Record Reviews

DIETER REITH ~ KNOCK OUT MPS 4029759097396 (Barcode: 4029759097396) ~ GERMANY ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 1974 - 1974 Released: 2014 This is a reissue of a little known album by German keyboardist / composer Dieter ReithFind albums by this artist recorded in a quintet setting with Jamaican saxophonist Wilton GaynairFind albums by this artist and three American expatriates living at the time in Germany: bassist Dave KingFind albums by this artist, drummer Todd CanedyFind albums by this artist and percussionist Sabu MartinezFind albums by this artist. The quintet performs four original compositions, three by Reith and one by Gaynair. Stylistically the music is a beautiful example of European Jazz-Rock Fusion, which flourished at the time in Germany, with a strong Funk and Groove emphasis. The extended performances, all close to or over ten minutes long allow for plenty of opportunity for solos, mostly featuring various keyboards and the saxophone, which uses electronic devices to change its sound. The rhythm section is very versatile and technically brilliant, driving this music very skillfully. Reith displays truly virtuosic abilities playing a wide variety of keyboards and his melodies and funky groove are one of a kind. Reith, who is primarily known as the keyboardist of German Big Bands / Orchestras, like the SWF Big BandFind albums by this artist, Peter HerbolzheimerFind albums by this artist´s Rhythm Combination & BrassFind albums by this artist, Kurt EdelhagenFind albums by this artist Orchestra and others, displays here his more personal project, which focuses on his abilities as a player and composer. This album lost nothing of its charm and beauty over time and is a wonderful trip down the memory lane, back to times when music was all about music and not trickery. Considering it was unavailable for decades this reissue is a true blessing. 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: 27/05/2018Posted: 05/07/2016

CD 1 Slipcase Remastered Recommend To A Friend