Record Reviews

RABIH ABOU-KHALIL / JOACHIM KUHN ~ JOURNEY TO THE CENTRE OF AN EGG ENJA 9479 (Barcode: 0637579479290) ~ GERMANY ~ Jazz-World Fusion Recorded: 2004 Released: 2005 This is a duo album by Lebanese (resident in Germany) oud player / composer Rabih Abou-KhalilFind albums by this artist and German pianist / saxophonist / composer Joachim KuhnFind albums by this artist. They are accompanied by American drummer / percussionist Jarrod CagwinFind albums by this artist and Austrian drummer Wolfgang ReisingerFind albums by this artist (on a couple of tracks). The album presents eight tracks, all of which are co-credited to Abou-Khalil and Kuhn. The music was recorded by the legendary German studio wizard Walter QuintusFind albums by this artist and offers a superb sound quality. The music is a delicate dialogue between the Middle Eastern musical tradition, which was brought to the attention of the European Jazz community thanks to the extensive activity and recording legacy of Abou-Khalil who moved from Beirut to Munich in 1978, escaping the bloody Lebanese Civil War. Since the early 1990s, Abou-Khalil recorded many wonderful albums for the German EnjaFind albums on this label label, which had a major influence on the European Jazz, combining the Oriental improvising tradition with modern European improvisation. This album is an exquisite example of such cross-cultural amalgam. Kuhn, who always showed an incredible openness towards all cultural traditions, blends completely seamlessly with the Mediterranean accents, and adds the European accents into the mix, all of which sound completely natural and fit the atmosphere and ambience perfectly. Overall, this is a superb example of a cross-cultural pollination between these two great musicians, which results in a fascinating Jazz-World Music dialogue, which is of course timeless and everlasting. I have not listened to this music since the time it was released, and it sounds today every bit as exciting as it did some twenty years ago. For fans of Middle-Eastern Jazz explorations, this album is a Holy Grail.

Updated: 09/10/2025Posted: 09/10/2025

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JOACHIM KUHN / MATEUSZ SMOCZYNSKI ~ SPEAKING SOUND ACT 9630 (Barcode: 614427963024) ~ GERMANY ~ Jazz-Classical Fusion Recorded: 2019 Released: 2020 This is another wonderful duo album by German pianist / composer Joachim KuhnFind albums by this artist this time which brilliant young Polish violinist Mateusz SmoczynskiFind albums by this artist. The album was released as part of the "Duo Art" series by the German ACTFind albums on this label label, which cultivates the "Art of the Duo" Jazz tradition. The album presents nine pieces, five of which were composed by Kuhn, one co-composed by him and Smoczynski, one is an adaptation of Classical composition by George GurdjieffFind albums by this artist, one by French accordionist / composer Vincent PeiraniFind albums by this artist and finally one by Rabih Abou-KhalilFind albums by this artist. The music makes it immediately apparent that although obviously improvised, it is first and foremost chamber in character and heavily laden with Classical Music influences. The emerging Jazz-Classical Fusion is one of the finest examples of the idiom, completely unique and aesthetically innovative. Although followers of Smoczynski´s career will not be surprised by this deep relationship with Classical Music, for Kuhn´s followers this is indeed a great surprise, as his ties with Avant-Garde / Improvised Music are way more "natural" that those with Classical Music exposed on this album. Surprisingly Kuhn´s chameleonic ability to fit in every situation works here as well and one might be easily fooled into thinking that he is a veteran Classical pianist, which by the way is exactly what his career was supposed to be in his early days before he discovered Jazz. The age difference between Kuhn (born 1944) and Smoczynski (born 1984) is similarly completely insignificant as well, and both players perform in perfect musical and spiritual unity, as expected from such distinguished Artists. They both toy lovingly with the compositions, taking them often quite far-off from their origins at times and staying close to the notes on other occasions. Kuhn sprinkles the proceedings with brilliant but brief Free Jazz arpeggios, and Smoczynski inserts some Polish Folklore fragments, which makes the music a great fun to listen to. But as usual in the intimate duo setting, the music is first and foremost about the dialogue these two Artists are able to create while performing. As someone who happens to know them both in person, the magic that does take place here is completely natural, as they are both as sweet and loving as they sound. The wonderful photograph included on the album´s artwork says it all – Mateusz is looking with obvious respect and admiration at the Master and Joachim smiles kindly in return, like a grandfather proud of his grandchild. As I have stated so many times, the duo is the ideal musical unit; it is the minimal environment which produces interplay and telepathic communication between the musicians, which is the essence of collective performance. On the other hands it is free of the limitations imposed by performing in a larger environment, which a priori limit the level of the intimacy. This album is such a beautiful expression of the power of a duo that I can hardly think of a better one. I have been lucky to follow closely the career of Mateusz Smoczynski since his early steps on the musical scene and feel a great pride in his success. Obviously seeing Joachim Kuhn, who has been a part of the Soundtrack Of My Life since forever, being active and productive today is a no lesser joy. Bless you both for this sublime music!

Updated: 25/09/2020Posted: 25/09/2020

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