Record Reviews

ALPHONSE MOUZON ~ BY ALL MEANS MPS 4029759169703 (Barcode: 4029759169703) ~ USA ~ Jazz-Funk Fusion Recorded: 1981 Released: 2021 This is a reissue / remaster of an album by American drummer / composer / bandleader Alphonse MouzonFind albums by this artist, recorded with some top American musicians active at the time, including keyboardist Herbie HancockFind albums by this artist, guitarists Lee RitenourFind albums by this artist and Paul Jackson Jr.Find albums by this artist, bassist Scott EdwardsFind albums by this artist and the Seawind HornsFind albums by this artist. Trumpeter Freddie HubbardFind albums by this artist guests on one tracks. The album presents five original compositions, all by Mouzon, and the album was produced by my Friend and Mentor Joachim BerendtFind albums by this artist. Mouzon enjoyed an illustrious career during the 1970s, first as a member of McCoy TynerFind albums by this artist quartet and later as a founding member of Weather ReportFind albums by this artist, Larry CoryellFind albums by this artist’s Eleventh HouseFind albums by this artist and many other Fusion ensembles, which makes him one of the forefathers of the American Fusion. By the time this album was recorded, Mouzon move more towards Funk and Groove, and this album is a classic example of the genre. Combining Funky grooves and Jazzy brass arrangements it reflects perfectly the relaxed atmosphere fashionable at the time. Although hardly challenging musically, the album shows that the easier side of the Jazz spectrum can be masterly conceived and executed by highly professional musicians, who are Masters of their trade. Overall, this is a long overdue reissue of a very enjoyable album, which is a perfect companion for sunny days and an effective antidepressant, which should help some of the Jazz snobs to relax once in a while. 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: 29/12/2023Posted: 02/05/2022

CD 1 Digipak Remastered Recommend To A Friend