jazzis kirjoitti noin 16 vuotta sitten (13 kommenttia)

DVD

There are still a lot of Jazz albums left to be added, following the massive Jazz additions last month, but I start this month with a new Steve Hillage DVD, which is a must for his fans:

Steve Hillage – “Germany-77”

Guitarist / composer Steve Hillage is one of the most important figures of the British Progressive Rock scene. His entire 1970s / 1980s discography was recently beautifully remastered and now we can actually see some live footage of his incredible performances. Filmed for the German television this show captures the Steve Hillage Band at the peak of their powers, with Hillage on guitar, Miquette Giraudy on keyboards, Clive Bunker (Jethro Tull) on drums, Colin Bass (Camel) on bass, Christian Boulé on rhythm guitar, Phil Hodge on keyboards and Basil Brooks on keyboards and flute. This was the group’s tour following the release of “L” and some of that album’s material is included, as well as some tunes from the debut album. In addition to the splendid music, a recent (2007) interview with Steve and Miquette is also included. Brilliant stuff and an absolute must for Hillage fans.

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DVD

Here is the second new Steve Hillage DVD, which is a must for his fans:

Steve Hillage – “Live In England 1979”

Guitarist / composer Steve Hillage is one of the most important figures of the British Progressive Rock scene. His entire 1970s / 1980s discography was recently beautifully remastered and now we can actually see some live footage of his incredible performances. Filmed by British television this show captures the last version of the Steve Hillage Band, with Hillage on guitar, Miquette Giraudy on keyboards, Dave Stewart on guitar, John McKenzie on bass and Andy Anderson on drums. This was the group’s tour following the release of “Live Herald” and some of that album’s material is included, as well as some tunes from earlier albums. Three bonus tracks from concerts in Germany, filmed two years earlier, are included as bonus material. In addition to the splendid music, a recent (2006) extensive interview with Steve and Miquette is also included. Brilliant stuff and an absolute must for Hillage fans.

https://www.jazzis.com/shop/default.asp?item=102462


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CD

Today I start adding a bunch of new releases on the new reissue label Reel Recordings, which brings back to life some amazing stuff from the 1970s both previously unreleased and released at the time but long since unavailable. This is mostly quite weird stuff and covers Avant-Rock, Jazz (mostly Free) and Improvised Music – exactly the sort of music that is worth listening to:

Kevin Ayers – “Hyde Park Free Concert 1970”

After leaving the Soft Machine (of which he was a founding member) and recording the debut solo album (“Joy Of A Toy”), guitarist / singer / composer Kevin Ayers formed the Whole World band to record his second album (“Shooting At The Moon”) and support its release by touring. This live recording captures the performance of Ayers and his band at the legendary London’s Hyde Park free concert, which had on the bill the most famous bands of the time performing in front of a 100,000 strong public – a record attendance to a rock venue in UK up to that time. Pink Floyd performed their “Atom Heart Mother” suite for the first time at that concert. Ayers and his cahoots, including David Bedford on keyboards, Lol Coxhill on saxophones, Mike Oldfield on bass and Robert Wyatt on drums, storm through a bunch of Kevin’s song with vengeance, as appropriate for such eclectic gig, and the whole set is captured exactly as it happened – a true piece of rock history. Coxhill’s brilliant contributions were always my favorite part of that particular band. The sonic quality might not be perfect, but considering this was a “field recording” done 37 years ago – who gives a damn? Priceless stuff!

https://www.jazzis.com/shop/default.asp?item=102463


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CD

Here is the next new release on the new reissue label Reel Recordings, which brings back to life some amazing stuff from the 1970s both previously unreleased and released at the time but long since unavailable. This is mostly quite weird stuff and covers Avant-Rock, Jazz (mostly Free) and Improvised Music – exactly the sort of music that is worth listening to:

Ken Hyder’s Talisker – “Dreaming Of Glenisla”

Scottish drummer / composer Ken Hyder and his Talisker ensemble were one of the most interesting groups on the UK Free Jazz scene in the mid-1970s. I recall hearing their performances several times at London’s typical jazz venues and those were always most enjoyable. As Hyder states in the liner notes for this reissue, he decided to go back to his Scottish / Celtic roots after playing for years American influenced music, while overlooking their own traditional music. This amalgam of Scottish roots and melodies with the powers of Jazz improvisation creates something completely new and quite surprising. The attempt to find the unifying elements of all music, regardless of its tradition or source is exemplified here beautifully. The band, an unusual quintet, with two horns and two bass players, includes Hyder on drums with Davie Webster on alto sax, John Rangecroft on tenor sax and clarinet, Lindsay Cooper and Marc Meggido on bass. The music is mostly composed by Hyder or arranged by him based on traditional motifs. This album captures a really unusual and often sadly forgotten moment of the splendid UK Jazz scene at that time and it’s really great to have it back. Most wholeheartedly recommended!

https://www.jazzis.com/shop/default.asp?item=102464


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CD

Here is the next new release on the new reissue label Reel Recordings, which brings back to life some amazing stuff from the 1970s both previously unreleased and released at the time but long since unavailable. This is mostly quite weird stuff and covers Avant-Rock, Jazz (mostly Free) and Improvised Music – exactly the sort of music that is worth listening to:

Ray Russell – “Secret Asylum”

Guitarist / composer Ray Russell was a dominant figure on the British Jazz scene in the late 1960s / early 1970s, making numerous seminal recordings as sideman and leader in a wide variety of styles ranging from Jazz-Rock Fusion, modern Jazz and even avant-garde Free Jazz. This reissue of his classic album shows him at the extreme edge of his work in the field of Free Jazz and is a wonderful example of the genre, similar to the work done earlier by John McLaughlin with John Surman on “Where Fortune Smiles”. Accompanied by a splendid group of musicians that includes Harry Beckett on trumpet, Gary Windo on sax, Daryl Runswick on bass and Alan Rushton on drums, Russell presents a series of his compositions, which vary from contemplative pieces to group improvisation mayhem, all performed splendidly. Beckett is more prominent on the quieter pieces and Windo leads the massive “wall of sound” sections, with his incredible virtuosity. The album achieved little attention at the time of its release, but now 35 years after it was recorded, it can be really appreciated in full and in the proper historic perspective. Definitely worth checking out!

https://www.jazzis.com/shop/default.asp?item=102465


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CD

Here is the next new release on the new reissue label Reel Recordings, which brings back to life some amazing stuff from the 1970s both previously unreleased and released at the time but long since unavailable. This is mostly quite weird stuff and covers Avant-Rock, Jazz (mostly Free) and Improvised Music – exactly the sort of music that is worth listening to:

Pam & Gary Windo – “Avant Gardeners”

Saxophonist Gary Windo was one of the most prominent figures on the British Jazz scene. A brilliant player and improviser, he led his own group as well as cooperated with ensembles such as Brotherhood Of Breath, Centipede, Matching Mole and others. He also worked with many musicians associated with the Canterbury scene, like Hugh Hopper and Robert Wyatt. He played also with Pink Floyd’s drummer Nick Mason. Gary died in 1992, sadly prematurely when his immense contribution to music was cut short much before it was exhausted. This album presents Gary in a series of improvised music pieces recorded with his pianist wife Pam in a duo, trio (with Frank Perry on percussion) and quartet (with Harry Miller on bass and Louis Moholo on drums) settings. The music is a superb example of spontaneous creation, complex and demanding, but richly rewarding. Intended to Free Jazz and Improvised Music enthusiasts.

https://www.jazzis.com/shop/default.asp?item=102466


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CD

Here is the next new release on the new reissue label Reel Recordings, which brings back to life some amazing stuff from the 1970s both previously unreleased and released at the time but long since unavailable. This is mostly quite weird stuff and covers Avant-Rock, Jazz (mostly Free) and Improvised Music – exactly the sort of music that is worth listening to:

G. F. Fitz-Gerald / Lol Coxhill – “Echoes Of Duneden”

Scottish guitarist G. F. Fitz-Gerald is an avant-garde musician best known for his 1970 “Mouseproof” album. His activities span Psychedelic, Avant-Rock and Free Jazz. This album presents him in cooperation with one of the greatest British improvisers, saxophonist Lol Coxhill, performing a series of musical “conversations”. Recorded live at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and selected from hours of material, this is a most wonderful window into the intimate world of spontaneous music creation by two masters. Coxhill is at his best here, always lyrical and often strangely romantic, even at the very peak of heated improvisation. The interplay is telepathic and inspired. Not an easy listening, but a most rewarding intellectual experience. Intended for Improvised Music enthusiasts.

https://www.jazzis.com/shop/default.asp?item=102467


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CD

It’s time to return to the fantastic Vocalion label and add the rest of their catalog, which was mostly added last month. Here is the first in the new batch:

Terry Durham – “Crystal Telephone”

Writer, poet and painter Terry Durham recorded this one-off, strangely beautiful album for the Deram label and disappeared from sight. The fact that a major record label released such unusual and unconventional production proves the incredible atmosphere of the late 1960s, before the record industry became completely ruthless and unsympathetic to innovation and musical progress. The album includes a series of poems by Durham, which he recites (partly in spoken word and partly singing) on top of a magnificent musical background composed and orchestrated by John Coleman. The words and music fit one another perfectly and Durham’s poems stand the test of time beautifully. Although the full list of musicians participating in the recording is not given, a most notable, and again highly unusual appearance by Free Jazz saxophone giant Evan Parker is one of the highlights of the album. Guitarist Alan Parker also makes a notable appearance and the composer’s piano playing is featured as well. Make no mistake – this is not a Jazz album at all. In fact it’s almost impossible to categorize at all, as it transcends genres and conventions at will. For the lack of a better solution I placed it under Progressive Rock, but it belongs probably more to a non-existent Poetry and Music sub-genre (as opposed to Poetry and Jazz which is a real sub-genre). Genres aside, this is a wonderful memento of a great time, which sounds today as good as it ever did. Wholeheartedly recommended to the adventurous listeners.

https://www.jazzis.com/shop/default.asp?item=102468


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CD

Here is the next item in the new batch of Vocalion additions:

Maynard Ferguson – “M. F. Horn 2 / The Ballad Style Of Maynard Ferguson”

Like many other American Jazz artists, trumpeter / bandleader Maynard Ferguson left the US in the late 1960s for Europe, where Jazz was accepted as a legitimate Art Form and highly appreciated. European audiences were more receptive to new sounds and musical experimentation, be it Free Jazz or Jazz-Rock Fusion, and therefore an ideal refuge for many frustrated American musicians. Ferguson resided in UK between 1968 and 1972, where he was warmly received and his talent promptly recognized. He recorded four albums in UK for the CBS label, which are considered the pinnacle of his recorded legacy. This album combines two of these albums, the last and the first of his UK recordings. In spite of the differences between the two albums they both showcase Ferguson’s amazing abilities as an instrumentalist. His famous high-pitched cadenzas and screaming, soaring finales are of course legendary. “M. F. Horn 2” is an excellent Jazz-Rock Fusion album, similar to the work of American bands like Blood, Sweat & Tears and Chase or British bands like If, but rather than leading a combo, Ferguson is riding the powerful locomotive of a full-fledged big band / brass orchestra, which of course makes a huge difference to the overall sound. Conducted by Keith Mansfield, a brilliant arranger and producer, the band comprised of the absolute best British Jazz horn players at the time and sounds like a million dollars. The clever and sophisticated arrangements suit Ferguson’s abilities perfectly and the album is an absolute blast from start to finish. “The Ballad Style Of Maynard Ferguson” is a complete contrast, showcasing the trumpeter’s solos against a lushly playing orchestra, directed again by Keith Mansfield, who also arranged the music. Some Jazz fans might shrug at this music, considering it almost a Pop effort, but honestly anybody who can appreciate great trumpet performance and a superb orchestra supporting the soloist will find this certainly worth their while. Great stuff!

https://www.jazzis.com/shop/default.asp?item=102469


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CD

Here is the next item in the new batch of Vocalion additions:

Maynard Ferguson – “M. F. Horn 3 / M. F. Horn 4 & 5 - Live At Jimmy`s”

Following an almost five years long exile in the UK, trumpeter / bandleader Maynard Ferguson returned to the US in 1973. His new producer for Columbia was no other than Teo Macero, famous for his long association with Miles Davis. The album “M. F. Horn 3” was still recorded mostly in UK and featured the same incredible big band that played with Ferguson on “M. F Horn 2” and only the finishing touches were done in NY. Stylistically the album is also quite similar to its predecessor, presenting powerful version of Jazz-Rock Fusion with brass, brilliantly arranged and splendidly executed. The next album, a double recorded live in NY, was to be his ultimate recording. Fronting a great big band, which included several European players who played on his previous albums, as well as new American players, Ferguson plays brilliantly, pushing the band to unbelievable heights. The material selected for the recording is more mainstream Jazz than the distinctive Jazz-Rock Fusion predecessors, but the high energy and dominant rhythm section create a special blend, which is quite different from traditional American big band music. This was Ferguson’s finest hour and his future attempts to capture wider audiences by performing covers of popular hits were sadly forgettable. This stuff is it – sheer genius at work and a must for any big band enthusiast.

https://www.jazzis.com/shop/default.asp?item=102470


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A short break in the new batch of Vocalion additions to introduce a couple of albums on the splendid Hux label and especially this new release, which brings to life an album hoped would be released for years:

Harold McNair – “The Fence”

Saxophonist / flautist / composer Harold McNair has been one of the greatest (and sadly unsung) heroes of the British Jazz scene. A brilliant instrumentalist he was one of the busiest studio musicians and took part in countless recording sessions, including those by famous Rock acts. He was a permanent member of Donovan’s group and recorded many albums with him. Of course he was also active on the Jazz scene, both as a leader and sideman. He recorded several albums, of which this is the last released while he was still alive, shortly before his life was tragically cut short by lung cancer at a ridiculously young age. His last eponymous album was released posthumously. This beautiful album was recorded with Harold’s musician friends and admirers, all great stars and Jazz heroes themselves: Keith Tippett and Alan Branscombe on piano, Colin Green on guitar, Rick Grech and Danny Thompson on bass and Terry Cox and Tony Carr on drums. Harold plays saxes and flute – my preferred instrument in his hands. The music has a slight Caribbean feel, and includes one original composition by Harold. It’s difficult for me to shed the nostalgic attachment to this album, as Harold has been one of my favorite musicians for a very time, but I think the albums stands the test of time beautifully and should be enjoyed by most Jazz loving people around the globe. Bliss!

https://www.jazzis.com/shop/default.asp?item=102471


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Back to the new batch of Vocalion additions, which are just phenomenal:

John Surman – “How Many Clouds Can You See?”

2nd solo release by saxophonist / composer John Surman and one of the most pivotal recordings of the era, which defines modern British Jazz. If Surman was still searching for a clear direction on his debut album, recorded just a year earlier, he surely found it here. This is phenomenal music, from start to finish. The basis of the group that recorded this album is Surman’s quartet with Surman on baritone and soprano sax and bass clarinet, John Taylor on piano, Barre Phillips on bass and Tony Oxley on drums. On two tracks the lineup is expanded with the addition of other great players like Harold Beckett on trumpet, Mike Osborne, John Warren and Alan Skidmore on saxophones and Chris Pyne and Malcolm Griffiths on trombone and a few others. Surman’s previous rhythm section with Harry Miller on bass and Alan Jackson on drums is present on one track. The music was all composed by Surman except one track, which was composed by his collaborator, also baritone saxophonist John Warren (see their album together “Tales Of The Algonquin”). In short, this is one of the greatest recordings of the modern British Jazz formative years and a must in any serious record collection.

https://www.jazzis.com/shop/default.asp?item=102472


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Here is the next addition from the new batch of Vocalion additions, which are just phenomenal:

Alan Skidmore – “Once Upon A Time…”

The title of the debut album by saxophonist / composer Alan Skidmore is indeed appropriate for the occasion, as this is a recording of such beauty and excellence, that is happens extremely rarely. Alan, son of veteran British Jazz figure Jimmy Skidmore, earned his own reputation by storming the modern British Jazz in the late 1960s. He participated in numerous pivotal recordings as sideman, and his debut turned out to be just it – the absolutely perfect example of what was happening at the time. If I had to select just one album, which represents the British scene at that time, this would be it. Skidmore on tenor sax leads a perfect quintet with Kenny Wheeler on trumpet, John Taylor on piano, Harry Miller on bass and Tony Oxley on drums (yes they were John Surman’s rhythm section as well). Of the six exquisite compositions present, two are by John Surman, and the rest by Tony Oxley, John Warren, John Taylor and Alan Skidmore, each contributing one composition. Whatever I’ll say here does not come even close to listening to this music, so do yourself a favor and grab a copy – this is something I’ve been listening to for almost 40 years and it still grabs me each and every time, so it must be really special. Essential stuff!

https://www.jazzis.com/shop/default.asp?item=102473


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I've been asked to stop posting my news here, as it is considered "spam".

So this is my last post.

I thank all the people who read my stuff and wrote to me.

I wish everybody good luck and all the best,

Bye!