Record Reviews

VOLKER KRIEGEL ~ JOURNAL MOOD 33.605 ~ GERMANY ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 1981 Released: 1986 This is the 12th album as a leader by German guitarist / composer / bandleader Volker KriegelFind albums by this artist, recorded with many of his close musical companions, which included, amongst others multi-instrumentalist Hans Peter StroerFind albums by this artist, vibraphonist Wolfgang SchluterFind albums by this artist, bassist Eberhard WeberFind albums by this artist and drummers Ralf HubnerFind albums by this artist and Evert FratermanFind albums by this artist. The album presents nine tracks, seven composed by Kriegel, one co-composed with Stroer and one composed by Stroer. Kriegel released ten albums on the legendary MPSFind albums on this label Records label and this was the debut album he released on the MoodFind albums on this label Records label, which he co-owned with Wolfgang DaunerFind albums by this artist, Albert MangelsdorffFind albums by this artist and Ack Van RooyenFind albums by this artist. Kriegel was one of the finest European guitar players of all time and a superb composer. He was a leader of the German Jazz-Rock Fusion movement since the late 1960s and his recorded legacy, expanded posthumously by previously unreleased studio and live recordings, presents some of the finest European Fusion ever recorded. The music is based and deeply melodic themes, which are expanded by lengthy soli by the participating musicians. Kriegel’s guitar virtuosity and unique sound are immediately recognizable and sadly have very little competition since his tragically premature death in 2003. Overall, this is an absolutely stunning European Fusion album, intelligent, sophisticated and completely free of tedious doodling, which sadly completely ruled in Fusion music by the time this album was recorded. Not easy to find but absolutely essential to all true Fusion lovers and guitar enthusiasts! Side Note MoodFind albums on this label Records, established in 1977 and based in Germany, was a small independent record label founded by European Jazz musicians: German Wolfgang DaunerFind albums by this artist, Volker KriegelFind albums by this artist and Albert MangelsdorffFind albums by this artist and Dutch Ack van RooyenFind albums by this artist. The label was active between 1977 and 2006 and released 78 albums, first on vinyl and later on CD. In 2010 the label released 11 2CD albums with reissues of early vinyl albums. The label was the home label of the four founders, as well as the United Jazz + Rock EnsembleFind albums by this artist, Ian CarrFind albums by this artist’s NucleusFind albums by this artist and many other, mostly European musicians. The total output of the label is a superb document of the European Jazz scene between the late 1970s and mid-2000s. Some of these albums are absolutely essential.

Updated: 27/05/2025Posted: 27/05/2025

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