Record Reviews

HUMBLE PIE ~ I NEED A STAR IN MY LIFE CLEOPATRA 03172 (Barcode: 889466317224) ~ UK ~ Classic Rock Recorded: 1974 - 1976 Released: 2020 This is a reissue / remaster of the “lost” album by one of the greatest British Rock groups of all time, Humble PieFind albums by this artist. This album was rejected by the group’s record label A&MFind albums on this label, but they continued to record for many months, until the group fell apart and the music remained shelved, while they released their swan song album “Street RatsFind albums with this title” in the meantime. The album presents twenty tracks, most being originals written by the group members. In addition to the regular group members: vocalist / guitarist Steve MarriottFind albums by this artist, bassist Greg RidleyFind albums by this artist, guitarist Clem ClempsonFind albums by this artist, drummer Jerry ShirleyFind albums by this artist and keyboardist Tim HinkleyFind albums by this artist, they invited a plethora of guests to take part in this project, including such luminaries like bassist Boz BurrellFind albums by this artist, drummer Ian WallaceFind albums by this artist, saxophonist Mel CollinsFind albums by this artist, guitarist B. J. ColeFind albums by this artist and others. These tracks surfaced in 1990s as “Scrubbers Sessions”, both on bootlegs and eventually on Eagle Records, but are not available anymore and this new reissue offers a good sound quality and nice packaging. Overall, this is a great document, both of the era and one of the greatest British Rock groups ever, which definitely is worth being remembered. Marriott had one of the most distinctive voices of Rock and his premature and tragic death in 1991 robbed the world of his magic forever. A great piece of history!

Updated: 07/10/2022Posted: 07/10/2022

CD 1 Digipak Remastered Recommend To A Friend

ARTHUR BROWN ~ MONSTER`S BALL CLEOPATRA 2214 (Barcode: 889466221422) ~ UK ~ Classic Rock Recorded: 2022 Released: 2022 At the remarkable age of eighty (he was born in 1942), British vocalist / songwriter / bandleader Arthur BrownFind albums by this artist still makes music more exciting than all the musicians, half or quarter his age, seem to be able to come up with these days. Amazingly, this is his second release in 2022 and the unstoppable energy and creativity knows no borders. This time Brown abandons his usual formula of recording his own songs, and ventures into an insane world of covers of some Rock classics, all related to Halloween-like show about hell, fire, mayhem, monsters, zombies, etc., with a wink of course. The album presents thirteen (what else) songs, only three of which were penned by Brown, including a new version of his mega-hit “Fire” from 1968, but include also songs by CreamFind albums by this artist, Pink FloydFind albums by this artist and many other iconic Rock groups. Brown is accompanied by an incredible gathering of Rock superstars: Ian PaiceFind albums by this artist, Steve HillageFind albums by this artist, Carmine AppiceFind albums by this artist, Brian AugerFind albums by this artist, to mention but a few, all veterans of the scene who still prove they can kick a butt or two. The music rocks and is a great fun to listen to from start to finish, despite the potentially disastrous “various artists” gathering, which often fails miserably. Obviously Brown’s personality and incredible vocal power and producer Alan DaveyFind albums by this artist’s skills simply worked out. Overall, this is an incredibly entertaining Classic Rock production, which works like magic and is able to offer quality music in the good old Rock idiom, which is almost completely absent from the scene these days. I really hope to be in Brown’s form when I get to be his age and in the meantime I can only recommend this great album to all of us geriatric people, who are the last survivors able to tell good music from trash.

Updated: 09/01/2023Posted: 09/01/2023

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

CACTUS ~ TEMPLE OF BLUES CLEOPATRA 889466546327 (Barcode: 889466546327) ~ USA ~ Blues-Rock Recorded: 2024 Released: 2024 This is an album attributed to the legendary American Rock band CactusFind albums by this artist, but is in fact a tribute to the band. Although the drummer Carmine AppiceFind albums by this artist, Cactus founding member, plays on all the tracks and produced the album, Cactus guitarist Jim McCartyFind albums by this artist plays on a couple of tracks, and the songs are associated with Cactus repertoire, that’s all that connects this album to Cactus. Does it disturb me? Not one bit! A bunch of excellent American rockers participate on this album, like vocalist Jim StapleyFind albums by this artist, guitarists Joe BonamassaFind albums by this artist, Ted NugentFind albums by this artist, Pat TraversFind albums by this artist and Fernando PerdomoFind albums by this artist, and many others, playing their butts off and spiritually the music is definitely close to the Cactus spirit. The album presents fourteen tracks and one bonus track, which is an alternate version of one of the songs. The music is loud and heavy, as appropriate for the occasion, the musicians can play and Stapley delivers excellent vocal parts, the familiar tunes sound, well… familiar and bring on fond memories. As far as I am concerned this album is a proper tribute, not just an attempt to “ride” on the band’s name / fame. This album will not replace any Cactus album in my collection (I have them all of course), but it can co-exist nicely on the shelf. Overall, this is a great Blues-Rock album, which brings fond memories of the legendary Cactus, one of the greatest American Rock bands ever. On top of the great songs, there is plenty of superb guitar solos, strong vocals and the music simply kicks butt, much due to Appice’s superb drumming, which is still absolutely convincing. Love every minute of this!

Updated: 30/08/2024Posted: 30/08/2024

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

JOHN MAYALL ~ UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL – LIVE IN TEXAS CLEOPATRA 889466601828 (Barcode: 889466601828) ~ UK ~ Blues-Rock Recorded: 1998 - 1999 Released: 2024 This is an archival live album by the Godfather of British Blues, the iconic John MayallFind albums by this artist, recorded with his quartet comprising of American guitarist Buddy WhittingtonFind albums by this artist, bassist John PaulusFind albums by this artist and drummer Joe YueleFind albums by this artist. The album presents eight tracks, a mixture of mostly Mayall originals and Blues standards. The music was recorded about six months apart at two locations, both in Huston, Texas. It covers material released on the “Padlock On The BluesFind albums with this title” album. The bonus DVD offers the same material in video format. Mayall, who died in July 22, 2024, was definitely one of the key figures in the 20th Century music, and left an incredibly rich and extensive recorded legacy. Following his recent death, the market will be most likely flooded by less or more legal live recordings made by him over time, of with this is a first sign. Luckily for music lovers, Mayall never played a bad gig in his life and everything he ever played is worth listening to. The sound quality of this album and the superb performances, especially the guitar soloing by Whittington, as well as Mayall’s vocals, are all first class and therefore a worthy addition to his recorded legacy. Overall, although there is nothing extraordinary herein, other that the superb quality of the music of course, this is definitely a joyful listening experience for the many fans and followers of Mayall’s long career. Definitely worth investigation!

Updated: 11/10/2024Posted: 11/10/2024

CD+DVD 2 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

ESPOO BIG BAND / HUSBAND ~ LAUMA GALILEO 071 (Barcode: 4250095800719) ~ FINLAND ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 2015 Released: 2017 This is an excellent album by the veteran Finnish Espoo Big BandFind albums by this artist, established in 1980 and considered as one of top Big Bands in the country. Since 1987 the Big Band hosts the annual April Jazz Festival in Espoo, near Helsinki. On this album the Big Band plays arrangements of the music by the Finnish Rock / Fusion quartet HusbandFind albums by this artist, led by guitarist / composer Varre VartiainenFind albums by this artist. The album presents ten compositions, eight of which were composed by Vartiainen and two were composed by the Big Band´s guitarist Jarmo SaariFind albums by this artist. The music was arranged for the Big Band by its conductor Marzi NymanFind albums by this artist and by Saari. The music is a wonderful amalgam of Fusion and Big Band orchestral music, completely unique and wonderfully thought up. The arrangements are quite complex and multilayered, bringing forward the typical European stylistic and aesthetic values of Orchestral Jazz. The compositions, although based on straight-forward melody lines, are excellently structured and within the framework of the intricate arrangements are a true pleasure to listen to. In spite of the rich orchestral arrangements, the music manages to retain its Rocky kick and Fusion character, even without the presence of up front electric guitar in most cases. There are many wonderful solos of course, which emphasize the level of musicianship among the Big Band members. Overall this is a brilliant piece of European Jazz, which shows again that Jazz knows no limits and undertaking ambitious projects pays off. It also reveals the superb level of Finnish Jazz, which sadly is way too little known outside of the country´s borders, but has a glorious history and superb recorded legacy, which I had the pleasure to follow closely in the last five decades. This album is a little gem, which all Fusion and Big Band connoisseurs should not overlook by any means. A must!

Updated: 06/07/2018Posted: 06/07/2018

CD 1 Mini-Sleeve Recommend To A Friend

SKALDOWIE ~ WSZYSTKO MI MOWI ZE MNIE KTOS POKOCHAL (EXPANDED EDITION) KAMELEON 02 ~ POLAND ~ Pop & Rock Recorded: 1967 - 1968 Released: 2013 This is the second album by the legendary Polish group SkaldowieFind albums by this artist, one of the most influential groups during the Golden Decade east of the Iron Curtain. Founded by brothers: Andrzej ZielinskiFind albums by this artist (vocalist, keyboardist, composer, arranger and leader) and Jacek ZielinskiFind albums by this artist (vocalist, trumpeter, percussionist), Skaldowie epitomized everything that was great about the Polish scene in the late 1960s / early 1970s, which struggled against all odds with economic hardships, political censorship and relative isolation from the Western centers of musical progress at the time. Considering those objective adversities, their achievements were simply phenomenal and the music they created remains a symbol of human genius and creativity overcoming all limitations. The album was recorded in partly in 1967 and than completed in 1968, while the personnel of the group was still unsteady and included: guitarists Jerzy TarsinskiFind albums by this artist, Marek JamrozyFind albums by this artist and Feliks NaglickiFind albums by this artist, bassists Konrad RatynskiFind albums by this artist and Tadeusz GogoszFind albums by this artist, and drummer Jan BudziaszekFind albums by this artist. The female vocal group AlibabkiFind albums by this artist accompanies the group on several tracks. Musically the album clearly shows the group´s stylistic development from the debut album, full of sophisticated Pop, Psychedelia and Baroque Rock. The beautiful arrangements involving orchestra and choir by Andrzej Zielinski, who also composed all but one of the album´s songs, are outstanding. He presents incredible talent to compose breathtakingly beautiful melodies and his arrangement skills, which involved vocal harmonies, unexpected tempo changes and multi-themed songs, as well as catchy riffs, which made this music, in spite of its complexity and sophistication, accessible to a wide range of audiences. Skaldowie used excellent lyrics, which were written by the best Polish lyricists at the time, like Leszek Aleksander MoczulskiFind albums by this artist, Agnieszka OsieckaFind albums by this artist, and Wojciech MlynarskiFind albums by this artist, Luckily they were never tempted to sing in English and stuck with their native tongue. Of course the Polish lyrics are lost to listeners not speaking the language, but the music is definitely strong enough to stand on its own and Skaldowie achieved a worldwide following despite the language barrier. This expanded edition includes thirteen bonus tracks (more than doubling the original album´s length), all of which are radio recordings. The bonus tracks all have excellent quality and are a valuable addition to the original album. This is almost a perfect piece of Pop / Rock music, a status they were about to reach in their next albums. Of course the destiny placed the group at the right time at the wrong place. Had they been active in UK or US they would have been a Rock icon, no doubt, but alas it was not to be. Nevertheless they made a tremendous contribution to East European music and many of their albums are absolute gems, this one included.

CD 1 Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend

SKALDOWIE ~ OD WSCHODU DO ZACHODU SLONCA (EXPANDED EDITION) KAMELEON 04 ~ POLAND ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 1970 Released: 2012 This is the fourth album by the legendary Polish group SkaldowieFind albums by this artist, one of the most influential groups during the Golden Decade east of the Iron Curtain. Founded by brothers: Andrzej ZielinskiFind albums by this artist (vocalist, keyboardist, composer, arranger and leader) and Jacek ZielinskiFind albums by this artist (vocalist, trumpeter, percussionist), Skaldowie epitomized everything that was great about the Polish scene in the late 1960s / early 1970s, which struggled against all odds with economic hardships, political censorship and relative isolation from the Western centers of musical progress at the time. Considering those objective adversities, their achievements were simply phenomenal and the music they created remains a symbol of human genius and creativity overcoming all limitations. The album was recorded in early 1970, shortly after the group returned from their US / Canadian tour, bringing with them the Hammond organ, which was Andrzej Zielinski´s dream since many years. Obviously the album features the Hammond extensively, and its sound was about to become the group´s trademark in years to come. The other group members are: guitarist Jerzy TarsinskiFind albums by this artist, bassist / vocalist Konrad RatynskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Jan BudziaszekFind albums by this artist. Musically the album clearly marks the group´s transition from sophisticated Pop, Psychedelia and Baroque Rock into the realms of Progressive Rock, which was exploding with creativity at the time. The tracks are longer than before and feature extensive instrumental passages, complicated arrangement involving orchestra and choir and the entire album is soaked in the Hammond sound. Zielinski´s incredible talent to compose breathtakingly beautiful melodies and his arrangement skills, which involved vocal harmonies, unexpected tempo changes and multi-themed songs, as well as catchy riffs, which made this music, in spite of its complexity and sophistication, accessible to a wide range of audiences. Skaldowie also used excellent lyrics, which were written by the great lyricist Leszek Aleksander MoczulskiFind albums by this artist, who cooperated with the group for many years. Luckily they were never tempted to sing in English and stuck with their native tongue. Of course the Polish lyrics are lost to listeners not speaking the language, but the music is definitely strong enough to stand on its own and Skaldowie achieved a worldwide following despite the language barrier. This expanded edition includes ten bonus tracks (doubling the original album´s length), partly radio recordings and partly rare recordings they made in Czechoslovakia and East Germany. The bonus tracks all have excellent quality and are a valuable addition to the original album. This is a perfect piece of Rock music, if there ever was one. Of course the destiny placed the group at the right time at the wrong place. Had they been active in UK or US they would have been a Rock icon, no doubt, but alas it was not to be. Nevertheless they made a tremendous contribution to East European music and many of their albums are absolute gems, this one included. Essential!

CD 1 Remastered Bonus Tracks Essential Recommend To A Friend

SKALDOWIE ~ TY (EXPANDED EDITION) KAMELEON 05 ~ POLAND ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 1970 Released: 2011 This is the fifth album by the legendary Polish group SkaldowieFind albums by this artist, one of the most influential groups during the Golden Decade east of the Iron Curtain. Founded by brothers: Andrzej ZielinskiFind albums by this artist (vocalist, keyboardist, composer, arranger and leader) and Jacek ZielinskiFind albums by this artist (vocalist, trumpeter, guitarist, percussionist), Skaldowie epitomized everything that was great about the Polish scene in the late 1960s / early 1970s, which struggled against all odds with economic hardships, political censorship and relative isolation from the Western centers of musical progress at the time. Considering those objective adversities, their achievements were simply phenomenal and the music they created remains a symbol of human genius and creativity overcoming all limitations. The album was recorded in early 1970 just three months after the group recorded their previous album "Od Wschodu Do Zachodu SloncaFind albums with this title". It features the Hammond organ extensively, which the group managed to bring over from the US and its sound was about to become the group´s trademark in years to come. The other group members are: guitarist Jerzy TarsinskiFind albums by this artist, bassist / vocalist Konrad RatynskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Jan BudziaszekFind albums by this artist. Musically the album combines their earlier work in the realms of sophisticated Pop, Psychedelia and Baroque Rock and the new territory of Progressive Rock, which was exploding with creativity at the time. The tracks are longer than before and feature extensive instrumental passages, complicated arrangement involving orchestra and choir and the entire album is soaked in the Hammond sound. Zielinski´s incredible talent to compose breathtakingly beautiful melodies and his arrangement skills, which involved vocal harmonies, unexpected tempo changes and multi-themed songs, as well as catchy riffs, which made this music, in spite of its complexity and sophistication, accessible to a wide range of audiences. Skaldowie also used excellent lyrics, which were written by the great lyricists like Leszek Aleksander MoczulskiFind albums by this artist, who cooperated with the group for many years, Wojciech MlynarskiFind albums by this artist or the poetess Agnieszka OsieckaFind albums by this artist. Luckily they were never tempted to sing in English and stuck with their native tongue. Of course the Polish lyrics are lost to listeners not speaking the language, but the music is definitely strong enough to stand on its own and Skaldowie achieved a worldwide following despite the language barrier. This expanded edition includes ten bonus tracks (doubling the original album´s length), partly radio recordings and partly other studio material. The bonus tracks all have excellent quality and are a valuable addition to the original album. This is a perfect piece of Rock music, if there ever was one. Of course the destiny placed the group at the right time at the wrong place. Had they been active in UK or US they would have been a Rock icon, no doubt, but alas it was not to be. Nevertheless they made a tremendous contribution to East European music and many of their albums are absolute gems, this one included. Essential!

CD 1 Remastered Bonus Tracks Essential Recommend To A Friend

SKALDOWIE ~ WSZYSTKIM ZAKOCHANYM (EXPANDED EDITION) KAMELEON 06 ~ POLAND ~ Pop & Rock Recorded: 1972 Released: 2013 This is the sixth album by the legendary Polish group SkaldowieFind albums by this artist, one of the most influential groups during the Golden Decade east of the Iron Curtain. Founded by brothers: Andrzej ZielinskiFind albums by this artist (vocalist, keyboardist, composer, arranger and leader) and Jacek ZielinskiFind albums by this artist (vocalist, multi-instrumentalist), Skaldowie epitomized everything that was great about the Polish scene in the late 1960s / early 1970s, which struggled against all odds with economic hardships, political censorship and relative isolation from the Western centers of musical development at the time. Considering those objective adversities, their achievements were simply phenomenal and the music they created remains a symbol of human genius and creativity overcoming all limitations. This album was recorded in May 1972 just a week before the group recorded their Progressive Rock Magnum Opus "Krywan, KrywanFind albums with this title". It includes more song oriented material Andrzej Zielinski composed since the recording of their previous album two years earlier. It features the Hammond organ extensively, which the group managed to bring over from the US and its sound was about to become the group´s trademark in years to come, but also some quiet songs with almost acoustic accompaniment. The other group members are: guitarist Jerzy TarsinskiFind albums by this artist, bassist / vocalist Konrad RatynskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Jan BudziaszekFind albums by this artist. The group was about to repeat in the future the same practice of releasing two albums almost simultaneously, one with song oriented material (like this one) and the other with Progressive Rock material. Musically the album combines their earlier work in the realms of sophisticated Pop, Psychedelia and Baroque Rock and the new territory of Progressive Rock, which was exploding with creativity at the time. Zielinski´s incredible talent to compose breathtakingly beautiful melodies and his arrangement skills, which involved vocal harmonies, unexpected tempo changes and multi-themed songs, as well as catchy riffs, which made this music, in spite of its complexity and sophistication, accessible to a wide range of audiences. Skaldowie also used excellent lyrics, which were written by the great lyricists like Leszek Aleksander MoczulskiFind albums by this artist, who cooperated with the group for many years or the poetesses Agnieszka OsieckaFind albums by this artist and Wislawa SzymborskaFind albums by this artist (the future Nobel Prize Laureate). This expanded edition includes ten bonus tracks (doubling the original album´s length), partly radio recordings and partly alternate studio material. The bonus tracks all have excellent quality and are a valuable addition to the original album. This is a perfect piece of Rock music, if there ever was one. Of course the destiny placed the group at the right time at the wrong place. Had they been active in UK or US they would have been a Rock icon, no doubt, but alas it was not to be. Nevertheless they made a tremendous contribution to East European music and many of their albums are absolute gems, this one included.

CD 1 Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend

SKALDOWIE ~ KRYWAN, KRYWAN (EXPANDED EDITION) KAMELEON 07 ~ POLAND ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 1972 Released: 2011 This is the seventh album by the legendary Polish group SkaldowieFind albums by this artist, one of the most influential East European ensembles, founded by brothers: Andrzej ZielinskiFind albums by this artist (vocalist, keyboardist, composer, arranger and leader) and Jacek ZielinskiFind albums by this artist (vocalist, multi-instrumentalist). The other group members on this album are: guitarist Jerzy TarsinskiFind albums by this artist, bassist / vocalist Konrad RatynskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Jan BudziaszekFind albums by this artist. Congas player Jozef GawrychFind albums by this artist guests on two tracks. The album was recorded practically live in the studio during one all-night session with only a few overdubs recorded later. This album is the first full-fledged Prog album by the group and features mostly instrumental music, with the vocal parts being kept in the background. It introduces the group members as improvisers, who use the basic musical themes as a vehicle to present extended improvisations, which made each live performance of this music different every time it was played. This was a completely new direction for the group, which up to this point excelled in meticulous arrangements, which were superbly musical but severely limited the abilities of the group members to express their own statements. The original LP consisted of just five tracks, with the title track being a fully developed suite, which occupied the entire A-side of the LP and lasted for almost 18 minutes. Although the entire album was not a concept album per se, the folkloristic themes and Classical music quotation constitute a unifying factor, which in retrospect turns the album into a concept album of sorts. The group uses the music of the Polish Highlanders (Gorals) as influence to most of the themes presented on this album. The musical approach is sometimes similar to what Emerson, Lake and Palmer presented on their early albums, but Skaldowie were unaware of these developments occurring behind the Iron Curtain. Soon after it was released this album turned into East European Rock icon and was sought after by Rock / Prog fans in all the ex-Socialist countries, influencing countless musicians who lived in these countries and propagated the idea of Progressive Rock to new territories. It is also the most popular Polish Prog (original Prog, not Neo-Prog) album among the genre´s fans around the world. This edition adds eleven bonus tracks, seven of which are instrumentals recorded by West German Radio and the other four are the original LP´s B-side songs recorded by Polish Radio. The sound and musical quality of the bonuses is perfect and the overall product value of this expanded edition is truly commendable. This is an essential piece of Polish Rock / Prog history and a must have for every Polish music fan. The music stands the test of time beautifully and one wishes music like this was done by some of the contemporary Prog outfits, rather than repeating the obsessive doodling that seems to occupy their space-time continuum. A true gem!

Updated: 21/09/2021Posted:

CD 1 Remastered Bonus Tracks Essential Recommend To A Friend

SKALDOWIE ~ SZANUJMY WSPOMNIENIA (EXPANDED EDITION) KAMELEON 08 ~ POLAND ~ Pop & Rock Recorded: 1976 Released: 2012 This is the eighth album by the legendary Polish group SkaldowieFind albums by this artist, one of the most influential East European ensembles, founded by brothers: Andrzej ZielinskiFind albums by this artist (vocalist, keyboardist, composer, arranger and leader) and Jacek ZielinskiFind albums by this artist (vocalist, multi-instrumentalist). The other group members on this album are: guitarist Jerzy TarsinskiFind albums by this artist, bassist / vocalist Konrad RatynskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Jan BudziaszekFind albums by this artist. This album was recorded in June 1976 just a month before the group recorded their second Progressive Rock album "Stworzenia Swiata Czesc DrugaFind albums with this title". It includes more song oriented material Andrzej Zielinski composed since the recording of their previous album four years earlier. It features the synthesizer for the first time in addition to the Hammond organ used extensively by the group earlier on. It also features, for the first time, one song written by Ratynski. It is the second time Skaldowie released two albums almost simultaneously, one with Pop / Rock material and the other with more ambitious Prog material. This collection of songs again proves the incredible versatility and talent of Andrzej Zielinski and the group as a whole, which crosses genres, styles and moods, always with elegance and panache. As usually they use excellent lyrics written by Polish poets. The songs are performed with charm and everlasting joy of music, which always were a part of the phenomenon called Skaldowie. This edition adds eleven bonus tracks, ten of which are radio versions of the songs present on the original album and the last comes from the group´s private vaults. This is an essential piece of Polish Rock history and a must have for every Polish music fan. The music stands the test of time beautifully and one can only wish music like this was done today. A true gem!

CD 1 Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend

SKALDOWIE ~ STWORZENIA SWIATA CZESC DRUGA (EXPANDED EDITION) KAMELEON 09 ~ POLAND ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 1976 Released: 2011 This is the ninth album by the legendary Polish group SkaldowieFind albums by this artist, one of the most influential East European ensembles, founded by brothers: Andrzej ZielinskiFind albums by this artist (vocalist, keyboardist, composer, arranger and leader) and Jacek ZielinskiFind albums by this artist (vocalist, multi-instrumentalist). The other group members on this album are: guitarist Jerzy TarsinskiFind albums by this artist, bassist / vocalist Konrad RatynskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Jan BudziaszekFind albums by this artist. Percussionist Jozef GawrychFind albums by this artist guests on three tracks and a string orchestra is also utilized in the recordings. This album is the second full-fledged Prog album by the group and follows up in the steps of the "Krywan, KrywanFind albums with this title" magnum opus. The original LP consisted of just five tracks, with the title track being a fully developed suite, which occupied the entire A-side of the LP and lasted for almost 20 minutes. The group uses again the music of the Polish Highlanders (Gorals) as influence to some of the themes presented on this album. The musical approach is similar to what other Prog groups were doing at the time in Western Europe, but is years ahead of the East European scene, where Skaldowie were definitely one of the top acts at the time. Similar to the release of "Krywan, Krywan", which was accompanied by the release of the "Wszystkim ZakochanymFind albums with this title" album containing Pop oriented but still excellent material, also in this case Skaldowie released a second album almost simultaneously called "Szanujmy WspomnieniaFind albums with this title", which also presented the less complex side of the group´s music. This edition adds six bonus tracks, four of which are Polish Radio recordings and the remaining two are studio recordings, one previously unreleased and the other released as a single in Czechoslovakia. The sound and musical quality of the bonuses is perfect and the overall product value of this expanded edition is truly commendable. This is an essential piece of Polish Rock / Prog history and a must have for every Polish music fan. The music stands the test of time beautifully and one wishes music like this was done by some of the contemporary Prog outfits, rather than repeating the obsessive doodling that seems to occupy their space-time continuum. A true gem!

CD 1 Remastered Bonus Tracks Essential Recommend To A Friend

SKALDOWIE ~ REZERWAT MILOSCI (EXPANDED EDITION) KAMELEON 10 ~ POLAND ~ Pop & Rock Recorded: 1979 Released: 2012 This is the tenth album by the legendary Polish group SkaldowieFind albums by this artist, one of the most influential East European ensembles, founded by brothers: Andrzej ZielinskiFind albums by this artist (vocalist, keyboardist, composer, arranger and leader) and Jacek ZielinskiFind albums by this artist (vocalist, multi-instrumentalist). The other group members on this album are: guitarist Jerzy TarsinskiFind albums by this artist, bassist / vocalist Konrad RatynskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Jan BudziaszekFind albums by this artist. This album was recorded in March 1979, almost three years after the group recorded their previous album. Musically it reflects the dramatic change the Pop / Rock music went through in the late 1970s, with ambitious Progressive Rock being replaced by Punk, Disco and other brainless music forms. Skaldowie struggled to maintain their musical quality in spite that hostile musical climate. The album includes songs with a common motive, which in this case is love, composed by Andrzej Zielinski with one exception, where the song is composed by Konrad Ratynski. For the first time one of the songs features a guest vocalist Stanislaw WeglorzFind albums by this artist, who has vocal qualities remarkably similar to those of the legendary Niemen. As usual the lyrics were written by Polish poets the group cooperated with for many years. Some of the songs have excellent vocal, strings and brass arrangements, and overall this album is probably the most "produced" album the group ever made. With the synthesizer stepping up to take the leading role in the Rock world, the sound becomes more dense and complex and with the addition of the orchestral arrangements, this album is more similar to the lush productions popular in the US than to the more simplistic and rough sound of Polish Rock. This edition adds eight bonus tracks, some of which are radio versions of the songs present on the original album and other material which was only recorded by the radio. Three of these tracks feature the vocals of Stanislaw Weglorz. This is an important document of Polish Rock history and a must have for every Polish music fan. Most of the music stands the test of time quite well and is definitely worth revisiting.

CD 1 Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend

SKALDOWIE ~ NIE DOMYKAJMY DRZWI (EXPANDED EDITION) KAMELEON 12 ~ POLAND ~ Pop & Rock Recorded: 1988 Released: 2012 This is the twelfth album by the legendary Polish group SkaldowieFind albums by this artist, one of the most influential East European ensembles, founded by brothers: Andrzej ZielinskiFind albums by this artist and Jacek ZielinskiFind albums by this artist (vocalist, multi-instrumentalist). This album is the first recording by the group, which does not feature the group´s leader Andrzej Zielinski, who at the time was resident in the USA. The other group members on this album are: keyboardist Grzegorz GorkiewiczFind albums by this artist, guitarist Jerzy TarsinskiFind albums by this artist, bassist / vocalist Konrad RatynskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Wiktor KierzkowskiFind albums by this artist. This album was recorded in autumn 1988, almost nine years after the group recorded their previous album. Poland went through dramatic political upheavals during the 1980s, including the Martial Law period and strikes led by the Solidarity movement. When the Martial Law was declared the group was touring the USA and they decided to stay there until the situation clears. Gradually they returned to Poland, with Andrzej Zielinski delaying his return for longest. Those members who returned decided to re-activate the group in 1987, which eventually led to the recording of this album. With the absence of Andrzej Zielinski the composing duties fell upon Jacek Zielinski and Konrad Ratynski, and they added a keyboardist to retain the traditional keyboard oriented sound. Musically the album pretty much continues the musical tradition of the original group, with strong melodies and elegant arrangements. Although an attempt was made to use self-penned lyrics, eventually the decision to return to lyrics written by Polish poets was made. Although the album does suffer a bit from the dreaded synthesizer sound of the 1980s, it is overall quite impressive, especially due to the superb songwriting. Re-activating the group after almost a decade long break and without its leader was a very bold step, which in retrospect worked way beyond the initial expectations. This album was the last release by the group on the state owned Polskie Nagrania / MuzaFind albums on this label label and their last recording before the Socialist regime in Poland gave way to the democratic Third Republic. Unfortunately it was also the last album for over a decade and a half before the group started to record again the mid-2000. This edition adds seven bonus tracks, all of which are radio versions of the songs present on the original album. This is an important document of Polish Rock history and a must have for every Polish music fan. Most of the music stands the test of time quite well and is definitely worth revisiting.

CD 1 Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend

SKALDOWIE ~ LISTY SPIEWAJACE KAMELEON 15 ~ POLAND ~ Pop & Rock Recorded: 1967 - 1972 Released: 2012 This album by the legendary Polish group SkaldowieFind albums by this artist, founded by brothers: Andrzej ZielinskiFind albums by this artist (vocalist, keyboardist, composer, arranger and leader) and Jacek ZielinskiFind albums by this artist (vocalist, multi-instrumentalist) collects their recordings for the Polish Radio and TV, which were featured in two episodes of the TV series called "Listy Spiewajace (Singing Letters)". They span the early days of the group between 1967 and 1969 and were performed by the early lineups. All these songs feature lyrics by poetess Agnieszka OsieckaFind albums by this artist and the songs in the first episode of the series were composed by Adam SlawinskiFind albums by this artist, and are a rare example of songs performed by Skaldowie, which were not written by the group members. The songs in the second episode were all composed by Andrzej Zielinski. The bonus tracks present additional Polish Radio and TV recordings (and one West German Radio recording), which feature a couple of songs in different versions and arrangements from those appearing in the original TV episodes and other songs. The original music presents the group as great performers of sophistical Pop material and their leader as superb craftsman of such songs. Although not their most popular or strongest material, this album includes many fabulous moments, which deserve to be remembered. The beautiful lyrics by Osiecka also add a poetic dimension to these songs. The fans of the group will find this album as an integral part of their legacy, but otherwise it has only a marginal importance as far as Polish popular music is concerned. Nevertheless that fabulous late 1960s / early 1970s sound is simply irresistible. Worth investigation!

CD 1 Remastered Recommend To A Friend

SKALDOWIE ~ PASTORALKI KAMELEON 16 ~ POLAND ~ Pop & Rock Recorded: 1967 - 1992 Released: 2013 This album by the legendary Polish group SkaldowieFind albums by this artist, founded by brothers: Andrzej ZielinskiFind albums by this artist (vocalist, keyboardist, composer, arranger and leader) and Jacek ZielinskiFind albums by this artist (vocalist, multi-instrumentalist) collects their recordings for the Polish Radio and TV, which were seasonal Christmas songs. Of course these were not traditional Christmas carols, but original songs composed by Andrzej Zielinski with text by the poet Ernest BryllFind albums by this artist. They span mostly the early days of the group between 1967 and 1972, except for three songs recorded much later. Most of these songs were never previously released on records, except for four of them, which were released as the EP called "PastoralkiFind albums with this title" by Polskie NagraniaFind albums on this label / MuzaFind albums on this label. Two of the songs feature female vocalists: Maryla RodowiczFind albums by this artist and Lucja PrusFind albums by this artist. Some of the songs appear here more than once in different versions. These songs show again the superb diversity of the group, which was up for any challenge they were presented with, always showing their upper hand. They include many superb melodies, some quite intricate and of course all are executed perfectly. The fans of the group will find this album as an integral part of their legacy, but otherwise it has only a marginal importance as far as Polish popular music is concerned. Nevertheless that fabulous late 1960s / early 1970s sound is simply irresistible. Worth investigation!

CD 1 Remastered Recommend To A Friend

SKALDOWIE ~ KRYWAN SESSIONS 1971-1973 – COMPLETE GERMAN RADIO RECORDINGS KAMELEON 17 ~ POLAND ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 1971 - 1973 Released: 2012 This album by the legendary Polish group SkaldowieFind albums by this artist, founded by brothers: Andrzej ZielinskiFind albums by this artist (vocalist, keyboardist, composer, arranger and leader) and Jacek ZielinskiFind albums by this artist (vocalist, multi-instrumentalist) presents an alternate version of their great Prog magnum opus "Krywan, KrywanFind albums with this title" recorded and released originally in Poland. These recordings were made in East Berlin for the East German AmigaFind albums on this label label to be used on the local market (a common practice in those days in the Socialist Countries) and were supposed to feature German lyrics. However, only two of the five songs on this album are sung in German and the remaining three songs are sung in the original Polish versions. The other group members on this album are: guitarist Jerzy TarsinskiFind albums by this artist, bassist / vocalist Konrad RatynskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Jan BudziaszekFind albums by this artist. As expected, these versions of the material appearing on the original album are quite different, since the extended instrumental parts were mostly improvised and improvisations hardly ever sound the same. Also slightly different arrangements and instrumentations are used here as opposed to the original. In addition the sound and ambience of these recordings are again different from the original. Overall this is quite a rare case of a seminal album being recorded twice in two different versions. Considering the fact that "Krywan, Krywan" is considered as one of the most important recording of the East European Prog scene, the existence of an alternate version of the album is a most welcome event to the many fans of the group in general and hardcore aficionados of this release in particular. This album is perhaps not as essential as the original, but many Prog fans all over the world will find it a worthy addition to their collection. Warmly recommended!

Updated: 16/05/2016Posted:

CD 1 Remastered Recommend To A Friend

SKALDOWIE ~ PODROZ MAGICZNA KAMELEON 19 ~ POLAND ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 1973 - 1978 Released: 2012 This album by the legendary Polish group SkaldowieFind albums by this artist, founded by brothers: Andrzej ZielinskiFind albums by this artist (vocalist, keyboardist, composer, arranger and leader) and Jacek ZielinskiFind albums by this artist (vocalist, multi-instrumentalist) presents four recordings of instrumental Symphonic Prog pieces recorded during the 1970s, all previously unreleased, which of course is a major event for the many fans of the group. The other group members on this album are: guitarist Jerzy TarsinskiFind albums by this artist, bassist / vocalist Konrad RatynskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Jan BudziaszekFind albums by this artist. Two Polish Symphonic Orchestras and one German Radio Orchestra and two Big Bands are utilized in the recording as well as choir in one case. Two guest guitarists: Pawel BirulaFind albums by this artist and Andrzej PuczynskiFind albums by this artist participate in the title track. Andrzej Zielinski composed and arranged three of the pieces and Jan OleszkowiczFind albums by this artist composed the remaining one. The title piece (and the first track on the album) is the longest and most complex composition, lasting over half an hour. It was commission as a ballet suite, which was performed on and filmed by Polish TV. The suite is subdivided into twelve themes, flowing each other and presenting a coherent musical continuum. The music combines influences from Classical music, World Music (mostly Middle Eastern and Spanish motifs), Jazz and of course Prog and is simply exquisite. The second piece, which was recorded in West Germany for the WDR is a shorter suite utilizing extensively the brass section of the Radio Big Band, which results in Jazz-Rock oriented music similar to that performed by Brass-Rock bands like ChicagoFind albums by this artist, Blood, Sweat & TearsFind albums by this artist and others. The third piece is another suite, comprising of pieces which were used as the soundtrack for a film comedy, directed by Andrzej KondriatukFind albums by this artist entitled "Jak To Sie Robi (How Is It Done)". The last piece is an ambitious concerto for a Rock group and Orchestra, similar to other such endeavors tried previously, like Jon LordFind albums by this artist´s (Deep PurpleFind albums by this artist) "Concerto For Group And OrchestraFind albums with this title", which pioneered this style. This recording was the first event of the kind in Poland and Skaldowie was the only group that could perform it, due to their musical education and ability to read music fluently. Overall this album presents some superb instrumental music, very versatile but all of the highest quality, which shows previously unknown sides of the group and emphasizes their highly artistic ambitions. Andrzej Zielinski is portrayed not only as an extraordinary songwriter, but also as an ambitious composer of extended musical works. The musicality, intelligence and open-mindedness heard on this album are simply exceptional. The bonus DVD presents the filmed performance of the ballet suite, which is the title track of this album. This album is an absolute must for all the many fans of the group around the world and might surprise many by its wealth of ideas and musical beauty. Definitely worth investigating!

CD+DVD 2 Remastered Recommend To A Friend

SKALDOWIE ~ LIVE IN GERMANY 1974 KAMELEON 24 ~ POLAND ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 1974 Released: 2012 This album by the legendary Polish group SkaldowieFind albums by this artist, founded by brothers: Andrzej ZielinskiFind albums by this artist (vocalist, keyboardist, composer, arranger and leader) and Jacek ZielinskiFind albums by this artist (vocalist, multi-instrumentalist) presents a complete live performance of the group in Cologne, Germany, which was recorded and broadcasted by the WDR. The other group members on this album are: bassist / vocalist Konrad RatynskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Jan BudziaszekFind albums by this artist. The group´s guitarist Jerzy TarsinskiFind albums by this artist did not play on this concert for health reasons, so this is a rare opportunity to hear the group as a quartet. The music includes the more Prog and Jazz-Rock material by the group, which is performed in extended form, with long instrumental solos. A few shorter well known songs are also included in different arrangements. The most interesting piece is the early version of the group´ opus "Stworzenia Swiata Czesc DrugaFind albums with this title", which lasts for almost twenty minutes. The studio version of this piece was only recorded a couple years later and released on record another two years later. Although the sound quality of this recording is not ideal, it is quite listenable and considering the fact that almost no other live recordings from that period exist, it is of enormous importance to the group´s fans and followers. Andrzej Zielinski plays some superb Hammond and Fender piano parts, trying to cover up for the missing guitar parts. Overall this is an interesting piece of Polish Rock / Prog history and will be warmly received by connoisseurs of that scene and of course a must to the diehard fans of the band. Worth investigating!

CD 1 Remastered Recommend To A Friend

NURT ~ NURT KAMELEON 27 ~ POLAND ~ Classic Rock Recorded: 1972 Released: 2013 This is the criminally long-overdue reissue of the only album recorded by the legendary Polish Rock group NurtFind albums by this artist. Founded in Wroclaw in 1970 by guitarist / vocalist / composer Aleksander MrozekFind albums by this artist, it also included bassist Kazimierz CwynarFind albums by this artist, drummer Ryszard SrokaFind albums by this artist and vocalist Waldemar DomagalaFind albums by this artist. By the end of 1971 Domagala was replaced by Roman RunowiczFind albums by this artist, who was previously a member of the no less legendary group Romuald I RomanFind albums by this artist. The group performed extensively in the early 1970s but managed to record only one eponymous studio album in 1972 for the State owned MuzaFind albums on this label label and several Radio recording sessions, which are now available on a companion CD to this reissue. In retrospect it is clear that Nurt were surely one of the top Polish Rock acts in the early 1970, surely as good as NiemenFind albums by this artist, SBBFind albums by this artist and BreakoutFind albums by this artist and in many respects even more adventurous. Their music amalgamated some Blues influences, but basically was all about early Hard Rock, Psychedelia and early Jazz-Rock Fusion. The fact that Polish Jazz legend, trumpeter Tomasz StankoFind albums by this artist, participates on the album´s extended central composition, which incorporates Free Jazz passages, speaks for itself. Stanko´s contributions are of course nothing short of spectacular. The excellent lyrics by their resident writer Andrzej KuryloFind albums by this artist were another aspect of the group´s high quality output. The album is full of great instrumental passages by the lead guitar, accompanied by the unique sound of the fuzz bass guitar, which gave the group a sound unlike any of their contemporaries, and superb dynamic drumming. The album is not much different from the best efforts by groups active at the time in Western Europe or USA. In spite of the fact that this music was recorded about four decades ago, it is still full of that magic that characterized that period and its music. It lost absolutely nothing of its charm over time. Remastered and with informational liner noted based on the memories of the band members, this is a proper tribute to a legend, which should not be forgotten. These memories tell a tale of how this music was created against all odds: censorship, animosity and oppression of the Socialist Regime and its bureaucracy - a miracle by all means. Kudos to the KameleonFind albums on this label label for bringing this music back to circulation.

CD 1 Remastered Recommend To A Friend

NURT ~ THE COMPLETE RADIO SESSIONS 1972-1974 KAMELEON 28 ~ POLAND ~ Classic Rock Recorded: 1972 - 1974 Released: 2013 This album collects all the material recorded for the Polish Radio by the legendary Polish Rock group NurtFind albums by this artist. Founded in Wroclaw in 1970 by guitarist / vocalist / composer Aleksander MrozekFind albums by this artist, it also included bassist Kazimierz CwynarFind albums by this artist, drummer Ryszard SrokaFind albums by this artist and vocalist Waldemar DomagalaFind albums by this artist. By the end of 1971 Domagala was replaced by Roman RunowiczFind albums by this artist, who was previously a member of the no less legendary group Romuald I RomanFind albums by this artist. The group performed extensively in the early 1970s but managed to record only one eponymous studio album in 1972 for the State owned MuzaFind albums on this label label, which is now available on a companion CD to this release, and two Polish Radio recording sessions: one before the recording of the album (February 1972) and the other over two years later (May 1974), both present herein. In retrospect it is clear that Nurt were surely one of the top Polish Rock acts in the early 1970, surely as good as NiemenFind albums by this artist, SBBFind albums by this artist and BreakoutFind albums by this artist and in many respects even more adventurous. Their music amalgamated some Blues influences, but basically was all about early Hard Rock, Psychedelia and early Jazz-Rock Fusion. The fact that Polish Jazz legend, trumpeter Tomasz StankoFind albums by this artist, participates on the studio album and other Jazz musicians take part in these sessions speaks for itself. The excellent lyrics by their resident writer Andrzej KuryloFind albums by this artist were another aspect of the group´s high quality output. The album is full of great instrumental passages by the lead guitar, accompanied by the unique sound of the fuzz bass guitar, which gave the group a sound unlike any of their contemporaries, and superb dynamic drumming. The circumstances surrounding these Radio sessions were much more relaxed than the studio album recording sessions, and therefore the music presented here is much more similar to how the band sounded on stage at the time. The first session includes six tracks, which were later included on the studio album, and one mostly improvised piece that was not included on the album. The second session includes material composed later, after the album was recorded. Remastered and with informational liner noted based on the memories of the band members, this is a proper tribute to a legend, which should not be forgotten. These memories tell a tale of how this music was created against all odds: censorship, animosity and oppression of the Socialist Regime and its bureaucracy - a miracle by all means. Kudos to the KameleonFind albums on this label label for bringing this music back to circulation.

CD 1 Remastered Recommend To A Friend

KRZYSZTOF KLENCZON / TRZY KORONY ~ THE COMPLETE RECORDINGS 1970-1972 KAMELEON 29 / 30 ~ POLAND ~ Classic Rock Recorded: 1970 - 1972 Released: 2013 This is a reissue of the only solo album recorded in Poland by legendary vocalist / guitarist / composer / bandleader Krzysztof KlenczonFind albums by this artist, who was a founding member of Poland´s most popular Pop group in the 1960s, Czerwone GitaryFind albums by this artist. Klenczon was the group´s leader and principal songwriter from 1967 until 1970, when he left the group to pursue a solo career. Many of his songs recorded by Czerwone Gitary are among the Polish Pop evergreens still popular in Poland almost fifty years later. After leaving the group Klenczon recorded the eponymous album with his new group Trzy KoronyFind albums by this artist, which also featured his cousin guitarist Ryszard KlenczonFind albums by this artist, bassist Grzegorz AndrianFind albums by this artist and drummer Marek SlazykFind albums by this artist, soon to be replaced by Piotr StajkowskiFind albums by this artist. The group also recorded several sessions for the Polish Radio and all these recordings are collected here as bonus tracks on the first CD and the entire second CD. A bonus DVD with two video clips recorded for the Polish TV is also included. Klenczon left Poland in 1973 for the USA, where he continued his musical career and died tragically in a car accident in 1981. Listening to this album makes it immediately clear why Klenczon left Czerwone Gitary, as the material he recorded on this album has a much "harder" edge than the soft and melodic Pop the group created in the 1960s. Fuzz and distorted guitar solos and typical Rock rhythms prevail here, although his compositions (almost all the tracks on this album, with just three exceptions, were composed by Klenczon) remain mostly very melodic and somewhat melancholic, which always characterized his compositions. The Rocky arrangements basically do not change the true nature of these songs, which deep down remain quite serene and romantic. It is obvious that Klenczon had a great sense of melody and his songwriting was second to none. Many of the bonus tracks show Klenczon returning to the Pop formula rather than pursuing the Rock side of his music. In retrospect, however, this material sounds dated and lost much of its charm in the process of aging. The music lacks focus and often sounds like Pop dressed up in Rock arrangements, rather than true Rock. There are some great moments here, but overall this album is probably exciting mostly to Klenczon´s die hard fans and nostalgic listeners. The production of the reissue, with so much bonus material, great packaging and informative liner notes is, as usual with the Kameleon label, first rate. The music, however, although an important chapter of the Polish Pop / Rock story, suffers greatly from the passage of time. But of course many listeners will find this album indispensible.

2CD+DVD 3 Digipak Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend

PHIL MINTON / VERYAN WESTON ~ SONGS FROM A PRISON DIARY LEO 196 (Barcode: 5024792019625) ~ UK ~ Avant-Garde Jazz-Classical Fusion Recorded: 1991 Released: 1993 This is a criminally little known album by two distinguished British Jazz heroes, vocalist / composer Phil MintonFind albums by this artist and pianist / composer Veryan WestonFind albums by this artist. It presents a brilliant Avant-Garde Jazz cantata for solo voice, choir, piano and percussion, co-composed by Minton and Weston, with lyrics based on poems written in 1943 by Vietnamese leader and statesman Ho Chi MinhFind albums by this artist while he was imprisoned by the Chinese. The music was recorded live at the Church of Saint Paul in Strasbourg with Minton performing the solo vocal parts, Weston playing the piano and Gary HammondFind albums by this artist playing the percussion. The twenty four piece choir called Voices From SomewhereFind albums by this artist, conducted by Mike RaffertyFind albums by this artist, includes British and French singers, among them such renowned Jazz vocalists like Norma WinstoneFind albums by this artist and Maggie NicolsFind albums by this artist. The cantata is divided into eighteen tracks, eight of which are solo / duo / trio unaccompanied vocal improvisations. The music is a wondrous amalgam of Avant-Garde vocal music, Jazz improvisation, choral Church music, Jazz & Poetry and a myriad other idioms, fused together into a powerful statement, that keeps the listener on his toes from start to finish. As much as it is innovative and extraordinary in its approach, at the same time it is deeply rooted in European sacral music, which comes up to the surface from time to time. For people interested in vocal improvised music, this album is a true revelation of course and the solo vocal improvisations are absolutely stunning. But there is also the wonderful singing by Minton, which might be familiar to some listeners from his work with Mike WestbrookFind albums by this artist, the majestic choir parts and the instrumental parts by Weston and Hammond, all performed with obvious devotion and talent. It took me a while to get hold of a copy of this album and a web search amounted to very little artistic assessment of this masterpiece (except for a raving review by Thom JurekFind albums by this artist), which prompted me to write about this album, simply to expose some more people to its importance and beauty. With so much appalling "music" around us these days, taking a glance at forgotten gems is at least a partial solace. For people who are open to musical adventures, this is definitely a way to go. Do yourself a favor a grab a copy, put it in a player and enjoy an interstellar ride into the unknown. This music sounds at times somewhat like the fabulous music by György LigetiFind albums by this artist, which is used in the "2001: A Space Odyssey" soundtrack, so it is definitely appropriate such a journey ;)

Updated: 18/04/2019Posted: 18/04/2019

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O`LEARY / STANKO / HART ~ LEVITATION LEO 445 (Barcode: 5024792044528) ~ IRELAND ~ Free Jazz / Improvised Music Recorded: 2000 Released: 2005 This is an album by an international Jazz / Improvised Music trio led by Irish guitarist / composer Mark O`LearyFind albums by this artist with legendary Polish trumpeter Tomasz StankoFind albums by this artist and no less legendary American drummer Billy HartFind albums by this artist. The album presents fourteen original compositions, seven of which are by O`Leary and seven are credited to all three members of the trio. The music, at least in the pieces composed by O`Leary, is based on pre-composed melody lines, which are then expanded by the trio into improvised statements, as appropriate for the Free Jazz / Improvised Music idiom. Since there is very little melodic content per se, the music is mostly about the process of conversation developing between the three musicians. O´Leary uses mostly series of single note barrages and arpeggios, produced by his guitar, which does not employ and electronic devises except for reverb, resulting in very clear and precise statements. His fiery soloing might even appeal to open-minded Fusion fans. Stanko, as usual, uses his "dirty" / hoarse tone, which balances very effectively against the guitar. Hart does everything except playing time, which of course is self explanatory under these circumstances. Overall this is an interesting album of Improvised Music, which includes many excellent statements by the trio members and is especially valuable to the many fans of the late Tomasz Stanko, since this album is rarely mentioned in his discographies. Definitely worth investigating!

Updated: 22/09/2018Posted: 22/09/2018

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

BONES ~ BONES LEO 743 (Barcode: 5024792074327) ~ ISRAEL ~ Jazz Recorded: 2015 Released: 2015 This is the debut eponymous album by the Israeli Free Jazz / Improvised Music trio BonesFind albums by this artist, which comprises of bass clarinetist Ziv TaubenfeldFind albums by this artist (resident in Amsterdam), bassist Shay HazanFind albums by this artist and drummer Nir SabagFind albums by this artist (resident in Berlin). The album presents eight original compositions, all by Taubenfeld. The bass clarinet is a relatively rare candidate for the lead instrument in a trio, but its completely unique sound works like a charm, which makes any piece of music played on it instantly loveable, especially in the Free Jazz community. This album is no exception and the music it contains is truly superb from start to finish. The trio manages skillfully to employ the right balance between the bass clarinet solo parts and the ensemble work, as well as the balance between the instruments. Mutual respect and open-mindedness are felt immediately and contribute greatly to the overall success of this project. Although these musicians are all still very young, they project a remarkable maturity on this album, which of course contributes as well. Taubenfeld´s compositions, which are surprisingly profound and complex, serve as ideal vehicles for the trio´s improvisations. The themes are often stated in a minimalistic manner, only to be picked up by the trio and expanded further. Although this is definitely a Free Form environment, the music has a wonderful swinging feeling about it, which is often only hinted at by the rhythm section. The individual performances by all three players are outstanding, sometimes even virtuosic, and their combined forces turn the trio into a powerful and magnificent music making apparatus, which takes no prisoners. Overall this is a remarkable debut effort and one of the best Israeli Free Jazz / Improvised Music releases so far. This album was released by the relentless Leo FeiginFind albums by this artist on his now legendary LeoFind albums on this label Records label, a home of some of the best challenging music on this planet, which is also quite a distinction for these young musicians. Well done gentlemen!

Updated: 10/02/2016Posted: 10/02/2016

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

QUARTET ~ THE QUARTET POLJAZZ / ANEX 302 (Barcode: 5907513047575) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 1978 Released: 2009 The QuartetFind albums by this artist was formed by the rhythm section of Zbigniew NamyslowskiFind albums by this artist´s so called "third quartet", i.e. pianist Slawomir KulpowiczFind albums by this artist, bassist Pawel JarzebskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Janusz StefanskiFind albums by this artist, with the addition of saxophonist Tomasz SzukalskiFind albums by this artist, one of Poland´s all-time greatest Jazz musicians and a spectacular player of rare quality. Although Szukalski naturally dominated the sound of the ensemble, it was Kulpowicz who was the spiritual leader and the sole composer of all the original material they performed. Spiritually the music was soaked in the John ColtraneFind albums by this artist legacy, with Szukalski playing lengthy "wall of sound" solos, supported passionately by the rhythm section, with Kulpowicz vamping a la McCoy TynerFind albums by this artist, Jarzebski delivering virtuosic bass parts and Stefanski raising all hell behind it all, which engulfed the overall effect with incredible power and overwhelming strength of expression, similar in character to the Coltrane late period recordings. In spite of the fact that The Quartet was undoubtedly the most important Polish Jazz ensemble in the late 1970s, their recorded legacy is truly pitiful and includes this live album recorded in 1978 and their sole studio album, recorded in Finland in 1979 and released by the tiny independent Finnish label LeoFind albums on this label Records (which released also two albums by Tomasz StankoFind albums by this artist from the same period). Therefore the double CD full of superb archival radio and concert recordings by this ensemble, also entitled simply "The QuartetFind albums with this title", released in 2013 by Polskie RadioFind albums on this label is an absolute marvel and a must have for every Polish / European Jazz connoisseur. Following the ensemble´s breakdown in mid-1980, the Polish Jazz scene will never again experience this kind of music, so close in spirit, sound and emotion to the epicenter of Modern Jazz created by Coltrane. The Quartet´s brief three and a half years period was the closest ever moment in which Polish Jazz would become very close to American Jazz of a decade earlier, both in spirit and in practice. The Quartet somehow managed to put aside the omnipresent Polish melancholy and lyricism, which dictates most of the unique music created under the Polish Jazz banner. Usually, when Polish Jazz musicians try to imitate their idols from across the pond, they fail rather miserably, with The Quartet being the only exception, which proves the rule. Young Polish Jazz musicians should study this music note by note – this is universally sublime document of human expression, freedom and power of creation, which happens rarely. Inspired by Coltrane´s music, this creation sparks a life of its own, which stands shoulder to shoulder with the original, without any inferiority complexes whatsoever. It is not a copy of the source; it is a thankful gratitude for the inspiration itself. Side Note: The PoljazzFind albums on this label label, which originally released this album, was active for 20 years (between 1972 and 1991) and was owned by the Polish Jazz Society. Considering the fact that the music industry in the Socialist State was centralized and totally controlled, with just one State owned music company producing all the albums, the possibilities to record and release Jazz albums were extremely limited. Poljazz was conceived and founded in order to allow for many more Jazz (and other) albums to be released independently from the State owned Polskie NagraniaFind albums on this label / MuzaFind albums on this label and as such revolutionized the music industry at the time, being the only such enterprise in Eastern Europe. The Polish label AnexFind albums on this label reissued many of the original Poljazz albums on CD, bringing this fabulous music back to life.

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QUARTET ~ THE QUARTET POLSKIE RADIO 1246-1247 (Barcode: 5907812242466) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 1977 - 1979 Released: 2013 This is the first installment in a series of releases documenting the recorded legacy of the great Polish Jazz pianist / composer Slawomir KulpowiczFind albums by this artist, most of which is released for the first time. Kulpowicz, who died prematurely in 2008 at the age of 56, was a victim of cancer. He was a member of groups led by the top Polish Jazz players like Zbigniew NamyslowskiFind albums by this artist and Tomasz StankoFind albums by this artist and led / co-led his own ensembles like The QuartetFind albums by this artist, In-FormationFind albums by this artist and also cooperated with many other musicians over the years. He was an avid follower of John ColtraneFind albums by this artist´s music and kept in touch with Coltrane´s wife Alice ColtraneFind albums by this artist. Following his visit to India, Kulpowicz discovered Indian music and the spiritual aura of India, which became his own. The Quartet was formed by the rhythm section of Zbigniew Namyslowski´s so called "third quartet", i.e. pianist Slawomir Kulpowicz, bassist Pawel JarzebskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Janusz StefanskiFind albums by this artist, with the addition of saxophonist Tomasz SzukalskiFind albums by this artist, one of Poland´s all-time greatest Jazz musicians and a spectacular player of rare quality. Although Szukalski naturally dominated the sound of the ensemble, it was Kulpowicz who was the spiritual leader and the sole composer of all the original material they performed. Spiritually the music was soaked in the John Coltrane legacy, with Szukalski playing lengthy "wall of sound" solos, supported passionately by the rhythm section, with Kulpowicz vamping a la McCoy TynerFind albums by this artist, Jarzebski delivering virtuosic bass parts and Stefanski raising all hell behind it all, which engulfed the overall effect with incredible power and overwhelming strength of expression, similar in character to the Coltrane late period recordings. In spite of the fact that The Quartet was undoubtedly the most important Polish Jazz ensemble in the late 1970s, their recorded legacy is truly pitiful and includes one live album recorded in 1978 and released by the PoljazzFind albums on this label label (reissued by the AnexFind albums on this label label) and their sole studio album, recorded in Finland in 1979 and released by the tiny independent Finnish label LeoFind albums on this label Records (which released also two albums by Tomasz Stanko from the same period). Therefore this double CD full of superb radio and concert recordings by The Quartet is an absolute marvel and a must have for every Polish / European Jazz connoisseur. Following the ensemble´s breakdown in mid-1980, the Polish Jazz scene will never again experience this kind of music, so close in spirit, sound and emotion to the epicenter of Modern Jazz created by Coltrane. The Quartet´s brief three and a half years period was the closest ever moment in which Polish Jazz would become very close to American Jazz of a decade earlier, both in spirit and in practice. The Quartet somehow managed to put aside the omnipresent Polish melancholy and lyricism, which dictates most of the unique music created under the Polish Jazz banner. Usually, when Polish Jazz musicians try to imitate their idols from across the pond, they fail rather miserably, with The Quartet being the only exception, which proves the rule. Young Polish Jazz musicians should study this music note by note – this is universally sublime document of human expression, freedom and power of creation, which happens rarely. Inspired by Coltrane´s music, this creation sparks a life of its own, which stands shoulder to shoulder with the original, without any inferiority complexes whatsoever. It is not a copy of the source; it is a thankful gratitude for the inspiration itself. Bringing this music out of the vaults is commendable, although keeping it in the vaults for so long was simply criminal. Such treasures of the Polish Cultural heritage should be exposed in all their glory. Hopefully the people in charge of the Polish Radio archives realize that.

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AALTONEN, HELASVUO, HAUTA-AHO, VESALA / EDWARD VESALA ENSEMBLE ~ JAZZ LIISA VOL. 17 & VOL. 18 SVART 100 (Barcode: 6430065583516) ~ FINLAND ~ Avant-Garde Jazz Recorded: 1973 - 1974 Released: 2018 The two "Jazzstudio" broadcasts compiled on this CD focus on the iconic figure of drummer / composer / bandleader and Godfather of modern Finnish Jazz, Edward VesalaFind albums by this artist, who is probably the most famous Finnish Jazz musician outside of his native country. Born in 1945, Vesala was active on the local Jazz scene since the late 1960s and until his tragically premature death in 1999 at the ridiculous young age of 54. His premiere recording was the little known album "NykysuomalaistaFind albums with this title" (Contemporary Finnish) from 1969 and the full debut "NanaFind albums with this title" came a year later. In 1972 he took part in his first ECMFind albums on this label album, the Jan Garbarek´s "TriptykonFind albums with this title" and soon after recorded his debut album for the label "Nan MadolFind albums with this title". He recorded five more albums for ECM and also participated on albums by Polish trumpeter Tomasz StankoFind albums by this artist. On the whole he left an impressive recorded legacy, including releases on his own LeoFind albums on this label Records. The first session presents the Edward Vesala trio, with bassist Teppo Hauta-AhoFind albums by this artist and pianist Esa HelasvuoFind albums by this artist on one track composed by him and then with saxophonist Juhani AaltonenFind albums by this artist (who replaces Helasvuo) on two tracks, both composed by Vesala. Whereas the first track is still pretty conventional, the two other tracks are mostly freely improvised and explode with energy and spontaneous exploration as appropriate for Avant-garde at its best. The second session presents the Edward Vesala EnsembleFind albums by this artist, a collection of top Finnish Jazz improvisers at the time: trumpeter Simo SalminenFind albums by this artist, trombonist Mircea StanFind albums by this artist, saxophonists Juhani Aaltonen, Paroni PaakkunainenFind albums by this artist and Pentti LahtiFind albums by this artist, bassist Teppo Hauta-Aho, electric bassist Make LievonenFind albums by this artist and Antero HonkanenFind albums by this artist who added some electronic effects on one track. This lineup is very similar to the lineup that recorded the a.m. ECM debut a few months after this session was recorded. They play three stacks, all by Vesala, all of which were later recorded for that album. In addition a short interview with Vesala in also present, in Finnish of course, which makes it sadly accessible only to Finnish speaking audience. (A transcript in English would have been most welcome). The music is spectacular and breathtaking, a true Avant-garde masterpiece combining composed and group-improvised parts, mystic Nordic moods and brilliant performances by these excellent musicians. These versions of the material are quite different from the recorded versions, which makes this session especially valuable. These two sessions are some of the most important documents of Finnish Jazz and are definitely among the strongest releases in the entire Jazz Liisa series. Overall this is some of the most staggering music created in Europe in the early to mid 1970s that one is able to hear and for European Jazz connoisseurs this is an absolute must have! Side Note The Finnish independent label SvartFind albums on this label Records released an unprecedented series of albums called Pop Liisa and Jazz Liisa, which present priceless historical recordings of Finnish Rock, Progressive Rock, Jazz-Rock Fusion and Jazz music, recorded live and broadcasted from the Liisankatu Studios in Helsinki under the "Popstudio" and "Jazzstudio" monikers between 1972 and 1977. The studios were owned by the YLE (Finnish Broadcasting Company), a public broadcasting service, which not only allowed the burgeoning Finnish music scene at the time to be exposed but also carefully archived the recordings for future generations. All this incredible music was previously unissued and collectively is probably the most important document of Finnish music from that period ever assembled. The music was released on 36 LPs (Pop Liisa Vol. 01 to Vol. 18 and Jazz Liisa Vol. 01 to Vol. 18) and on 18 CDs with every two consecutive volumes combined on one CD. The sound quality is absolutely superb, often better than the sound quality on the LPs released by these artists at the time. Many of the groups appearing on these albums never managed to record an album and these recordings are the only recorded legacy in existence of their activity. The released are accompanied by well researched and intelligent liner notes. This archival project is an outstanding example of how Cultural Legacy should be treated as well as of exemplary dedication to record producing professionalism.

Updated: 28/06/2020Posted: 19/06/2020

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