Record Reviews
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  | TOMASZ DABROWSKI / FREE4ARTS ~ SIX MONTHS AND TEN DROPS
BAREFOOT 041 (Barcode: 5707471040270) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz
Recorded: 2014 Released: 2015
Polish (resident in Denmark) Jazz trumpeter / composer / bandleader Tomasz DabrowskiFind albums by this artist is one of the leading upcoming European musicians and his prolific, almost feverish output manages to astound his fans time after time. This album follows suit several albums already released this year and as always maintains incredible quality. This time Dabrowski leads a quartet, which besides him includes three leading young Danish Jazz musicians: baritone saxophonist Sven Dam MeinildFind albums by this artist, pianist Jacob AnderskovFind albums by this artist and drummer Kasper Tom ChristiansenFind albums by this artist. The album presents seven original compositions, all by Dabrowski.
This music is more free oriented than Dabrowski´s explorations so far, which seems to be a continuing development in his work. It is therefore further away from mainstream Jazz and explores other areas, like contemporary Chamber music and improvised Avant-Garde, although based on written themes. The entire scheme of using the quartet is also very unusual, as there is no conventional "soloists vs. rhythm section" setting at all, only an ensemble performance by the entire quartet as one body. The exclusion of the bass is also very significant, where some of the typical bass parts are taken over by the baritone sax and others by the percussion. This music is only as good as the level of cooperation achieved by the quartet members and therefore the interplay is its central ingredient. Luckily for Dabrowski these three musicians belong to the same "school of thought" like himself, enabling the quartet to become a unity.
There is no doubt that this music points towards a new epoch of Jazz, which becomes an amalgam of all forms of improvised music, those previously experienced and those still undiscovered. Dabrowski and his generation are brave pioneers of these uncharted territories and it´s a great experience to bear witness while this music keeps unfolding in real time in Copenhagen, Warsaw, Berlin and other parts of Europe.
This is quite difficult music for most people, no doubt about it, but it is also deeply rewarding and intellectually challenging. It is spearheaded by a relatively tiny group of musicians and has a limited audience. Nevertheless it encompasses perhaps some of the most important musical developments happening in a world which is rapidly turning away from challenge and cultural progress, and therefore becomes even more significant. It is in these young people that we entrust our Cultural feature.
| | Updated: 12/04/2019Posted: | CD 1 Mini-Sleeve Recommend To A Friend |
  | DON ELLIS ~ SIX CLASSIC ALBUMS
REAL GONE JAZZ 544 (Barcode: 5036408192325) ~ USA ~ Jazz
Recorded: 1960 - 1962 Released: 2017
This is a reissue of the early recordings by the legendary American trumpeter / composer / arranger / bandleader Don EllisFind albums by this artist. Ellis was one of the most forward-thinking American Jazz musicians and also one of the most aesthetically "European" of them all, which was the reason why he was more popular and appreciated in Europe than back home. His work as a leader of Big Bands / Orchestras in the late 1960s was absolutely ground shattering and his openness to World Music was light years ahead of its time.
This collection includes the first three albums as a leader by Don Ellis: "How Time PassesFind albums with this title" from 1960, "New IdeasFind albums with this title" from 1961 and "EssenceFind albums with this title" from 1962. These are intimate quartet / quintet recordings with such excellent players as pianists Jaki ByardFind albums by this artist and Paul BleyFind albums by this artist, bassists Ron CarterFind albums by this artist and Gary PeacockFind albums by this artist and many others. The music, although still based in the Bebop tradition, moves towards early forms of Free Form and non-conventional harmony and rhythmic patterns.
The other three albums present Ellis as a member of the small ensembles led by American pianist / composer / arranger / music theorist George RussellFind albums by this artist, another highly influential figure as far as modern American Jazz is concerned and also a non-conformist and innovator. This set collects recordings made between 1961 and 1962, which present Russell playing with small orchestral ensembles and small combos, introducing elements of his Lydian Chromatic Concept and later Modal Jazz. These are "George Russell Sextet In K.C.Find albums with this title" from 1961, "The Stratus SeekersFind albums with this title" from 1962 and "The Outer ViewFind albums with this title" from 1962. These three albums can be also found as part of the George Russell collection "Seven Classic AlbumsFind albums with this title", but considering the really inexpensive price of these releases, the duplication can be ignored.
Overall this is a fascinating collection of great Jazz music performed by some of the best players at the time, and which has additionally also an enormous historical value. I can’t imagine any true Jazz fan missing this set!
Side Note
The Real Gone JazzFind albums on this label label releases hundreds of album collections, which include usually between three to eight original albums in a two to four CDs sets. Most of these albums were recorded and released in the 1950s and early 1960s. These collections provide the track lists and lineups of the original albums, but no recording information, liner notes and any background information whatsoever. The label takes advantage of the copyright law in UK, which limited the length of the copyright protection of recorded works to 50 years, after which recorded works become public domain. In 2013 UK implemented a correction of the copyright law extending the protection of recorded works to 70 years (like the rest of Europe), but the correction does not apply retroactively, which means that recordings which entered the 50 years rule prior to January 1, 2013 (i.e. recorded before January 1, 1963) remain public domain.
There are two great advantages to these releases: they are really inexpensive and they bring back to life many albums not reissued previously on CD, which means it would cost a collector an arm and a leg to get a copy of them. Many of these albums are absolute gems and essential pieces of Jazz history.
The disadvantages are: the lack of proper information, original cover art, combining tracks of several original albums on one CD and the sound quality, which depends on where the label gets the source material. From my experience most of the releases have quite excellent sound quality but I have not listened to all of them and some people have complained about it.
| | Updated: 27/05/2018Posted: 05/05/2018 | CD 4 Digipak Remastered Recommend To A Friend |
  | PAUL HORN ~ SIX CLASSIC ALBUMS
REAL GONE JAZZ 478 (Barcode: 5036408171320) ~ USA ~ Jazz
Recorded: 1957 - 1962 Released: 2014
This is a reissue of the early recordings by the legendary American saxophonist / flautist Paul HornFind albums by this artist, one of the few pioneers of American Jazz-World Fusion, Spiritual Music and later even New Age Music. This set collects recordings made between 1957 and 1962, which present Horn playing with small orchestral ensembles and small combos, already introducing many World Music elements within his Jazz efforts.
The six albums included here are: "House Of HornFind albums with this title" from 1957, "Zen: The Music Of Fred KatzFind albums with this title", debut album by cellist Fred KatzFind albums by this artist, from 1957, "Plenty Of HornFind albums with this title" from 1958, "Something BlueFind albums with this title" from 1960, "The Sound Of Paul HornFind albums with this title" from 1961 and "Profile Of A Jazz MusicianFind albums with this title" from 1962. A couple of tracks from the album "Down Beat Jazz Concert Vol.1 & 2Find albums with this title" from 1958 are included as bonus tracks.
Although still very mainstream Jazz oriented, these early albums by Horn already emphasize his love of unusual meters and World Music motifs, which would eventually become to center of his musical activity.
Overall this is a fascinating collection of great Jazz music performed by some of the best West Coast players at the time, and which has additionally also an enormous historical value. I can’t imagine any true Jazz fan missing this set!
Side Note
The Real Gone JazzFind albums on this label label releases hundreds of album collections, which include usually between three to eight original albums in a two to four CDs sets. Most of these albums were recorded and released in the 1950s and early 1960s. These collections provide the track lists and lineups of the original albums, but no recording information, liner notes and any background information whatsoever. The label takes advantage of the copyright law in UK, which limited the length of the copyright protection of recorded works to 50 years, after which recorded works become public domain. In 2013 UK implemented a correction of the copyright law extending the protection of recorded works to 70 years (like the rest of Europe), but the correction does not apply retroactively, which means that recordings which entered the 50 years rule prior to January 1, 2013 (i.e. recorded before January 1, 1963) remain public domain.
There are two great advantages to these releases: they are really inexpensive and they bring back to life many albums not reissued previously on CD, which means it would cost a collector an arm and a leg to get a copy of them. Many of these albums are absolute gems and essential pieces of Jazz history.
The disadvantages are: the lack of proper information, original cover art, combining tracks of several original albums on one CD and the sound quality, which depends on where the label gets the source material. From my experience most of the releases have quite excellent sound quality but I have not listened to all of them and some people have complained about it.
| | Updated: 27/05/2018Posted: 01/10/2016 | CD 4 Remastered Recommend To A Friend |
  | OLBRZYM I KURDUPEL ~ SIX PHILOSOPHICAL GAMES
ELECTRIC EYE 012 (Barcode: 5903292102115) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz
Recorded: 2010 Released: 2012
This is the 2nd album by Polish Free Jazz / Improvised Music duo Olbrzym I KurdupelFind albums by this artist ("Giant And Tiny" in Polish, referring to their physical appearance), which comprises of saxophonist Tomasz GadeckiFind albums by this artist and bassist Marcin BozekFind albums by this artist. Their debut, recorded in 2008, was an EP, which was warmly received at the time. The album includes six improvised pieces, co-credited to the duo members.
This album presents another glimpse at the Polish Free Jazz / Improvised Music scene, which is thriving in the last decade. Musicians all over Poland perform in clubs and art centers, which are dedicated solely to this kind of music, release many albums and play with top international artists. Such vigorous activity is absent almost completely from the contemporary scene in other countries.
The music is intensive and complex, demanding total dedication from the listener in order to achieve the same level of intensity as the musicians. Both musicians converse constantly, exchanging ideas on the fly and try to compliment each other rather than compete with each other. The bassist uses the bass guitar exclusively, which enables him to be much more flexible and versatile that upright bass players. The saxophonist has a wide tonal range and well developed improvisation skills. Together they create music, which is absorbing and rewarding to listeners willing to make the effort this kind of music requires.
This album is definitely worth investigation for listeners of Free Jazz / Improvised Music, especially those living in places that these genres are almost nonexistent on the local scene.
| | | CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend |
  | GRZECH PIOTROWSKI ~ SIX SEASONS
ALCHEMIK ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Classical Fusion
Recorded: 2016 Released: 2016
This is the seventh album by Polish Jazz saxophonist / composer Grzech PiotrowskiFind albums by this artist (a.k.a. Grzegorz PiotrowskiFind albums by this artist), recorded in a quartet setting with pianist Marcin WasilewskiFind albums by this artist, bassist Jaroslaw StokowskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Robert LutyFind albums by this artist, and with a superb string quartet, which includes violinists Mariusz PatyraFind albums by this artist and Mateusz SmoczynskiFind albums by this artist, violist Aleksandra JarosinskaFind albums by this artist and cellist Krzysztof LenczowskiFind albums by this artist. The album presents six original compositions, all by Piotrowski, named after the usual four seasons with two additional seasons added ("pre-spring" and "pre-winter"), which together constitute a suite-like structure.
The music is an ambitious Jazz-Classical Fusion project, beautifully melodic and gently flowing from one part of the suite to another, full of melancholy and tranquility. In some respects it often sounds like a soundtrack of an imaginary movie, inspiring colorful visions in the mind of the listener. It is all about precision, delicate relationships between the harmonies and elegant melodic vistas, with no much space left for spontaneity.
The performances by all the participants are perfectly suited to this specific musical environment, with Jazzy improvisation being relatively limited, due to the strict arrangements, but nevertheless quite impressive. This album is not intended to present individual virtuosity as much as it is about coordinated effort, perfectly matched and working towards a common goal.
Some critics will probably say that this music is way too sweet and organized and borders on Smooth Jazz or even pastiche. Admittedly, such music as presented herein, quite often ventures into these territories, but in this specific case it does not happen at all. Yes, the music is pleasant and easy on the ear, but at the same time it is full of original melodic themes, superb orchestration and arrangements, topped with flawless execution. There is an obvious effort and talent invested here by Piotrowski, and the resulting music can be seen as a tribute to Romanticism and Classical Music tradition, wonderfully intertwined with contemporary tools of the trade, used in Jazz and Pop.
Personally I had a wonderful time listening to this music, which despite its pleasurable appearance, offers many inspiring moments, superb instrumental solos and fifty minutes of calmness and tranquility, which in our world happen way to infrequently.
The album comes in a hand-made packaging, which adds another highly personal dimension to the entire project. Definitely not for everybody, but hopefully many listeners will find this gorgeous music deeply moving and penetrating their souls.
| | Updated: 26/10/2016Posted: 17/10/2016 | CD 1 Mini-Sleeve Recommend To A Friend |
  | DON RENDELL ~ SIX CLASSIC ALBUMS PLUS BONUS TRACKS
REAL GONE JAZZ 496 (Barcode: 5036408174123) ~ UK ~ Jazz
Recorded: 1955 - 1961 Released: 2015
This is a reissue of early recordings by the legendary British Jazz saxophonist / composer / bandleader Don RendellFind albums by this artist, one of the greatest pioneers of modern British Jazz. Rendell, born 1926, was one of the relatively few British Jazz musicians, who thrived during the Swing and Bebop eras, but who embraced modern Jazz by the mid-1960s and became one of the pillars of the transformation the British Jazz went through during that period, creating a new Jazz idiom by breaking the ties with the American Jazz tradition.
Although Rendell made his first recording already in 1949, this set collects recordings made between 1955 and 1961, which present Rendell making a shift from Swing via Bebop and into early modern Jazz, a fascinating journey by any standard. These recordings include albums and an EP he recorded as a leader as well as recordings by other leaders he took part in, and tracks from a two Various Artists collections, which included his contributions.
The four albums Rendell recorded as a leader are: "Meet Don RendellFind albums with this title" from 1955, "Don Rendell Presents The Jazz SixFind albums with this title" (featuring Kenny WheelerFind albums by this artist) from 1957, "PlaytimeFind albums with this title" from 1958 and finally "Roarin`Find albums with this title" (featuring Graham BondFind albums by this artist) from 1961.
The two albums on which Rendell appears as a sideman are: Johnny KeatingFind albums by this artist All Stars ("British JazzFind albums with this title") from 1956 and pianist´s Ken MouleFind albums by this artist septet ("Ken Moule Arranges ForFind albums with this title") from 1956.
Overall this is a fascinating collection of great Jazz music played by the best British musicians at the time, and which has additionally also an enormous historical value. I can’t imagine any true British Jazz fan missing this set!
Side Note
The Real Gone JazzFind albums on this label label releases hundreds of album collections, which include usually between three to eight original albums in a two to four CDs sets. Most of these albums were recorded and released in the 1950s and early 1960s. These collections provide the track lists and lineups of the original albums, but no recording information, liner notes and any background information whatsoever. The label takes advantage of the copyright law in UK, which limited the length of the copyright protection of recorded works to 50 years, after which recorded works become public domain. In 2013 UK implemented a correction of the copyright law extending the protection of recorded works to 70 years (like the rest of Europe), but the correction does not apply retroactively, which means that recordings which entered the 50 years rule prior to January 1, 2013 (i.e. recorded before January 1, 1963) remain public domain.
There are two great advantages to these releases: they are really inexpensive and they bring back to life many albums not reissued previously on CD, which means it would cost a collector an arm and a leg to get a copy of them. Many of these albums are absolute gems and essential pieces of Jazz history.
The disadvantages are: the lack of proper information, original cover art, combining tracks of several original albums on one CD and the sound quality, which depends on where the label gets the source material. From my experience most of the releases have quite excellent sound quality but I have not listened to all of them and some people have complained about it.
| | Updated: 27/05/2018Posted: 30/05/2016 | CD 4 Digipak Remastered Recommend To A Friend |
  | SOFT MACHINE ~ SIX
COLUMBIA 494981 ~ USA ~ Canterbury Scene
6th album from 1973, originally a double LP now on 1 CD. After Wyatt left SM, the group turned ever more into a Jazz-Rock and even Avant-Garde jazz group, retaining Mike Ratledge on keyboards as the only original member and with emphasis on front reedman Elton Dean and later Karl Jenkins. Six includes one studio and one live album of blistering Jazz-Rock Fusion, beautiflly played, with John Marshall on drums.
| | Updated: 12/04/2019Posted: | CD 1 Recommend To A Friend |
  | SOFT MACHINE ~ SIX (REMASTERED)
SONY BMG 687591 (Barcode: 828768759127) ~ UK ~ Canterbury Scene
Recorded: 1972 Released: 2007
6th album by Soft MachineFind albums by this artist released originally as a double LP. Soon after recording FifthFind albums with this title, SM was facing more personnel changes with Elton DeanFind albums by this artist leaving the band to pursue his free jazz vocation. His replacement was another ex-NucleusFind albums by this artist founding member Karl JenkinsFind albums by this artist. Jenkins was a classically trained musician with exceptional gift for composing beautiful melodies. In addition he was also a multi-instrumentalist and therefore was able not only to replace Dean on saxes, but he also played beautiful oboe and both acoustic and electric piano. The addition of Jenkins was a decisive factor for SM, adding to the band for the first time a touch of professionalism and virtuosity, this in addition to the great spontaneity and vitality the group always possessed. Jenkins turned out to be the group’s most prolific writer and more than half of the music on the new album was his contribution. The new lineup started touring immediately after Hugh HopperFind albums by this artist completed the recording sessions for his first album (1984Find albums with this title) and some of the shows were recorded with the intention of serving as part of the new album (first LP of the set). In late 1972 the group recorded the studio material for the album (second LP of the set), returning to the format of longer and more complex tunes. The music on this album is quite different from what SM played on ThirdFind albums with this title, FourthFind albums with this title and Fifth: it is much more melodic and atmospheric and of course not as much free jazz oriented. In fact this is one of the most essential examples of Jazz-Rock Fusion ever recorded, a direction SM was to follow from now on. This beautiful new remaster improves the original sound tremendously. Absolutely essential!
| | | CD 1 Oversampling Remastered Essential Recommend To A Friend |
  | VARIOUS ARTISTS ~ SIXTIES RULE! CHAPTER ONE
ONE WAY 22034 ~ USA ~ Classic Rock
This is a great collection of 1960s songs, mostly one-hit wonders that are impossible to find on any other collection, like Barry McGuire`s `Eve Of Destruction` and many many more. A great trip down the nostalgia lane and a solid taste of what it was all about!
| | | CD 1 Recommend To A Friend |
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