jazzis kirjoitti noin 19 vuotta sitten (16 kommenttia)

I start the new month with announcement of new features on the Jazzis Web Shop.

Following the most welcome acceptance of the WAITING LIST feature (thaks to all of you who commented and started to use it), I have now modified the WISH LIST feature to accomodate more options, which I hope you'll find useful.

Here is a brief description of the two new features:

WAITING LIST
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Use the waiting list to create a list of items which you wish to order and which EXIST in my shop, but are out of stock at the moment. When an item in your waiting list becomes available again, you will be notified and then you can move it to your shopping cart. You can also delete items from your waiting list at any time. Items are added to the waiting list using the "Add To Waiting List" button displayed under every item, which is out of stock.

WISH LIST
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Use the wish list to create a list of items which you wish to order and which DO NOT EXIST in my shop. I will take your wish list into consideration when adding new items and expanding my repertoire. Whem an item in your wish list becomes available, you will be notified of course.

You can also use your wish list to save any comments, reminders, future purchases, etc., which will be saved and can be viewed and updated during your visits to the Jazzis Web Shop. This can be very useful and much more efficient than say writing stuff on paper, which usually gets lost ;)

I hope you'll find these new features useful and I use them frequently. Please send me your comments / suggestions as usual.

Have Fun!

jazzis kirjoitti noin 19 vuotta sitten+/- saldo : 0
Here are some exciting news:

First some more improvements to the site functionality - I have now placed all the items in the Function Menu (which are used to navigate the shop and make orders) on the top of the screen, which should make the navigation easier and faster (as you don't need to open the Functions Menu). This is not a new feature, but it enhances the speed and ease of use considerably ;) Enjoy!

And now another SALE offer!

I absolutely must sell out all the remaining OOTK and Sale items to make room for the new items which are due to arrive shortly. Therefore the new sale offer, which says:

Buy any 10 OOTK or Sale items and get 2 more items absolutely for FREE! Orders of 20 items will get 4 free CDs, etc.

Minimum order is 10 items and a fixed shipping of US $ 5.00 (NIS 25) applies to all orders made under this offer.

I hope you all will cooperate with me on this and clean the damn shelves ASAP.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Have Fun!


jazzis kirjoitti noin 19 vuotta sitten+/- saldo : 0
Time to get back to adding new stuff. Here is today's share:

MOODY BLUES ~ DAYS OF FUTURE PASSED (DELUXE EDITION)

If there ever was an album that epitomizes the meaning of Progressive Rock this is it! This magnificent new edition of the timeless classic receives the proper treatment at last - almost 40 years after its creation. This is the 2nd album by the Moodies, recorded in 1967. The group existed a few years before this album was recorded and even scored a huge hit with the song "Go Now" in 1964, which was the basis for their first album ("Go Now!" in US and "The Magnificent Moodies" in UK), but at that time the group was playing an entirely different kind of music, namely Rhythm And Blues - typical of scores of other UK groups at the time. The release of this epic work came as a huge surprise, considering the revolutionary (at that time) approach to making music - a marriage of Rock and Classical music, ergo the basis of Progressive Rock. (BTW a similar story applies to another Prog giant - Genesis - with their debut album ("From Genesis To Revelation") foretelling very little as to their next eponymous album - "Trespass"). As mentioned before, this album has everything that defines Prog: it features a Classical Orchestra (The London Festival Orchestra) and a Rock group, it is a concept album, the songs are several minutes long, etc., etc. The sheer audacity of placing a Rock group and a Symphony Orchestra in the same recording studio was unthinkable earlier on and considering how well it works is a piece of musical magic. Of course the songs are majestic, with "Nights In White Satin" safely placed at the pantheon of all-time classics. This new edition adds an entire CD of previously never heard material, both studio and live (BBC), which of course is a revelation, considering how long it was kept in the vault and how great it is. The new remasters are pristine and sound better than anything recorded these days and the SACD 5.1 mix is stunning. This is an absolute classic and a must in every record collection.

MOODY BLUES ~ ON THE THRESHOLD OF A DREAM (EXPANDED EDITION)

4th album (recorded 1969) and the first album the Moodies really had time to prepare for, as the recording of their previous album ("In Search Of The Lost Chord") was squeezed between grueling touring schedules. Not willing to use an orchestra, they fully utilized (and in many respects invented) the (then) new instrument - the Mellotron - played by Mike Pinder. Pinder used the Mellotron for the first time on their previous album, but here he really got the grip of the full potential of the instrument, creating new sound vistas previously unimaginable. The original idea of the album was to present two different "sides" of the group, split between the two sides of the LP: on side A they placed a set of more "rocky " songs and on side B the more complex, lyrical ones, which turned out to be their best to date. It seems the Moodies were unstoppable at creating one masterpiece after another at the time and the combination of great composers and excellent musicians worked as a magic formula. This magnificent new edition adds a set of fascinating bonus tracks, all previously unheard and a new pristine remastered sound, with the SACD 5.1 mix based on the original 1972 Quadraphonic release. Another timeless classic and a must.

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I started a massive re-stocking following the Spring Sale, which created serious "holes" on the shelves. Please check out if you are waiting for stuff to arrive.

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The new Sale offer for the OOAK and Sale items is working nicely - buy 10 get 2 more free! All you need to do is order 12 items and I'll make 2 of them free of charge. See home page for details.

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Have Fun!


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

MOODY BLUES ~ A QUESTION OF BALLANCE (EXPANDED EDITION)

6th album (recorded 1970) by the magnificent Moodies. After delivering 4 sublime and intensely complex concept albums the group decided to come up this time with a selection of songs, which could provide an easier basis for their live performances, as the elaborate songs on their previous albums were difficult to reproduce live on stage. This approach led to the creation of a much rockier album than anything else they recorded previously, but being what they were it was as good as anything else they ever did. The use of the Mellotron is less dominant this time and the guitar is more prominently featured. All together another timeless classic (yes I know I repeat myself, but what else can I say in this case.). The new edition adds never previously heard bonus tracks and a crystal clear remastered sound, including the SACD 5.1 mix. Essential!

REMEMBER SHAKTI ~ THE WAY OF BEAUTY

Finally, after so many years of waiting, the fans (myself included) can enjoy au vivo the spectacular and divine work of John McLaughlin and his Indian ensemble Shakti. The original Shakti was formed in 1975 with McLaughlin combining forces with several classical Indian Masters, including percussionist extraordinare Zakir Hussain. After releasing three superb albums McLaughlin disbanded the ensemble in 1977, only to reunite it again 22 years later, this time under the name Remember Shakti, which recorded another 3 albums. This great DVD includes over 3 hours of material, which covers performances of the original ensemble as well as the reunion, documentary material and interviews. McLaughlin visionary and pioneering approach to World-Jazz Fusion is of course just one of his many musical achievements, which deserve to be devoured at all possible avenues. This is a true Godsend! NTSC

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Have Fun!


jazzis kirjoitti noin 19 vuotta sitten+/- saldo : 0
Two new DVDs added today - a lot of nostalgia in these two ;)

DEEP PURPLE ~ LIVE IN CONCERT 72/73

1st installent of the (so called) "Deep Purple DVD Archive Collection" series, which EMI and the band intend to release, and it includes two concerts by Deep Purple: one from 1972 (Copenhagen) and the other from 1973 (New York). The first concert is filmed in black and white, which has a nice nostalgic effect to it. The sound is cleaned up and upgraded and the visual material pretty decent, so overall this is not too bad, surely better than most similar archival material. The music of Deep Purple Mk. II (Gillan, Lord, Blackmore, Glover & Paice) was heading into heavy rock and although there is quite a bit of instrumental improvisation there (by Lord and Blackmore), the on-stage theatrics look pretty ridiculous in retrospect. They were a hell of a show for sure and they all could play incredibly well, as opposed to many of their contemporaries. The interesting thing about the DVD is that there is an option to watch it with a "commentary" switched on, which means that you hear a commentator's voice on top of the soundtrack. The commentary is quite well written, very informative and often even witty / funny - typical British humor mind you. This brings up considerably the educational value of the DVD. Dolby Digital 5.0 Surround Sound and DTS, 127 minutes.

DEEP PURPLE ~ LIVE IN CALIFORNIA 74

2nd installment of the "Deep Purple DVD Archive Collection", presenting the band headlining the famous California Jam Festival. By the time this footage was filmed the band already reached stardom status, seen here as they arrive for the gig on their private jet. This version of Deep purple (Lord, Blackmore, Paice, Coverdale & Hughes) delivered fiery hard rock with vengeance, with very few contenders to their abilities, and this performance proves that beyond any doubt. Blackmore's ill famous bad temper is displayed here in flagrante delicto as he smashes his guitar into one of the TV cameras. The entire show is a non-stop high-voltage affair as known only in the hay days of Rock. The commentary (see the 1st installment) is also available here. For fans of DP this is a must of course. Dolby Digital 5.0 Surround Sound and DTS, 119 minutes.

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Please note that some Japanese mini-sleeves are back in stock.

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All Angel Air items back in stock!

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Have Fun!


jazzis kirjoitti noin 19 vuotta sitten+/- saldo : 0
Two beautifully remastered Rock classics added today:

BELL, MAGGIE ~ QUEEN OF THE NIGHT

1st album (recorded 1974), after her group Stone The Crows disbanded a year earlier. A wonderful singer with a distinct husky voice and great musical sensitivity, she was definitely one of the most important female vocalist on the UK scene in the 1970's. The album is excellent in every respect: the choice of material, the accompanying band and the performances are all first rate. Maggie moves freely between genres - soul, blues, rhythm & blues and even jazz. Her range and passion make every tune to come alive and she obviously has a ball singing. The overall atmosphere resembles recordings by Joe Cocker and at times also Janis Joplin. Great remastering, which brings out all the crisp sounds of the original and two live bonus tracks make this a definite worth investigating item for fans of British rhythm & blues of the 1970's.

BELL, MAGGIE ~ SUICIDE SAL

2nd album (recorded 1975) by one of the best UK female voices of the 1970's. Recorded with her regular touring band this album is much tighter and focused than the debut and with the addition of one Jimmy Page (who happened to be in the studio when this albums was recorded) adding a few guitar solos, this is her best work ever. Being as versatile as she was, she felt at ease singing heartbreaking blues ballads and up tempo rocky numbers, all done with flair and absolute dedication. As a female vocalist she had no competition on the local UK scene at the time and easily compares to the best US rhythm & blues and soul vocalists (Janice Joplin, Aretha Franklin, etc.). This is a magnificent example of the female vocal rock of the era and is definitely worth being re-discovered.

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Have Fun!


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

VARIOUS ARTISTS ~ VISIONS OF AN INNER MOUNTING APOCALYPSE

An entire generation of contemporary fusion guitar players pays tribute to their divine master - John McLaughlin and his band Mahavishnu Orchestra. This ambitious project, devised and produced by guitarist Jeff Richman, works out like a dream (a wet dream for fusion fans for sure). Ten compositions by McLaughlin, written for and performed with Mahavishnu Orchestra, are given here a new treatment. Each of the tracks features a different guitarist and the list reads like a who's who of fusion: Mike Stern, Steve Morse, Frank Gambale, David Fiuczynski, etc. The accompanying rhythm section of Vinnie Calaiuta - drums, Kai Eckhardt - bass and Mitchel Forman - keyboards is the backbone of the project and carries the load splendidly. Ex-Mahavishnu Orchestra violinist Jerry Goodman adds his magic touch on several tracks, closing the full circle, so to speak. Definitely a must for all Mahavishnu Orchestra fans and basically for all fusion fans - whatever their fusion taste may be this is much too good to be ignored.

VARIOUS ARTISTS ~ FUSION FOR MILES: A BITCHIN` BREW

This is a second project of this kind by fusion guitarist Jeff Richman, this time paying tribute to the Big Boss himself, Miles Davis. Ten compositions by Miles Davis are given a modern fusion treatment, each featuring a different guitarist. The inspiration comes of course from the electric jazz period of Miles, around "Bitches Brew", which of course featured John McLaughlin - the same man who was paid a tribute by Richman's previous project. The rhythm section this time consists of Vinnie Calaiuta - drums, Alphonso Johnson - bass and Larry Goldings - organ. Ex- Miles Davis saxophonist Dave Liebman provides the link to the original music and the featured guitarists include Mike Stern, Bill Frisell, Bill Connors, Pat Martino, Bireli Lagrene, etc. "Conventional" lovers of Miles Davis might find this treatment a bit bold, but fusion fans will definitely enjoy every minute of this.

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Have Fun!


jazzis kirjoitti noin 19 vuotta sitten+/- saldo : 0
One item added tody, which somehow slipped the net for much too long:

JETHRO TULL ~ J-TULL DOT COM

Following the brilliant "Roots And Branches", which was the first JT project to incorporate ethnic and World Music elements, Ian Anderson and Co. return in 1999 with a more conventional / rock album very much in the tradition of their work in the last 30 years. Anderson's compositions, singing and exquisite flute playing are as strong as ever and age seems to do little (if any) damage to his creative powers. The mixture of rock, jazz and folk which is so uniquely Jethro Tull remains intact, especially in view of the contributions by the veteran JT member Martin Barre on guitar. Upon its release this album was received coldly by the critics, but what do they know. It is every bit as good as many previous JT albums, which any JT fan will surely agree with. A splendid way to celebrate 30 years of superb music and close the century, with hope for many future musical wonders from one of the most musically consistent Masters.

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Club Members - please place your orders!

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Have Fun!


jazzis kirjoitti noin 19 vuotta sitten+/- saldo : 0
The last two magnificent reissues of the Moody Blues albums added today:

MOODY BLUES ~ IN SEARCH OF THE LOST CHORD (DELUXE EDITION)

3rd album (recorded 1968) in which the Moodies undertake the impossible task to follow up their previous album, which became an instant absolute classic. Very few rock groups managed to accomplish this, but they surely are one of those few. The group decided to relay on their own strength this time and did not involve an orchestra. Instead they initiated the use of the Mellotron, which proved to be an ample replacement in the hands of Mike Pinder. The melodies are as beautiful and eloquent as ever, with the group members using a wide array of instruments to enrich the sonic textures. There is of course a distinct psychedelic influence present, not surprising as the album was recorded at the peak of the psychedelic period, but the Moodies turn those influences into something uniquely their own. This new edition adds an entire CD of previously never heard material, both studio and live (BBC), which of course is a revelation, considering how long it was kept in the vault and how great it is. The new remasters are pristine and sound better than anything recorded these days. This is an absolute classic and a must in every record collection.

MOODY BLUES ~ TO OUR CHILDREN'S CHILDREN'S CHILDREN (DELUXE EDITION)

5th album (recorded 1969) and perhaps their grandest "magnum opus" of all. With layers upon layers of overdubbed instruments and vocals the resulting sound is truly monumental. Superb songwriting, as usual, produced some of the most interesting compositions the group ever recorded. Although a great artistic success, this album was perhaps a bit "before its time" for many Moody Blues fans at the time of its release. The album was released on the Moodies own record label, called "Threshold", which was created to enable them more artistic and economic freedom. This new edition adds an entire CD of previously never heard material, both studio and live (BBC), which of course is a revelation, considering how long it was kept in the vault and how great it is. The new remasters are pristine and sound better than anything recorded these days and the SACD 5.1 mix (based on the original 1972 Quadraphonic release) is stunning. This is an absolute classic and a must in every record collection.

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MANY items back in stock, including all Soleil Zeuhl albums.

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Have Fun!


jazzis kirjoitti noin 19 vuotta sitten+/- saldo : 0
One DVD added today:

ROLLING STONES ~ ROCK AND ROLL CIRCUS (EXPANDED EDITION)

This one brings on waves of acute nostalgia! Filmed in late 1968 and intended for TV broadcast during Christmas of that year, the project was allegedly shelved and screened only years later. The entire concept looks pretty weird at first glance, but fits perfectly in the Psychedelic swinging London milieu of the time. A series of top UK rock acts perform in a circus tent, with typical circus acts filling the space between songs. It is all enormous fan and the rare opportunity to see live artists like Jethro Tull, The Who, John Lennon, Eric Clapton, Taj Mahal, Marianne Faithfull and of course the Stones is something no one should miss. To make matters perfectly clear - although the entire show if full of silly little (typical British) jokes, there is more than plenty superb music here, especially the performance by The Who and the Lennon / Clapton group, as well as the Stones of course. This is a rare and exquisite document of the era and a must for all lovers of late 1960's music. This version of the DVD includes bonus material never previously available. 5.1 Surround Sound, 63 minutes.

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One more reminder about the new photo gallery now available on my site:

http://www.jazzis.com/gallery/


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Have Fun!


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

PASTORIUS, JACO ~ WORD OF MOUTH

2nd album (recorded 1980). Pastorius was one of the most tragic stars on the jazz firmament - a musical genius, whose life was wasted by a combination of mental illness and drug abuse. I am talking about a man who single-handedly re-defined the statue and the technique of the bass in jazz, a brilliant performer and immensely gifted composer and arranger. Tragically Pastorius recorded only three albums as a leader in the decade and a half he was active (all other albums are live recordings, which were never meant to be released). Following his eponymous self titled debut from 1976, he devised this album as a showcase of modern Big Band with the bass as a lead instrument. The recording involved over 70 musicians (a list of which reads like the Encyclopedia Britannica of Jazz) and was done in several studios around the world. The result is an absolutely brilliant album, which sounds as fresh today as it was when I heard it for the first time 25 years ago. Most of the material in penned by Pastorius, with the exceptions being a Beatles tune (Blackbird - one of their best) and a classical theme by Bach. There is plenty of superb solos by the participating musicians, including Pastorius himself, but the aim of the recording is not to highlight individual players but to present the Big Band as an extended instrument in the hands of the composer / arranger (very much as other famous jazz orchestras have been earlier - Duke Ellington for example). Absolutely essential!

PASTORIUS, JACO ~ INVITATION

3rd album (recorded 1983). Following the recording of his second album, Pastorius led a large ensemble during the early 1980's, which was called "Word Of Mouth" (same as the title of his second album). This album presets a live recording of the ensemble during a Japanese tour, and is considered by many as the best Pastorius recording ever. The band swings and funks superbly, the soloist (Randy Brecker, Peter Erskine, Bob Mintzer, Toots Thielemans and many others) play their hearts out and everybody seems to have a ball. This is obviously one of those "once in a lifetime" moments when everything just clicks together in a musical orgy of sounds. If there is anybody out there, who never heard this album and still considers himself a jazz fan, he is missing a large chunk of his musical education. Well I suppose it's never too late. Absolutely essential!

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I can't believe that nobody so far ordered the two Jaco Pastorius Big Band albums I posted a while back? Is it possible I'm the only one loving them?

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Have Fun!


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

PASTORIUS, JACO ~ THE BIRTHDAY CONCERT

This excellent album was recorded on December 1st, 1981 during a performance of Pastorius with the Peter Graves orchestra, in which he played for many years before joining Weather Report (see the great Jaco Pastorius Big Band albums recorded by the same orchestra). It was a celebration of Jaco's 30th birthday and he returned to his native Ft. Lauderdale, Florida to play with his old buddies. The band was strengthened by soloist (Michael Brecker, Bob Mintzer and Peter Erskine) and plays one hot streak of superb music like there is no tomorrow. This material was kept in the vaults for many years on was first released only in 1995. The sound quality is excellent for a live recording and of course the music is heavenly!

JETHRO TULL ~ NOTHING IS EASY:LIVE AT THE ISLE OF WIGHT 1970 (COLLECTORS`)

Superb document of Tull's 1970 appearance at the Isle Of Wight festival intertwined with Ian Anderson's commentary and recollections of the events filmed in 2004, which gives many wonderful and often humorous insights to the band's history. This is not only a great piece of history but also probably the best live performance by JT captured on film ever. The early JT sound and repertoire is magical enough to leave anybody breathless - seeing it in action is truly amazing. Absolutely essential to all JT fans .The Collectors' Edition includes additional audio material not available on the original DVD. DTS and Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound, 80 minutes.

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Club Members - last call for your May orders please!

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The buy 12 pay for 10 sale is still on for the Sale and One Of A Kind items - last items available!

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Have Fun!


jazzis kirjoitti noin 19 vuotta sitten+/- saldo : 0
Two superb new additions today and also some of the most sought after Prog albums ever, finally available again:

MAINHORSE ~ MAINHORSE

Only album (recorded 1970) by this Prog group, which was the first group to feature the amazing talents of the Swiss keyboards wizard Patrick Moraz. A typical early Progressive work, with plenty of great instrumental moments. Moraz composed all the music for the group. Unfortunately the group split shortly after recording this album. Moraz would of course later join Yes in their high glory days (replacing Rick Wakeman) and record the classic "Relayer" album with them. Later on he joined The Moody Blues (replacing Mike Pinder). This album remained unreleased on CD for many years and is one of the most sought after Prog rarities in history.

REFUGEE ~ REFUGEE

Only album (recorded 1974) by this classic Prog group, which at the time was views as an attempt to revive the glorious days of The Nice as it featured two ex-Nice members (Lee Jackson and Brian Davison) and was fronted by a virtuoso keyboards player - Patrick Moraz. The album is a great showcase of Patrick's abilities as a player and composer and includes two lengthy suites (17 and 18 minutes long) in the best tradition of Prog instrumental music. It is a real shame they managed to record only one album before disbanding. Moraz would of course later join Yes (and achieve international recognition) and then The Moody Blues. This album remained unavailable for many years on CD and is one of the most sought after Prog releases in history.

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Have Fun!


jazzis kirjoitti noin 19 vuotta sitten+/- saldo : 0
No new additions today, but a bunch of news I thought would be of interest:

Yesterday's new additioms of the first 2 Patrick Moraz remasters / reissues (including the legendary Refugee album) proved to be very popular, which is pretty understandable considering how long those have been unavailable. Next month there should be 4 more Moraz remasters of his solo albums - something to look forward to. There is also a new Annie Haslam DVD, which should arrive here soon. A hot summer is ahead of us.

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Some of you might have already noticed that I created a new genre in my listings called "Classic Rock". Since Pop / Rock was definitely much to broad, the classic 60's-70's stuff was moved into that category.

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I added a link to my photo Gallery on the Home Page. A lot of people seem to be enjoying these photos of Jazz musicians I took over the years.

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The Jazzis Web Shop 5th anniversary is getting closer. I am planning to celebrate it during the summer months ahead with some nice surprises for all of you.

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I remind you all again about the extremely useful new features - Waiting List and Wish List. Many of you are already using these features, and they are most helpful in planning your orders on one hand and setting priorities for my re-stocking on the other. Please use them.

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Have a wonderful weekend!

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Have Fun!


jazzis kirjoitti noin 19 vuotta sitten+/- saldo : 0
One magnificent item added today:

MARSALIS, WYNTON ~ LIVE AT THE VILLAGE WANGUARD

This magnificent Box Set presents the Wynton Marsalis Septet recorded live at the most famous Jazz Mecca in the world, the NYC Village Vanguard club on Seventh Avenue in Greenwich Village - probably the oldest Jazz club in the world and a "holy ground", where endless Jazz recordings have been made. The music was recorded between March 1990 and December 1994 and during those four and a half years the Septet was pretty stable, with just three musicians changing chairs: Eric Reed replaced Marcus Roberts on piano, Victor Goines replaced Todd Anderson on tenor and soprano saxophones / clarinet and finally Ben Wolfe replaced Reginald Veal on bass. The remaining four musicians are present on all recordings: Wynton Marsalis on trumpet, Wessell Anderson on alto saxophone, Wycliffe Gordon on trombone and Herlin Riley on drums. Wynton Marsalis is of course the most respected and adored Jazz virtuoso since the 1980's and many see him as the successor of Miles Davis in the mighty Jazz Olympus. Marsalis is the epitome of a Jazz master: well bred, well educated, extremely intelligent and outspoken, with parallel highly successful musical careers in Jazz and Classical music and a revered trumpet virtuoso. Very few musicians have such an illustrious calling card to their credit. But above all these advantages Marsalis has also an incredible understanding of the Jazz idiom - both as a scholar (on the intellectual plane) and a performer / composer (on the emotional plane). His interpretations of Jazz standards are always way beyond the primeval melody - expanded and embossed with multiple layers of additional musical threads and polyrhythmic complexity. His ensembles always include the best and most skilled (usually pretty young) players, who under his direction and leadership manage to create some of the most fascinating and well played Jazz music ever. The choice of the septet as a vehicle to create the music Marsalis wants to present here is truly masterly. Seven brilliant musicians are surely plenty to produce an endless variety of solo / duo / trio improvisations at any given moment, as well as produce almost a Big Band sound when playing in unison. Therefore an incredible range of volume and density is possible and the dynamics of the music is constantly changing. Marsalis freely spans the entire stylistic spectrum of Jazz, from New Orleans to Post Bee-Bop, with a dash of free, with the band feeling equally confident all the way through. The entire set includes over 10 hours of some of the most fascinating and moving Jazz music I personally ever encountered and my musical experience would have been so much poorer if I never listened to this marvelous set.

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jazzis kirjoitti noin 19 vuotta sitten+/- saldo : 0
Another great Box Set added today:

DAVIS, MILES ~ IN PERSON FRIDAY AND SATURDAY NIGHTS AT THE BLACKHAWK, COMPLETE

Recorded live on April 21-22, 1961, this superb Box Set presents the Miles Davis Quintet performing at the San Francisco's Blackhawk club. Miles has just lost John Coltrane as a member of his (so-called) first great Quintet, which lasted for almost five years. Coltrane's replacement, saxophonist Hank Mobley, faced an almost impossible task of filling the shoes of the departed Giant, but as these recording prove beyond any doubt, he was up to the challenge and ready and with the brilliant rhythm section consisting of Wynton Kelly on piano, Paul Chambers on bass and Jimmy Cobb on drums this particular Quintet turned out to be one of the most intense, hard-swinging and brilliant ensembles ever led by Miles. Although short-lived, it is documented on this momentous recording for posterity. When presented with great music the best thing a producer can do is to start the tape rolling and keep it rolling. This is exactly what this recording is all about - a complete record of the music as it happened during those two nights, no fiddling around, no editing, no splicing - 100 % proof great Jazz. The entire ensemble delivers an unbelievable explosion of attack and bravado, Miles plays some of his best solos ever, Mobley counter-attacks with ferocious, yet highly melodic improvisations of his own and the ever-so-elegant Kelly mixes his romantic harmonies and intense vamping behind the horns. Chambers and Cobb provide the rock solid, yet highly imaginative pulsation driving the entire ensemble like a chronometer and managing the intricate rhythm changes with precision and elegance. This is Jazz at its best - ass kicking and inspired. Thank God for the invention of the tape recorder - as I was 10 years old when this magnificent music was recorded, I would have solemnly missed this music if it was lost forever - now I can enjoy it as if it's happening right now. In the 45 years since this music was recorded, it lost absolutely nothing of its aesthetic and intellectual value; en contraire it sounds so much better when compared to the endless oceans of musical boredom surrounding us in the form of (most) contemporary musical feeble-mindedness. Absolutely essential food for the mind and soul.

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jazzis kirjoitti noin 19 vuotta sitten+/- saldo : 0
The final addition for this month is another magnificent Miles Davis Box Set:

DAVIS, MILES ~ SEVEN STEPS: THE COMPLETE COLUMBIA RECORDINGS OF MILES DAVIS 1963-1964

This is the 3rd 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. Recorded mostly live during 1963 & 1964, the music documents the so-called in transition period of Miles between his two legendary Quintets. Miles was, as always. In search of the next step he wanted to take musically and was searching for the right musicians who could accompany him in his journey. Therefore, although this set includes music performed by a constantly changing line-up, the crystallization of the second great Quintet is well documented here, with Ron Carter (bass), Tony Williams (drums), Herbie Hancock (piano) and finally Wayne Shorter (sax) gradually joined his group. All the other musicians playing with Miles here (George Coleman and Sam Rivers on sax, Victor Feldman on piano and Frank Butler on drums) were admirable of course, but somehow lacked the special chemistry Miles required from his players. The music contained here was originally released on the following albums: "Seven Steps To Heaven", "In Europe", "My Funny Valentine", "Four & More", "In Tokyo" and "In Berlin". As usual, a plethora of previously unreleased tracks and tracks released on other albums and various compilations is also included, all present in full chronological order. All of the material is painstakingly remastered and sounds superbly. Of course all this stuff is heavenly and although the musical progress here is slow, every note played by Miles is absolutely right on. There is a lot of tension in the air as Miles tests the ground for the next leap, pushing his musicians to the limit. The youngster Williams re-defines the meaning of Jazz drumming here, with more freedom and space than ever heard before, even with the parallel Free Jazz drummers. Hancock's highly evolved musicality and deep sense of melody is already quite evident and Carter's powerful and precise bass cements the entire concept together. This stuff is as essential to any Jazz lover as air and water are to his physical existence. The box packaging is as lavish and extravagantly beautiful, as all the other items in this series, with extensive liner notes, detailed discography and many superb photographs.
A special note to collectors:
The initial release of all the Miles Davis Box Sets in this reissue series is packaged in an exquisite metal-bound frame housed in a hard cardboard CD-sized slipcase. Once the initial release is sold out, the CDs are repackaged in a tall-box digipack book format. Naturally the tall-box issues have a much lower retail price tag. The initial CD-sized issues become all priceless collectors' items in time.

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Starting tomorrow, June 1st, the Jazzis Web Shop enters the period of the 5th Anniversary celebrations. Hope to see you all joining me in the effort.

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