Record Reviews

MAHAGON ~ MAHAGON (EXPANDED EDITION) GAD 174 (Barcode: 5903068122545) ~ CZECHOSLOVAKIA ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 1975 - 1977 Released: 2021 This is a reissue of the debut album by Czechoslovak Jazz-Rock Fusion band MahagonFind albums by this artist, led by bassist / composer Petr KlapkaFind albums by this artist, originally released in 1978. The collected lineup that recorded this album includes twelve musicians, with some of the best Jazz and Rock players in the country at the time, like keyboardist Michael KocabFind albums by this artist and violinist Jan HrubyFind albums by this artist. It was fronted by female vocalist Zdena AdamovaFind albums by this artist. The album presents nine original compositions, all by Klapka. This new reissue is expanded by five additional tracks, which are radio recordings preceding the recording of the album, also all original compositions, one by Klapka and the rest by other members of the group. This album was already reissued, together with the second album by the group, as a 2CD set in 2008 on the Indies Happy TrailsFind albums on this label label, but the bonus tracks are released here for the first time. The music is absolutely timeless and amalgamates many influences, both the obvious ones like Jazz, Rock and Blues, and stylistically follows the Brass Rock ensembles like Blood, Sweat & TearsFind albums by this artist or ChicagoFind albums by this artist, adding also a strong Funk element and Eastern European twist, with some folkloristic inspirations. Combined with the superb musicianship found here, this album is a true gem from start to finish. The fact that this music had no chance to reach listeners in Western Europe at the time is a travesty, which can now be easily rectified. Overall, this is obviously one of the best East European albums recorded at the time, and although it is forty-five years old, it sounds absolutely fresh and exciting. As usual, hats off to GADFind albums on this label Records for bringing this treasure back to life and expanding it with additional brilliant music, which deserves to be heard and should not be forgotten. No decent Fusion record collection is complete without this album in it. Absolutely essential!

Updated: 27/01/2022Posted: 27/01/2022

CD 1 Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend

MAHAGON ~ MAHAGON / SLUNECNICE PRO VINCENTA VAN GOGHA (CZECHOSLOVAK JAZZ-ROCK EXPANDED EDITION) INDIES HAPPY TRAILS 627 (Barcode: 8595026662728) ~ CZECH REPUBLIC ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 1976 - 1979 Released: 2008 This wonderful reissue collects all the recordings by the Czechoslovak ensemble MahagonFind albums by this artist. It is a brilliant document of the music scene, which thrived in Eastern Europe behind the Iron Curtain, in all the so-called "Socialist" countries, and was every bit as interesting, groundbreaking and visionary as anything else happening at the same time in Western Europe or the USA. In spite of political pressures, artistic censorship and economic hardships, with very limited access to recordings from the West, decent equipment or proper recording facilities, these young and ambitious musicians were exploding with ideas and boldly exploring new territories. The resulting music created at the time remains completely relevant today and should be rediscovered by young audiences, as it lost absolutely nothing of its power and intellectual quality. Mahagon was formed by bassist / composer Petr KlapkaFind albums by this artist and included some of the best Jazz players in the country at the time, like keyboardist Michael KocabFind albums by this artist. It was fronted by female vocalist Zdena AdamovaFind albums by this artist and stylistically followed the brass Jazz-Rock ensembles like Blood, Sweat & TearsFind albums by this artist or ChicagoFind albums by this artist, adding also a strong Funk element. Klapka wrote the all-original material as well as the brass arrangements performed by the ensemble. The bonus material includes several ultra-rare singles. In retrospect this is some of the best Eastern European Jazz-Rock, which should not be missed by any connoisseur of the genre. A must! 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: 08/06/2023Posted:

CD 2 Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend