Record Reviews

ILG / SCHRODER / HAFFNER ~ ILG / SCHRODER / HAFFNER MOOD 33.629 ~ GERMANY ~ Jazz Recorded: 1989 Released: 1989 This is an album by the German Jazz trio featuring bassist Dieter IlgFind albums by this artist, guitarist John SchroderFind albums by this artist and drummer Wolfgang HaffnerFind albums by this artist. The album presents nine tracks, five composed by Ilg, three by Schroder and one is a standard. The album was produced by Wolfgang DaunerFind albums by this artist, who was one of the owners of the legendary MoodFind albums on this label Records label, which released the album. The music is floating between highly improvised modern Jazz and Jazz-Rock Fusion vistas, and is an ideal platform to display the extraordinary instrumental abilities of all three players, who rarely received much attention and recognition as sidemen, but which they really deserved. The relaxed atmosphere allows the musicians to express freely their technical and aesthetical approach to composition and performing, without much production pressure, etc., which results in the best possible output. Overall, this is a rare and almost completely obscure album, which presents lesser known but by all means excellent German Jazz musicians. For Jazz / Fusion Guitar lovers this is a rare gem! Side Note MoodFind albums on this label Records, established in 1977 and based in Germany, was a small independent record label founded by European Jazz musicians: German Wolfgang DaunerFind albums by this artist, Volker KriegelFind albums by this artist and Albert MangelsdorffFind albums by this artist and Dutch Ack van RooyenFind albums by this artist. The label was active between 1977 and 2006 and released 78 albums, first on vinyl and later on CD. In 2010 the label released 11 2CD albums with reissues of early vinyl albums. The label was the home label of the four founders, as well as the United Jazz + Rock EnsembleFind albums by this artist, Ian CarrFind albums by this artist’s NucleusFind albums by this artist and many other, mostly European musicians. The total output of the label is a superb document of the European Jazz scene between the late 1970s and mid-2000s. Some of these albums are absolutely essential.

Updated: 20/09/2026Posted: 20/09/2026

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

ROLF KUHN ~ AFFAIRS INTUITION 3211 (Barcode: 750447321120) ~ GERMANY ~ Jazz Recorded: 1997 Released: 1997 Following the recent demise of the great German clarinetist / composer / bandleader and one of the Godfathers of the modern German Jazz, as well as a dear Friend, Rolf KuhnFind albums by this artist, I decided to dig into my shelves and write about some of his albums I did not review previously. Kuhn recorded this album with a bunch of friends from the US and Germany, a list that proves his status as one of the most admired Jazz musicians on the international scene. The list includes saxophonists Ornette ColemanFind albums by this artist and Dave LiebmanFind albums by this artist, trumpeter Randy BreckerFind albums by this artist, guitarist Chuck LoebFind albums by this artist, fellow clarinetists Eddie DanielsFind albums by this artist and Buddy DeFrancoFind albums by this artist, trombonist Albert MangelsdorffFind albums by this artist, bassist Dieter IlgFind albums by this artist and drummer Wolfgang HaffnerFind albums by this artist. The music includes some standards and some original compositions by Kuhn and the participating musicians, altogether ten tracks of great performances, which showcase Kuhn’s versatility playing anything between Swing to Free. These relaxed sessions are an ideal opportunity to allow the musicians to get the absolute best out of themselves, all supporting Kuhn as the main soloist, who is simply brilliant every step of the way. Kuhn a sublime example of a total musician, with a career spanning decades and crossing styles from Swing to Avant-Garde, always with grace, intelligence and professionalism beyond reproach. For clarinet lovers, this album is an absolute revelation. Overall, this an instant classic, full of brilliant music and heavenly performances, which is absolutely perfect from start to finish. Goodbye Friend!

Updated: 23/09/2022Posted: 23/09/2022

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

ROLF KUHN ~ INTERNAL EYES INTUITION 750447332829 (Barcode: 750447332829) ~ GERMANY ~ Jazz Recorded: 2000 - 2001 Released: 2001 This is a fine album by German clarinetist / composer Rolf KuhnFind albums by this artist, one of my all time favorite musicians, recorded with members of the younger generation of the German Jazz scene: organist Frank ChastenierFind albums by this artist, bassist Detlev BeierFind albums by this artist and drummer Wolfgang HaffnerFind albums by this artist and several guest stars: American saxophonist Bob MintzerFind albums by this artist, Swedish pianist Claes CronaFind albums by this artist, French pianist Martial SolalFind albums by this artist, American guitarist Chuck LoebFind albums by this artist and drummer Peter ErskineFind albums by this artist. Together they perform ten tunes, five of which are originals by Rolf Kuhn, three are by Mintzer and the remaining two are standards. The album was partly recorded by the legendary sound engineer / producer Walter Quintus and the sound quality is of course excellent. The music on this album is mostly mainstream Jazz, which pays tribute to the American Jazz tradition, with elegant and sophisticated touches of European Jazz. When Mintzer plays up front, everything sounds American and when Kuhn plays up front everything sounds European, which is hardly surprising. Same can be said about Crona and Solal, who come from two very different Jazz environments. The two tracks that feature Loeb are Fusion oriented. In short this album embraces both the traditional approach and the modern one, treating them both with respect and as a result presents Kuhn as a versatile, relevant figure despite his advanced age. Kuhn´s clarinet sound, which has been his trademark for decades, is absolutely unique, combining the traditional Jazz approach originating in the early Jazz days and European modernism. Kuhn, who often joins forces with his pianist brother Joachim KuhnFind albums by this artist, produced a substantial and consistently excellent body of recorded work over time, which in retrospect is an integral part of the European Jazz and one of its finest facets. This is one of the most accessible and straightforward albums that Kuhn recorded during his extended career and as such is highly recommended to listeners who are not familiar with his work, perhaps serving as an introduction to the Rolf Kuhn universe, which is vast and versatile. Definitely worth exploring!

Updated: 05/02/2016Posted: 05/02/2016

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend