Record Reviews
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  | GERI ALLEN ~ TIMELESS PORTRAITS AND DREAMS
TELARC 83645 (Barcode: 089408364525) ~ USA ~ Jazz
Recorded: 2006 Released: 2006
Every new release by Geri AllenFind albums by this artist is always a source of joy and this one does not disappoint as well. Allen’s delicate lyricism (often resembling Bill EvansFind albums by this artist) and fantastic technique go hand in hand with her highly developed sense of melody, producing jazz which is both melodic and intellectual. This album is quite different from her previous releases, as in addition to the piano trio format (here with veterans Ron CarterFind albums by this artist – bass and Jimmy CobbFind albums by this artist – drums) Allen uses several guests, including Wallace Roney on trumpet, two vocalist and even a chorus. The reason for the presence of the vocalist becomes apparent when one realizes that Geri re-visits the gospel roots of jazz and brings them up to date as an integral part of her musical landscape. The performances are of course brilliant, as usual in her case, and the sound quality staggering (kudos to TelarcFind albums on this label again). I loved every moment of this and I’m pretty sure every serious jazz connoisseur will join me here.
Includes bous CD single
| | | CD 2 Audiophile Recommend To A Friend |
  | GATO BARBIERI ~ FENIX
BMG 743218514821 (Barcode: 743218514821) ~ ARGENTINA ~ Jazz-World Fusion
Recorded: 1971 Released: 2001
This is a reissue / remaster of the 3rd album by Argentinean Jazz saxophonist / composer / bandleader Gato BarbieriFind albums by this artist, originally released on the legendary Flying DutchmanFind albums on this label label and produced by Bob ThieleFind albums by this artist, who was the label’s owner. The album was recorded by a sensational team of American Jazz musicians, which included pianist Lonnie Liston SmithFind albums by this artist, bassist Ron CarterFind albums by this artist, drummer Lenny WhiteFind albums by this artist, percussionist Gene GoldenFind albums by this artist and Brazilian percussionist Nana VasconcelosFind albums by this artist. Guitarist Joe BeckFind albums by this artist plays on one track. The album presents six tracks, one of which is an original composition by Barbieri and the rest are by Argentinean Pop / Folk composers.
By the time this album was recorded, Barbieri managed to fully develop his unique style, which perfectly combined Jazz improvisation with the spirit of South American music. He was an incredible virtuoso and his brilliant fluency was truly magical and mesmerizing. As a result, he created a long series of brilliant albums, which to this day are absolutely stunning.
Barbieri, strongly influenced by John ColtraneFind albums by this artist, developed a unique “wall of sound” effect, which presented him wailing with a terrific intensity, but supported in the background by Latin rhythms and often retaining a clear melodic contents, including his obvious affinity to the Argentinean Tango.
Overall, this is a classic example of early Jazz-World Fusion, played by the best musicians at the time and fronted by Barbieri’s intense improvisations, which remain completely relevant well over five decades later. A music in every serious Jazz record collection.
| | Updated: 09/06/2025Posted: 09/06/2025 | CD 1 Digipak Remastered Recommend To A Friend |
  | RON CARTER ~ ETUDES
WOUNDED BIRD 6214 (Barcode: 664140621428) ~ USA ~ Jazz
Recorded: 1982 Released: 2008
Legendary US bassist Ron CarterFind albums by this artist, one of the great Jazz veterans of the genre and the backbone of countless Jazz recordings, presents here a series of new compositions accompanied by other great musicians: trumpeter Art FarmerFind albums by this artist, saxophonist Bill EvansFind albums by this artist and drummer Tony WilliamsFind albums by this artist. This piano-less quartet might sound slightly unusual at first, but just a few bars into the music it becomes clear that they are s superb unit of Master musicians. Both Farmer and Evans solo with confidence and flair, Williams displays his usual pyrotechnics, which is second to none, and Carter confidently and with virtuosity sets the pace and puts down the backbone at all time. His beautiful tone (excellently recorded) is overwhelming and inspiring. The music includes four compositions by Carter and two by Williams and although it´s not experimental or particularly innovating, is well structured and makes perfect sense musically, allowing plenty of space for soloing. Carter´s solos are of course, as always, full of inspiration and virtuosity and Williams proves to be a perfect partner – well they did play together for many years in the legendary Miles DavisFind albums by this artist second quintet after all. This album is an absolute must for all bass enthusiasts, but every Jazz lover will find plenty of great music here.
| | | CD 1 Recommend To A Friend |
  | MILES DAVIS ~ FREEDOM JAZZ DANCE: THE BOOTLEG SERIES VOL.5
COLUMBIA 889853573721 (Barcode: 889853573721) ~ USA ~ Jazz
Recorded: 1965 - 1968 Released: 2016
This is the 5th installment of the "Bootleg Series" recordings by American trumpeter / composer Miles DavisFind albums by this artist, released by ColumbiaFind albums on this label Records. For the first time in this series, the music included here comprises of studio recordings, rather than of live material, as was the practice so far. The music was recorded by the legendary second Miles Davis Quintet, which featured saxophonist Wayne ShorterFind albums by this artist, pianist Herbie HancockFind albums by this artist, bassist Ron CarterFind albums by this artist and drummer Tony WilliamsFind albums by this artist.
The music is presented in its rawest possible form, by simply including entire session reels, which comprise of rehearsals, false starts, partial takes, alternate takes and extensive studio chatter, all captured on tape in real time. The actual master takes follow, demonstrating the final result, which was eventually released on record. The whole concept of this set is to reveal a close inside look at the process of recording music and for people interesting in that process it is of course fascinating and absolutely unique.
Six of the master takes were released as the "Miles SmilesFind albums with this title" album released in 1967 and two were included on the "NefertitiFind albums with this title" album released in 1968. One master take remained unreleased for nine years and was finally included on the "Water BabiesFind albums with this title" album released in 1976. Several other tracks are previously unreleased.
Considering the fact that this music is performed by what is considered by many the ultimate Jazz ensemble to ever walk the face of the earth, every millisecond of this album is worth its weight in gold. The fact that they made mistakes and swore makes them of course human, but the way they play is definitely godlike. Although every devoted Miles fan is familiar with the master take versions of this music, the revelation of the process of their actual making is a deeply moving and for connoisseurs of the second Quintet this is of course an absolute must. For people who have spent huge amount of time in recording studios, like me, this is a close encounter of the fifth kind.
The fact that the music is absolutely sensational is of course obvious, which means that the more we can hear of it the better. The session reels, which are full of pauses and starts, can be a bit difficult for people not used to the studio reality, but are all worth the effort as they include some incredible music delivered once the quintet finally gets into gear and starts sailing full steam ahead.
As all the releases in the "Bootleg Series", this one delivers exactly what expected: previously unheard music, new perspectives, close encounters, historic moments and great memories. One can hardly imagine a more proper tribute to the genius of Miles Davis and the musicians associated with him than this series which takes the music seriously, is well researched, is aesthetically packaged, or in short simply works out wonderfully well. A BIG thank you to everybody involved in making this release a reality. One can only hope for many more installments in the future.
| | Updated: 31/12/2024Posted: 21/01/2017 | CD 3 Digipak Remastered Essential Recommend To A Friend |
  | MILES DAVIS ~ LIVE IN EUROPE 1967: THE BOOTLEG SERIES VOL.1
COLUMBIA 886979405325 (Barcode: 886979405325) ~ USA ~ Jazz
Recorded: 1967 Released: 2011
The Miles DavisFind albums by this artist second quintet is often considered the ultimate Jazz ensemble of all times. With saxophonist Wayne ShorterFind albums by this artist, pianist Herbie HancockFind albums by this artist, bassist Ron CarterFind albums by this artist and drummer Tony WilliamsFind albums by this artist as his partners, trumpeter / composer Davis was pushing music light-years ahead during the three and a half years this quintet existed (1965-1968). The studio albums recorded by the quintet (see "The Complete Columbia Studio Recordings Of The Miles Davis Quintet 1965-68Find albums with this title") are absolute masterpieces, which are totally timeless and unparalleled in their depth and perfection.
However, it was on stage that this ensemble really created its best work. Sadly, the recorded legacy of live performances by this quintet is not very extensive and therefore this release, which brings us 3 CDs and a DVD of previously unreleased live material by this quintet, is worth its weight in gold to every Davis connoisseur. Recorded (and filmed) during the quintet´s European tour in October / November 1967, this music and the film were all captured within a period of eleven days, which means that we get a clearly focused picture of what they were doing at the time.
After playing together for almost three years, the quintet was at the absolute peek of their creative powers, completely focused and intimately linked together by telepathic musical understanding. Listening to these live performance confirms all this, but also much more. It ultimately shows how creative these players were, even when performing a fixed set of compositions evening after evening. Davis, firmly in the lead, gives the cues to move from one composition to another or a change of tempo, but allows the individual musicians complete freedom. It is this freedom, which is the most striking and significant element omnipresent here, almost shocking in its power. Large portions of this music could be easily taken from a Free Jazz concert, even though the basic concept is still anchored in mainstream.
Collective improvisations often have all five members of the quintet playing at different tempi, scales and themes at the same time, somehow miraculously making a perfect sense. Personally I´ve always found the young Tony Williams to be the most striking personality in this ensemble, with his perception of rhythm more radically different and innovative than the other quintet members. A careful listener will be able to hear Williams play four different rhythms simultaneously, each played by one of his limbs. This barrage of sound is the most striking drumming imaginable, and an almost mystical experience.
It would be ridiculous to recommend this release, at it goes without saying that all modern Jazz listeners should find it absolutely essential and an obligatory part of their collections. Since the subtitle suggests that this is just the first in a series of previously unreleased Miles Davis recordings, all I can say is Halleluiah!
| | Updated: 20/05/2018Posted: | 3CD+DVD 4 Digipak Remastered Essential Recommend To A Friend |
  | MILES DAVIS ~ MILES IN FRANCE 1963 & 1964: THE BOOTLEG SERIES VOL.8
COLUMBIA 198028016728 (Barcode: 198028016728) ~ USA ~ Jazz
Recorded: 1963 - 1964 Released: 2024
This is the 8th installment of the “Bootleg Series” recordings by American trumpeter / composer / bandleader / visionary Miles DavisFind albums by this artist, released by ColumbiaFind albums on this label Records. It presents mostly previously unreleased material by Davis, captured during the early days of the legendary second quintet, recorded live in France. It follows the previous installment in the series, which was released in 2022 and offers 6 CDs of live material.
CD1 to CD4 present three full concerts recorded on July 26, 27 and 28, 1963 during the Antibes Jazz Festival, a total of twenty-seven tracks, performed by Davis, saxophonist George ColemanFind albums by this artist, pianist Herbie HancockFind albums by this artist, bassist Ron CarterFind albums by this artist and drummer Tony WilliamsFind albums by this artist.
The material recorded on July 27, 1963 (appearing here partly on CD2 and on CD3) was previously released on the “In EuropeFind albums with this title” album, in several versions, often edited, as well as on some compilations. This is the first time the full concert can be heard in its original form.
CD5 & CD6 present two full concerts recorded on October 1, 1964 during the Paris Jazz Festival, a total of ten tracks, performed by Davis, saxophonist Wayne ShorterFind albums by this artist, Hancock, Carter and Williams.
The music offers a wonderful glimpse on the development of the second quintet. The concerts, separated by just over a year, and with Shorter joining the quintet, show how the music takes a quantum leap forward, as does the young Williams, who offers some truly brilliant drumming displays. Coleman, an excellent musician by all means, was simply too much rooted in the Bebop tradition, while Davis was trying to push the boundaries of the genre.
Overall, as usual with any archival material by Miles Davis, the music is absolutely Godly, stressing again his unshaken position as the greatest Jazz musician of all time. Although the music does not reveal any surprising elements, it affirms his status, and for every Davis’ follower on this planet is absolutely essential.
| | Updated: 31/12/2024Posted: 31/12/2024 | CD 6 Mini-Sleeve Box Set Remastered Essential Recommend To A Friend |
  | MILES DAVIS ~ SEVEN STEPS: THE COMPLETE COLUMBIA RECORDINGS OF MILES DAVIS 1963-1964
COLUMBIA 90840 ~ USA ~ Jazz
This is the 3rd chapter in the ColumbiaFind albums on this label’s epic series of Miles DavisFind albums by this artist Box Sets, which is a monumental reissue project of recordings by the most important Jazz musician of the 20th century. Recorded mostly live during 1963 & 1964, the music documents the so-called in transition period of Miles between his two legendary Quintets. Miles was, as always. In search of the next step he wanted to take musically and was searching for the right musicians who could accompany him in his journey. Therefore, although this set includes music performed by a constantly changing line-up, the crystallization of the second great Quintet is well documented here, with Ron CarterFind albums by this artist (bass), Tony WilliamsFind albums by this artist (drums), Herbie HancockFind albums by this artist (piano) and finally Wayne ShorterFind albums by this artist (sax) gradually joined his group. All the other musicians playing with Miles here (George ColemanFind albums by this artist and Sam RiversFind albums by this artist on sax, Victor FeldmanFind albums by this artist on piano and Frank ButlerFind albums by this artist on drums) were admirable of course, but somehow lacked the special chemistry Miles required from his players.
The music contained here was originally released on the following albums: “Seven Steps To HeavenFind albums with this title”, “In EuropeFind albums with this title”, “My Funny ValentineFind albums with this title”, “Four & MoreFind albums with this title”, “In TokyoFind albums with this title” and “In BerlinFind albums with this title”. As usual, a plethora of previously unreleased tracks and tracks released on other albums and various compilations is also included, all present in full chronological order.
All of the material is painstakingly remastered and sounds superbly. Of course all this stuff is heavenly and although the musical progress here is slow, every note played by Miles is absolutely right on. There is a lot of tension in the air as Miles tests the ground for the next leap, pushing his musicians to the limit. The youngster Williams re-defines the meaning of Jazz drumming here, with more freedom and space than ever heard before, even with the parallel Free Jazz drummers. Hancock’s highly evolved musicality and deep sense of melody is already quite evident and Carter’s powerful and precise bass cements the entire concept together.
This stuff is as essential to any Jazz lover as air and water are to his physical existence. The box packaging is as lavish and extravagantly beautiful, as all the other items in this series, with extensive liner notes, detailed discography and many superb photographs.
A special note to collectors:
The initial release of all the Miles Davis Box Sets in this reissue series is packaged in an exquisite metal-bound (except chapter 5 which is cardboard-bound) frame housed in a hard cardboard CD-sized slipcase (except for chapters 1 & 8 which have a metal slipcase). Once the initial release is sold out, the CDs are repackaged in a tall-box digipak book format. Naturally the tall-box issues have a much lower retail price tag. All the initial release CD-sized issues become priceless collectors’ items in time.
| | Updated: 11/01/2024Posted: | CD 7 Box Set Oversampling Remastered Bonus Tracks Essential Recommend To A Friend |
  | MILES DAVIS ~ THE COMPLETE COLUMBIA STUDIO RECORDINGS OF THE MILES DAVIS QUINTET 1965-68
COLUMBIA 90925 (Barcode: 827969092521) ~ USA ~ Jazz
Recorded: 1965 - 1968 Released: 2004
This is the 4th chapter in the ColumbiaFind albums on this label’s epic series of Miles DavisFind albums by this artist Box Sets, which is a monumental reissue project of recordings by the most important Jazz musician of the 20th century. This set presents the complete studio output recorded by the legendary quintet between January 1965 and June 1968, which included Wayne ShorterFind albums by this artist (tenor saxophone), Herbie HancockFind albums by this artist (piano), Ron CarterFind albums by this artist (bass) and Tony WilliamsFind albums by this artist (drums). During this three and a half years period this quintet was the most important jazz ensemble in the world and also the most stable musical environment Miles ever enjoyed, which enabled him to push the boundaries of music ever further, slowly changing the face of jazz from the bee bop and Hard Bop traditions into the free style Fusion, which was to emerge as the next step of his visionary path. The sessions included here were released on the following albums and compilations: E.S.P.Find albums with this title, Miles SmilesFind albums with this title, SorcererFind albums with this title, NefertitiFind albums with this title, Miles In The SkyFind albums with this title, Filles De KilimanjaroFind albums with this title, Water BabiesFind albums with this title, Circle In The RoundFind albums with this title and DirectionsFind albums with this title. As to the music – anything I can say here will be completely banal in view of the sheer genus of this masterpiece. Not only is this some of the most essential music recorded in the 20th Century, but even every individual note played here is essential. This icon is a must in every respectable music collection.
| | Updated: 26/01/2019Posted: | CD 6 Box Set Oversampling Remastered Bonus Tracks Essential Recommend To A Friend |
  | MILES DAVIS ~ THE COMPLETE JACK JOHNSON SESSIONS
COLUMBIA 86359 ~ USA ~ Jazz
Recorded: 1970
This is the 7th chapter in the ColumbiaFind albums on this label’s epic series of Miles DavisFind albums by this artist Box Sets, which is a monumental reissue project of recordings by the most important Jazz musician of the 20th century. Recorded between February and June 1970 this monumental document defines “Electric Jazz” – anything recorded since, be it Jazz, Rock or Fusion, has its roots here. These almost five hours of music remained mostly unreleased till this set was issued, as the original A Tribute To Jack JohnsonFind albums with this title album contained less than 10 % of the music included herein. Although a few other “cooked” albums included snippets of this music (Live-EvilFind albums with this title, Get Up With ItFind albums with this title, DirectionsFind albums with this title and Big FunFind albums with this title) they were never available in their full form. By the time this material was recorded Miles’ approach to creating music changed dramatically: he was more of a captain giving the crew a general direction as to where he wanted to go, ratter that a navigator concerned with the exact details as to the course taken. An enormous amount of freedom was granted to the stellar collection of participants (Keith JarrettFind albums by this artist, Herbie HancockFind albums by this artist, Chick CoreaFind albums by this artist – keyboards, Steve GrossmanFind albums by this artist, Bennie MaupinFind albums by this artist, Wayne ShorterFind albums by this artist – saxes, Dave HollandFind albums by this artist, Ron CarterFind albums by this artist, Michael HendersonFind albums by this artist – bass, John McLaughlinFind albums by this artist, Sonny SharrockFind albums by this artist – guitar, Jack DeJohnetteFind albums by this artist, Gene PerlaFind albums by this artist – drums, Airto MoreiraFind albums by this artist, Hermeto PascoalFind albums by this artist – percussion) and for the first time Miles promoted John McLaughlin to be the primary soloist, much more dominant than his trumpet. McLaughlin of course was up to the job and presents some incredible guitar playing, firmly establishing the electric guitar as the leading instrument in instrumental music for the years to come. His fearless ventures into the uncharted territory of Fusion and even Rock would become a beacon for generations of guitar players, a source of inspiration and a vital learning tool. The unrestrained, almost jam-like atmosphere of the sessions inspired all the participants to search for the best they could achieve and the resulting music is simply phenomenal. This is visionary and groundbreaking, Promethean and pioneering musical creation, an absolute must to any Jazz fan that takes his music seriously..
A special note to collectors:
The initial release of all the Miles Davis Box Sets in this reissue series is packaged in an exquisite metal-bound (except chapter 5 which is cardboard-bound) frame housed in a hard cardboard CD-sized slipcase (except for chapters 1 & 8 which have a metal slipcase). Once the initial release is sold out, the CDs are repackaged in a tall-box digipack book format. Naturally the tall-box issues have a much lower retail price tag. All the initial release CD-sized issues become priceless collectors’ items in time.
| | Updated: 26/01/2019Posted: | CD 5 Box Set Oversampling Remastered Bonus Tracks Essential 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 |
  | HERBIE HANCOCK ~ THE COMPLETE COLUMBIA ALBUM COLLECTION 1972-1988
SONY 886977240829 (Barcode: 886977240829) ~ USA ~ Jazz
Recorded: 1972 - 1988 Released: 2013
This monumental Box Set (31 albums, 3 of which are double CDs) presents the recording legacy of American keyboardist / composer / bandleader Herbie HancockFind albums by this artist during his most productive and groundbreaking two decades, in which his albums were released by ColumbiaFind albums on this label (and SonyFind albums on this label in Japan). Columbia was Hancock´s third record label; his initial recording career (1962-1969) was spent with the legendary Blue NoteFind albums on this label label, where he recorded a series of brilliant and pioneering albums as a leader and dozens of albums as a sideman, many of which are considered as part of the canon of Jazz recordings. After a short period of recording for the Warner Bros.Find albums on this label label (1969-1972) he signed with Columbia, which was quite natural considering that Hancock was a member of the second legendary Miles DavisFind albums by this artist quintet (1963-1969) and took part in many projects Davis led after the quintet disbanded, all of which were recorded for Columbia. Several of the albums in this box, which were originally released only in Japan, make their appearance outside of Japan for the first time.
The content of this Box Set emphasizes the incredible musical versatility and truly chameleonic nature of Hancock as an Artist. He plays in many settings, from solo keyboards, duos (with Chick CoreaFind albums by this artist for example), trios (with Ron CarterFind albums by this artist and Tony WilliamsFind albums by this artist) and ensembles like the pioneering Jazz-Funk Headhunters or the incredible V.S.O.P.Find albums by this artist quintet, which followed in the steps of the second Miles Davis quintet, with trumpeter Freddie HubbardFind albums by this artist replacing Davis and the rest of the players being the original quintet members. It also shows Hancock as a composer of soundtracks ("Death Wish" and "Round Midnight") and his affiliation with World Music.
Musically the box covers an incredibly wide cross-genre musical plateau, covering such varied areas as modern Mainstream, Jazz-Rock Fusion, Jazz-Funk Fusion, Jazz-Soul Fusion, electronic and ambient music, orchestral music, Jazz-Classical Fusion and any other. Hancock´s exceptional talent as a composer is exposed here in the fullest and confirms his status as one of the most influential and revolutionary Jazz musician ever. His skills as a player are of course completely unparalleled and have served as a model for generations of young musicians all over the world.
It wouldn´t be an exaggeration to state that this box contains some of the most important Jazz recordings made to date and as a legacy its value is absolutely priceless and unique. It is of course worth every penny of this reasonably priced and beautifully packaged Box Set, even if one owns some of these albums separately already. Grab the box and give the older versions to your friends; they will surely be grateful and thank you.
This is an absolutely essential piece of Jazz history, music history and human Cultural legacy, which is way beyond recommendation. Simply a must!
| | Updated: 26/01/2019Posted: | CD 34 Mini-Sleeve Box Set Remastered Essential Recommend To A Friend |
  | JOE HENDERSON ~ MIRROR MIRROR
MPS 4029759113478 (Barcode: 4029759113478) ~ USA ~ Jazz
Recorded: 1980 Released: 2016
This is a reissue of an album by American saxophonist / composer Joe HendersonFind albums by this artist, which was his only album for MPSFind albums on this label and which was produced by the legendary Joachim BerendtFind albums by this artist. Henderson is supported by a wonderful team of top American Jazz musicians: pianist Chick CoreaFind albums by this artist, bassist Ron CarterFind albums by this artist and drummer Billy HigginsFind albums by this artist. The quartet performs six tunes, five of which are original compositions: two each by Corea (including the title tune) and Carter and one by Henderson and the remaining one is a standard.
The music is a perfect document of Henderson at his artistic peak, playing his heart out with his usual virtuosity. Although basically a mainstream Bebop album, there are many moments on this album where the quartet moves into less restrained area, with Henderson´s expanded solos being among his strongest in his career.
Corea fans will find him playing acoustic piano brilliantly, as usual in his case, also exploring the Free territory occasionally, as he so often did during his career. Carter and Higgins play amicably all the way through and of course their vast experience and talent are felt very strongly.
Overall this is a neglected gem, which Jazz lovers simply should have in their collections. Perfect execution, superb sound quality and a piece of Jazz history; one simply can´t ask for anything more than this. This album is little known to American Jazz fans since it was released only in Germany and this reissue is a great opportunity to close a gap in a record collection!
Side Note
The legendary German MPSFind albums on this label (Musik Produktion Schwarzwald) label, founded by Hans Georg Brunner-SchwerFind albums by this artist (HGBS) in 1963, first as SABAFind albums on this label Records and later on from 1968 as MPS Records, was the most important independent European record label, which had an enormous contribution to the development of European Jazz. For many years MPS cooperated with the legendary German producer / author Joachim BerendtFind albums by this artist, my Friend and Mentor, whose visionary approach and open-mindedness brought the crème de la crème of the Jazz (in the broadest meaning of the word) musicians from all over the world to the label. Between 1963 and 1983 MPS produced about five hundred albums, many of which are among the most important Jazz recordings on this planet.
In 1983 the MPS catalog was sold to UniversalFind albums on this label, which sadly resulted in all those artistic treasures to almost disappear from the face of the earth – a situation not only tragic but culturally criminal. Universal reissued a part of the MPS albums (probably 128 titles) on CD between 1999 and 2011 under the "Most Perfect Sound Edition" moniker.
Since 2008 the German Promising MusicFind albums on this label label released some of the MPS recordings, but at a very slow pace.
In 2014 the German company Edel AG bought the MPS catalogue from Universal and released a series of 25 MPS albums on CD with a new slipcase graphic design, which brought all those excellent albums back to life. In 2015 Edel AG started to record and release new albums under the MPS moniker. In 2016 Edel AG released a series of 10 classic MPS albums on CD, which were beautifully remastered and re-packaged, presenting the original artwork and liner notes, as well as new liner notes and photographs. An obvious labor of love, these reissues are what the MPS catalogue truly deserves. This project was continued in 2017 with another series of 10 classic MPS albums released on CD. In later years some new reissues were released sporadically.
Over the years many SABA / MPS albums were reissued in Japan, which is often the only available source for these albums today, but that is a story in itself.
| | Updated: 28/05/2018Posted: 19/12/2016 | CD 1 Mini-Sleeve Remastered Recommend To A Friend |
  | JOE HENDERSON ~ MIRROR, MIRROR
MPS 4029759097341 (Barcode: 4029759097341) ~ USA ~ Jazz
Recorded: 1980 Released: 2014
This is the only album recorded for the German MPSFind albums on this label label by American saxophone Giant Joe HendersonFind albums by this artist, with an acoustic quartet with pianist Chick CoreaFind albums by this artist, bassist Ron CarterFind albums by this artist and drummer Billy HigginsFind albums by this artist. This recording was organized by MPS house producer Joachim BerendtFind albums by this artist, who knew all these musicians in person and managed to persuade them to record an album which will be released in Europe. The quartet performs six tunes, five of which are original compositions: two each by Corea (including the title tune) and Carter and one by Henderson and the remaining one is a standard. This album is little known to American Jazz fans since it was released only in Germany and this reissue is a great opportunity to close a gap.
The music is a perfect document of Henderson at his artistic peak, playing his heart out with his usual virtuosity. Although basically a mainstream Bebop album, there are many moments on this album where the quartet moves into Free, with Henderson´s expanded solos being among his strongest in his career.
Corea fans will find him playing acoustic piano brilliantly, as he always does, also exploring Free territory occasionally, as he so often did during the early days of his career. Carter and Higgins play amicably all the way through and of course their being among the top American players is felt very strongly.
Overall this is a neglected gem, which Jazz lovers simply should have in their collections. Perfect execution, superb sound quality and a piece of Jazz history; one simply can´t ask for anything more!
Side Note
The legendary German MPSFind albums on this label (Musik Produktion Schwarzwald) label, founded by Hans Georg Brunner-SchwerFind albums by this artist (HGBS) in 1963, first as SABAFind albums on this label Records and later on from 1968 as MPS Records, was the most important independent European record label, which had an enormous contribution to the development of European Jazz. For many years MPS cooperated with the legendary German producer / author Joachim BerendtFind albums by this artist, my Friend and Mentor, whose visionary approach and open-mindedness brought the crème de la crème of the Jazz (in the broadest meaning of the word) musicians from all over the world to the label. Between 1963 and 1983 MPS produced about five hundred albums, many of which are among the most important Jazz recordings on this planet.
In 1983 the MPS catalog was sold to UniversalFind albums on this label, which sadly resulted in all those artistic treasures to almost disappear from the face of the earth – a situation not only tragic but culturally criminal. Universal reissued a part of the MPS albums (probably 128 titles) on CD between 1999 and 2011 under the "Most Perfect Sound Edition" moniker.
Since 2008 the German Promising MusicFind albums on this label label released some of the MPS recordings, but at a very slow pace.
In 2014 the German company Edel AG bought the MPS catalogue from Universal and released a series of 25 MPS albums on CD with a new slipcase graphic design, which brought all those excellent albums back to life. In 2015 Edel AG started to record and release new albums under the MPS moniker. In 2016 Edel AG released a series of 10 classic MPS albums on CD, which were beautifully remastered and re-packaged, presenting the original artwork and liner notes, as well as new liner notes and photographs. An obvious labor of love, these reissues are what the MPS catalogue truly deserves. This project was continued in 2017 with another series of 10 classic MPS albums released on CD. In later years some new reissues were released sporadically.
Over the years many SABA / MPS albums were reissued in Japan, which is often the only available source for these albums today, but that is a story in itself.
| | Updated: 27/05/2018Posted: 04/02/2016 | CD 1 Slipcase Remastered Recommend To A Friend |
  | ROBIN KENYATTA ~ STOMPIN` AT THE SAVOY
WOUNDED BIRD 1658 (Barcode: 664140165823) ~ USA ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion
Recorded: 1974 Released: 2008
American saxophonist / flautist / composer Robin KenyattaFind albums by this artist first appeared on the Free Jazz scene in the mid-1960s playing as a sideman with such distinguished musicians as Bill DixonFind albums by this artist, Andrew HillFind albums by this artist and others. By the 1970s Kenyatta changed his musical direction and joined the Jazz-Rock and Funk movements, which were thriving at the time. He recorded a series of Jazz-Rock / Funk albums for the Atlantic label, of which this was the third and last. Supported by a fantastic crew of musicians, which included drummer Alphonse MouzonFind albums by this artist, bassist Ron CarterFind albums by this artist, trumpeter Lew SoloffFind albums by this artist and many others, Kenyatta continues the direction set by his previous albums, mixing styles and genres at will, manages to create a unique piece of music, which includes a rare combination of Funk, Jazz-Rock, World Music and Blues. His saxophone and flute work is featured extensively, and is the highlight of the album. This little known gem is definitely worth to be rediscovered by people who missed it at the time, as it includes loads of memorable music. Check it out!
| | | CD 1 Recommend To A Friend |
  | ROBIN KENYATTA ~ TERRA NOVA
WOUNDED BIRD 1644 (Barcode: 664140164420) ~ USA ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion
Recorded: 1973 Released: 2008
American saxophonist / flautist / composer Robin KenyattaFind albums by this artist first appeared on the Free Jazz scene in the mid-1960s playing as a sideman with such distinguished musicians as Bill DixonFind albums by this artist, Andrew HillFind albums by this artist and others. By the 1970s Kenyatta changed his musical direction and joined the Jazz-Rock and Funk movements, which were thriving at the time. He recorded a series of Jazz-Rock / Funk albums for the Atlantic label, of which this was the second. Supported by a fantastic crew of musicians, which included drummer Ray LucasFind albums by this artist, bassist Ron CarterFind albums by this artist, trumpeter Enrico RavaFind albums by this artist and many others, Kenyatta continues the direction set by his previous album, adding more World Music and especially Caribbean influences, manages to create a unique piece of music, which includes a rare combination of Funk, Jazz-Rock, World Music. His saxophone and flute work is featured extensively, and is the highlight of the album. This little known gem is definitely worth to be rediscovered by people who missed it at the time, as it includes loads of memorable music. Check it out!
| | | CD 1 Recommend To A Friend |
  | JONATHAN KLEIN ~ HEAR, O ISRAEL – A PRAYER CEREMONY IN JAZZ
TRUNK 025 (Barcode: 666017168128) ~ USA ~ Jazz-World Fusion
Recorded: 1968 Released: 2008
The tiny British TrunkFind albums on this label Records label (owned by Jonny TrunkFind albums by this artist) is an endless source of discovery for a serious collector, specializing in unearthing ultra rare (or rarer) recordings and bringing them back to light. For specialist in Jazz Trunk Records have some incredible offers, like this incredible privately recorded album from 1968, which includes the music by Jonathan KleinFind albums by this artist – a seventeen years old youth at the time, performed by an incredible ensemble of leading American Jazz players: trumpeter Thad JonesFind albums by this artist, saxophonist Jerome RichardsonFind albums by this artist, pianist Herbie HancockFind albums by this artist, bassist Ron CarterFind albums by this artist and drummer Grady TateFind albums by this artist. Klein plays French horn and is the last member of the sextet. The music was conceived to be performed at a synagogue and was accompanied by singers singing verses from the Bible. Musically it is an incredible piece of modern Jazz, performed by the best musicians at the time. But the album is so completely obscure, that none of the discographies of the Jazz Giants involved lists it. So, as Jonny himself puts it, "Hallelujah", prize the Lord for making such a recording at the time and now having it back in circulation! Incredibly wonderful stuff!
| | | CD 1 Remastered Recommend To A Friend |
  | WYNTON MARSALIS ~ WYNTON MARSALIS
WOUNDED BIRD 7574 (Barcode: 664140757424) ~ USA ~ Jazz
Recorded: 1981 Released: 2007
American trumpeter / composer / arranger / bandleader Wynton MarsalisFind albums by this artist is probably the most identifiable Jazz personality worldwide in the last three decades – Mr. Jazz himself! With Miles DavisFind albums by this artist and lately also Freddie HubbardFind albums by this artist no longer with us, Marsalis is also the greatest trumpet player still standing. Sometimes it seems that the responsibility that comes with these honorable positions appear to be just too much for Marsalis to handle, as he has been in the epicenter of a huge controversy concerning his personality, his public statements and even his musical achievements. It was all Guns (of appraisal) and Roses (of admiration) at first – everything just clicked for Marsalis: a prestigious recording contract with ColumbiaFind albums on this label Records, a massive PR campaign for his albums, Grammy nominations and awards and every other conceivable musical award in US and abroad (including the first ever Pulitzer Prize for music) and finally the appointment as Artistic Director of the "Jazz at Lincoln Center", a cushy and extremely well paid job, all these and more turned out to be just too much for his enemies (and he has many of those) to swallow. To say the truth, Marsalis has a mouth, which does not fall much behind his mouth´s extension, the trumpet. The man just loves to voice his opinions, and some of these are quite provocative and extremely controversial, all this on top his always highly stylish wardrobe and often snobbish behavior. All the above make Marsalis an easy target for hatred and criticism, mostly by bigots, short-sighted critics and most of all envious competitors. To tell the truth, I don´t dive a damn. For me, Marsalis was always, from day one, an example of a total musician. He not only has a tremendous gift, but he both feels and understands music, a rare combination with only a handful of musicians around the globe truly possess. His ability to perform and compose Jazz and Classical music only emphasizes his musical versatility and profound effort to study, learn and apply the acquired throughout his entire life. His love of early Jazz, from the Blues, the New Orleans Masters, Louis ArmstrongFind albums by this artist and up to Beboppers like Thelonious MonkFind albums by this artist, and in parallel his disrespect towards Fusion and Free Jazz are fine by me. Not everybody has to love every kind of music and even not all kinds of Jazz… as long as they do whatever they do in such magnificent fashion as he does with his music, time after time. So here comes this album, his debut solo recording. As already mentioned, Marsalis is a perpetual student, and this was just his first step, so obviously he was relaying heavily on what he knew then, which for a trumpet player means one thing: Miles Davis. In many respects this album is a direct bridge between the classic Davis recording with the second quintet, almost two decades earlier. Although his quintet does not perform any of Miles Davis compositions or even tunes from the Master´s regular repertoire, the sound and stylistic approach is quite obvious. Emphasized by the fact that about a half of the album´s tracks feature that very same quintet´s rhythm section – Herbie HancockFind albums by this artist on piano, Ron CarterFind albums by this artist on bass and Tony WilliamsFind albums by this artist on drums, and Wynton´s brother Branford MarsalisFind albums by this artist sounds remarkably like Wayne ShorterFind albums by this artist on his saxophones, the associations just keep flowing. Is it imitation? Hell no! Not even in the slightest, although Marsalis would be called a Davis imitator from now no, even when he completely changed his modus operandi on the trumpet as he went along. Again, who gives a damn? This is a magnificent album, full of superb performances and uplifting music, masterly played from start to finish. Period! And when one remembers that Marsalis was just 20 years old when this album was recorded… give me a break… this is a revelation. But Marsalis was a fast learner and his subsequent recordings will surpass this album, as good as it is, by far. Maturity has this effect on people; they just get better with what they do in time, provided of course that they are as talented as Wynton Marsalis.
Side Note: The fact that Columbia dropped from its catalogue almost the entire recorded output by Wynton Marsalis is a sad and tragic testimony of our times. Columbia made a lot of money from his albums for decades, but considering the state of the music industry, there are no sentiments left. This reissue is released on the Wounded BirdFind albums on this label label; kudos to the label owner for keeping great music alive!
| | Updated: 01/06/2018Posted: | CD 1 Essential Recommend To A Friend |
  | HERMETO PASCOAL ~ HERMETO
FAR OUT 07 (Barcode: 5065007965214) ~ BRAZIL ~ Jazz-World Fusion
Recorded: 1970 Released: 2023
This is a reissue / remaster of the debut album as a leader by the Brazilian Jazz multi-instrumentalist / composer / bandleader Hermeto PascoalFind albums by this artist, recorded in NY with some top American Jazz musicians, like woodwinds players Joe FarrellFind albums by this artist and Hubert LawsFind albums by this artist, trumpeters Thad JonesFind albums by this artist and Ernie RoyalFind albums by this artist, bassist Ron CarterFind albums by this artist and the Royal Brazilian Jazz couple: vocalist Flora PurimFind albums by this artist and drummer / percussionist Airto MoreiraFind albums by this artist, who moved to the US in the late 1960s, and who also co-produced the album. The album presents eight tracks, seven of which are original compositions by Hermeto Pascoal and one is by his older brother Jose Netto PascoalFind albums by this artist, all brilliantly arranged and orchestrated by Hermeto Pascoal, who plays keyboards and flute.
The music is a divine example of early Jazz-World Fusion, with brilliant and intricate orchestral arrangements, which were completely different from what the usual American Orchestral Jazz sounded like. The sophistication and wild imagination that Pascoal incorporated in his music amazed the American musicians who were exposed to it, including Miles DavisFind albums by this artist, who regarded Pascoal as a musical genius, and rightly so.
The album sounds amazingly fresh and contemporary, despite the fact that it is more than five decades old, and still offers today much to be learned from, not to mention of course an exquisite listening experience, full of sublime melodic themes, typical Brazilian touches and superb soloing by the players.
Overall, this is a true classic Jazz-World Fusion album, which deserves to be heard and remembered, and which offers exceedingly original musical approach to orchestral Jazz. It is great to see the album available again, and hopefully it will be discovered by new generations of listeners. Personally I just can’t get enough of this music, with the CD playing on “repeat” mode. Kudos to Far Out Recordings for bringing this gem back to life!
| | Updated: 22/04/2023Posted: 22/04/2023 | CD 1 Digipak Remastered Recommend To A Friend |
  | MARIAN PAWLIK ~ OLD BASS LINE
NOT ON LABEL (Barcode: 5907222318409) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz
Recorded: 2017 Released: 2018
This is the debut album as a leader by veteran Polish bassist / composer Marian PawlikFind albums by this artist, renowned as a member of the legendary Polish Jazz-Rock ensemble DzambleFind albums by this artist, which recorded just one cult album "Wolanie O Slonce Nad SwiatemFind albums with this title". This album, recorded in a quartet setting, finds Pawlik in the company of the young generation Polish Jazz players: pianist Kuba PluzekFind albums by this artist, saxophonist Bartlomiej NoszkaFind albums by this artist and drummer Michal HellerFind albums by this artist. The album presents nine tracks, five of which are originals: two by Pawlik and three by Pluzek and four are by celebrated Jazz bassists: two by Paul ChambersFind albums by this artist and one each by Ron CarterFind albums by this artist and Oscar PettifordFind albums by this artist. The music was excellently recorded and the up-front bass presence is a delight to the many enthusiast of the instrument.
As the album´s title suggests, it is primarily a tribute to the double bass, its heroes and history, and as a result the music is mostly within the boundaries of American Bebop tradition, albeit the majority of it was composed by the Polish members of the quartet. There is no doubt that the three compositions by Pluzek are the most interesting musical endeavors, even if they are still closely related to the Bebop spirit, as they offer typical twists and turns Pluzek often employs in his compositions, which make the cognoscenti smile.
The music is executed perfectly, with a lot of soloing space offered to the leader, who obviously displays first-class technique and feel for the music. Noszka and Pluzek solo extensively as well, always according to what is expected in this kind of music. Heller keeps the time like clockwork and stays mostly in the shadows.
Personally I find this kind of music uninteresting, but listeners who still listen to Bebop should be able to enjoy this music and since this is an opportunity to listen to a legendary musician still in great form, it is a source of joy.
| | Updated: 10/12/2018Posted: 10/12/2018 | CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend |
  | CARLOS SANTANA ~ ORIGINAL ALBUM CLASSICS
SONY 886976260620 (Barcode: 886976260620) ~ USA ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion
Recorded: 1974 - 1980 Released: 2010
This Box Set collects reissues of three studio albums by the iconic American guitarist / composer / bandleader Carlos SantanaFind albums by this artist, originally released on the ColumbiaFind albums on this label label between 1974 and 1980. They are: “IlluminationsFind albums with this title” (1974), “Oneness: Silver Dreams - Golden RealtyFind albums with this title” (1979) and “The Swing Of DelightFind albums with this title” (1980). All three were released under Santana’s Sanskrit name Devadip Carlos SantanaFind albums by this artist given to him by Sri ChinmoyFind albums by this artist. These three albums followed Carlos Santana’s debut solo album recorded in collaboration with guitarist John McLaughlinFind albums by this artist entitled “Love Devotion SurrenderFind albums with this title” (1973).
“Illuminations” is a collaboration with pianist / harpist Alice ColtraneFind albums by this artist, the wife of John ColtraneFind albums by this artist. SantanaFind albums by this artist (the group) keyboardist Tom CosterFind albums by this artist and percussionist Armando PerazaFind albums by this artist play on the album and Coster also co-composed three of the tracks. Jazz musicians: bassist Dave HollandFind albums by this artist, drummer Jack DeJohnetteFind albums by this artist and several others take part in the recording, as well as a large string section conducted by Alice Coltrane, who wrote the arrangements and co-composed one the tracks. A short chant by Chinmoy is the album’s opening track.
“Oneness: Silver Dreams - Golden Realty” presents fifteen relatively short compositions, most composed by Carlos Santana and is performed by a large group of musicians, including many Santana (the group) members. The first six tracks were recorded live and the rest were recorded in the studio.
“The Swing Of Delight”, originally a double LP, presents nine compositions performed by a large group of top Jazz musicians, including Wayne ShorterFind albums by this artist, Herbie HancockFind albums by this artist, Ron CarterFind albums by this artist, Tony WilliamsFind albums by this artist and many others.
These three albums together with the a.m. “Love Devotion Surrender” album present some of the most spiritual and deeply Jazz influenced music that Carlos Santana created during his long-lasting career. The mixture of Indian spirituality, which he shared with many Jazz musicians at the time, and extensive / hypnotic Jazz improvisations are in retrospect some of his best achievements, and deserve to be cherished and remembered.
Side Note
The "Original Album SeriesFind albums with this title" by Warner Bros.Find albums on this label, the "Original Album ClassicsFind albums with this title" by SonyFind albums on this label, the "5 Original AlbumsFind albums with this title" by UniversalFind albums on this label, the Box Sets by RhinoFind albums on this label and other similar releases 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 for the essence of cultural values and general sloppiness, contrary to human decency, which requires as to treat our Cultural Legacy with respect and loyalty.
The Box Sets produced under these monikers have no discographical information whatsoever about the lineups, musician names, composers, lyricists, dates and places of recording, original release data and even basic copyright data (the last is strictly illegal BTW). Although the original LP sleeves are reproduced, they are often edited and information (which would be in most cases too small to be readable) is removed. Most importantly these Box Sets don't include any booklet offering a historical background and perspective about the Artists and the Music, which are extremely important and vital to the preservation of our Culture and passing the knowledge to the next generations.
In short the fact that these Box Sets are meant to be inexpensive, does not mean that they have to be cheap. Considering the fact how many times this music has been sold over and over again by the labels, this is a crying shame!
| | Updated: 13/09/2021Posted: 13/09/2021 | CD 3 Mini-Sleeve Box Set Recommend To A Friend |
  | GROVER WASHINGTON, JR. ~ THE COMPLETE COLUMBIA ALBUMS COLLECTION
SONY 886979244825 (Barcode: 886979244825) ~ USA ~ Jazz
Recorded: 1985 - 1999 Released: 2011
This Box Set includes all the albums released by US saxophonist / composer Grover Washington, Jr.Find albums by this artist on the ColumbiaFind albums on this label label, which spanned the last decade and a half of his life, untimely cut short by his tragic and unexpected death. Washington, primarily known as the Godfather of Smooth Jazz was in fact a gifted Jazz musician with a career spanning almost forty years, which slowly shifted from mainstream Jazz towards Jazz-Funk and Soul-Jazz. He enjoyed immense popularity amongst non-Jazz music lovers, but his true Jazz spirit was always a part of his milieu, especially when examined in retrospect.
The Columbia recordings present a wide range of stylistically diverse settings, moving between Funk, Soul-Jazz and mainstream Jazz, which is rarely associated with his legacy. Some superb players took part in these recordings, such as trumpeter Eddie HendersonFind albums by this artist, pianists Herbie HancockFind albums by this artist and Hank JonesFind albums by this artist, bassists Ron CarterFind albums by this artist and George MrazFind albums by this artist, drummer Billy HartFind albums by this artist and many, many more. Washington plays alto, tenor and soprano saxophones with mastery skill and fluency and his improvisational abilities are beyond reproach.
Of course many hardcore Jazz listeners will find this music way to "easy going" for their ears, but many will also be surprised by the Artistry Washington presents often on these albums. Listeners, who like the easier side of Jazz, should find this stuff absolutely delightful. Whatever one´s opinion of Washington´s music may be, one must admit that he certainly was one of the most influential musicians in the 1980s and 1990s. This Box Set, with the original albums mini-sleeved and an informational liner notes included is definitely worth investigating.
| | Updated: 26/01/2019Posted: | CD 9 Mini-Sleeve Box Set Recommend To A Friend |
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