Record Reviews
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  | DOM MINASI ~ QUICK RESPONSE
CDM 1005 (Barcode: 616892598527) ~ USA ~ Jazz
Recorded: 2004 Released: 2004
This quartet date by US guitarist / composer Dom MinasiFind albums by this artist is quite different from his two trio recordings, which brought him back from a quarter of a century long self-imposed exile from recording and stormed the Jazz world with his amazing performances. Together with Mark WhitecageFind albums by this artist on tenor saxophone, Kyle KoehlerFind albums by this artist on organ and John BollingerFind albums by this artist on drums, Minasi presents a laid-back session, which re-examines the Jazz heritage in a contemporary setting. Of the nine compositions included on here, three are re-workings of standards and the other six are Minasi’s compositions, all kept in the “spirit” of Jazz tradition. Minasi’s followers might find this approach surprising, but it is really quite natural for him to play more or less “straight ahead” Jazz, as long as he retains his unique guitar voicing, which of course he does with flying colors here. His delicate and ever so sophisticated solos are truly delightful, time after time, with traces of Wes MontgomeryFind albums by this artist chords hidden under the surface. The other quartet members play along splendidly, with Whitecage and Koehler adding their tasteful solos, Koehler (when not soloing) supporting the perfect background layers and the basses (with his pedals) gluing the music together and Bollinger driving them all rhythmically. The retro sound of the organ is really delightful, at times somewhat resembling what Larry Young was doing in Tony Williams LifetimeFind albums by this artist. Playing “straight ahead” is a real challenge when the musicians want to retain the element of originality and creativity, which is exactly what happens on this album. For the less experienced Jazz lovers, who might find Minasi’s Avant-Garde work difficult to swallow at first, this is a great introduction to the magical word of his music. Grab it!
| | Updated: 12/04/2019Posted: | CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend |
  | TONY WILLIAMS / LIFETIME ~ EGO
VERVE 559512 (Barcode: 731455951226) ~ USA ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion
Recorded: 1971 Released: 1999
3rd album by the Tony Williams LifetimeFind albums by this artist. A mixture of jazz and space/psychedelic rock, which explains why this group is considered as one of the most important pioneers of Jazz-Rock. Williams, who at the age of 17 was given the drum chair by Miles DavisFind albums by this artist, is one of the greatest drummers of all times and his untimely death in 1997 was a great blow to all music lovers.
| | | CD 1 Digipak Oversampling Remastered Recommend To A Friend |
  | TONY WILLIAMS / LIFETIME ~ EMERGENCY!
ESOTERIC 2256 (Barcode: 5013929735620) ~ USA ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion
Recorded: 1969 Released: 2011
This is the 1st album (originally a double LP) by the revolutionary Tony Williams LifetimeFind albums by this artist, a groundbreaking trio created by drummer Tony WilliamsFind albums by this artist with British guitarist John McLaughlinFind albums by this artist and organist Larry YoungFind albums by this artist. The trio was a pioneering force of the Jazz-Rock Fusion and set up not only the standards, which would be followed decades on, but also most of the tricks of the trade for the new and emerging genre. The playing is absolutely incredible, innovative and virtuosic and the music lost absolutely nothing over time, in fact it sounds even better than at the time it was recorded, especially in comparison to contemporary Fusion efforts. This is one of the most influential albums in music history and an absolute must in any decent record collection. Beyond essential!
| | | CD 1 Oversampling Remastered Essential Recommend To A Friend |
  | TONY WILLIAMS / LIFETIME ~ LIVE IN NEW YORK 1969
HI HAT 3084 (Barcode: 5297961308411) ~ USA ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion
Recorded: 1969 Released: 2017
This is a live recording by the legendary pioneering Jazz-Rock Fusion trio Tony Williams LifetimeFind albums by this artist, founded by American drummer Tony WilliamsFind albums by this artist and including also organist Larry YoungFind albums by this artist and British guitarist John McLaughlinFind albums by this artist. It presents some of the material that was released on the trio´s debut album "Emergency!Find albums with this title" and some material from their second album "Turn It OverFind albums with this title", which was recorded and released after this concert was recorded with the British bassist Jack Bruce as a fourth member of Lifetime.
The music is of course absolutely stunning, light-years ahead of its time, presenting a futuristic amalgam of Avant-Garde Rock, Jazz and Improvised Music, with a heavy, muddy sound dominating the proceedings kicked forward by Williams´ hyper energetic drumming. Although this music is often considered as some of the most important early Jazz-Rock Fusion, it was in fact more daring and advanced that most of the genre´s output that followed.
McLaughlin was of course exposed to the true Jazz-Rock Fusion cradle at least five or so years earlier, when he was a member of the Graham Bond QuartetFind albums by this artist, which is where this genre was born. His remarkable performances here are simply blood-curdling.
The trio´s genesis is of course connected to the association of its members with Miles DavisFind albums by this artist and his Fusion period, which culminated with the recording of the iconic "Bitches BrewFind albums with this title" album. Lifetime was only one of several iconic groups born from musicians playing with Miles at the time, such as Weather ReportFind albums by this artist and Mahavishnu OrchestraFind albums by this artist.
Although the sound of this recording is not ideal, neither is the sound of the studio recorded "Emergency!", and considering the rarity and the importance of the music this is a must for Tony Williams Lifetime fans and followers of Fusion history!
Side Note
Obiterdictum Ltd, a company based in Cyprus (oh well you know the story… copyright laws and legal issues) releases mostly live recorded radio broadcasts from the 1960s on and offers an amazing source of music which was never officially released by some of the best Classic Rock and Jazz artists. The catalogue offers five hundred releases, which is an absolute treasure chest of music history, often appearing for the first time.
Although the sound quality and sometimes also music quality range from absolutely brilliant to pretty poor, most of the material is surely listenable, especially after being remastered recently, and more importantly offers music which is not available elsewhere.
The company releases the albums under several sub-labels: Air CutsFind albums on this label, EchoesFind albums on this label, Hi HatFind albums on this label, HotspurFind albums on this label, InterferenceFind albums on this label, KeyholeFind albums on this label, KlondikeFind albums on this label, Live On VinylFind albums on this label, London CallingFind albums on this label, OrbitFind albums on this label, Rox VoxFind albums on this label and Sound StageFind albums on this label. There is no ironclad logic as to what material appears on which label, except perhaps some internal considerations by the Obiterdictum owners.
Approach with caution, but keep in mind that some of these releases are absolutely brilliant!
| | Updated: 24/05/2019Posted: 24/05/2019 | CD 1 Remastered Recommend To A Friend |
  | TONY WILLIAMS / LIFETIME ~ TURN IT OVER
ESOTERIC 2257 (Barcode: 5013929735729) ~ USA ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion
Recorded: 1970 Released: 2011
This is the 2nd album by the revolutionary Tony Williams LifetimeFind albums by this artist, a groundbreaking group created by drummer Tony WilliamsFind albums by this artist with British guitarist John McLaughlinFind albums by this artist and organist Larry YoungFind albums by this artist. On this album the group is extended to a quartet with the inclusion of another great British musician – bassist / vocalist Jack BruceFind albums by this artist. The group was a pioneering force of the Jazz-Rock Fusion and set up not only the standards, which would be followed decades on, but also most of the tricks of the trade for the new and emerging genre. The playing is absolutely incredible, innovative and virtuosic and the music lost absolutely nothing over time, in fact it sounds even better than at the time it was recorded, especially in comparison to contemporary Fusion efforts. This is one of the most influential albums in music history and an absolute must in any decent record collection. Beyond essential!
| | | CD 1 Oversampling Remastered Bonus Tracks Essential Recommend To A Friend |
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