Record Reviews

GORDON BECK ~ JAZZ TRIO ART OF LIFE 1017 (Barcode: 804640101727) ~ UK ~ Jazz Recorded: 1972 Released: 2005 Pianist / composer Gordon BeckFind albums by this artist is one of the key figures in the history of British Jazz and this album is a great document of his vital input as one of the pioneers of modern European Jazz. Recorded quite spontaneously during an Italian tour of the last version of the European Rhythm MachineFind albums by this artist, of which Beck and the other two musicians present here: British bassist Ron MathewsonFind albums by this artist and Swiss drummer Daniel HumairFind albums by this artist, were members together with US saxophonist Phil WoodsFind albums by this artist, who was living in France at the time. The entire recording session took just a few short hours and captures Beck and his colleagues performing two extended compositions, each of which occupied an entire side of the original LP. The first, written by Beck, is a Jazz suite in three parts with the opening and closing sections being relatively “straightforward” and the middle section open up to free group improvisation. The second was a completely improvised piece of Free Jazz, co-composed by the trio. The music is simply breathtaking, full if incredible interplay and magic moments, with virtuosi performances. This is Beck’s most advanced venture into Free Jazz (although only partially so), previously attempted only on the fabulous “GyroscopeFind albums with this title” album, and therefore of immense historical importance. Although Beck usually stayed inside a more “conventional” Jazz framework throughout his career, his improvisational power is beyond reproach and his ability to operate in the Free Jazz realm is well proven by this album. Unfortunately this recording was know only to a very limited group of listeners, even the most dedicated Beck’s followers, so the CD reissue is most welcome. I’ve had this album for 36 years now and always regarded it as one of my favorite European Jazz releases, now others can also enjoy it. Brilliant stuff! Side Note: The original LP was released on a small Italian Jazz label called DireFind albums on this label Records, owned by Tito FontanaFind albums by this artist. Fontana owned a recording studio in Milan, called Studio 7 (or studio Fontana), which was famous for producing soundtracks for the burgeoning Italian film industry. Tito was a dedicated Jazz buff and had a great taste and vision in Jazz. His produced and released some of the most incredible European Jazz albums in the early 1970s, which (as far as I know) were not reissued on CD so far (except this album), which is a great pity and a true tragedy. Italian Jazz fans should note that the legendary pianist Guido ManusardiFind albums by this artist recorded for the label, as did Claudio FasoliFind albums by this artist and other great Italian Jazz musicians. Polish Jazz fans should note that both Zbigniew NamyslowskiFind albums by this artist and Michal UrbaniakFind albums by this artist also made albums for the label. I remember visiting Tito in Milan in 1974 and spending a few lovely days with him, talking Jazz day and night, drinking Italian wines and coffee and eating some incredible food. He was a gentle, highly intelligent person with a rare and boundless love for the music, which we both shared.

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MEDESKI SCOFIELD MARTIN & WOOD ~ LIVE: IN CASE THE WORLD CHANGES ITS MIND INDIRECTO 13 (Barcode: 891817001324) ~ UK ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 2006 Released: 2011 This is the 2nd (and debut live) album by the American Jazz-Rock Fusion quartet Medeski Scofield Martin & WoodFind albums by this artist (a.k.a. MSMWFind albums by this artist), a spin-off of the trio Medeski Martin & WoodFind albums by this artist (a.k.a. MMWFind albums by this artist), which comprises of keyboardist John MedeskiFind albums by this artist, guitarist John ScofieldFind albums by this artist, drummer Billy MartinFind albums by this artist and bassist Chris WoodFind albums by this artist. The 2CD album presents twelve tracks, five of which were composed by Scofield, two are traditional tunes, and the rest are by the co-composed by MMW. The music is, sadly, quite a stale form of Fusion, which introduces nothing new, exciting or creative and presents mostly excessive doodling, which leads nowhere. Of course hearing this music live might be a way to have fun, but after a short while it really becomes quite tedious. As much as I like and respect John Scofield for his contributions to Jazz and Fusion for so many years, his involvement in this liaison is rather unnecessary IMHO. He does play some beautiful guitar soli herein, but sadly that is not enough to save the day. Overall, this is a great example of the death of Fusion, which is not dead, but smells really funny – to quote, or rather misquote, a very wise man. The worse thing about this music is that it is so boring!

Updated: 04/07/2026Posted: 04/07/2026

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