Record Reviews

VIKTOR TOTH ~ CLIMBING WITH MOUNTAINS BMC 132 (Barcode: 5998309301322) ~ HUNGARY ~ Jazz Recorded: 2006 Released: 2007 This is a brilliant album by Hungarian saxophonist / composer Viktor TothFind albums by this artist, one of the most prominent young European Improvised Music advocates, who has been very active in the last few years releasing several important recordings and performing many concerts. The album documents the first meeting between Toth and the legendary American drummer Hamid DrakeFind albums by this artist, which resulted in recording this great music. Of the 11 tracks present on this album, six are recorded in a trio format with the excellent bassist Matyas SzandaiFind albums by this artist, and the remaining five in a quartet format with trumpeter Ferenc KovacsFind albums by this artist. Toth composed ten pieces and the remaining one was composed by the bassist. The music is remarkably melodic and often even lyrical, which is not something one expects form a Free Jazz setting, but Toth is simply a romantic at heart and his melodies cut deeply. Drake´s phenomenal playing is trimmed accordingly and he displays his ability to stay overtly melodic, which he rarely does elsewhere. The bassist does a perfect job every time and complements Drake as if they played together since years. The trumpeter, who is also a very experienced musician in the Avant-Garde circles, contributes some superb licks as well. The atmosphere of this recording fondly reminds the early Ornette ColemanFind albums by this artist quartet with Don CherryFind albums by this artist, especially in view of the obvious joy and personal satisfaction displayed by the musicians involved. The listener should be able to enjoy this music even if his experience with Free Form is somewhat limited, as these performances are so overwhelming that all barriers are immediately removed. Connoisseurs of the great Eastern European Jazz should grab this gem on sight, satisfaction guaranteed!

Updated: 12/04/2019Posted:

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VIKTOR TOTH ~ TARTIM BMC 150 (Barcode: 5998309301506) ~ HUNGARY ~ Jazz Recorded: 2008 Released: 2009 This is an excellent album by Hungarian saxophonist / composer Viktor TothFind albums by this artist, one of the most prominent young European Improvised Music advocates, who has been very active in the last few years releasing several important recordings and performing many concerts. The album, recorded live in Budapest, includes 13 tracks with original music, of which Toth composed the first nine and the remaining four are collective improvisations. The music is presented gradually, starting with a trio format (the first five tracks), where Toth is accompanied by the excellent bassist Matyas SzandaiFind albums by this artist and the legendary American drummer Hamid DrakeFind albums by this artist. Next the trio is expanded to a quartet with the addition of the trumpeter / violinist Ferenc KovacsFind albums by this artist (on the next four track) and finally the group is expanded into septet with the addition of saxophonist Mihaly DreschFind albums by this artist, viola player Adam JavorkaFind albums by this artist and another drummer Gyorgy JeszenszkyFind albums by this artist, which takes the music into the group improvisation realm. In spite of its adventurous nature, the music is quite straightforward and often retains a strong melodic element, which makes it accessible to a large Jazz-loving audience well beyond Free Jazz / Improvised Music purists. The performances are excellent, with Toth displaying a complete command of his instrument as well as fruitful imagination. The rhythm section is brilliant with Drake dazzling, as usual, with his incredible musicality. This is something people not aware of how good Eastern European Jazz is should definitely try out at the earliest opportunity!

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VIKTOR TOTH ~ POPPING BOPPING BMC 191 (Barcode: 5998309301919) ~ HUNGARY ~ Jazz Recorded: 2010 Released: 2011 This is a great album by an international Free Jazz quartet led by Hungarian saxophonist / composer Viktor TothFind albums by this artist, one of the most prominent young European Improvised Music activists. The quartet also includes Belgian trumpeter Bart MarisFind albums by this artist, a well known figure on the European scene, superb Hungarian bassist Matyas SzandaiFind albums by this artist, who regularly plays with Toth and Turkish drummer Robert IkizFind albums by this artist. This live recording captures the quartet performing six original compositions, all by Toth. The players are all exceptional and the chemistry between them is second to none. Again choosing the early Ornette ColemanFind albums by this artist quartet with Don CherryFind albums by this artist as a model, which seems to suit his music perfectly both instrumentally and aesthetically, Toth presents ambitious music, which somehow remains accessible. This is a rare quality, which very few Free Jazz / Improvised Music protagonists are able to create as consistently as Toth, as evident on several of his previous recordings, which deserves to be truly admired. His compositions also retain the quality, which marks his work from the early days, which should keep his followers satisfied. Overall this is another first-rate album by first-class musicians, which should be welcomed by music connoisseurs everywhere. Warmly recommended!

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GRZEGORZ KARNAS ~ AUDIO BEADS BMC 199 (Barcode: 5998309301995) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2011 Released: 2012 This is the fifth album by Polish Jazz vocalist Grzegorz KarnasFind albums by this artist and his first live recording. Recorded in Hungary and released on the excellent Hungarian BMCFind albums on this label label, the album captures Karnas accompanied by cellist Adam OlesFind albums by this artist, drummer Michal MiskiewiczFind albums by this artist and guest artist Hungarian cimbalom player Miklos LukacsFind albums by this artist. Together they perform just five extended pieces, one of which is a Joni MitchellFind albums by this artist song and the rest are originals co-credited to Karnas and Oles. The sound quality of this live recording is absolutely superb, which every single note being perfectly audible. Karnas presents a unique approach to Jazz vocals, which amalgamates lyrics, vocalese, scat, wordless chanting and spontaneous improvisation. He is always full of surprises and completely unconventional. His vocal modus operandi is based on techniques developed earlier by American Jazz vocalist Bobby McFerrinFind albums by this artist and sounds similar to McFerrin´s early work, but of course is inventive enough to avoid being considered simply a replica of the original. Karnas is experienced and talented enough to keep his audiences mesmerized and his extended improvisations manage to sustain tension for prolonged periods of time, which of course is extremely difficult. As this live recording proves, he is a fascinating live performer and listening to him live is perhaps the best way to benefit from his many abilities. The accompanying musicians are all splendid players and provide excellent support for the vocalist all the way through. The cellist uses his instrument mostly as if it was an upright bass, almost never playing arco. He displays fantastic musicality and virtuosic control of the cello, being the primary partner of the vocalist and complementing him superbly. The drummer plays delicately, often using his hands and brushes, with of course is suitable for this intimate music-making experience. The cimbalom player sounds remarkably like a pianist, which although works well in this situation, is a pity, as it loses the wonderful "original" sound of the instrument, which surely might have added another interesting dimension to this already multifaceted music. Considering the fact that male vocalists are a rarity on the Polish Jazz scene (and in general), Karnas definitely deserves to be praised for filling this difficult gap. Constantly developing and expanding his vocabulary and technique he is definitely a talent to be watched and enjoyed. This album is certainly a splendid addition to his recorded legacy and a source of immense listening pleasure. Wholeheartedly recommended!

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GRZEGORZ KARNAS ~ VANGA BMC 209 (Barcode: 5998309302091) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2014 Released: 2014 This is the sixth album by Polish Jazz vocalist Grzegorz KarnasFind albums by this artist, recorded with his trio including bassist Michal JarosFind albums by this artist and drummer Sebastian FrankiewiczFind albums by this artist and Hungarian cimbalom player Miklos LukacsFind albums by this artist, who appears as a guest. The album was recorded live at the Opus Jazz Club in Budapest and presents nine tracks, most of which are original compositions by Karnas. Karnas is a unique phenomenon on the vocal Jazz scene, one of the most original Masters of the trade, who incorporates lyrics and vocalese in his personal style, which is unequalled by anybody else except perhaps Bobby McFerrinFind albums by this artist. He is a brilliant improviser and uses his voice like an instrument and hearing him performing is a life changing experience. His long time collaboration with the rhythm section present here explains why the trio sounds like one organic music making body, with the trio members communicating telepathically, which enables the neck-breaking difficult rhythmic patterns and topsy-turvy melody lines to sound completely natural and coherent. This live recording proves that he is able to re-create his amazing Artistry live without any studio trickery. For some strange reason this album failed to land on my desk until now, so I am happy to bridge the gap now, especially in view of the fact that it’s been five years since Karnas released his last album; definitely way too long! Overall, this is a brilliant album from start to finish, completely different from almost anything one might come across in Jazz in general and vocal Jazz in particular. Lovers of human voice and vocal Jazz will absolutely love this to bits. I really long to hear Karnas live on stage again, but a new album will do in the meantime. This gem is still available, so don’t even think twice.

Updated: 31/03/2022Posted: 31/03/2022

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MARCIN MASECKI / JERZY ROGIEWICZ ~ RAGTIME BMC 256 (Barcode: 5998309302565) ~ POLAND ~ Avant-Garde Jazz Recorded: 2017 Released: 2018 This is the debut album by Polish duo comprising of pianist / composer Marcin MaseckiFind albums by this artist and drummer Jerzy RogiewiczFind albums by this artist (both are members of the Jazz Band Mlynarski - MaseckiFind albums by this artist). The album presents nine pieces, five of which are original compositions by Masecki, two pieces were composed by Polish popular music composers active between the two World Wars and another two pieces were composed by American composers active at the same period, all four with strong Jewish ties. As with everything Masecki touches, the obvious becomes anything but obvious and the reference to the Ragtime music is more symbolic and imaginary than what might be expected. The original compositions and the interpretations of the four "standards" are therefore first and foremost Masecki´s creations, both on the compositional and the performance platforms. In the liner notes of the album Masecki states that hearing Ragtime when he was nine years old was what "got him into music originally". That is hardly surprising considering the fact that Ragtime, although considered the root of Jazz, was a composed music, and served as a bridge between European Classical Music and American syncopation, which reflects Masecki´s musical duality and floating between genres. If anybody is after a typical Ragtime music and expects to hear the popular classic Ragtime hits, this album is definitely not something they should consider listening to. If, however, someone is searching for unconventional and highly challenging new music, which takes hints from the stylistic characteristics of Ragtime and brings them a Century forward in time, with the extremely personal treatment that Masecki delivers, this album is a treasure chest of discovery and hidden marvels. For the many Masecki´s fans, this is of course something they will happily sunk their teeth into, without much ado. For others, less familiar with his word (if that is at all possible) this is a window of opportunity to discover a true original talent, who symbolizes individuality and complete disregard of convention with a smile on his face.

Updated: 10/01/2019Posted: 10/01/2019

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AKI TAKASE JAPANIC ~ THEMA PRIMA BMC 268 (Barcode: 5998309302688) ~ JAPAN ~ Avant-Garde Jazz Recorded: 2018 Released: 2019 This is the debut album by Japanese (resident in Berlin) pianist / composer Aki TakaseFind albums by this artist and her ensemble JapanicFind albums by this artist, which includes German saxophonist Daniel ErdmannFind albums by this artist, turntablist / electronicist DJ IllvibeFind albums by this artist (a.k.a. Vincent von SchlippenbachFind albums by this artist son of Alexander von SchlippenbachFind albums by this artist), bassist Johannes FinkFind albums by this artist and Norwegian drummer Dag Magnus NarvesenFind albums by this artist. The album presents ten original compositions, seven by Takase, two by Erdmann and one by Narvesen. The music is brilliant modern Jazz, floating constantly between melody based passages and free improvised vistas, all superbly performed by these exceptional musicians. Takase is a highly experienced bandleader and Japanic manages to create a complete ensemble sound on this album, perfectly combining the individual voices of its members into a coherent ensemble unity. The devilishly complex rhythmic patterns and asymmetric harmonies sound remarkably “easy on the ear” and the music is accessible to a wide range of Jazz listeners, despite the seemingly Avant-Gardist exterior. The album offers rich textures and innovative usage of electronics, which often, although fashionable, does not work well within the modern Jazz idiom, but this seems to be the exception of the rule. Takase’s piano playing is as brilliant as always and the years that pass seem to make her more exhilarating than ever, which makes me always extremely happy. Overall, this is a first class piece of music, from start to finish, which offers a roller coaster ride into the depth of creativity and musical imagination. It is wonderful to see Takase vibrant and original as always, hopefully for many years to come. Don’t you dare to miss this one!

Updated: 02/04/2022Posted: 02/04/2022

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HANS LUDEMANN / TRANSEUROPEEXPRESS ENSEMBLE / MAJID BEKKAS ~ ON THE EDGES 1 BMC 292 (Barcode: 5998309302923) ~ GERMANY ~ Jazz-World Fusion Recorded: 2019 Released: 2022 This is an album by the French-German octet called TransEuropeExpress EnsembleFind albums by this artist, led by pianist Hans LudemannFind albums by this artist, which features the Moroccan musician / composer / singer / multi-instrumentalist Majid BekkasFind albums by this artist. The album presents ten tracks, six composed by Ludemann, one by Bekkas, two co-composed by Bekkas and Ludemann and once by saxophonist Alexandra GrimalFind albums by this artist. As the title suggests, this is the first of a series of recordings by the ensemble, which incorporate elements originating from outside, but bordering with the European cultural zone, this time from across the Mediterranean, the North African Gnawa tradition, which Master Bekkas impersonates with every aspect of his music making: vocals, oud, guembri or any other instrument he touches, as well as his compositions of course. The music manages to amalgamate the European musical tradition with the West African musical tradition in a most natural way imaginable, using the freedom and open-mindedness of Jazz and improvisation as a common ground. The resulting music sounds completely intuitive and genuine, which of course is a great success of this project. Ludemann’s compositions are all brilliant and the ensemble performs the music with finesse and gusto, which results in a wonderful aesthetic musical experience. Bekkas finds a way to incorporate his instrumental parts into the ensemble performances not only on his compositions, but also on the compositions by Ludemann, which is hardly surprising considering his vast experience of playing with European musicians. His flexibility and personality make him always an ideal partner in such mutual adventures. The album was released by the Hungarian BMCFind albums on this label Records, one of the most ambitious European Jazz / Improvised Music labels, which surely deserves a wider recognition among challenging music fans around the world with their solid catalogue build carefully over the years. Overall, this is a brilliant example of Jazz-World Fusion, which respectfully combines seeming alien musical traditions into a new amalgam, which proves that music is completely borderless and finding the common roots is only up to the musicians. Wholeheartedly recommended.

Updated: 09/03/2022Posted: 09/03/2022

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AKI TAKASE / DANIEL ERDMAN ~ ISN`T IT ROMANTIC? BMC 301 (Barcode: 5998309303012) ~ JAPAN ~ Jazz Recorded: 2020 Released: 2021 This is an album by the duo comprising of Japanese Jazz pianist / composer Aki TakaseFind albums by this artist and German saxophonist / composer Daniel ErdmannFind albums by this artist. The album presents thirteen tracks, six each composed by Takase and Erdmann and one standard. The music is an exquisite example of the “Art of the Duo” idiom, crafted and executed by highly experienced Jazz musicians. Takase, who has lived in Berlin since 1988, has become an integral part of the European Jazz scene and her numerous recordings make her one of the most important modern Jazz figures on the contemporary scene. Erdmann, who is twenty-five years younger, has also already established a name for himself on the European Jazz scene. Both seem feel a strong affinity towards duo recordings. As the title suggests, the music, although completely modern, has a certain romantic tinge to it, which is expressed in the highly melodic motifs, which underlay the duo performances. As a result, the complex improvisations and intricate dialog between the two musicians stays somewhat within Jazz tradition and only partially spills over into Avant-Garde, creating a wonderfully balanced amalgam of the two, which is accessible to a large audience of Jazz listeners. Both musicians emerge as excellent songweavers, in addition to their superb performing skills, which are pure joy to listen to. The music flows wonderfully from one composition to the next, creating a coherent continuity and manages to keep the listener on his toes, always anticipating the next move. The entire album is a masterpiece of inventiveness and superb telepathic conversation between the two musicians, which truly exemplifies the Jazz duo concept at its best. I have closely followed Takase’s career since the very early days and she definitely is an artist that never disappoints, consistently producing superb music. The long list of her albums recorded over the years is a Jazz treasure chest. Overall, this is an excellent duo album, which although can be demanding at times, manages beautifully to create a romantic feeling, as expressed by modern Jazz at its best. It is full of great performances and unexpected musical vistas, which are truly unique.

Updated: 15/03/2022Posted: 15/03/2022

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