Record Reviews

PAUL BLEY ~ ANNETTE HATOLOGY 674 (Barcode: 752156067429) ~ USA ~ Jazz Recorded: 1992 Released: 2010 This is a brilliant album by American Giant pianist / composer Paul BleyFind albums by this artist, one of the greatest Jazz modernists with an extensive recording legacy, which is full of treasures. In a trio setting with trumpeter Franz KoglmannFind albums by this artist and bassist Gary PeacockFind albums by this artist, they perform a set of wonderfully lyrical composition by the great Annette PeacockFind albums by this artist (except the title track composed / improvised by the trio). The drum-less trio is ideal for this intimate music, which becomes a dreamy suite of delicate touches and melancholic vistas. The performances are absolutely stellar and the music stunning, which of course is not surprising. This album is an example of perfection in every sense and I can´t imagine any connoisseur of modern Jazz not falling in love with this gem instantly. Exquisite stuff!

CD 1 Mini-Sleeve Oversampling Remastered Recommend To A Friend

PAUL BLEY ~ BALLADS ECM 1010 (Barcode: 602567434788) ~ CANADA ~ Free Jazz / Improvised Music Recorded: 1967 Released: 2019 This is a reissue of the iconic piano trio album by Canadian pianist / composer Paul BleyFind albums by this artist, recorded in March and July of 1967, with American drummer Barry AltschulFind albums by this artist and bassists Gary PeacockFind albums by this artist or Mark LevinsonFind albums by this artist. The album presents just three tracks, all composed by American vocalist / composer Annette PeacockFind albums by this artist, who was married first to Gary Peacock and later to Paul Bley, and who wrote much of his repertoire since 1964. Released originally in 1971, this was Bley’s second album for the then new ECMFind albums on this label Records label, and is often quoted as being one of the defining vectors of the “ECM sound”, which re-defined recorded Jazz in many aspects. The music, created at the very peak of the American Free Jazz movement (the second session took place just a few days following John ColtraneFind albums by this artist’s death), following Bley’s involvement with the American Avant-Garde scene since its inception in the late 1950s, reflects perfectly his and his musicians state of mind. The title was of course mostly ironic / sarcastic, as the music was indeed based on a loosely concept of a ballad, the classic structure of which was completely fragmented, broken down, stretched and improvised on. The beautiful melody lines, which Annette Peacock masterly weaved, and which last for under a minute each, are expanded into twelve or seventeen minutes long improvisations. No wonder many listeners and music critics alike had a hard time to accept these innovative concepts as valid or worth listening to, which of course was completely ignored by the musicians and the ECM team at the time. This is a symbol of why the first 100 albums released on ECM between 1970 and 1977 changed the face of recorded music in every possible perception. And yes, this is extremely difficult music to be enjoyed – it takes years of training one’s ears and of course one’s mind in order to relax the intellectual muscles trained by years of Swing and Bebop, in order to grasp what is really going on, why every note here is perfectly in its place and why this music will never be played in elevators. And no, not everybody has to love and enjoy this music. In fact, it would be a catastrophe if everybody did love it, as it would probably mean that the world has gone even crazier than it seems to be. Overall, this is an absolute classic Free Jazz / Improvised Music recording, which lost nothing of its power over time, and is still intellectually challenging and satisfying almost sixty years after it was recorded. It is a great reminder of the role of ECM Records as a pioneer of European Culture, which managed to transfer everything that was worthy over to the right side of the pond.

Updated: 11/08/2024Posted: 09/08/2024

CD 1 Mini-Sleeve Recommend To A Friend

PAUL BLEY ~ IN THE EVENINGS OUT THERE ECM 1488 (Barcode: 731451746925) ~ USA ~ Jazz Recorded: 1991 Released: 1993 Brilliant album by US pianist / composer Paul BleyFind albums by this artist with a superb quartet, which includes bassist Gary PeacockFind albums by this artist and two British Jazz Masters: saxophonist John SurmanFind albums by this artist and drummer Tony OxleyFind albums by this artist – a brilliant group of players that sadly didn´t record together again so far. These players are ideal partners to Bley´s deep lyricism and atmospheric approach to music. The album includes twelve relatively short pieces, composed by all four participants, and played in solo, duet, trio and quartet settings. Altogether a magnificent album, although not an easy listening experience to less refined listeners. These are the moments worth living for in music!

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

PAUL BLEY ~ THE COMPLETE REMASTERED RECORDINGS ON BLACK SAINT & SOUL NOTE CAM JAZZ 1027 (Barcode: 8052405141064) ~ USA ~ Jazz Recorded: 1983 - 1994 Released: 2013 This superb Box Set collects all the recordings by legendary American (Canadian by birth) pianist / composer Paul BleyFind albums by this artist released the twin Italian independent labels: Black SaintFind albums on this label and Soul NoteFind albums on this label. The set includes ten albums (one not listed on the box´s packaging and subsequently explained as a bonus album) featuring various recordings by Bley as a leader or co-leader over a span of twelve years (1983–1994) made alongside the top Jazz players active in the 1980s and 1990s and is therefore a superb document of the era. Bley (born 1932), one of my favorite musicians of all times, was one of the pioneers of Free Jazz in the late 1950s, and continues to be a most creative and innovative figure on the American Jazz scene, although he is less active lately, no doubt due to his age. His approach to piano was always extraordinarily unique and just a few notes are usually enough to recognize his playing. In his life he released over a hundred albums, which featured the crème de la crème of Jazz musician of the last seven decades. Bley was always a very intimate musician and clearly preferred solo, duos or trios than bigger lineups. Of the ten albums included here, one is a solo album, four are duo albums, three are trio albums, and the last two are quartet albums. The participating musicians include drummers: George Cross McDonaldFind albums by this artist, Barry AltschulFind albums by this artist, Paul MotianFind albums by this artist and Tony OxleyFind albums by this artist, bassists: Steve SwallowFind albums by this artist, Gary PeacockFind albums by this artist, Red MitchellFind albums by this artist, Charlie HadenFind albums by this artist and Furio Di CastroFind albums by this artist, guitarists John ScofieldFind albums by this artist and John AbercrombieFind albums by this artist, and finally clarinetists / saxophonists Jimmy GuiffreFind albums by this artist and Keshavan MaslakFind albums by this artist. This music is an absolute must to all Jazz enthusiasts, and the fact that it is available again is pure joy. Bley is a genius composer and instrumentalist and his legacy is well worth to be preserved and studied by the new generation of Jazz musicians. Remastered, mini-sleeved and with a great bargain price – this Box Set is an absolute must for any serious Jazz collector. Side Note The Italian independent record label Black SaintFind albums on this label was founded by the music critic / author / producer Giacomo PellicciottiFind albums by this artist in 1975. It was taken over by the producer Giovanni BonandriniFind albums by this artist in 1978 and a year later (1979) a sister label, called Soul NoteFind albums on this label, was established. The twin labels were run by Giovanni and later his son Flavio BonandriniFind albums by this artist, until they were sold in 2008 to the Italian KEPACH Music Group, which already owned the CAM JazzFind albums on this label label, and which also bought another Italian independent record label Dischi Della QuerciaFind albums on this label. The mission of the Black Saint / Soul Note labels was to record and document the Free Jazz / Improvised Music / Avant-Garde scene, mostly from the US but also from Europe, which continued between mid 1970s and late 1990s and produced a staggering collection of almost 550 albums recorded by world's most important Jazz innovators active at the time, providing an opportunity to American (mostly Afro-American) musicians, who would have never managed to make these recordings at home, ridden by racism, alienation and closed-mindedness. Without these two labels most of this fantastic human creativity would have been never documented. However, the Black Saint / Soul Note Box Sets produced under the CAM JazzFind albums on this label moniker are an archetypal example of how good intentions turn sour. Although these new editions often bring back to life some of the best music ever made on this planet, which in many cases has been lost in the tides of time and was unavailable on the market for ages, they suffer from an unforgivable disregard to the essence of cultural values and general sloppiness, contrary to human decency, which requires us to treat our cultural legacy with respect and loyalty. These Box Sets have no booklet which presents researched historical background and exact discographical information of the albums included, and most importantly an overview of the music and its meaning and contribution to the Jazz Art form. Although the original LP sleeves are reproduced, the information is in most cases too small to be readable at all. In short the fact that these Box Sets are meant to be inexpensive, does not mean that they have to be cheap!

Updated: 05/05/2020Posted: 26/12/2015

CD 10 Mini-Sleeve Box Set Remastered Essential Recommend To A Friend

PAUL BLEY / GARY PEACOCK / PAUL MOTIAN ~ WHEN WILL THE BLUES LEAVE ECM 2642 (Barcode: 602577404238) ~ USA ~ Jazz Recorded: 1999 Released: 2019 This is an archival live album by the Jazz trio led by the iconic pianist / composer Paul BleyFind albums by this artist, with bassist Gary PeacockFind albums by this artist and drummer Paul MotianFind albums by this artist. The album was recorded during the tour following the release of their studio album “Not Two, Not OneFind albums with this title”, which was their first get-together after thirty-five years, since they recorded the 1964 session released on ECMFind albums on this label as “Paul Bley With Gary PeacockFind albums with this title” in 1970. The album presents eight tracks, five of which are original compositions by Bley, one is by Peacock, one is by Ornette ColemanFind albums by this artist and finally one is a standard. Despite the fact that Bley is considered as an intrinsic part of the American Avant-Garde / Improvised Music / Free Jazz scene, his music always includes a deep melodic layer and an almost romantic tenderness, which keeps him apart from the aggressiveness / rowdiness, which usually characterizes these genres beyond the pond. Therefore, listening to music played by Bley is always a deeply moving experience, which involves aesthetic values and a rare emotional involvement. This brilliant trio is ideal for Bley’s music in every respect, not only because the rhythm section matches his skills and emotions in every way, since Peacock and Motion are extraordinary musicians, and supremely sensitive partners. Every album featuring Peacock’s virtuosic bass performances is a guaranteed masterpiece, and there are literally dozens of albums he plays on. Overall, this is a superb Jazz piano trio album, which although presenting quite complex music, should be accessible to a wide range of true Jazz lovers. The performances are absolutely marvelous, the sound quality is superb and the total experience is unforgettable.

Updated: 19/11/2024Posted: 19/11/2024

CD 1 Slipcase Recommend To A Friend

MARILYN CRISPELL ~ NOTHING EVER WAS, ANYWAY. MUSIC OF ANNETTE PEACOCK ECM 1626/27 (Barcode: 731453722224) ~ USA ~ Jazz Recorded: 1996 Released: 1997 Beautiful album by US pianist Marilyn CrispellFind albums by this artist with legendary bassist Gary PeacockFind albums by this artist and drummer Paul MotianFind albums by this artist, which pays tribute to the extraordinary compositions by Annette PeacockFind albums by this artist. Crispell worked with Annette Peacock for several months selecting the music to be included on this album and Annette herself adds her vocals to one of the songs. Annette Peacock is undoubtedly one of the greatest ballad composers in contemporary Jazz, with an impressive songbook going back to the 1960s. Her celebrated work over the years, which includes cooperation with Avant-Garde, Rock, Prog and Jazz musicians, is truly amazing and extraordinary in scope and diversity. Pianist / composer Paul BleyFind albums by this artist was the first Jazz musician, who started to feature Annette´s compositions on his numerous albums, starting as early as 1964. This album is a most fitting tribute to her life-long achievements and a masterpiece of contemporary music. Brilliant! Visitors' Comments Christopher  Brice No album with this rhythm section could be truly monotonous but IMHO the material did not sustain itself over the whole album, despite the intervention from (Mrs) Peacock at the end of the first disc - the later Amaryllis with the same line up (which I bought first) is much more interesting, with many tunes composed by Motian or (Mr) Peacock

Updated: 12/04/2019Posted:

CD 2 Slipcase Recommend To A Friend

DON ELLIS ~ SIX CLASSIC ALBUMS REAL GONE JAZZ 544 (Barcode: 5036408192325) ~ USA ~ Jazz Recorded: 1960 - 1962 Released: 2017 This is a reissue of the early recordings by the legendary American trumpeter / composer / arranger / bandleader Don EllisFind albums by this artist. Ellis was one of the most forward-thinking American Jazz musicians and also one of the most aesthetically "European" of them all, which was the reason why he was more popular and appreciated in Europe than back home. His work as a leader of Big Bands / Orchestras in the late 1960s was absolutely ground shattering and his openness to World Music was light years ahead of its time. This collection includes the first three albums as a leader by Don Ellis: "How Time PassesFind albums with this title" from 1960, "New IdeasFind albums with this title" from 1961 and "EssenceFind albums with this title" from 1962. These are intimate quartet / quintet recordings with such excellent players as pianists Jaki ByardFind albums by this artist and Paul BleyFind albums by this artist, bassists Ron CarterFind albums by this artist and Gary PeacockFind albums by this artist and many others. The music, although still based in the Bebop tradition, moves towards early forms of Free Form and non-conventional harmony and rhythmic patterns. The other three albums present Ellis as a member of the small ensembles led by American pianist / composer / arranger / music theorist George RussellFind albums by this artist, another highly influential figure as far as modern American Jazz is concerned and also a non-conformist and innovator. This set collects recordings made between 1961 and 1962, which present Russell playing with small orchestral ensembles and small combos, introducing elements of his Lydian Chromatic Concept and later Modal Jazz. These are "George Russell Sextet In K.C.Find albums with this title" from 1961, "The Stratus SeekersFind albums with this title" from 1962 and "The Outer ViewFind albums with this title" from 1962. These three albums can be also found as part of the George Russell collection "Seven Classic AlbumsFind albums with this title", but considering the really inexpensive price of these releases, the duplication can be ignored. Overall this is a fascinating collection of great Jazz music performed by some of the best players at the time, and which has additionally also an enormous historical value. I can’t imagine any true Jazz fan missing this set! Side Note The Real Gone JazzFind albums on this label label releases hundreds of album collections, which include usually between three to eight original albums in a two to four CDs sets. Most of these albums were recorded and released in the 1950s and early 1960s. These collections provide the track lists and lineups of the original albums, but no recording information, liner notes and any background information whatsoever. The label takes advantage of the copyright law in UK, which limited the length of the copyright protection of recorded works to 50 years, after which recorded works become public domain. In 2013 UK implemented a correction of the copyright law extending the protection of recorded works to 70 years (like the rest of Europe), but the correction does not apply retroactively, which means that recordings which entered the 50 years rule prior to January 1, 2013 (i.e. recorded before January 1, 1963) remain public domain. There are two great advantages to these releases: they are really inexpensive and they bring back to life many albums not reissued previously on CD, which means it would cost a collector an arm and a leg to get a copy of them. Many of these albums are absolute gems and essential pieces of Jazz history. The disadvantages are: the lack of proper information, original cover art, combining tracks of several original albums on one CD and the sound quality, which depends on where the label gets the source material. From my experience most of the releases have quite excellent sound quality but I have not listened to all of them and some people have complained about it.

Updated: 27/05/2018Posted: 05/05/2018

CD 4 Digipak Remastered Recommend To A Friend

JIMMY GIUFFRE ~ THE COMPLETE REMASTERED RECORDINGS ON BLACK SAINT & SOUL NOTE CAM JAZZ 1016 (Barcode: 8052405140425) ~ USA ~ Jazz Recorded: 1985 - 1993 Released: 2012 This superb Box Set collects all the albums recorded by the legendary American clarinetist / saxophonist / composer Jimmy GiuffreFind albums by this artist on the twin Italian independent labels: Black SaintFind albums on this label and Soul NoteFind albums on this label. Giuffre needs no introduction to any serious Jazz connoisseur; suffice to say that his prolific output and a career stretching over five decades is a superb example of an Artists constantly developing and changing his perspective on his Art form. In his early days Giuffre played Swing and later on Cool, but since his revolutionary 1960s recordings he entered the Free Jazz realm, contributing some of its most interesting moments. The music included here includes three of his late recordings in a quartet with keyboardist Pete LevinFind albums by this artist, bassist Bob NieskeFind albums by this artist and drummer Randy KayeFind albums by this artist. The fourth album is in a trio format with legendary pianist Paul BleyFind albums by this artist and no less legendary bassist Steve SwallowFind albums by this artist, closing the circle of the early 1960s trio they played in together. Remastered, mini-sleeved, and with a great bargain price – this Box Set an absolute must for any serious Jazz collector. Side Note The Italian independent record label Black SaintFind albums on this label was founded by the music critic / author / producer Giacomo PellicciottiFind albums by this artist in 1975. It was taken over by the producer Giovanni BonandriniFind albums by this artist in 1978 and a year later (1979) a sister label, called Soul NoteFind albums on this label, was established. The twin labels were run by Giovanni and later his son Flavio BonandriniFind albums by this artist, until they were sold in 2008 to the Italian KEPACH Music Group, which already owned the CAM JazzFind albums on this label label, and which also bought another Italian independent record label Dischi Della QuerciaFind albums on this label. The mission of the Black Saint / Soul Note labels was to record and document the Free Jazz / Improvised Music / Avant-Garde scene, mostly from the US but also from Europe, which continued between mid 1970s and late 1990s and produced a staggering collection of almost 550 albums recorded by world's most important Jazz innovators active at the time, providing an opportunity to American (mostly Afro-American) musicians, who would have never managed to make these recordings at home, ridden by racism, alienation and closed-mindedness. Without these two labels most of this fantastic human creativity would have been never documented. However, the Black Saint / Soul Note Box Sets produced under the CAM JazzFind albums on this label moniker are an archetypal example of how good intentions turn sour. Although these new editions often bring back to life some of the best music ever made on this planet, which in many cases has been lost in the tides of time and was unavailable on the market for ages, they suffer from an unforgivable disregard to the essence of cultural values and general sloppiness, contrary to human decency, which requires us to treat our cultural legacy with respect and loyalty. These Box Sets have no booklet which presents researched historical background and exact discographical information of the albums included, and most importantly an overview of the music and its meaning and contribution to the Jazz Art form. Although the original LP sleeves are reproduced, the information is in most cases too small to be readable at all. In short the fact that these Box Sets are meant to be inexpensive, does not mean that they have to be cheap!

Updated: 12/04/2020Posted:

CD 4 Mini-Sleeve Box Set Remastered Recommend To A Friend

JOËLLE LÉANDRE / BARRE PHILLIPS ~ A L`IMPROVISTE KADIMA COLLECTIVE 16 (Barcode: 634479752964) ~ FRANCE ~ Jazz Recorded: 2007 Released: 2008 French bassist Joëlle LéandreFind albums by this artist is one of a relatively few women pioneers on the Free Jazz and Improvised Music scene to earn a legendary status. Her activities on the scene have brought her in contact with the most distinguished performers, both European and American (such as Anthony BraxtonFind albums by this artist). She also worked in the field of contemporary Classical music with composers like Pierre BoulezFind albums by this artist and John CageFind albums by this artist. Her partner for this recording is no other than another bass virtuoso – American born (but living in France since the early 1970s) Barre PhillipsFind albums by this artist, one of the most esteemed Free Jazz and Improvised Music players, with a career stretching back to the 1960s and cooperation with such great musicians like John SurmanFind albums by this artist, Derek BaileyFind albums by this artist, Paul BleyFind albums by this artist and many others. His ECM album with Dave HollandFind albums by this artist “Music From Two BassesFind albums with this title” was the first bass duo recording (1971), which brings us to this superb duet. Excellently recorded by the French Radio, the music is a completely improvised set, full of beautiful conversations and exchanges between the players, who display almost telepathic contact. Full of deep feeling and lyricism, but always inspired by the fire and passion for the music, the duo performs some incredible music, which although demanding, is most enjoyable. It is a great example of how Improvised Music can stay being Avant-Garde in nature, but become mature and technically flawless. Highly recommended to lovers of acoustic bass and challenging musical experiences.

Updated: 12/04/2019Posted:

CD-R 1 Mini-Sleeve Recommend To A Friend

PAUL MOTIAN ~ THE COMPLETE REMASTERED RECORDINGS ON BLACK SAINT & SOUL NOTE CAM JAZZ 1008 (Barcode: 8024709114228) ~ USA ~ Jazz Recorded: 1983 - 1992 Released: 2010 This superb Box Set collects all the albums recorded by the legendary American drummer / composer Paul MotianFind albums by this artist on the twin Italian independent labels: Black SaintFind albums on this label and Soul NoteFind albums on this label. Motian needs no introduction to any serious Jazz connoisseur; suffice to say that his prolific output and an outstanding career stretching over five decades until his death in 2011 are a testimony of a modern Jazz Giant. The music ranges in format from a quintet with saxophonists Jim PepperFind albums by this artist and Joe LovanoFind albums by this artist, guitarist Bill FrisellFind albums by this artist and bassist Ed SchullerFind albums by this artist, trio with Lovano and Frisell and duos with pianists Paul BleyFind albums by this artist and Enrico PieranunziFind albums by this artist. Remastered, mini-sleeved, and with a great bargain price – this Box Set an absolute must for any serious Jazz collector. Side Note The Italian independent record label Black SaintFind albums on this label was founded by the music critic / author / producer Giacomo PellicciottiFind albums by this artist in 1975. It was taken over by the producer Giovanni BonandriniFind albums by this artist in 1978 and a year later (1979) a sister label, called Soul NoteFind albums on this label, was established. The twin labels were run by Giovanni and later his son Flavio BonandriniFind albums by this artist, until they were sold in 2008 to the Italian KEPACH Music Group, which already owned the CAM JazzFind albums on this label label, and which also bought another Italian independent record label Dischi Della QuerciaFind albums on this label. The mission of the Black Saint / Soul Note labels was to record and document the Free Jazz / Improvised Music / Avant-Garde scene, mostly from the US but also from Europe, which continued between mid 1970s and late 1990s and produced a staggering collection of almost 550 albums recorded by world's most important Jazz innovators active at the time, providing an opportunity to American (mostly Afro-American) musicians, who would have never managed to make these recordings at home, ridden by racism, alienation and closed-mindedness. Without these two labels most of this fantastic human creativity would have been never documented. However, the Black Saint / Soul Note Box Sets produced under the CAM JazzFind albums on this label moniker are an archetypal example of how good intentions turn sour. Although these new editions often bring back to life some of the best music ever made on this planet, which in many cases has been lost in the tides of time and was unavailable on the market for ages, they suffer from an unforgivable disregard to the essence of cultural values and general sloppiness, contrary to human decency, which requires us to treat our cultural legacy with respect and loyalty. These Box Sets have no booklet which presents researched historical background and exact discographical information of the albums included, and most importantly an overview of the music and its meaning and contribution to the Jazz Art form. Although the original LP sleeves are reproduced, the information is in most cases too small to be readable at all. In short the fact that these Box Sets are meant to be inexpensive, does not mean that they have to be cheap! Visitors' Comments Christopher  Brice Fabulous - some really good wild early Frisell!

Updated: 12/04/2020Posted:

CD 6 Mini-Sleeve Box Set Remastered Recommend To A Friend

ANNETTE PEACOCK & PAUL BLEY ~ DUAL UNITY BAMBOO 7018 (Barcode: 4752817701811) ~ USA ~ Avant-Garde Jazz Recorded: 1970 Released: 2016 This is a reissue of the iconic Avant-Garde recording by the American vocalist / pianist / composer Annette PeacockFind albums by this artist and her partner, Canadian pianist / composer Paul BleyFind albums by this artist, released originally on the British FreedomFind albums on this label label in 1971. This album preceded the release of Annette Peacock’s debut solo album “I`m The OneFind albums with this title” from 1972 and is the first release with her name on it, but her outstanding compositions appeared on albums since 1966. The music on this album was recorded live during their first European tour in 1970. The first two tracks were recorded in Netherlands with Dutch drummer Han BenninkFind albums by this artist and are taken from the same session, which produced the “ImprovisieFind albums with this title” LP by Bley, released by the French AmericaFind albums on this label label the same year. The two other tracks were recorded in France with American bassist Mario PavoneFind albums by this artist and drummer Laurence CookFind albums by this artist. Bley plays mostly synthesizer on this album and he was one of the first Jazz musicians to do so. Annette also used synthesizers extensively and she received her first one from no other than Robert MoogFind albums by this artist. She also sings, growls, plays bass guitar and piano, as appropriate for her many talents. She wrote one of the compositions (a rework of her Mr. Joy composition) and co-wrote the other three with Bley. The music is mostly freely improvised, except for the melodic first track, synthesizer soaked and so Avant-Garde, that it even sounds Avant-Garde today by any standard, making most contemporary Avant-Gardists sound like pussycats, even though the music was conceived and recorded fifty years ago! Although the album only lasts thirty-three minutes and twenty-one seconds, there is more searching, exploring and invention herein than probably in the entire Improvised Music recorded in the entire 2010s decade, which is sadly almost all déjà vu (with some notable exceptions of course). Overall, for music lovers interested in discovering the source of everything, this is an indispensable document capturing the essence of discovery.

Updated: 23/06/2021Posted: 23/06/2021

CD 1 Remastered Recommend To A Friend

GEORGE RUSSELL ~ SEVEN CLASSIC ALBUMS REAL GONE JAZZ 353 (Barcode: 5036408140425) ~ USA ~ Jazz Recorded: 1959 - 1962 Released: 2012 This is a reissue of the early recordings by the legendary American pianist / composer / arranger / music theorist George RussellFind albums by this artist This set collects recordings made between 1959 and 1962, which present Russell playing with small orchestral ensembles and small combos, introducing elements of his Lydian Chromatic Concept and later Modal Jazz. The six albums included here are: "New York, N.Y.Find albums with this title" from 1959, "Jazz In The Space AgeFind albums with this title" from 1960, "StratusphunkFind albums with this title" from 1960, "George Russell Sextet In K.C.Find albums with this title" from 1961, "Ezz-TheticsFind albums with this title" from 1961, "The Stratus SeekersFind albums with this title" from 1962 and "The Outer ViewFind albums with this title" from 1962. The musicians participating in these recordings include some of the most important American Jazz players at the time, like saxophonists John ColtraneFind albums by this artist and Eric DolphyFind albums by this artist, pianists like Bill EvansFind albums by this artist and Paul BleyFind albums by this artist, bassists Chuck IsraelsFind albums by this artist and Steve SwallowFind albums by this artist and drummers Joe HuntFind albums by this artist and Pete La RocaFind albums by this artist, to mention just a few. Overall this is a fascinating collection of great Jazz music performed by some of the best players at the time, and which has additionally also an enormous historical value. I can’t imagine any true Jazz fan missing this set! Side Note The Real Gone JazzFind albums on this label label releases hundreds of album collections, which include usually between three to eight original albums in a two to four CDs sets. Most of these albums were recorded and released in the 1950s and early 1960s. These collections provide the track lists and lineups of the original albums, but no recording information, liner notes and any background information whatsoever. The label takes advantage of the copyright law in UK, which limited the length of the copyright protection of recorded works to 50 years, after which recorded works become public domain. In 2013 UK implemented a correction of the copyright law extending the protection of recorded works to 70 years (like the rest of Europe), but the correction does not apply retroactively, which means that recordings which entered the 50 years rule prior to January 1, 2013 (i.e. recorded before January 1, 1963) remain public domain. There are two great advantages to these releases: they are really inexpensive and they bring back to life many albums not reissued previously on CD, which means it would cost a collector an arm and a leg to get a copy of them. Many of these albums are absolute gems and essential pieces of Jazz history. The disadvantages are: the lack of proper information, original cover art, combining tracks of several original albums on one CD and the sound quality, which depends on where the label gets the source material. From my experience most of the releases have quite excellent sound quality but I have not listened to all of them and some people have complained about it.

Updated: 27/05/2018Posted: 02/10/2016

CD 4 Remastered Recommend To A Friend

JOHN SURMAN ~ ADVENTURE PLAYGROUND ECM 1463 (Barcode: 731451198120) ~ UK ~ Jazz Recorded: 1991 Released: 1992 This is a masterful quartet recording by British saxophonist / composer John SurmanFind albums by this artist, accompanied by two American masters: pianist Paul BleyFind albums by this artist and bassist Gary PeacockFind albums by this artist and British drummer extraordinaire Tony OxleyFind albums by this artist. Surman gives a lot of credit to his partners on this album as compositions by all three of them are included herein with one composition coming from outside of the quartet, which is by Carla BleyFind albums by this artist. Surman contributes four of his original composition here. This is one of the most Jazz oriented and certainly Free Jazz oriented albums Surman recorded in the later part of his illustrious career and one of my personal all time favorites. Somehow the best of all the participants is encapsulated on this album; the virtuosity, the imagination, the interplay and the telepathic conversations are overwhelming. Oxley´s rare appearance is especially important and his completely unique approach to rhythm and percussive sounds is brilliantly documented here, particularly in view of the incredible sound quality of this recording, as usual with the ECMFind albums on this label catalogue. This is a masterpiece in every respect, and although most things done by Surman are quite outstanding, this one is particularly brilliant. Anybody with a pair of ears, which have been fairly recently cleaned, should find this irresistible. See also the "In The Evenings Out ThereFind albums with this title" album recorded by the same quartet!

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

Z3 ~ PALE FIRE WHYPLAYJAZZ 014 (Barcode: 4050486906163) ~ AUSTRIA ~ Jazz Recorded: 2013 Released: 2014 This is the debut album by the trio called Z3Find albums by this artist, led by Austrian pianist / composer Philip ZoubekFind albums by this artist and including German clarinetist Benjamin WeidekampFind albums by this artist and Swiss bassist Christian WeberFind albums by this artist. The album presents seven original compositions, all by Zoubek. Zoubek points to the legendary Jimmy GiuffreFind albums by this artist trio with pianist Paul BleyFind albums by this artist and bassists Steve SwallowFind albums by this artist as the source of inspiration to create this trio, and many points of reference are indeed present, although there is no attempt to directly follow or copy the work of Giuffre and his cohorts. The piano "plays the first fiddle" on this album, clearly navigating the music towards a melodic progression, which is followed by the clarinet and bass in a series of tête-à-tête and ménage a trios encounters. The overall atmosphere is completely relaxed and non-aggressive, which always helps in an Improvised Music environment, creating a true close encounter between the trio members. Weidekamp plays magnificently here and his beautiful tone reminds me of the performances by my beloved Harold RubinFind albums by this artist. Short phrases and delicate breathing-like uttering, little melodic statements and fragile triplets create an ornate aura around the piano stating the melody and the overall result is simply magical. Weber, who is one of the busiest and most prolific bassists on the European Improvised Music scene, with three solo albums and dozens of recordings to his credit, displays a certain measure of respect and distance, playing sparingly but superbly on time and exactly where his contribution is needed. This kind of subtle support is amongst the most difficult contributions a musician can offer to his partners. Together the trio creates a continuous flow of excellent and fascinating music, which keeps the listener on his toes from start to finish. In fact this is definitely one of the best releases on the first-rate WhyPlayJazzFind albums on this label label to date. There is definitely nothing pale about the fire found on this album, I assure you!

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