Rock Fusion group OrnisFind albums by this artist, which comprised of vocalist Mirka KrivankovaFind albums by this artist, guitarists Milan KasubaFind albums by this artist and Jiri AdamFind albums by this artist and violinist Jan BeranekFind albums by this artist. Bassist Oldrich SvobodaFind albums by this artist guests on several tracks. Most of the tracks are original compositions by the group members and others are the group’s interpretations of standards. The music was recorded by the Czechoslovak Radio in Brno and the sound quality is excellent.

The roots of Ornis go back the excellent Fusion group CH.A.S.A.Find albums by this artist (see their live album “1975 LiveFind albums with this title”), where Krivankova debuted as vocalist, and her vocal performances with that group were already quite extraordinary and here she truly shines. The two guitars lineup is also very interesting, as is the violin work. Sadly, the group never managed to record a full album and only four of the tracks present here were released on a EP and two as a single. The majority of the tracks are previously unreleased.

Overall, this is a brilliant collection of superb music, which deserves to be remembered. The level of the vocals and instrumental performances are absolutely first class. Thanks are due to Jaromir KratochvilFind albums by this artist and his label for digging this material up in the archives and bringing it back to life.
Side Note
Since the 1950s Czechoslovakia had a highly developed Jazz scene, certainly in proportion to its population, which included many successful ensembles and even Big Bands, as well as Jazz clubs, festivals and publications, all this in spite of state censorship and political limitations. The similar situation existed since the 1960s as far as Rock (including Progressive Rock and Jazz-Rock Fusion) was concerned, resulting in many excellent, interesting and innovative ensembles.

The music was relatively well documented by the three state owned record labels: SupraphonFind albums on this label (founded in 1927), PantonFind albums on this label (founded in 1968) and OpusFind albums on this label (founded in 1971 and based in Bratislava, created on the base of Slovak division of Supraphon). Following the "Velvet Revolution" in 1989, the state owned record labels were privatized, with Supraphon dominating the local market.

However, Supraphon was quite reluctant as far as exploring its vast back catalogue is concerned, and this is where the small independent Indies Happy TrailsFind albums on this label Records, a reissue label dedicated to the preservation of the recorded legacy of Czechoslovak music, owned and run by the devoted enthusiast / historian Jaromir KratochvilFind albums by this artist, founded in 2007, comes in. Over the years the label released a plethora of brilliant music, reissuing long deleted LPs and extensively exploring the archives in search of bonus material.

The quest of Indies Happy Trails is similar to what the GADFind albums on this label Records label, run by Michal WilczynskiFind albums by this artist, is doing for Polish music, with similar consistency and praiseworthy dedication.
Updated: 07/10/2025Posted: 07/10/2025CD 1 Remastered Recommend To A Friend

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