Record Reviews

ROBERTO MAGRIS ~ KANSAS CITY OUTBOUND JMOOD 000 ~ ITALY ~ Jazz Recorded: 2007 Released: 2008 This is an album by Italian pianist / composer Roberto MagrisFind albums by this artist, recorded with legendary American bassist Art DavisFind albums by this artist (who died just three weeks after this recording) and drummers Jimmy “Junebug” JacksonFind albums by this artist or Zack AlbertaFind albums by this artist. Two of the tracks are solo piano recordings. The album presents twelve tracks, four of which are original compositions by Magris and the rest are standards. This album was the first release on the JMoodFind albums on this label Records label, founded and owned by Paul CollinsFind albums by this artist, who was Magris’ US agent, and their cooperation since 2006 resulted so far in twenty-seven albums featuring Magris playing with a plethora of musicians from many countries and released on this label. The music is a classic Jazz piano trio setting, superbly performed by all the musicians of course. Davis’ round and brilliantly melodic bass pulsations immediately reaffirm his reputation – after all he played with many of the greatest American Jazz Masters, including John ColtraneFind albums by this artist, Thelonious MonkFind albums by this artist and others. Magris doesn’t seem to suffer from any inferiority complex playing along the veterans and his compositions also fit the bill perfectly. Overall, this is definitely an excellent Jazz piano trio album, which should be wholeheartedly enjoyed by any true Jazz lover the world over. This album was definitely a beginning of a wonderful friendship, as described above. I can guarantee it – after all I produced a recording by Magris already in 1990, i.e. seventeen years earlier, and we are still Friends!

Updated: 04/05/2026Posted: 04/05/2026

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

ROBERTO MAGRIS / DENIS RAZZ ~ IN ACTION JMOOD 028 (Barcode: 736649929845) ~ ITALY ~ Jazz Recorded: 2024 Released: 2025 This is an album by a quartet co-led by Italian pianist / composer Roberto MagrisFind albums by this artist and Croatian saxophonist Denis RazzFind albums by this artist (a.k.a. Denis RazumovicFind albums by this artist), with Croatian bassist Karlo IlicFind albums by this artist and drummer Rajko ErgicFind albums by this artist. The 2CD album presents eighteen tracks (and a bonus track with a spoken word by Paul CollinsFind albums by this artist, the JMoodFind albums on this label Records owner), nine of which are original compositions of the quartet members and nine are standards, including two compositions by Sun RaFind albums by this artist. The music is a wonderful display of classic mainstream Jazz, perfectly and admirably performed by an archetypal Jazz quartet, which proves beyond any reasonable doubt that the American cliché: “White Man Can’t Jump” is absolutely ridiculous in every sense, especially so when applied to European Jazz, which managed not only to emancipate itself from the bondage of the American tradition, but in time left it far, far behind in an intellectual desert. These European Jazz musician play with the same fire and zest as their colleagues beyond the pond, but they have the spice of the European sophistication, which their Western counterparts sadly miss. Of course this does not apply only to playing Jazz music, but is as true, if not more so, as far as the compositions are concerned, as the music on this album easily and distinctly proves. Overall, this is a truly wonderful “classic” Jazz in every respect, brilliantly performed and offering brilliant music, both original and that originating from the vast treasury of American standards, which is everlasting. It also shows that Croatia has not only some of the most beautiful European landscapes, but also great Jazz musicians (and basketball players). And the Italian guy ain’t so bad either;)

Updated: 19/04/2026Posted: 19/04/2026

CD 2 Digipak Recommend To A Friend