Record Reviews

WOLFGANG DAUNER ~ RISCHKAS SOUL LONG HAIR 149 (Barcode: 4035177001495) ~ GERMANY ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 1969 Released: 2015 This is a reissue / remaster of an early album by German keyboardist / composer / bandleader and one of the Godfathers of modern German and European Jazz, Wolfgang DaunerFind albums by this artist. Recorded in a quintet setting, and probably the first European group to feature a double drums lineup, it included also guitarist Sigi SchwabFind albums by this artist, bassist Eberhard WeberFind albums by this artist, American (resident in Germany) drummer Fred BracefulFind albums by this artist and German drummer Roland WittichFind albums by this artist. The album presents six tracks, four of which are original compositions by Dauner, one is by Schwab, and finally one is a standard by Nat AdderleyFind albums by this artist. The album is accompanied by a bi-lingual (German / English) booklet with extensive background about the musicians and historical background. The music, as expected, is absolutely brilliant, with a strong Fusiony tinge and Psychedelia, all this in addition to the Jazz sources. Although it lasts for just about half an hour, it offers a wonderful glimpse at the German scene at the time, which was developing with an astonishing speed and variety, expanding the American Jazz tradition into previously unvisited areas. It features the leader playing organ, electric piano and flute (an instrument he will rarely play on later recordings), and Weber playing electric bass guitar, which he also used very rarely in later days. Schwab plays some amazing guitar licks, which put his in the same league as other early Fusion guitarists, like German Volker KriegelFind albums by this artist, or American Larry CoryellFind albums by this artist, who would record with Dauner later on. The double drums offer a dense, complex rhythmic support, which creates a unique ambience. Overall, this is a brilliant gem, which captures early European Fusion at its formative days, which is mostly completely unknown to contemporary listeners, but is truly worth its weight in gold. For Fusion enthusiasts, this is an absolute must, which shows the impetus of early days of the genre, and the contrast to its pitiful contemporary condition.

Updated: 17/05/2025Posted: 17/05/2025

CD 1 Remastered Recommend To A Friend

WOLFGANG DAUNER ~ THE OIMELS LONG HAIR 059 (Barcode: 4035177000597) ~ GERMANY ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 1969 Released: 2007 This is a reissue / remaster of an early album by German keyboardist / composer / bandleader and one of the Godfathers of modern German and European Jazz, Wolfgang DaunerFind albums by this artist. Recorded in a quintet setting, it also included two guitarists: Sigi SchwabFind albums by this artist and Swiss Pierre CavalliFind albums by this artist, bassist Eberhard WeberFind albums by this artist and drummer Roland WittichFind albums by this artist. The album presents eight tracks, five of which are original compositions by Dauner, one is a song by The BeatlesFind albums by this artist, another one is by George GershwinFind albums by this artist, and finally one is a traditional tune. The original album was released on the legendary German MPSFind albums on this label label. The reissue is accompanied by a bi-lingual (German / English) booklet with extensive background about the musicians and historical background. The music, as expected, is absolutely brilliant, with a strong Fusiony tinge and soaked in Psychedelia, all this in addition to the Jazz sources. Although it lasts for just about half an hour, it offers a wonderful glimpse at the German scene at the time, which was developing with an astonishing speed and variety, expanding the American Jazz tradition into previously unvisited areas. It features the leader playing organ and piano, Weber playing electric bass guitar, which he used very rarely in later days. Both guitarists play some amazing guitar licks, which puts them in the same league as other early Fusion guitarists, like German Volker KriegelFind albums by this artist, or American Larry CoryellFind albums by this artist, who would record with Dauner later on. Overall, this is a brilliant gem, which captures early European Fusion at its formative days, which is mostly completely unknown to contemporary listeners, but is truly worth its weight in gold. For Fusion and Psychedelia enthusiasts, this is an absolute must, which shows the impetus of early days of the genre, and the contrast to its pitiful contemporary condition.

Updated: 20/05/2025Posted: 20/05/2025

CD 1 Remastered Recommend To A Friend

WOLFGANG DAUNER / ET CETERA ~ ET CETERA LONG HAIR 071 (Barcode: 4035177000719) ~ GERMANY ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 1970 Released: 2008 This is an expanded reissue / remaster of the debut album by German keyboardist / composer / bandleader and one of the Godfathers of modern German and European Jazz, Wolfgang DaunerFind albums by this artist and his quintet, called Et CeteraFind albums by this artist. It was recorded in a quintet setting with the same lineup, which recorded the album “Rischkas SoulFind albums with this title” a year earlier and included also guitarist Sigi SchwabFind albums by this artist, bassist Eberhard WeberFind albums by this artist, American (resident in Germany) drummer Fred BracefulFind albums by this artist and German drummer Roland WittichFind albums by this artist. The album was recorded in London and presents eight tracks, six of which are original compositions by Dauner and two are by Schwab. The first five tracks were released on the original album and three are previously unreleased bonus tracks from the same session. The album is accompanied by a bi-lingual (German / English) booklet with extensive background about the musicians and historical background. Dauner / Et Cetera released the brilliant follow up album “KnirschFind albums with this title” in 1972, which featured American guitarist Larry CoryellFind albums by this artist and British drummer Jon HisemanFind albums by this artist, and which is one of Jazz-Rock Fusion absolute classics. The last album, released in 1973 yet by another lineup, was a 2LP Live recording. The music, as expected, is absolutely brilliant, with a strong Fusiony tinge and Psychedelia, all this in addition to the Jazz and Improvised Music influences. The expanded edition lasts for just about an hour, it offers a wonderful glimpse at the German scene at the time, which was developing with an astonishing speed and variety, expanding the American Jazz tradition into previously unvisited areas. It features the leader playing organ, electric piano and flute (an instrument he will rarely play on later recordings), and Weber playing electric bass guitar, which he also used very rarely in later days. Schwab plays some amazing guitar licks, which put his in the same league as other early Fusion guitarists, like German Volker KriegelFind albums by this artist, or American Larry Coryell, who would record with Dauner later on. The double drums offer a dense, complex rhythmic support, which creates a unique ambience. Overall, this is a brilliant gem, which captures early European Fusion at its formative days, which is mostly completely unknown to contemporary listeners, but is truly worth its weight in gold. For Fusion enthusiasts, this is an absolute must, which shows the impetus of early days of the genre, and the contrast to its pitiful contemporary condition.

Updated: 22/05/2025Posted: 22/05/2025

CD 1 Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend

SINGERS UNLIMITED / ART VAN DAMME ~ INVITATION MPS 4029759097464 (Barcode: 4029759097464) ~ USA ~ Jazz Recorded: 1973 Released: 2014 This is a reissue of the 5th album by American vocal quartet The Singers UnlimitedFind albums by this artist, which comprised of Gene PuerlingFind albums by this artist, Don SheltonFind albums by this artist, Len DresslarFind albums by this artist and Bonnie HermanFind albums by this artist. The group was discovered by Hans Georg Brunner-SchwerFind albums by this artist, owner of the legendary German MPSFind albums on this label Records, who produced, recorded and released most of their albums between 1971 and 1977. On this album they are accompanied by the American accordionist Art Van DammeFind albums by this artist (a pioneering Jazz accordionist) and a dreamy team comprising of top German Jazz players: guitarist Sigi SchwabFind albums by this artist, vibraphonist Heribert ThusekFind albums by this artist, bassist Eberhard WeberFind albums by this artist and Swiss drummer Charly AntoliniFind albums by this artist. Together they perform eleven popular songs and Jazz standards, carefully arranged for the vocal and instrumental ensembles. Although this album presents the lighter side of the Jazz idiom, it is far from being trivial. Singers Unlimited was one of the top vocal Jazz quartets at the time and had very little competition in their highly sophisticated multilayered vocal arrangements, except the Polish ensemble NOVIFind albums by this artist Singers. The instrumental work is also a living proof of the level of European Jazz players at the time, which was not inferior to anything coming from across the pond. This album is a great fun to listen to, even though decades passed since it was recorded. Fans of vocal Jazz and especially vocal ensembles which sung in perfect harmony as if they were created by a multi-mouthed being should have a field day with this music. I suppose there are not too many accordion Jazz fans around, but those few out there will find this to be an absolute must. 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: 21/01/2025Posted: 01/07/2016

CD 1 Slipcase Remastered Recommend To A Friend