Record Reviews
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  | JOHANNA BORCHERT ~ ORCHESTRE IDEAL
WHYPLAYJAZZ 008 (Barcode: 4050486078013) ~ GERMANY ~ Jazz-Classical Fusion
Recorded: 2011 Released: 2012
This is the debut solo album by German pianist / composer Johanna BorchertFind albums by this artist, which comprises of thirteen relatively short solo piano pieces, nine of which are freely improvised and four are improvisations based on her compositions.
Although mostly spontaneously improvised this music has very little if anything to do with Improvised Music as in the Avant-Garde Jazz idiom and is deeply rooted in contemporary Classical music, mainly in the vicinity of the French modernists like Claude DebussyFind albums by this artist, Eric SatieFind albums by this artist, Olivier MessiaenFind albums by this artist and others. Some of these pieces are minimalist, others more developed, but the overall atmosphere is predominantly characterized by the sonorities typical of these composers and their particular approach to music.
The music is mostly very delicate and introvert, which makes it quite difficult for most of the listeners, who have little experience with such demanding and ambitious ventures. Therefore this music might work well when played live but listening to it at home might prove to be over the top for most people.
Of course one must support artists willing to take risks and statements like this one are always a sign of the intellect overcoming the musical futility that overwhelmingly surrounds us. Sadly I´m probably one of very few people who really like this music, as it unfortunately falls in between; the Jazz oriented people will find it to romantic and the Classical buffs to bold.
So ye brave-hearted embrace this little gem wholeheartedly and others, please investigate other recordings by Borchert, which are surely of the same quality but probably slightly more accessible.
| | Updated: 01/06/2026Posted: | CD 1 Digisleeve Recommend To A Friend |
  | PIOTR SCHOLZ ~ BIRDS FROM ANOTHER PLANET
AUDIO CAVE 2021/012 (Barcode: 5908298549315) ~ POLAND ~ Big Band Jazz
Recorded: 2020 Released: 2021
This is the second album as a leader by Polish Jazz guitarist / composer Piotr ScholzFind albums by this artist, which returns to the Big Band / Orchestral Jazz format, same as the debut. This time the album presents a seven-part suite (on seven tracks) composed by Scholz and performed by a seventeen musicians strong Big Band, conducted by Scholz, who resigns the guitar post this time to Dawid KostkaFind albums by this artist.
The music again attempts to combine the Classical and Jazz idioms, with the compositions based, as Scholz explains in the album’s artwork, on seven symmetrical scales (of limited transposition, also called modes) as defined by the 20th Century French composer Olivier MessiaenFind albums by this artist. One might speculate as to the fact of how many listeners are familiar with these highly technical musicological terms, so the true test of the music must be left to laics, who listen to music emotionally / aesthetically rather than intellectually / academically. The album’s title hints as to Messiaen’s passion for ornithology.
There is no doubt that this highly ambitious piece required a lot of work and dedication from the composer, as well as effort from the performing musicians, which are all greatly commendable. The resulting music becomes highly dependent on the listener’s openness to unusual scales and harmonies, patience and perhaps musical experience, but it does present an unusual challenge, especially to Jazz listeners, who might find this music beyond their comprehension / likability.
This attempt to combine Jazz with modern Classical music is typically European in nature, taking the rusted Jazz tradition to new vistas, which of course is a positive trend, although sometimes with varying success. Scholz is certainly to be congratulated for his attempt to discover new ground and invest so much work and energy in this project.
Overall, this is a very ambitious and interesting cross-genre project, which might require an effort in order to digest it, at least at first, but offers an intellectual depth worth pursuing.
| | Updated: 01/06/2026Posted: 19/12/2021 | CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend |
  | VARIOUS ARTISTS ~ JOHN CAGE: FOUR WALLS
BRILLIANT CLASSICS 5029365885027 (Barcode: 5029365885027) ~ ITALY ~ Classical Music
Recorded: 2007 Released: 2007
This is a 3CD album presenting music by the great 20th Century American composer John CageFind albums by this artist. Subtitled “Complete works for piano & voice / Complete works for piano & violin”, the music is performed by Italian pianist Giancarlo SimonacciFind albums by this artist, violinist David SimonacciFind albums by this artist, British soprano singer Lorna WindsorFind albums by this artist and the Italian Ars LudiFind albums by this artist percussion ensemble. They perform fifteen compositions (a total of fifty-four tracks) by Cage, mostly written in his early years between early 1930s and early 1950s, with just two pieces composed in the early 1990s shortly before his death.
Cage’s convoluted life story and work history is a fascinating tale of the Avant-Garde Classical music of the 20th Century. Although influenced by the European Avant-Gardists, like Arnold SchoenbergFind albums by this artist, Olivier MessiaenFind albums by this artist or Pierre BoulezFind albums by this artist, Cage developed his unique approach to composition, which constantly developed and changed during his entire lifespan and which was completely American, like that of his close friend / composer Morton FeldmanFind albums by this artist. While famous as the composer of the controversial piece “4`33``”, most of his music remains mostly overlooked and relatively rarely performed, which is a great shame.
Quite unexpectedly, despite the Avant-Garde phobia, which surrounds his music, everything one can hear in this wonderful collection is surprisingly “polite”, melodic, serene and overall beautiful. It is of course minimalist and requires patience and open-mindedness, but which great music doesn’t?
Overall, this is an astounding musical experience, which I highly recommend to anybody, who gets bored and tired of the garbage that gets stuck in our ears constantly, even if we try to avoid it. Listening to this music is a healing / cleansing experience, which penetrates both the heart and soul. Essential listening!
| | Updated: 01/06/2026Posted: 01/06/2026 | CD 3 Digipak Recommend To A Friend |
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