jazzis kirjoitti noin 19 vuotta sitten (13 kommenttia)

I start this month's additions with the following two albums:

PALADIN ~ JAZZATTACK

UK Prog group Paladin released two very interesting albums in the early 1970s (the self-titled debut and the second album called "Charge!") and then promptly disappeared form the scene - a fate common to hundreds of Prog bands. In 1996 the band members decided to reissue the two albums on CD and while working on the reissue they discovered some demo tapes recorded before the recording of the debut album. This album includes all of these and some additional previously unreleased material. The music is very jazzy, similar to early instrumental jazz / rock, somewhere between Brian Auger and Santana. The bonus tracks include vocals. This is one of those lost Prog gems (there must be thousands of those around) to be rediscovered a quarter of a century later - always a joy.

REINOSO, JOSE ~ CONDOMBE INFLUENCIADO

A wonderful album by keyboards player Jose Reinoso, who was born in Uruguay, studied in the US and currently resides in Barcelona, Spain. The album was recorded in 2004 in Madrid and is his "proper" debut as a leader, although he did several other albums earlier as co-leader with other musicians. This is basically a piano trio with additional percussion adding subtle ornamentation to the music and a few guest musicians appearing on selected tracks. The basic idea of this project is to create an amalgam of jazz and South American music, especially the mysterious and sensuous tango. Reinoso is a virtuoso player and the music he creates is truly amazing. His sensitivity as a player and a composer is remarkable, and his spotless performances are awe-inspiring. All the other musicians are also superb, providing the leader with sympathetic support at all times. Jazz connoisseurs should love this one to bits, especially those open to jazz mixed with ethnic influences. The album was released
on a relatively new Spanish jazz label - New Mood Jazz - which released a series of amazing productions of the highest quality and should be on any jazz enthusiast's watch list.

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jazzis kirjoitti noin 19 vuotta sitten+/- saldo : 0
Two excellent new additions today:

CHICKEN SHACK ~ THE COMPLETE BLUE HORIZON SESSIONS

British producer and blues enthusiast Mike Vernon started the Blue Horizon label in 1965 in order to release some American blues recordings and soon after also original British blues Artists appearing on the scene as a result of the British Blues Revival, which happened in the late 1960's. In 1967 the label signed a distribution deal with a major (CBS) and took off. Their first act was the excellent group Chicken Shack, soon to be followed by no other that Fleetwood Mac. Between 1967 and 1970 Chicken Shack recorded some of the best and most interesting British blues for the label, all of which is collected here, including of course their four albums: "40 Blue Fingers Freshly Packed & Ready To Serve" (recorded 1968), "O. K. Ken?" (recorded 1968), "100 Ton Chicken" (recorded 1969) and "Accept" (recorded 1970). Led by Stan Webb, a virtuoso blues guitarist, and featuring the talents of Christine Perfect (who was to defect after the first two albums and join Fleetwood Mac after marrying
one of their members) they played some of the tastiest and most well developed white blues material ever. The first two albums are pure blues and the next two show increasing rock tendencies, still very much blues based of course. This beautiful box set is an absolute must for every blues lover and an indispensable piece of the British blues history.

SANTANA ~ SANTANA (III) (LEGACY EDITION)

3rd album (recorded 1971) and the last by the original "Woodstock" line-up. After scoring immediate success and immense popularity with their first two legendary albums, the group (and mainly Carlos) decided to move into more challenging and jazz oriented material, placing them firmly in the early Fusion genre. This direction was to be expanded even more on the future albums, like "Caravanserai" and the duet with John McLaughlin "Love Devotion Surrender". This new edition adds a fascinating (and complete) recording by the group from July 1971 (before the album was released), which was also the final concert at the legendary Fillmore West. The band tries out the new material on stage and pays homage to other great musicians they admire: Miles Davis, Jimi Hendrix and John Coltrane. This set is an essential piece of the great puzzle created by this mythological group and deserves to be re-visited as often as possible.

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jazzis kirjoitti noin 19 vuotta sitten+/- saldo : 0
Two new additions today:

WINTER, JOHNNY ~ NOTHIN` BUT THE BLUES

Johnny Winter's position in the Blues Hall Of Fame was firmly established following his late 1960's / early 1970's revolutionary recordings of the electric, aggressive, harsh and gutsy strain of blues he adopted at that time. His outstanding guitar technique, husky deep-throated voice and incredible feel for the music made him instantly recognizable and placed him in the forefront of the white blues movement, alongside other white blues luminaries such as Peter Green and Mike Bloomfield. Following the early blues oriented recordings Winter turned more towards rock oriented material, but in 1977 he returned back to the blues origins with the release of this fabulous album, which combines the best of the two blues worlds - the white blues he represents and the original black blues represented here by the legendary Muddy Waters and his band. Winter wrote almost all of the material for the album and Waters handles most of the vocal parts, letting Winter concentrate on his instrumental work, performed on several different guitars, including the slide guitar. Everybody obviously had a ball making this record, as the resulting music is truly heartfelt, deeply emotional and a delight for every blues fan. Winter's association with Waters continued for many years and he not only played with him but also produced several of his recordings. Waters of course is known for his collaborations with white blues musicians since the early 1960's, especially during his numerous visits to the UK, where he performed and recorded with many young British blues musicians.

JOPLIN, JANIS / BIG BROTHER ~ LIVE AT THE WINTERLAND `68

Although in retrospect Janis Joplin is recognized now as the greatest American rock singer of the 1960's, her tragically short recording career left a legacy so limited, that every scrap of new material is simply indispensable. Therefore it is a great pity that this incredible concert recording from April 1968 had to wait for 30 years to be heard (the album was released in 1998). The recording was made just after Janis and her band secured their recording deal with Columbia, but before the legendary "Cheap Thrills" album was released. They perform with zest and confidence typical of bands on the verge of stardom, with Janis tearing the room with her shrills and groans that only she was capable of. Firmly based on the blues tradition, the band's material is spiced with a psychedelic flavor of the San Francisco variety, most of it soon be recorded for the "Cheap Thrills" album. Strangely enough just a few months later Janis decided to leave Big Brother and start her solo career, a move as illogical and uncalculated as all the rest of her decisions in her troublesome and tragic life. She would never again have such a sympathetic and "natural" group of musicians supporting her and bringing out the best of her abilities. This album is not only a rare and wonderful document of Joplin's immense talent, but also a document of an era - recorded in the peak of the intense, but short lived San Francisco music explosion. As perfect as it is I keep daydreaming to have this one on DVD - that would really be the ultimate thrill.

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jazzis kirjoitti noin 19 vuotta sitten+/- saldo : 0
Two new Israeli additions today:

GEFFEN, AVIV ~ WITH THE TIME (SPECIAL EDITION)

10th album (recorded 2005) by Aviv Geffen (son of Jonathan Geffen, who is a prominent figure in Israeli music as well) is the Israeli "rebel" poet, songwriter and singer. His lyrics are provocative and sharp like a knife and he does not eschew any controversy, slaughtering "holy cows" by the herd. He is a gifted composer, able to write both rocky songs and beautiful lyrical ballads. He became an instant star with the Israeli teenagers, but as the years passed by his message sank deeply in the Israeli society, mainly due to the many political issues he touches upon. The music becomes much more refined over the years. Since 2003 Aviv co-leads with Steven Wilson (Porcupine Tree) the group Blackfield, which managed to achieve huge international success, following the release of their debut album in 2004. Over four years since his last solo album Aviv finally unveils his new material, which is a direct continuation of his previous work "Memento Mori". Deeply lyrical and rather somber, but with excellent melody lines and a well developed artistic approach. Wilson provides some backing vocals and a strong cast of musicians supports the singer. The Special Edition includes a 10-songs bonus CD assembled especially for this project.
Limited Edition

DOUBLE SPACE ~ WINDINGS

Excellent debut album (recorded 2005) by Israeli Prog group Double Space, which is probably the most significant piece of music recorded in this country in the last decade. Coming back to the sources if Israeli Prog (of the 1970's) the group decided to create a musical project based on texts by prominent Israeli poets like Leah Goldberg, Natan Alterman, Hanoch Levin and others (unfortunately lost to non-Hebrew speaking audiences). The musical approach is remarkably similar to the early (and revolutionary) work of Shlomo Gronich, with brilliant compositions including weird time signatures and unexpected twists and turns. The music is mostly acoustic, with occasional use of electric guitar. Extensive use of flute and saxophone adds touches of jazzy arrangements. The vocals (in Hebrew of course) are expressive and very sensitive to the complex lyrics. The maturity and the intellectual stamina of this project are truly astounding, especially in view of the young age of its participants. Considering the recent "wave" of excellent Israeli Prog releases, this is another most welcome addition to the local scene.

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Massive stock update with many items back!

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jazzis kirjoitti noin 19 vuotta sitten+/- saldo : 0
Two new jazz items added today:

COREA, CHICK / HANCOCK, HERBIE ~ AN EVENING WITH CHICK COREA & HERBIE HANCOCK

The 1978 acoustic piano duet tour of Chick Corea and Herbie Hancock is documented on two albums - this one and the Columbia companion album (also called "An Evening With."). Fortunately Chick & Herbie played so much music during their concerts that the two (both double vinyl albums originally) have no parallel tunes on them, except for the signature tunes: "Maiden Voyage" and "La Fiesta", which get a completely different treatment on each release. This means that, as the music on both albums is absolutely divine (see my comments on the other album), they are both absolutely essential and constitute in fact a non-separable document. There is a slight difference in the choice of material on both releases, with this album including more complex and "freer" pieces with plenty of opportunities for both players to demonstrate their complete command of the instrument and more "unusual" playing techniques. On a side note: the tour was arranged not only to enable the two incredible musicians to enjoy each other's company and inspiration, but also to "give the finger" to the horde of critics, which brutally dismissed Chick's & Herbie's 1970's electric / fusion work, accusing them of betrayal towards the jazz Art Form and doubting their artistic integrity (which of course was a heap of nonsense). The performances included on these two albums prove how totally wrong they all were. Unfortunately two tracks on this album were edited (shortened) to enable the release of this material on a single CD (an artistic crime, that should be punishable by beheading the corporate decision-makers). Therefore a proper reissue of this album is still due - hats off to Columbia for not making the same stupid mistake.

KOLLER, HANS ~ KOLLER PLAYS KOVAC

This is a reissue of an ultra-rare 1957 LP released on the Austrian Amadeo label by Hans Koller and his New Jazz Stars, recorded live in 1955. By the time this material was recorded, Koller was already world famous, with his 1952 release on the US Discovery label receiving a five star rating in "down beat", an unprecedented event for an European recording, considering the fact that European jazz was "non-existent" to most American critics (and still is to this very day to some extent). Following the departure of German pianist Jutta Hipp from Koller's quintet, she was replaced by the Austrian composer / arranger / pianist Ronald Kovac, who was to become the source of most of the material the new quintet would play - hence the name of the album. The quintet perfected the "cool" jazz idiom, which was influenced by American players like Lee Konitz, Chet Baker and Gerry Mulligan (Kovac played with them all when they visited Europe) and expanded it by adding classically influenced compositions and European scales and harmonies. This "transfigured" cool jazz should be fascinating to true connoisseurs of the genre and the album is a most important document of the development of European jazz in general.

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The new Aviv Geffen's album turns out to be quite a hit...

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jazzis kirjoitti noin 19 vuotta sitten+/- saldo : 0
Just one addition today:

LED ZEPPELIN ~ DVD

Considering the fact that this is the only available filmed document of the illustrious career by the greatest rock band in history (other than their pseudo-documentary film "The Song Remains The Same"), it immediately achieves a legendary status of the Holy Grail proportions. This double DVD set was compiled by Jimmy Page in 2003 and released as a companion to the 3 CD live set "How The West Was Won". Why did the fans of the band had to wait for so long for this magnificent music remains a mystery (probably having a lot to do with corporate music business bullsh*t), but better late than never seems to be appropriate here. Much better (than never) in fact, as this marvelous set presents over five hours of never previously seen archival material spanning the entire 11 years of the band's existence: 1969-1979. The main feature of the first DVD is the legendary 1970 Royal Albert Hall concert, which features the band at the peak of their first musical phase (spanning the last days of Page with the Yardbirds, the formative days of Led Zeppelin and up to the release of their second album). Page demonstrates the absolute command of guitar and the revolutionary use of the bow to squeeze outlandish sound effects from the instrument. Plant takes the vocal parts way beyond anything previously attempted and his jazz like staccato exchanges with Page are breathtaking. Bonham provides a metronome and yet innovative rock solid rhythms and Jones uses the bass and organ to fill in the spaces, ornament and put the cheery on the cake. In short if I had to explain to a Martian what rock is all about I'd need little more that a copy of this DVD to go by. The second DVD features live performances from the 1970's: 1973 Madison Square Garden, 1976 Earl's Court and 1979 triumphant UK tour, which was sadly the last time the band played together before Bonham's death the following year - each and every one a magnificent piece of musical history. In addition a collection of shorter clips, amateur footage and TV performances are also included. This stuff is truly bigger that life and the nonchalant title seems most appropriate in this case - probably the best way there is for anyone to spend his money on music.

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The new Aviv Geffen's album is still a hot one.

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jazzis kirjoitti noin 19 vuotta sitten+/- saldo : 0
Just one item added today, but what an item...

DAVIS, MILES ~ THE CELLAR DOOR SESSIONS 1970

This is the 8th chapter in the Columbia's epic series of Miles Davis box sets, which is a monumental reissue project of recordings by the most important Jazz musician of the 20th century. Each and every one of these chapters reveals the great Master in another step (to heaven) of his illustrious, ever changing, long and winding musical path. It would be incredibly presumptuous to write any kind of serious musical review of this music in a limited format, so I'll only stick to the very basics here. The music contained in this set was recorded live on December 16-19, 1970 in a dinky little NY club called "Cellar Door". Why would Miles play in such a venue at all remained a mystery (one of many around Miles' life and work), as he could easily sell out any concert hall in the US. In retrospect it now becomes obvious that Miles simply wanted a sort of limited exposure live recording opportunity to record his new band, which was yet another change of direction in his career. Following the groundbreaking "Bitches Brew" and "Jack Johnson" sessions, Miles decided to strip down his ensemble to the bare minimum and concentrate on a more rock / funk oriented sound. Miles was always intensely attentive to everything that was happening around him musically and his frequent performances at the Fillmore venues exposed him to scores of rock bands, which enjoyed immense popularity with the crowds. Miles concluded that he could easily play music, which would be as acceptable to the rock crowds as the rock music they were accustomed to, hell he could do it better! This sessions prove that he was absolutely right. For the new group Miles kept Keith Jarrett on electric piano, since Keith was already at ease with rock oriented material he played in his earlier stints. He also kept Jack DeJohnette on drums, as John could rock better that any of the rock drummers around, considering his immense talent and technique. The saxophone spot was taken by Gary Bartz (Steve Grossman was having serious drug-related problems), a young and extremely capable player who sounded remarkably similar to John Coltrane, but felt comfortable with the funky rhythms. The biggest change (and surprise) was the bass spot, which Miles assigned to the tender Motown (yes - the Jackson 5!) electric bassist Michael Henderson. Henderson's pulsating funky rhythms set the essence for these sessions, not only serving as a rock solid foundation upon which the musicians are free to develop their improvisations, but also being the glue that keeps the music together. The quintet of Davis, Bartz, Jarrett, Henderson and DeJohnette play on all the 6 CDs in this set. The Brazilian percussionist Airto Moreira joins the quintet on the 3rd day (expanding it to a sextet) and is heard on 4 CDs. Moreira's contribution to Miles' music deserve a chapter in itself - in these sessions he skillfully adds color and polyrhythmic accents, always with taste and precision. On the last day the group is extended to a septet with John McLaughlin joining in on his fire blazing electric guitar, like there is no tomorrow. This truly turns the whole ensemble into the "greatest f**king rock band you ever heard", to quote Miles. McLaughlin is in his usual great form, which means he is just way ahead of anything else done at that time on guitar. What about Miles himself? Let me just say that he plays some of his best notes ever on these sessions, full of vigor, passion and inspiration. What else can I say here? This music is beyond comparison, beyond criticism, beyond all the bullsh*t people say about music. If you didn't hear it you simply don't exist - musically that is ;)

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jazzis kirjoitti noin 19 vuotta sitten+/- saldo : 0
Two more superb releases on the MPS label added today:

ZOLLER / KOLLER / SOLAL ~ ZOLLER KOLLER SOLAL (MOST PERFECT SOUND EDITION)

This 1965 recording unites three of the greatest European jazz musicians at the time in order to perform as a trio (without bass / drums), a setting pretty adventurous and ambitious. The resulting music is simply breathtaking - a series of solo, duo and trio performances by telepathically connected musical geniuses. Hungarian guitarist Attila Zoller, Austrian saxophonist Hans Koller and French pianist Martial Solal were all seasoned musicians with a proven record and much mutual respect and admiration for each other's talent. Often putting such highly individual players together can turn out sour, but in this case it works magic. The interplay is phenomenal and the music is elegant and intriguing. The nine compositions they perform include four Zoller originals and one by Koller. The rest are standards, which are a given a very unique treatment. The album was produced by the legendary European jazz critic / writer / producer Joachim-Ernst Berendt (my dearly beloved friend and Mentor, unfortunately no longer with us), who also wrote the liner notes for the album. Let me quote just one passage: "The improvisations that Zoller, Koller and Solal play in their solos, duos and trios are very European in spirit - and one hardly needs to add that, in a year when American jazz magazines have praised European jazz records more highly then ever before, the word "European" can imply a special seal of quality, even in jazz. Attila Zoller, the Hungarian, who, via Germany has made America his chosen land. - Martial Solal, the Frenchman from Algeria. - and Hans Koller, the Austrian tenor saxophonist who paints abstract art on the German-Swiss border: they build a trio that is completely different from a group of musicians who have all grown up together in Hastings Street in Detroit. Zoller-Koller-Solal: a guitarist, a saxophonist, and a pianist who all have the courage to be in jazz what they were born to in life - Europeans with the whole, rich variety of this continent. And this is especially evident in their ensemble playing." Needless to say this album also received a five star rating from the American "down beat".

KRIEGEL, VOLKER ~ SPECTRUM (MOST PERFECT SOUND EDITION)

It is truly tragic that so many of the greatest musicians in this world are totally unknown to the vast majority of the listeners. The German guitarist Volker Kriegel is one of those "undiscovered" geniuses, who reached only scarcely few listeners outside of his native country. He begun to play jazz in the early 1960's on the burgeoning (at that time) Frankfurt jazz scene led by the Mangelsdorff brothers (Albert and Emil). He is credited as "the father of Jazz / Rock" on the German scene from the late 1960's on, when his guitar work and incredible compositions made him a leader in that field. He was the guitarist of the Dave Pike Set, the quartet of the US avant-garde vibraphone player who lived in Germany at that time and later he recorded a series of groundbreaking solo albums (as well as albums with his group Mild Maniac Orchestra) for the MPS label. In 1976 Kriegel was one of the co-founders of the United Jazz and Rock Ensemble - Europe's most important Jazz / Rock outfit for years to come. Kriegel died in 2003 at the age of 59. "Spectrum" is Kriegel's first solo album (recorded 1971), and in retrospect is a monster achievement - surely one of the best Jazz / Rock Fusion albums ever. Although incredibly advanced in his musical concepts, his guitar playing is always melodic and crystal clear, even if he flies all over the guitar neck with the speed of lightning. He gets excellent support from his fellow musicians, especially from the superb British pianist John Taylor, whose work on the electric piano here is simply mind-blowing. Add to this his gorgeous compositions (he wrote all the music) and you have in your hands an album that after you hear it you'll wander how come you never discovered it earlier? Well, surely better late than never!

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jazzis kirjoitti noin 19 vuotta sitten+/- saldo : 0
Two more MPS albums added today:

KÜHN, JOACHIM ~ HIP ELEGY (MOST PERFECT SOUND EDITION)

Joachim Kühn ranks among the most famous European jazz musicians. Brilliant pianist and composer, he has been active on the German jazz scene since the mid-1960's, first playing with his older brother Ralf Kühn (a superb jazz clarinet player - see their excellent album on the American Impulse! label, if you can find it) and later enjoyed a spectacular solo career, playing and recording with all the best jazz musicians around the world. As many of his German colleagues he played mostly free jazz in his early days and later expanded also to Jazz-Rock. For this 1975 recording Kühn assembled a stellar group of musicians: Japanese trumpeter Terumasa Hino, Belgian guitarist extraordinare Philip Catherine, Brazilian percussionist Naná Vasconcelos and an all-American rhythm section with John Lee on bass and Alphonse Mouzon on drums. Together they play a set of Kühn's superb compositions, executed with elegance and virtuosity rarely heard elsewhere. Kühn's superb piano technique, of the classical concert hall scale, sets the tone, but he also uses electronic keyboards to paint layers of atmospheric backgrounds. Everybody enjoys plenty of space to improvise and the result is a Fusion fan's dream come-true. On a side note: the album was produced by Joachim-Ernst Berendt and the music was first played at the jubilee concerts celebrating his 5,000th radio jazz program on the Südwestfunk network - where Berendt worked for many years.

DAUNER, WOLFGANG ~ MUSIC ZOUNDS (MOST PERFECT SOUND EDITION)

German pianist / composer Wolfgang Dauner is one the most important icons of the European jazz scene. Active since the early 1960's he has been in the epicenter of the European free jazz since the mid-1960's and then in the mid-1970's he also expanded his activities to the jazz-rock scene by forming (with other excellent European jazz musicians) the United Jazz and Rock Ensemble. In the last two decades he concentrates on writing film music. The piano trio, which is playing on this 1970 album, existed for several years prior to this recording, playing mostly free oriented music. Therefore, upon its release Dauner's followers were completely taken by surprised by the music, which is a classic swinging jazz, almost a parody of swing if you wish. Obviously Dauner wanted to have a joyful, amusing look at the "middle of the road" jazz, which he does lovingly of course. Although at the first impression this music might sound as something done by George Shearing, in fact it is quite experimental and sophisticated. On top of the metronome swinging rhythm, Dauner and his phenomenal bassist Eberhard Weber perform some really hair-rising musical acrobatics. Weber wrote most of the material for this album, in addition to a couple of standards and one tune by his friend, the French violinist Jean-Luc Ponty. When asked at the time if this album wouldn't be in contradiction to his avant-garde principles, he answered: "No, I'm not narrow-minded, and I never was. I don't care what people say about me. The main thing is that the music is good and we all dig it." I must say I absolutely concur to that statement. This is surely one of the most "good fun" jazz albums ever recorded.

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jazzis kirjoitti noin 19 vuotta sitten+/- saldo : 0
I added today the last of the MPS reissues - hopefuly more of these incredible albums will be reissued soon:

MANGELSDORFF, ALBERT ~ AND HIS FRIENDS (MOST PERFECT SOUND EDITION)

German trombonist Albert Mangelsdorff was one of the Father figures of the German and then European jazz for decades. Since the late 1940's he and his older brother Emil led numerous ensembles, always on the vanguard of the ever-changing jazz scene. He was one of the greatest trombone players in the history and single-handedly changed the status of this instrument from a background / support role to the front line position, proving that when in hands of a virtuoso player the trombone can be as fascinating any other instrument. By the end of the 1960's Mangelsdorff gradually moved towards free jazz and concentrated on playing in intimate settings like the duo and later even on completely solo performances. His revolutionary solo trombone album "Trombirds" (recorded 1971) was the first solo trombone album. Albert Mangelsdorff died in 2005 at the age of 77, leaving a tremendous legacy of recorded music, as revolutionary and groundbreaking as one can only expect from a jazz Master. This
album, recorded between 1967 and 1969, presents the early Mangelsdorff duo recordings with some of the most important jazz musicians of the period: Don Cherry (trumpet), Elvin Jones (drums), Karl Berger (vibraphone), Attila Zoller (guitar), Lee Konitz (alto sax) and Wolfgang Dauner (piano). Each and every one of these duo performances is completely different and yet they all create a cohesive musical vision of a genius. Not for a casual jazz listener, but a delight for connoisseurs with a refined jazz ear.

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jazzis kirjoitti noin 19 vuotta sitten+/- saldo : 0
Two albums by my favorite guitar player added today:

MCLAUGHLIN, JOHN ~ THE HEART OF THINGS

Since the late 1960's John McLaughlin's career enfolded like a continuous success story, moving from one musical hilltop to another: recording with Miles Davis, leading the Mahavishnu Orchestra, world music excursions with Shakti, etc. - all remarkable achievements. Keeping a position "in the lead" for so many years is never easy, but McLaughlin manages to deliver an amazingly consistent high quality output time after time with elegance and grace. This album, recorded in 1997, is no exception and presents the genius player / composer at his best again. Listening to this album raises almost immediately an attempt to compare the music and the group of musicians playing it to the Mahavishnu Orchestra. Although never formally called by that name, it is indeed a direct continuation of the work McLaughlin did with Mahavishnu about 20+ years earlier - electric fusion. Of course this group is more mature, slightly more jazz oriented, and definitely much more relaxed and laid back, all for
the good. Not that the fire and passion of the original Mahavishnu wasn't fantastic - it definitely was, but it often ventured into moments of havoc and confusion, which are completely absent here. McLaughlin uses on this recording a set of seasoned and experienced players: saxophonist Gary Thomas (one of the most talented players of the new generation and the jazziest player in this group), keyboards player Jim Beard and drummer Dennis Chambers, both veteran fusion players and finally the youngest member - Matthew Garrison on bass (son of the legendary bass player Jimmy Garrison from John Coltrane's quartet). McLaughlin composed all the music on this album, and the result should be equally appealing to both jazz and fusion fans. Highly recommended!

MCLAUGHLIN, JOHN ~ THE HEART OF THINGS - LIVE IN PARIS

This is a live companion album to the studio recording of the same name. Recorded in 1998 during a tour that followed the release of the studio album, this album complements the studio recording perfectly, as there is very little parallel materiel on the two. Only three of the tunes present on the studio album are played here, and as usual they get a completely different treatment, which of course is the essence of live recordings. The rest of the material consists of earlier compositions by McLaughlin. The group is almost identical to the one which recorded in the studio, except for keyboards player Otmaro Ruiz (who replaces Jim Beard) and the presence of percussionist Victor Williams (who was only a guest on the studio album). The musicians perform splendidly, with the lengthy tunes leaving plenty of space for individual players to solo extensively. There is not a dull moment here, with enough inspiration, professionalism and talent to satisfy even the harshest critics. Definitely
worth having.

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jazzis kirjoitti noin 19 vuotta sitten+/- saldo : 0
Two more guitar albums added today, also involving John McLaughlin:

MCLAUGHLIN / DI MEOLA / DE LUCIA ~ PASSION, GRACE & FIRE

Two years after recording their immensely successful live album "Friday Night In San Francisco", the three guitar geniuses gathered to record a studio album, which reflects again their supernatural ability to improvise together in both the duo and trio formats. One could hardly find a better description for this music than the title of this 1982 album, which says it all. Their ability to exchange hot licks, as well as compliment each other by providing elegant background for the respective solos is truly phenomenal. The music is entirely acoustic of course and it is all composed by the three participants. There is a definite influence of Spanish, Flamenco and Gypsy folk motifs, strong jazzy feel and incredible musicality. They truly play with pleasure to please the listener, who should be able to discover new layers of intricate phrases with each repeated listening. A true classic!

DE LUCIA / DI MEOLA / MCLAUGHLIN ~ THE GUITAR TRIO

14 years after recording their last acoustic guitar album together, these three geniuses get together again to deliver a follow up. Recorded in 1996, this album is every bit as good as their previous encounters. There is no evidence whatsoever of weariness, on the contrary - age seems to agree with them, refining their musical instincts. As usual, the music was all composed by the players themselves, except one bossa-nova, which gets a superb treatment. The format of duos and trios seems to be a perfect vehicle for all three players to express their outstanding abilities and they explore it to the extreme. There is really not much to say here, except recommend this album to every music lover - satisfaction guaranteed.

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jazzis kirjoitti noin 19 vuotta sitten+/- saldo : 0
Two items added today:

JARRETT, KEITH ~ THE IMPULSE YEARS 1973-1974

During the 1970's Keith Jarrett was living a double musical life, leading two completely different quartets - The American one (which recorded on Impulse! - captured here) and the European / Nordic one, with which he recorded on ECM. The ECM recordings brought him much glory and fame (in addition to his famous solo-piano recordings on that label), but the recordings with the American quartet, which included Dewey Redman on reeds, Charlie Haden on bass and Paul Motian on drums, remain somewhat overlooked / neglected by the jazz enthusiasts. This is of course a great pity, as these revolutionary performances include some of the finest Jarrett's moments captured on record, as well as brilliant achievements by the members of his quartet. This brilliant box set is the companion to the other set, which includes Jarrett's other recordings on Impulse! ("Mysteries: The Impulse Years 1975-1977", which unfortunately seems to be out of print). It includes material previously released on four Jarrett albums: ""Fort Yawuh", "Treasure Island", "Death And The Flower" and "Backhand", but totals in almost double amount of music, with many previously unreleased tracks and tracks released here in their unedited (full) form. The music is of course typical Jarrett, moving constantly between melody and free form, somewhat expanding on the Ornette Coleman legacy, but always very individual and unique only to Jarrett. Redman is also at his best here, especially when captured live (the first 2 CDs were recorded live at the Village Vanguard). This is undoubtedly some of the best American jazz ever and hopefully more people will decide to re-visit these wonderful musical moments.

DI MEOLA / MCLAUGHLIN / DE LUCIA ~ FRIDAY NIGHT IN SAN FRANCISCO

This meeting of three guitar geniuses, captured live in 1980, produced one of the most commercially successful jazz albums in all times. The unbelievable technique, the neck-breaking speed, the telepathic interplay and the soaring melodies create such an overwhelming effect, that it is virtually irresistible to any music lover. The album includes also one track recorded later in the studio and music they perform was written mostly by the participants, but includes also superb interpretations of compositions by Chick Corea and the Brazilian composer Egberto Gismonti. Saying anything else about this album is purely superfluous - it is a classic!

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Please note that some of the Japanese mini-sleeves are back in stock!

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jazzis kirjoitti noin 19 vuotta sitten+/- saldo : 0
Two items added today:

TYRANNOSAURUS REX ~ PROPHETS SEERS & SAGES THE ANGELS OF AGES (EXPANDED EDITION)

2nd album (recorded 1968) by one of the most interesting UK groups, sadly quite neglected as far as most Prog fans are concerned. Formed by singer / guitarist / songwriter Marc Bolan after leaving his first group - John's Children, Tyrannosaurus Rex was basically a duo: Bolan and percussion player Steve Peregrin Took (a pseudonym of course and a character in Tolkien's novels). They played a completely unique kind of British folk heavily spiced with Psychedelic influences. Their usage of avant-garde techniques (loops, backward tracks, random noises, gibberish, nonsense, etc.) puts them on the forefront of the most adventurous music makes of the era. Bolan's unusual voice and singing / phrasing remain unmatched to this very day (the closes that comes to mind is the gorgeous debut album by Comus). The lyrics, mostly based on mystery and literature (Bolan must have been the first musician to be obsessed with Tolkien's work), are often incomprehensible, which of course makes then even more enjoyable. In short this is a lost classic, finally available again - the expanded edition more than doubles the contents of the original album. Highly recommended to the more adventurous listener.

TYRANNOSAURUS REX ~ A BEARD OF STARS (EXPANDED EDITION)

4th and last album (recorded 1969) by this group. It marks a certain change in the stylistic approach, being closer to rock and using electric instruments. Mickey Finn replaced the original percussion player on this album and additional instruments were used to create a richer sound, but the link to the acoustic material and the mystical / avant-garde approach is still very strong of course. Some of the songs are somewhat more accessible, but the overall effect remains unique all-Bolan craziness. Following the release of this album Bolan took a sharp turn, when he renamed his band to T Rex and became a most successful artist in the early 1970's, being one of the pioneers of Glam Rock. However, his Tyrannosaurus Rex years are still a beautiful musical experiment in retrospect and the reissue of this album is most welcome. The expanded edition more than doubles the contents of the original album and is definitely worth investigating.

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Many items back in stock, including the Keith Jarrett box set and the wonderful MPS reissues everybody is waiting for!

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Many LPs added to the vinyl section!

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Many items added to the Sale and One Of A Kind section!

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