Record Reviews

GANELIN TRIO PRIORITY ~ SOLUTION FOR TUNE 0068 (Barcode: 5902768701678) ~ ISRAEL ~ Jazz Recorded: 2010 Released: 2015 This is a live recording by the Ganelin Trio PriorityFind albums by this artist, led by Israeli (of Lithuanian roots) pianist / composer Vyacheslav GanelinFind albums by this artist with Lithuanian saxophonist Petras VysniauskasFind albums by this artist and German drummer Klaus KugelFind albums by this artist. It presents an Improvised Music piece, divided into eight sections, all co-composed by the trio members. The recording, which was done a few years before it was released, is available here for the first time. Ganelin´s legendary status as one of the world´s leading Free Jazz / Improvised Music pioneers was established already in the 1970s, while he was still residing in Lithuania, which at the time was a part of the USSR. His stunningly original and prophetic music, which under bizarre circumstances was released by the solitary Soviet State owned record label MelodiaFind albums on this label, struck the listeners (albeit only a few at the time) as completely innovative and original, way ahead of most that was happening in that area anywhere else in the world. Ganelin continues to create wonderfully innovative music since and his recorded legacy is a symbol of excellence and ingenuity. He founded the Ganelin Trio Priority as a working and touring ensemble, which plays concerts and festivals around the world. He also composes music for theatre and cinema and teaches composition as the Jerusalem Academy of Music. This wonderful album is an exquisite example of the trio at work, performing Improvised Music which sonically sounds like a Symphony Orchestra and musically keeps the listener on his toes at all times. Ganelin uses piano and synthesizers to create the sound layers while Vysniauskas improvises melodically on top and Kugel charges the music with incredible rhythmic tension. Together they sound like a three-headed Apollo uttering Godly sounds to charm the humans. It is almost impossible to think of this music as a collective improvisation, as it sounds more "composed" than most composed contemporary Classical music, thanks to Ganelin´s extraordinary intrinsic sense of melody and the great talent of Vysniauskas to weave the musical threads into a spectacular colorful canvas. Kugel complements the trio perfectly with his respectful and highly attentive attitude, filling the missing pieces which require rhythmic elements of simply adding supplementary ornamentation. Overall this is a brilliant album from start to finish, almost a "book" example of Improvised Music and its true vocation, and should serve as an example and a beacon to all other Improvising Musicians. Of the numerous Free Jazz and Improvised Music albums released on the For TuneFind albums on this label label, this is definitely one of the absolute best ones so far. An essential listening experience!

CD 1 Essential Recommend To A Friend

ULTRAMARINE ~ NEBOCRY FOR TUNE 0049 (Barcode: 5902768701388) ~ UKRAINE ~ Jazz-World Fusion Recorded: 2012 Released: 2014 This is the debut album by the international Ethnic Jazz quartet UltramarineFind albums by this artist, which consists of Ukrainian vocalist Uliana HorbachevskaFind albums by this artist, veteran Lithuanian saxophonist Petras VysniauskasFind albums by this artist, Ukrainian bassist Mark TokarFind albums by this artist and German drummer Klaus KugelFind albums by this artist, who is the moving force behind this project. The album presents six improvised pieces, all credited to all four quartet members. The music was recorded live at a church in Lviv, Ukraine. The musical concept behind this album is an amalgam of Ukrainian Folk and Free Jazz improvisation, which follows many similar projects of this kind that sprung on the East European scene in the last decade. The vocal parts / songs represent the folkloristic motifs and the three instrumentalists add their improvised parts around these motifs. The formula is pretty basic and therefore also open and spacey, allowing all the quartet members to initiate and respond to what the other musicians are doing. Although the music is free spirited, it is also surprisingly melodic and lyrical, contrary to what one might expect from the lineup. Horbachevska sings in a typical folkloristic manner, using vibrato and dramatic modulation, but also moves away from the basic melody lines using vocalese. She is definitely the anchor of this music, and without her it would simply disintegrate. Vysniauskas weaves beautiful melodies on his soprano saxophone as if charming snakes, showing his incredible talent, sadly seldom appreciated by Western European audiences. Tokar plays empathically, providing the bottom sound needed for the music to lean upon and Kugel as usually ornaments the proceedings with his dynamic rolls and explosions. Overall this is a highly engaging experience, with a very specific aesthetics, which might be a bit bizarre and difficult for some listeners, but is definitely worth getting into. The amalgamation of seemingly incompatible musical elements is often the ultimate challenge and this quartet manages to achieve a true symbiosis, which us definitely praiseworthy. As usual the Polish For Tune label proves to be able to reach beyond any conventions and brings us innovative, challenging musical explorations, which constantly expands our conception of music. Well done indeed!

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend