Record Reviews
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  | MISHA ALPERIN ~ NORTH STORY
ECM 1596 (Barcode: 731453102224) ~ RUSSIA ~ Jazz
Recorded: 1995 Released: 1997
The Soviet Union produced some truly amazing Jazz musicians, including Avant-Garde pioneers and prophetic innovators, who were almost completely unknown outside of the empire´s borders. The fate of the Soviet Jazz is a fascinating chapter in the music´s history. Following the collapse of the Soviet regime, many of the musicians, who were active on the local scene, left the country, including pianist / composer Misha AlperinFind albums by this artist, who now lives in Norway. His recordings for the ECMFind albums on this label label, starting with the "Wave Of SorrowFind albums with this title" album (the first album by Soviet musicians to be released on ECM) brought his wonderful music to the attention of a much wider audience, which of course is well deserved. This is Alperin´s 2nd album on ECM, released almost a decade after the debut. He is accompanied by his life-long friend and musical partner Arkady ShilkloperFind albums by this artist, who plays French horn and flugelhorn, and three Norwegian musicians: saxophonist Tore BrunborgFind albums by this artist, bassist Terje GeweltFind albums by this artist and Master drummer Jon ChristensenFind albums by this artist. Alperin´s music is contemplative and deeply moving, complex but also melodic, reminiscent of some contemporary Classical music but with a distinct Jazz connection. It is devilishly difficult to perform and the musicians present here are obviously all virtuosi. I can´t imagine any serious music connoisseur not falling in love with this music immediately and if you´re not familiar with it, now is the time!
Visitors' Comments
Christopher Brice
I came to Alperin via his collaboration with John Surman on "First Impression," which is highly recommended; and I am grateful to Adam for pushing me to try more of his work, starting here. Tore Brunborg is uncannily like Jan Garbarek at first hearing; is this a Norwegian national style?
Christopher Brice
PS: On this album, ECM breaks with the habit of putting a larger version of the cover photo on the slip case: the cover and slip case give us four different photos of what seems to be the same event; but as ever, there are no details given
| | Updated: 12/04/2019Posted: | CD 1 Slipcase Recommend To A Friend |
  | ADAM BALDYCH & HELGE LIEN TRIO ~ BROTHERS
ACT 9817 ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Classical Fusion
Recorded: 2016 Released: 2017
This is the second album by Polish Jazz violinist / composer Adam BaldychFind albums by this artist recorded with the Norwegian piano trio led by pianist Helge LienFind albums by this artist, with bassist Frode BergFind albums by this artist and drummer Per Oddvar JohansenFind albums by this artist. They are joined by Norwegian saxophonist Tore BrunborgFind albums by this artist. The album presents nine pieces, eight of which are original compositions by Baldych and one is a classic standard by Leonard CohenFind albums by this artist.
The music presents another step in the coherent development in Baldych´s musical path, which has been taking shape in the last few years, leading him away from "conventional" Jazz idiom into contemporary Neo-Romantic Classical Music. Although the element of improvisation is still very prominent, the melodic themes, mostly deeply lyrical and introvert, touch deeply with the characteristic elements of Polish Classical Music and Polish Folklore, somewhat parallel, or rather in continuation of the great Polish Classical tradition going back to Frederic ChopinFind albums by this artist. Perhaps the reference to Chopin might sound a bit over the top here, but people familiar with Chopin´s music will note how Baldych is skillfully able to pluck the soul´s strings that move the Polish People.
The Norwegian musicians playing with Baldych are his soul brothers, providing the ideal companionship needed for this delicate journey. The intrinsic melancholy of the Scandinavian (and especially so Norwegian) music goes ideally hand in hand with the direction Baldych intends to put forward. Of course the fact that they are brilliant and highly intelligent musicians also adds to final result. Together they are able to make this by and large minimalist and introvert music sound complete and highly expressive.
Overall this is a mature and focused statement by a great composer and a superb performer, which clearly affirms his status as one of the leading European musicians today. The music requires attentive listening, but for open-minded and music-living listeners it offers layer over layer of wonderful musical journeys into the world of contemporary Classical Music, Folkloristic motifs and Jazzy improvisations, all wrapped up in an elegant, highly aesthetic and moving "package". Well done Maestro!
| | Updated: 22/07/2017Posted: 22/07/2017 | CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend |
  | TORD GUSTAVSEN ~ THE WELL
ECM 2237 (Barcode: 602527858968) ~ NORWAY ~ Jazz
Recorded: 2010 Released: 2012
This is the 5th album on the prestigious ECMFind albums on this label label by Norwegian pianist / composer Tord GustavsenFind albums by this artist. His first three albums were recorded in a trio format, the fourth by an ensemble (quintet with a new bassist, saxophonist and female vocalist) and this album returns to the classic quartet format with saxophonist Tore BrunborgFind albums by this artist, bassist Mats EilertsenFind albums by this artist and drummer Jarle VespestadFind albums by this artist. The music, all composed by Gustavsen, is absolutely brilliant in its typical Nordic way; relaxed, romantic, lyrical and beautifully melodic. The quartet performs superbly, with the saxophonist often sounding like Jan GarbarekFind albums by this artist, and the rhythm session subtly fulfilling the blanks and silences in between. Although some listeners might find the Nordic music "cold", this is a complete nonsense, and careful listening will eventually disclose the passionate nature of this music, beneath the stern exterior. Absolutely brilliant stuff!
| | | CD 1 Slipcase Recommend To A Friend |
  | MANU KATCHÉ ~ MANU KATCHÉ
ECM 2284 (Barcode: 602537094561) ~ FRANCE ~ Jazz
Recorded: 2012 Released: 2012
This is the fourth album for the ECMFind albums on this label label by French / African (born in Ivory Coast) drummer / composer Manu KatchéFind albums by this artist, recorded with his quartet, which includes Norwegian trumpeter Nils Petter MolvaerFind albums by this artist and saxophonist Tore BrunborgFind albums by this artist (both members of the band MasqualeroFind albums by this artist in the past) and British keyboardist Jim WatsonFind albums by this artist. The album includes ten original compositions, all by Katché.
This quartet returns to the trumpet / saxophone front line, which Katché used on his first two albums and which seems to fit best his musical concept, which is melodic mainstream Jazz supported by strong rhythmic riffs. His compositions are very lyrical and somewhat restrained, which is an ideal environment for the Scandinavian players. The keyboards are used also extensively as a tool to provide ambient soundscapes and overall atmospheric effects. The absence of bass creates a sharper contrast between the melodies and the rhythmic patterns. The entire album has a significant Scandinavian Jazz touch, spiced by the African based drumming, with work together wonderfully.
There is little innovation here, but the music is aesthetically pleasing and wonderfully performed. All these players are very talented musicians and their individual statements as well as collective playing is simply spotless. As far as the compositions are concerned, it seems that this is the best set of original compositions by Katché so far and he obviously is getting better at this aspect of his career in time. For me Watson is the most interesting player on this album, with a truly chameleonic ability to move form one keyboard instrument to another, always being perfectly suitable for the specific piece of music.
The sound quality and ambience are brilliant, as always with ECM recordings. This album should satisfy most connoisseurs of contemporary Jazz and for Katché fans this is another "must have" trophy. Recommended!
| | | CD 1 Slipcase Recommend To A Friend |
  | MANU KATCHÉ ~ THIRD ROUND
ECM 2156 (Barcode: 602527321318) ~ FRANCE ~ Jazz
Recorded: 2009 Released: 2010
This is the third album for ECMFind albums on this label by French (born in Ivory Coast) drummer / composer Manu KatchéFind albums by this artist, recorded with a quartet, which features saxophonist Tore BrunborgFind albums by this artist, keyboardist Jason RebelloFind albums by this artist and bassist Pino PalladinoFind albums by this artist and two additional musicians participating on selected tracks: guitarist Jacob YoungFind albums by this artist and female vocalist / trumpeter Kami LyleFind albums by this artist. The album comprises of eleven original compositions, all by Katché, one of which also includes lyrics, written by Lyle.
It is pretty obvious from the very first instant of this album that it presents a new concept, different from the two preceding albums, being completely "song" / melody oriented and only marginally Jazzy per se. The eleven tracks are all quite short (around four minutes in duration), very melodic and with limited space for improvisation. I´d speculate that this is probably the most "easy listening" album ever recorded for ECM.
But apart from the fact that this is not a Jazz album, all the other aspects of this recording are all positive: the melodies are excellent, the execution perfect and completely professional, as is the usual ECM sound quality. Therefore this album simply should not be judged by the "usual" standards of hard core Jazz and with a little open-mindedness this is a very enjoyable piece of music, which delivers exactly what it aims to do: musical joy and fun!
| | | CD 1 Slipcase Recommend To A Friend |
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