Adam Baruch - The Soundtrack Of My Life

Record Reviews

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MIRKA KRIVANKOVA / JIRI STIVIN ~ ZRCADLENI (REFLECTIONS)
GALEN 19 149 (Barcode: 8594042901583) ~ CZECH REPUBLIC ~ Avant-Garde Jazz
Recorded: 1982 - 1984 Released: 2019

This is a reissue of the wonderful debut album by the Czech vocalist Mirka KrivankovaFind albums by this artist recorded with a trio led by flautist / saxophonist / composer Jiri StivinFind albums by this artist with bassist Ondrej SoukupFind albums by this artist and drummer Alan VitousFind albums by this artist. The album presents ten original compositions, all by Stivin.

The musical approach of this album is completely innovative, treating the vocals as an instrument and finds Krivankova performing wordless vocalese and improvising vis-à-vis Stivin or soloing, supported amicably by the rhythm section. Although based on pre-composed sketches, the music is mostly freely improvised and very open, both harmonically and rhythmically. Each side of the original LP combines five pieces into a two cycles titled "Odrazy (Reflections)" and "Doteky (Contacts)" respectively, which refer to the different moods prevailing on each side.

Krivankova debuted as vocalist with the Fusion group Ch.A.S.A.Find albums by this artist and her vocal performances with that group were already quite extraordinary almost a decade before this album was recorded. With time her vocals became more refined and minimalist, and clearly more Avant-Garde oriented, as this album perfectly reflects. She remains stylistically close to the early work by Polish vocalist Urszula DudziakFind albums by this artist.

Of course Stivin is clearly the musical instigator and anchor of this music, being way more than a faithful companion to Krivankova but rather a fully equal partner behind this album. His wonderful performances on a plethora of instruments, each ideally suited to the mood of every specific piece are masterly worked out. Soukup and Vitous also contribute their individual input with elegance and grace. The overall effect of party composed and partly Improvised Music is absolutely enchanting.

Overall this is an important piece of the musical puzzle of East European Jazz and a significant historical document of the Czech scene, which is surely worth investigating. For Improvised Music connoisseurs and lovers of East European Jazz this album is an absolute must!

Side Note

The Czech publishing house and record label GalenFind albums on this label, run by Lubomir HoudekFind albums by this artist, is another player on the local scene, reissuing historical recordings from the deep vaults of the SupraphonFind albums on this label / PantonFind albums on this label labels, supported by the Czech Ministry of Culture. This commendable initiative is a wonderful example of the preservation of Cultural heritage. Hopefully the label's future releases will include information in English in the album's booklets, so that Jazz enthusiasts around the world might be allowed to share the knowledge.

For more reissues of Czechoslovak Jazz (and Rock) see also the releases by Indies Happy TrailsFind albums on this label Records.

Updated: 07/06/2020Posted: 07/06/2020

CD 1 Digipak Remastered Recommend To A Friend

JIRI STIVIN / MICHAEL KOCAB / ONDREJ SOUKUP ~ AD LIBITUM
GALEN 20 174 (Barcode: 8594042901866) ~ CZECHOSLOVAKIA ~ Free Jazz / Improvised Music
Recorded: 1979 Released: 2021

This is an archival live album by the Czechoslovak Jazz trio comprising of flutist / saxophonist / composer Jiri StivinFind albums by this artist, pianist / composer Michael KocabFind albums by this artist and bassist / composer Ondrej SoukupFind albums by this artist. The 2CD album presents fifteen tracks, all co-credited to the three musicians.

The music is all completely spontaneously created / improvised, and considered the time and the place, i.e. Prague, 1979, behind the Iron Curtain, this was completely unprecedented, with the term Improvised Music being unheard of as such. Strangely enough, this improvised music was not really connected with Avant-Garde / Free Jazz at all, as most of the music the trio created was strongly melody based and was nowhere near the havoc / cacophony of the extreme Free Jazz usually associated with Improvised Music.

Stivin (born 1942) was of course the leader of the trio, informally but naturally and respectfully, considering the fact that he was older (Kocab was born in 1954 and Soukup in 1951) and infinitely more experienced than his partners. The idea of spontaneous composition was not really strange or new to Stivin and was in fact a part of his natural musical habitat, for example in his Tandem duo with Rudolf DasekFind albums by this artist and many other occasions. Therefore, the improvised / spontaneous music performed by the trio was in fact a new phenomenon, a one of a kind adventure and a marvelous piece of musical experience, which the audience invited to the concert, which was captured on record herein, was completely unprepared for, but all things considered, responded with elegant, albeit restrained applause :)

In retrospect, this album portrays the Czechoslovak Jazz scene at its most bizarre, forward-thinking and ingenious aspects. Nothing similar to this music saw the light of day while the old regime was in power, and even after the Czechs finally managed to get liberated, it took more than forty years for this music to be released, thanks to the initiative of the GalenFind albums on this label label.

Overall, this is definitely one of the most interesting pieces of Czechoslovak Jazz history on record, and anything I can tell about it is not even close to the real thing, which has to be heard to believe. As such it is an absolutely essential recorded document of what Improvised Music can sound like and improvisation really means.

Side Note

Updated: 30/05/2025Posted: 30/05/2025

CD 2 Digipak Remastered Recommend To A Friend

MILAN SVOBODA / PRAGUE BIG BAND ~ POSTE RESTANTE
GALEN 21 191 (Barcode: 8594042902061) ~ CZECHOSLOVAKIA ~ Big Band Jazz
Recorded: 1981 Released: 2021

This is a reissue / remaster of the 3rd album by the Czechoslovak pianist / composer / arranger / Big Band leader Milan SvobodaFind albums by this artist. The Big Band, which Svoboda founded in 1974, recorded over the years many fabulous albums, which are brilliant examples of the European Big Band approach, characterized by complex compositions and superb ensemble work. The members of the Big Band were always the crème de la crème of the Czechoslovak and later Czech Jazz scene. On this album they include such distinguished players like trumpeter Michal GeraFind albums by this artist, keyboardist Emil ViklickyFind albums by this artist, bass guitarist Ondrej SoukupFind albums by this artist, drummer Jaromir HelesicFind albums by this artist and others. Saxophonist / composer Jiri StivinFind albums by this artist appears as a guest. The album presents nine tracks, all original compositions by the Big Band members, including three compositions by Svoboda, two by Viklicky and one each by Soukup and Stivin.

The music, recorded in 1981, is superbly Funky and Groovy, quite different from most other Big Band recordings both in Europe and the US, and was warmly received at the time by Jazz fans on both sides of the pond. Naturally it was also a great “hit” behind the Iron Curtain, where such novel approach to the Big Band idiom was quite revolutionary.

Overall, this is a true East European gem, which highly deserves to be remembered and still can teach today’s Jazz musicians a thing or two. Fifty-five years later Svoboda is still around and kicking, so keep your ears and eyes open for his contemporary releases. For Big Band lovers this album is an absolute must!

Side Note

Updated: 21/04/2025Posted: 21/04/2025

CD 1 Digipak Remastered Recommend To A Friend