Record Reviews

ALEUDA ~ OFERENDA FAR OUT 045 (Barcode: 5030094054721) ~ BRAZIL ~ Jazz-World Fusion Recorded: 1984 Released: 2000 This is an expanded reissue of an album by Brazilian vocalist AleudaFind albums by this artist, who was discovered by the Brazilian Jazz multi-instrumentalist / composer / bandleader Hermeto PascoalFind albums by this artist. Pascoal produced and arranged the album, composed some of the material and plays on the album with some excellent musicians, such as bassist Zeca AssumpcaoFind albums by this artist, flautist / saxophonist Mauro SeniseFind albums by this artist and many others. The original album presented eight tracks and this reissue includes two bonus tracks, which are remixes of two tracks from the album. The music is a magical amalgam of Pop, Brazilian Folklore and Jazz, beautifully arranged by Pascoal, creating often complex musical vistas and orchestral sound. The album is an excellent example of the depth of Brazilian music, and of course the Genius of Pascoal, which are way beyond the simplistic image of Samba and Bossa Nova, which most people associate with music originating in Brazil. Aleuda has a sensuous voice and surprising range, and handles the music with ease and elegance. The players are of course all excellent, and the music flows fluently, featuring many short, but superb solos by the musicians involved. There is not a dull moment on this album, from start to finish. Overall, this is a rather obscure but excellent example of Brazilian Jazz-World Fusion, which offers a diverse collection of musical trends, brilliantly arranged and performed by some of the best Brazilian musician, all under the watchful eye / ear of Hermeto Pascoal, who is one of the greatest musical Geniuses on this planet.

Updated: 29/04/2023Posted: 29/04/2023

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BUDAPEST JAZZ ORCHESTRA ~ NEW DAYS AHEAD: THE MUSIC OF DANIEL HOFECKER BJO 0014 ~ HUNGARY ~ Big Band Jazz Recorded: 2022 Released: 2022 This is a nice album by the Jazz Orchestra / Big Band called Budapest Jazz OrchestraFind albums by this artist, which plays music composed by the Hungarian trumpeter / composer Daniel HofeckerFind albums by this artist. The album presents nine tracks, eight of which are original compositions by Hofecker and one is an arrangement of a standard. The first four tracks a parts of a suite, which gives the album its title. Two of the tracks feature vocals, performed by guest vocalist Eva BolbaFind albums by this artist. The music is based on highly melodic themes, elegantly weaved and arranged for the Big Band idiom, and excellently performed by the instrumentalists. Stylistically the Big Band keeps to the classic American tradition, close to Swing, with perfectly arranged harmonies and flawless balance between the various sections and the solos are also kept within the mainstream model. The overall sound of the Big Band is quite mellow and delicate, which brings is slightly closer to the European Big Band aural experience, but in general there are no surprises or deviations from the expected norm. Overall, this is a very pleasant Jazz Big Band album, which takes no risks and offers sold, well composed music and arrangements, which create a first class listening experience. Since most Big Band fans prefer this kind of approach, this album should sit very well with the majority of Jazz listeners. One has of course to recognize Hofecker’s skills as composer and arranger, of which we will hopefully hear much more in the future.

Updated: 03/04/2023Posted: 03/04/2023

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JOANNA DUDA ~ KEEN ALPAKA 008 (Barcode: 193428487826) ~ POLAND ~ Avant-Garde Electronic Recorded: 2018 Released: 2019 This is the second album by Polish keyboardist / composer / electronic music artist Joanna DudaFind albums by this artist, this time recorded solo. It features a collage of sounds created using acoustic piano and prepared piano, electronically generated sounds and human voices. The album presents nine tracks, all played, composed and produced by Duda. Although Duda can play "conventional" music, for example when she plays with Wojtek MazolewskiFind albums by this artist´s ensemble, this album is dedicated to her more experimental / Avant-Garde side, which offers little melody based music and exposes the listener to her intimate inner world of sounds, which resembles imaginary soundtracks of Science Fiction movies or sound vistas by early electronic composers like Charles IvesFind albums by this artist or Edgar VareseFind albums by this artist and later Pierre SchaefferFind albums by this artist or Pierre HenryFind albums by this artist. With just fragmented tones or short phrases, repeated by loops and other electronic devices, these collages are more about stimulating the listener´s cerebral cortex than his heart, and for the Avant-Garde prone brave hearted listeners can be a marvelous experience. Duda should be admired for her uncompromising and unconventional approach to music and her courage to pursue her heart rather than seeking easy solutions and mainstream recognition. This album is an example of her determination to follow the path less travelled, inviting open-minded listeners to share her world with them. Personally I find this music fascinating and engaging, but obviously it is not destined to reach a wide circle of listeners, which is the price Avant-Garde Artists are ready to accept in return for their independence and personal fulfillment. Definitely highly recommended to people with wide horizons!

Updated: 03/01/2020Posted: 03/01/2020

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KRZYSZTOF DUDA ~ ALTUS GAD 012 (Barcode: 5901549197129) ~ POLAND ~ Electronic & Ambient Recorded: 1980 - 1985 Released: 2013 This album brings back to life a series of compositions by Polish synthesizer music pioneer Krzysztof DudaFind albums by this artist, recorded in the early 1980s mostly for Polish TV. This music was used as soundtrack for various TV programs, among them the cult popular science series called "SondaFind albums with this title", but also others. The album features twenty tracks, all composed and performed by Duda, who used an impressive array of synthesizers including the ARP, Hohner, Korg, Moog, Roland and others, including some custom made instruments. The music is mostly constrained to the three minutes per track timing, but manages to present an impressive array of great melodic themes and an enormous collection of synthesizer sounds, which of course also characterized the Pop and Rock scene at the time. Duda manages to create his own universe of sounds, which is characterized by dramatic, mysterious and wonderfully crafted melodies arranged into multilayered sound sculptures. The four-part suite called "Przez Pryzmat Krysztalu" is the most ambitious and advanced musically piece on the album and a true masterpiece of synthesizer music. As usually with GADFind albums on this label Records this collection is meticulously researched, offers excellent sound quality and is accompanied by an informative bilingual booklet, which provides the historic background relevant to the included music, in short a model for producing reissues and preserving the heritage of Polish music, which would have otherwise simply disappeared in the tides of time, if not for the work of the producer and record label owner Michal WilczynskiFind albums by this artist. Another great piece of the puzzle!

Updated: 25/02/2016Posted: 20/02/2016

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KRZYSZTOF DUDA ~ LIVE GAD 084 (Barcode: 5903068120145) ~ POLAND ~ Electronic & Ambient Recorded: 1984 - 1985 Released: 2018 This is the second archival album by Polish electronic music pioneer / composer Krzysztof DudaFind albums by this artist. It presents two live recordings made in the mid-1980s of extended musical suites performed live by the composer inside two churches, using an extensive array of synthesizers, the first lasting over thirty minutes and the second over forty minutes. Duda, who is a church organist, composed the music initially to be performed using a church organ, but gradually ported it first into a hybrid organ-synthesizers version and finally into a full synthesizers only version, which is captured herein. The music is an interesting crossover between liturgical church music and ambient / electronic explorations, powerful and soaring, full of beautiful melodic themes and lengthy improvised parts. Although performed by synthesizers, the overall sound is very close to church organ music, but less bombastic and dominating than music performed using the church organ. This music is completely timeless and lost absolutely nothing of its impressive scope and emotional power over time. For synthesizer connoisseurs this is a potent and enlightening experience, which is also quite unique in its attempt to connect secular and spiritual musical explorations, which are combined cleverly within Duda´s music. Highly recommended to listeners who are interested in exploring uncharted musical territory!

Updated: 06/02/2019Posted: 06/02/2019

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SLAWEK DUDAR ~ BALLADS & SWING (BEAUTIFUL SONGS OF DUKE ELLINGTON) NOT ON LABEL ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2024 Released: 2024 This is an album by Polish (currently resident in Germany) Jazz saxophonist / composer Slawek DudarFind albums by this artist, recorded in a trio format with a German rhythm section: bassist Johannes GollerFind albums by this artist and drummer Ali BroumandFind albums by this artist. The album presents eight tracks, six of which are compositions by Duke EllingtonFind albums by this artist (as the title suggests) and two are standards. The music is of course as mainstream Jazz oriented as only imaginable, and besides the saxophone trio format, offers no other points of interest as such. Dudar, as his earlier recordings prove, is an accomplished saxophone player, and here he performs all the tunes every Jazz lover knows by heart, so there is little margin of error possible. The intimate format and exaggerated slow tempo make listening to the music a bit of an effort, but enables every little detail and nuance of the music to be perfectly audible, which I assume was intentional. Overall, although the material is absolutely classic, the album is extremely minimalistic, and considering the fact that these tunes were covered by generation after generation of Jazz Masters, presents a sort of a question mark as to its purpose / intention. Having said that, mainstream Jazz lovers might enjoy this somewhat “naked” versions of beloved standards.

Updated: 03/06/2025Posted: 03/06/2025

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SLAWEK DUDAR ~ INSIDE CITY LUNA 337 (Barcode: 5900672923377) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2013 Released: 2014 This is the debut album as a leader by Polish Jazz saxophonist / composer Slawek DudarFind albums by this artist, recorded by his quartet, which also includes pianist Robert JarmuzekFind albums by this artist, bassist Adam KabacinskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Wojciech BulinskiFind albums by this artist. A couple of guest musicians: vocalist Jacek ZamieckiFind albums by this artist and guitarist Artur LesickiFind albums by this artist participate on selected tracks. The album presents seven original compositions, all by Dudar. Musically the album presents the lighter side of the Jazz spectrum, somewhere between mainstream, Jazz-Rock Fusion (when the guitar is present) and Smooth Jazz, but in contrast to most albums released with such characteristics it is a solid and valuable contribution, especially due to the excellent compositions, which are all surprisingly diverse, melodic and far from being trivial or banal. Actually some of these tunes are truly outstanding to be honest. Dudar has a nice tone and plays with self-confidence and a lot of feeling. He manages to stay within the Jazz framework and not cross over to the Smooth Jazz vocabulary (or lack of it), which is often the case. Jarmuzek plays some splendid piano parts, very supportive and always displaying great taste. His contributions keep the album solidly on the Jazz ground. The rhythm section, especially the drums, although perfectly executed and technically fine, is a bit too Rocky for my taste, but that is a minor point. The album has a very good sound quality, balance and ambience, which in addition to the fine music makes it a most pleasant listening voyage. For me this music is "sunny" and perfect for a ride on a shore in our kind of weather. Sometimes the morose Polish melancholy is simply too much, and this album manages to avoid it almost completely, except for the last tune, which is a beautiful ballad dedicated to the EST trio – not surprisingly. Very well done gentlemen!

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JUDAS PRIEST ~ THE COMPLETE ALBUMS COLLECTION SONY 886979678729 (Barcode: 886979678729) ~ UK ~ Pop & Rock Recorded: 1974 - 2009 Released: 2012 This superb Box Set collects all the albums recorded by the seminal British Rock band Judas PriestFind albums by this artist in the span of about thirty five years, starting with the first two albums recorded for the GullFind albums on this label label and then fifteen albums recorded for the EpicFind albums by this artist label, two of which are double albums. Together these nineteen CDs remastered and expanded with bonus tracks, present one of the finest and most consistent Rock groups that ever existed. Although most commonly referred to as a "Metal" band, Judas Priest always were and still are a Hard Rock band, i.e. a kick ass, loud, energetic performing unit, which plays music based on excellent melodic themes and offers first rate instrumental work with a double lead guitar front. Fronted by the charismatic vocalist Rob HalfordFind albums by this artist, whose ability to scream is truly virtuosic (just kidding), and featuring Glenn TiptonFind albums by this artist and K. K. DowningFind albums by this artist on guitars and Ian HillFind albums by this artist on gutsy bass, the band really has very few contenders in their league. The band did go through several drummers over the years, with Scott TravisFind albums by this artist holding the chair since 1990, but all four founding members are still in the band since 1974, which is truly amazing. Musically the band has been quite consistent over the year, but their 2008 release "NostradamusFind albums with this title", a double CD concept album, which puts to shame most of contemporary Progressive Rock efforts, was a complete and most pleasant surprise. What this box does nor include, and therefore, as it often happens, misses the "complete" part of its title, are a couple of live and a couple of studio albums released on the German SPVFind albums on this label label, recorded with the short lived vocal chair occupancy by Tim OwensFind albums by this artist; altogether not a great loss, although those albums are also worth hearing. Also not included is the newest album by Judas Priest ("Redeemer Of SoulsFind albums with this title"), released after this Box Set was completed and released. For veterans like me, who witnessed this music being created in real time, his is one hell of a nostalgic trip, reconfirming again that most Rock bands today are simply a bunch of talentless sissies and the "real deal" is sadly left behind or left to a bunch of dying dinosaurs. For the later generation, this is a splendid opportunity to discover a fundamental testimony of what Rock music is all about and where it comes from. Wholeheartedly recommended!

Updated: 26/01/2019Posted:

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NUDA ~ NUDA NOT ON LABEL ~ POLAND ~ Avant-Garde Jazz Recorded: 2020 Released: 2020 This is the debut album by Polish quartet NudaFind albums by this artist (Eng. Boredom), which includes cornetist Marcin Albert SteczkowskiFind albums by this artist, guitarist Michal MilczarekFind albums by this artist, bassist Marcin JadachFind albums by this artist and drummer Michal BryndalFind albums by this artist. The album presents eight original compositions, all co-credited to all four members of the quartet. The members of the quartet come from very different backgrounds, between almost mainstream Jazz, via Jazz-Rock Fusion to Avant-Garde Jazz, but the music on this album is mostly improvised and rather free, with limited melodic contents. The overall approach is very minimalistic and the music plays around with sound and silence, creating imaginary, almost ambient soundscapes. Although the cornet and guitar are at the front line, the quartet distributes equal weight between all four players, which is very effective. The rhythm section often plays in a completely different space-time continuum than the soloing instruments, and even creates polyrhythmic diversity between the bass and the drums. Therefore at times all four musicians play seemingly "inconsistently" between each other, but highly creatively and artistically. There is no doubt that the album manages to present a fresh, highly unconventional approach to music making and has a lot to offer together to an open-minded listener. The concept needs perhaps a bit of refining and the short playing time (just above half an hour) needs expanding, which can all bee achieved on the next album. Overall this is a splendid debut effort and a most welcome fresh breath of air. Well done!

Updated: 21/08/2020Posted: 21/08/2020

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YEHUDA POLIKER ~ ASHES AND DUST (20TH ANNIVERSARY EXPANDED EDITION) NMC (ISRAEL) 450362 (Barcode: 7290011998516) ~ ISRAEL ~ Classic Rock Recorded: 1988 Released: 2008 3rd album by Israeli singer / songwriter / guitarist Yehuda PolikerFind albums by this artist, one of Israel´s most important and unique artists, which in time achieved the status of one of the most important musical projects recorded in this country. Poliker, whose parents were Holocaust survivors from the Greek town of Thessaloniki, presents here a deeply moving, troubled and often shocking document about one of the most significant social / psychological phenomena common in the Israeli society – the Second Generation Holocaust Syndrome (SGHS). Many thousands of Israelis, children of Holocaust survivors parents who immigrated to Israel from Europe after WW II (myself included), grew up in the shadow of the Holocaust, often completely unaware of their parent´s traumas and psychological devastation. Every child of Holocaust survivor parents bears in his personality a deep scar, inherited from his parents, even if this syndrome is hidden for many years. By the 1980s the SGHS was becoming painfully apparent in Israeli society and many of its victims were in need of psychological treatment to overcome its destructive effects. Poliker´s songs, which have lyrics written by another Holocaust Survivors child, Yaakov GiladFind albums by this artist, take this issue head on and for the first time ever right in the open and their impact on Israeli society was enormous, way beyond the musical statement this albums makes. Although Poliker started out as a rocker, playing great guitar, writing songs and leading the group BenzinFind albums by this artist in the early 1980s, he slowly returned to his Greek musical roots, the music he heard in his parents´ house, and from the mid-1980s on he incorporated them in every musical statement he made. A master bouzouki player, he was soon notified beyond Israel, especially in Greece of course, and some of Greece most revered musicians collaborated with him on many projects, including George DalarasFind albums by this artist. Poliker recorded several albums, which included his interpretations of Greek songs, which were immensely successful. The "Ashes And DustFind albums with this title" project started in 1986, when Poliker´s parents participated in a radio program, which was broadcasted during the Holocaust Memorial Day, where they talked about their experiences in Nazi Concentration Camps. Poliker wrote several songs, which served as the musical background for that program, and later on led to the recording of this album. Following the release of the album, a Holocaust documentary entitled "Because Of That WarFind albums with this title" was filmed, which used Poliker´s music as a soundtrack. The music, brilliantly crafted, is a mixture of Rock, ethnic elements (Greek and Middle Eastern) and ambient / psychedelic effects, which takes some time to get used to, but is quite overwhelming. Even for listeners, who do not understand the Hebrew lyrics, the powerful statement of sadness, loss, and confusion is clearly audible. Poliker´s guitar and other instruments he plays are often subdued, but there are many passages when his brilliant performances can be savored. This expanded edition includes the original album as well as an additional CD, which includes the 1986 Holocaust Memorial Day broadcast and several vide clips filmed to accompany songs from the album. Beautifully packaged, this well researched and tastefully prepared package pays the homage this musical milestone truly deserves. Side Note: Yehuda Poliker´s parents´ house in Kiriat Haim, a quiet and sleepy (at the time) suburb of Haifa, was only two minutes walk away from my parents´ house, one of several new housing apartment buildings constructed to house the wave of immigrants which arrived in Israel at a steady flow since the establishment of the State of Israel. Our family immigrated to Israel from Poland in 1967 and this was out new home. I was 16 at the time and already a music addict, up to date with every development of the burgeoning Hippy Heaven, so naturally I was immediately on the lookout for kindred souls nearby. It didn´t take me long to find out that a kid a few houses away is a music lover and a guitar player and soon enough Yehuda, a few other music buffs and myself were spending hours together listening to music (which I supplied, being the only one with the latest arrivals like "Disraeli Gears" by Cream or other guitar heaven LPs like those by Jimmy Hendrix), often skipping school in the process. Yehuda was always quiet and contemplative, but he could immediately duplicate any guitar lick by Clapton or Hendrix, much to our amazement and of course envy. He did swallow up everything I knew about music then, and I kept of course encouraging him wholeheartedly when he started to make his first professional musical steps. Sadly our paths separated when he moved to Tel Aviv in order to pursue his career as a professional musician and in retrospect I´m sorry we never kept in touch over the years, but I always followed his career closely and admired him for his perseverance, independence and musical integrity. I remember seeing the number tattooed on his father´s forearm, same as it appeared on my father´s forearm, but we never discussed the Holocaust – it was something the young generation did not talk about. When this album was released, twenty years after we first met, I understood how deeply Yehuda was influenced by his parents´ past, same as me and so many others.

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UDA ~ LOWY KRABY NOT ON LABEL ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 2012 Released: 2013 This is the third album by young Polish Fusion trio UdaFind albums by this artist, which comprises of guitarist Lukasz KrzywickiFind albums by this artist, bassist Kuba SienczykFind albums by this artist and drummer Michal ZawadzkiFind albums by this artist. This album features guest appearances by guitarist Apostolis AnthimosFind albums by this artist, bassist Krzysztof ScieranskiFind albums by this artist and accordionist Marcin GalazynFind albums by this artist. There are thirteen original compositions, which are supposedly co-created by the group members, since no composing credits are specified. The main point about this music seems to be to offer something quite "different", and different it is. Mixing virtually every style and genre known to man and shunning from nothing, including ridiculous Rap moments, this music is a hodgepodge quite difficult to swallow sometimes. Heavy Metal riffs seem to be the preferred weapon of choice, but there are also quiet passages, which sound quite interesting. Although this music has a strong improvisational element it is much closer to Avant-Garde Rock than to Fusion. Of course the whole point is to make this music impossible to categorize. The first association is the early music of Frank ZappaFind albums by this artist, not that Uda are remotely close to his musical genius (nobody is), but the total disregard of form and established rules are also there. Of course these youngsters can play, and they play well, even exceptionally well, when they do. Many of their devices seem to be borrowed or perhaps purposely used in a form of mockery or ridicule, which works also pretty well. Overall, in spite of the apparent chaos and mayhem, there seems to be a hidden sense behind all this façade of "we don´t give a damn". If only they concentrated on what they play rather than on how they play it, things would be much more interesting. Obviously this music is not very inviting, but for listeners willing to suffer a little, there are definitely many hidden treasures in there. Just keep an open mind and protect your ears! I must say I prefer young musicians experimenting and breaking the rules the way Uda do, rather than join the wave of conformity and produce the usual garbage, which makes you puke instantly. So respect for the courage to be different, and please just a little more focus next time around.

Updated: 12/04/2019Posted:

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