Record Reviews

THELONIOUS MONK ~ LES LIAISONS DANGEREUSES 1960 SAM 5051083118477 (Barcode: 5051083118477) ~ USA ~ Jazz Recorded: 1959 Released: 2017 This is an extraordinary archival album by the iconic American pianist / composer / bandleader Thelonious MonkFind albums by this artist, recorded in NY with his regular quartet, which included saxophonist Charlie RouseFind albums by this artist, bassist Sam JonesFind albums by this artist and drummer Art TaylorFind albums by this artist, expanded to a quintet with the addition of the French saxophonist Barney WilenFind albums by this artist. The music was recorded to serve as a soundtrack to the film by the French film director Roger VadimFind albums by this artist, entitled “Les Liaisons Dangereuses”. In complete contrast to the attitude American Jazz modernists, like Monk, suffered from at home, being constantly abused and subject to racial discrimination and ridiculous disapproval by narrow-minded music “critics”, in Europe and especially so in France, they enjoyed no less than a godly status, being absolutely revered by the local intellectual aristocracy and the general public alike. The revolutionary, brilliant French cinema of the late 1950s had an established liaison with Jazz, including the Miles Davis soundtrack for the 1957 film “Ascenseur pour l`échafaudFind albums with this title” by the director Louis MalleFind albums by this artist. There are numerous other examples of Jazz soundtracks in French cinema, but also in UK and even behind the Iron Curtain, especially so in Poland. This 2CD album offers ten tracks on CD1, all which were used within the film’s soundtracks, and six tracks on CD2, which were recorded during the same session, but were not included in the film. The sound quality is excellent, as is the music of course. All of which (except for one tune) was composed by Monk. The album is accompanied by a superb sixty-pages booklet with extensive background articles and wonderful photographs, a true labor of love. Although the album offers compositions, which were recorded many times by various Monk’s groups, they are all unique, since obviously Monk’s Genius was demonstrated, among other qualities, also by his ability to introduce subtle nuances each and every time he played one of his tunes. Overall, this is a major discovery and a true celebration of one of the greatest Jazz figures, which deserves to be hear by every Jazz fan. Of course Monk has many devoted fans, who should find this release absolute essential. Not to be missed!

Updated: 17/05/2023Posted: 17/05/2023

CD 2 Mini-Sleeve Slipcase Remastered Recommend To A Friend

OSCAR PETERSON ~ EXCLUSIVELY FOR MY FRIENDS MPS 4029759103257 (Barcode: 4029759103257) ~ CANADA ~ Jazz Recorded: 1963 - 1971 Released: 2015 This Box Set presents the reissues of the six albums ("ActionFind albums with this title", "Girl TalkFind albums with this title", "The Way I Really PlayFind albums with this title", "My Favorite InstrumentFind albums with this title", "Mellow MoodFind albums with this title" and "Travelin` OnFind albums with this title") recorded by the legendary Canadian pianist Oscar PetersonFind albums by this artist between 1963 and 1968. The music was recorded at the private villa owned by German music producer Hans Georg Brunner-SchwerFind albums by this artist during a series of house concerts entitled "Exclusively For My Friends", which were recorded using the private studio located in the villa. When Brunner-Schwer started the now legendary MPSFind albums on this label label in 1968, he released these six albums on his new label with great artistic and commercial success. The Box Set also includes two later releases, which collect previously unreleased material from these sessions, as well as from later sessions by Peterson recorded for MPS, entitled "The Lost Tapes 1Find albums with this title" & "The Lost Tapes 2Find albums with this title". Most of the music was recorded in a classic piano trio format and features bassists Ray BrownFind albums by this artist and Sam JonesFind albums by this artist and drummers Ed ThigpenFind albums by this artist, Bobby DurhamFind albums by this artist and Louis HayesFind albums by this artist, except for "My Favorite Instrument", which is a solo piano album and a couple of tracks on the "The Lost Tapes 2" which feature other players. Although Peterson is often considered as "one of the greatest Jazz pianists", mostly by American Jazz critics and writers, this is definitely a big exaggeration. He was undoubtedly one of the most technically proficient Jazz pianists and was loved by many Jazz fans for his smooth and accessible approach, but in retrospect, his decision to say deeply within the Jazz mainstream during the period when Jazz was moving rapidly forward, made his overall contribution to Jazz rather marginal. His style was always flashy and extremely pretentious, which was sometimes hard to bear. These splendidly recorded albums and their perfect execution did not save the music from aging rather ungracefully, and today they sound sort of banal and a bit dull overall. Of course connoisseurs of classic piano trio Jazz recordings will find here plenty of satisfying moments, but more up to date listeners might find this quite passé. Take your pick! 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: 26/01/2019Posted: 20/05/2018

CD 8 Mini-Sleeve Box Set Remastered Recommend To A Friend

JOE ZAWINUL ~ THE RISE & FALL OF THE THIRD STREAM / MONEY IN THE POCKET RHINO 71675 (Barcode: 081227167523) ~ AUSTRIA ~ Jazz Recorded: 1965 - 1967 Released: 1994 Joe ZawinulFind albums by this artist arrived in the US in 1958, after being one of the first European musicians to win a scholarship to Berklee, but he left the school almost immediately and became active on the US jazz scene as pianist, arranger and composer. He played with Maynard FergusonFind albums by this artist, Slide HamptonFind albums by this artist and Dinah WashingtonFind albums by this artist before landing on the piano chair with Cannonball AdderleyFind albums by this artist’s quintet, where he stayed for 9 years (1961-1969). Towards the end of his Adderley days Zawinul played for almost 2 years (1969-1970) with Miles DavisFind albums by this artist, participating in the seminal recordings Miles made at that period. In 1970 Zawinul formed the legendary Weather ReportFind albums by this artist, which would revolutionize the jazz and fusion genres and continue (in a slightly different direction) the pioneering breakthroughs made by Davis. Over the years Zawinul recorded only three albums as a leader (on AtlanticFind albums on this label and VortexFind albums on this label), two of which are included here (The eponymous album from 1969 was really the starting point for Weather Report). Money In The PocketFind albums with this title, recorded in 1965, finds him in a setting similar to his Adderley’s quintet gig both musically and personally. He uses the quintet’s bass player (Sam JonesFind albums by this artist) and drummer (Louis HayesFind albums by this artist) and adds three excellent horn players: Blue MitchellFind albums by this artist (trumpet), Joe HendersonFind albums by this artist (tenor sax) and Pepper AdamsFind albums by this artist (baritone sax). The sextet plays a great set of bebop material, including mostly original material by Zawinul, Jones and Henderson and two standards. Zawinul’s elegant and soulful piano playing sets a firm basis for the music’s graceful flow. The Rise & Fall Of The Third StreamFind albums with this title, recorded in 1967, is a completely different album and a most ambitious and pioneering jazz venture for the time. It involves a meeting between the American jazz tradition and the European classical tradition, but as the title suggests it was meant to be a new kind of synthesis to the one attempted earlier in the US by Gunther SchullerFind albums by this artist and named “The Third Stream”, which seemed to be forced and artificial rather than natural. A meeting between Zawinul and American classical composer William FisherFind albums by this artist led to the two of them working together in an attempt to create a natural synthesis of the two musical worlds. The project involved a jazz ensemble and a string quartet, playing music composed and arranged by Fisher. The jazz ensemble includes Zawinul on acoustic and electric piano, Jimmy OwensFind albums by this artist on trumpet, Richard DavisFind albums by this artist on bass, Roy McCurdyFind albums by this artist and Freddie WaitsFind albums by this artist on drums, Warren SmithFind albums by this artist on percussion and Fisher on tenor sax. The result is a stunning piece of music, a completely new and previously attempted kind of musical vista. In retrospect one can of course hear the seeds of what Zawinul will be doing just a couple of years later with Davis and then Weather Report. Although sadly overlooked and rarely mentioned, this is a seminal album in every respect and surely ahead of its time in every respect. For the intelligent jazz lover, interested in the forces that forged the jazz revolution of the late 1960s this is an absolute must!

Updated: 09/01/2025Posted:

CD 1 Remastered Recommend To A Friend