Record Reviews

DON CHERRY / KRZYSZTOF PENDERECKI ~ ACTIONS INTUITION 3606 (Barcode: 750447360624) ~ USA ~ Free Jazz / Improvised Music Recorded: 1971 Released: 2001 This is a reissue / remaster of one of the most iconic Jazz / Improvised Music recordings ever, recorded live during the 1971 Donaueshingen New Music Festival in 1971. It presents the American trumpeter / composer Don CherryFind albums by this artist accompanied by a large international orchestra, called The New Eternal Rhythm OrchestraFind albums by this artist, comprised of the crème de la crème of European Jazz musicians - trumpeters: Manfred SchoofFind albums by this artist (Germany), Kenny WheelerFind albums by this artist (UK), Tomasz StankoFind albums by this artist (Poland), guitarist Terje RypdalFind albums by this artist (Norway), trombonists: Paul RutherfordFind albums by this artist (UK), Albert MangelsdorffFind albums by this artist (Germany), saxophonists: Gerd DudekFind albums by this artist (Germany), Peter BrotzmannFind albums by this artist (Germany), Willem BreukerFind albums by this artist (Holland), flautist Gunter HampelFind albums by this artist (Germany), keyboardist Fred van HoveFind albums by this artist (Holland), bassists: Buschi NiebergallFind albums by this artist (Germany), Peter WarrenFind albums by this artist (US) and drummer Han BennikFind albums by this artist (Holland). The central piece of music performed here was composed and conducted by Polish Classical composer Krzysztof PendereckiFind albums by this artist. The album includes extensive bilingual liner notes, which describe the circumstances of the recording and include an interview with Penderecki. The project was a brainchild of my Friend and Mentor Joachim BerendtFind albums by this artist, who was in charge of the Jazz section of the Donaueschingen New Music Festival at the time and presented some of most challenging and groundbreaking music of the era. Penderecki was a frequent guest at the festival and following a concert of the Globe Unity OrchestraFind albums by this artist during the 1967 season of the concerts, decided to write a piece for a Free Jazz ensemble, which came into fruition four years later. The music is of course as brilliant as one might expect and sounds still completely innovative and fresh as it did at the time of the performance, losing nothing of its splendor over time. I discussed this recording with Maestro Penderecki during my last meeting with him before his passing, and he remembered the occasion very well. He respected Berendt for his tremendous knowledge and work towards expanding the Jazz genre’s recognition, as well as for his help to Polish musicians / composers during the Socialist era. We both mourned Berendt’s demise. Overall, this is a superb piece of music, which although composed, is performed by an orchestra of Improvising Musicians, which makes it pretty unique, especially since it was recorded well over half a Century ago. If you are able to find a copy, this is a must have in every serious Jazz records collection.

Updated: 02/09/2025Posted: 02/09/2025

CD 1 Remastered Recommend To A Friend

LIONNI / CORBINI / FRANCESCHINI ~ ACTIONREACTION 2 SLAM 2118 (Barcode: 5052442029946) ~ ITALY ~ Free Jazz / Improvised Music Recorded: 2017 - 2024 Released: 2025 This is an album by American (resident in Italy) painter / abstract Art activist Pippo LionniFind albums by this artist and Italian musicians: pianist Sergio CorbiniFind albums by this artist and saxophonist Stefano FranceschiniFind albums by this artist. It presents a collaboration between a Visual Artist and Jazz musicians, which consists of events, where an Artists is creating Art (painting for example), while he is accompanied by musicians improvising alongside his work. This is not actually that rare, especially in Europe, but such events are rarely recorded, so this album is a tangible document, recorded during several live and studio sessions. The 2CD album presents twelve tracks, which were recorded over a period on several years between 2017 and 2024, with a full performance captured on CD1 and other recordings on CD2. The music is of course spontaneously improvised. Despite the fact that these multimedia events are obviously intended to be attended and experienced by a live audience, which is exposed to all the elements of the event, in this case visual and aural, the “soundtrack” of these events presented on this album is also a viable, although only partial, document of the proceedings. The music, although performed by the two musicians, with some percussive effects created by Lionni using his tools, and on one track only by the bassist Silvia BolognesiFind albums by this artist, is very expressive, constantly changing and developing and altogether quite fascinating. Like all Improvised Music, it has a limited appeal to the general audience, but connoisseurs of this particular genre should find it delightful, especially since it offers many melodic elements, which makes it more digestible than extreme Free Jazz recordings. Overall, this is a very interesting document of an Artistic multimedia genus, which offers demanding, but not extremely out worldly music, which can be truly enjoyed. Well, these Artists are Italians (or of Italian descent), so melody is in their genes ;) Side Note The small independent label called SlamFind albums on this label Records, which was founded and operated by British saxophonist George HaslamFind albums by this artist in 1989, released some of the most fascinating Avant-Garde music recorded on the British Isles by local and international Artists. The label released some 250 albums and in 2021 Haslam announced his retirement. However, in 2023, 34 years after the label was founded, it was announced that the ownership and running of the label has been taken over by Jon GriffithsFind albums by this artist, the owner of My Only DesireFind albums on this label Records, who continues to release new albums.

Updated: 11/04/2026Posted: 11/04/2026

CD 2 Digisleeve Recommend To A Friend