”Folk Mond & Flower Dream” by the Albert Mangelsdorff Quintet on CBS S 63162

2 Comments

”Folk Mond & Flower Dream” by the Albert Mangelsdorff Quintet on CBS S 63162

Will have to dive deeper into Magelsdorffs’ catalogue.

Absolutely brilliant album by German trombonist Mangelsdorff and his quintet consisting of an all German lineup. The whole band is smokin’. Recorded and released in 1967. It’s so good that I’d like to say that this is probably my favorite album that I’ve found so far this year. 

I guess that Mangelsdorff was mainly a free jazz player (I’m not acquainted yet with his output), but the music on this album is not free jazz. It incorporates elements of several different styles, which makes it very compelling. Lots of lyrical statements are present and it’s composed. It’s more post-bop for me with touches of the avant-garde.

Anyhow, this is some lovely moody music and you should check it out if you’re unfamiliar. Highly recommended.

2 Comments

"Thoughts" by the Leszek Zadlo Quartett on Ego 4003

Comment

"Thoughts" by the Leszek Zadlo Quartett on Ego 4003

Lovely and scarce.

Lovely avant-garde/post bop effort from Polish saxophonist and flautist Leszek Zadlo. Great sax player playing with high intensity and a beautiful, full tone on his tenor. I dig the whole band a lot. We have Joe Haider on piano, Isla Eckinger on double bass and Joe Nay on drums. They play very tight and produces a thick, steady backdrop for Zadlo to improvise over. The sound is great. Quite bass-heavy which is something I enjoy.

This title seem quite scarce. The cover often has lamination issues which is the case on my copy as well. No matter, it’s old and I can live with that.

Comment

”Divine Revelation” by the Andrew Hill Quartet on Steeplechase SCS-1044

2 Comments

”Divine Revelation” by the Andrew Hill Quartet on Steeplechase SCS-1044

The Danish Steeplechase label conveys many treats. I bought several titles on this label when I first started collecting. Now I’ve rediscovered how great their catalogue is. I acquired this one, recorded in 1975, last week in a local store. Really enjoying it as I’m now listening to it for the first time.

We have Hill, who is a favorite since way back, on piano playing in a quartet format, together with Jimmy Vass on soprano, alto and flute, Chris White on double bass and Fender bass and also Leroy Williams on drums.

Vass really kills it on the soprano sax, which has become one of my favorite instruments in jazz. The two other cats are wonderful players as well. Hadn’t heard of these guys from what I can remember before this album, which seems to be a reoccurring theme for me since I started to explore 70’s and 80’s jazz. And that’s a good thing.

Favorite picks from listening to the album once is ”East 9th Street”,  the fantastic title track ”Divine Revelation”, which stretches over the entire second side and ”July 10th”, which was the recording date.

This album was love at first listen. Even after just one listen this has to be one of my favorite Hill albums. Highly recommended.

2 Comments

”Reflectativity” by New Dalta Ahkri (Wadada Leo Smith) on Kabell K-2

Comment

”Reflectativity” by New Dalta Ahkri (Wadada Leo Smith) on Kabell K-2

Time to reflect…

Mississippi-born trumpeter and composer Wadada Leo Smith is a true artist. Haven’t explored his output fully yet, but this title is lovely. Plenty of sparseness present here and you anticipate Smith’s every note with excitement. They are quite few and far between but are chosen with imagination, expression and a deep reflective nature. It’s a beautiful journey to listen to the two tunes that comprise the album. For me, it’s an album to put on when I feel the need to get something different out of music. Something more reflective and contemplative.

Leo Smith plays trumpet, flugelhorn, piccolo trumpet, indian and bamboo flutes and percussion. Then we have Anthony Davis on piano and Wes Brown on double bass and Ghanaian flute.

The album was recorded live at The Educational Center for the Arts in New Haven, Connecticut in November of 1974. It was released on Smith’s own Kabell label.

Comment

"Live at Slugs' Volume II" by Charles Tolliver Music Inc on Strata-East SES-19720

2 Comments

"Live at Slugs' Volume II" by Charles Tolliver Music Inc on Strata-East SES-19720

Essential Music Inc.

Another Music Inc album with Charles Tolliver at the helm. This one was recorded live at Slugs’ Saloon situated in the East Village, Manhattan, New York on May 1, 1970. Fantastic music from Tolliver and company as usual. This is the second volume and I’m also looking for Vol.1.

Love the ferocious ”Out Second Father”, penned by Tolliver, dedicated to the memory of John Coltrane. Tolliver plays absolutely brilliant  on this tune. It’s also featured live on the ”Live at Loosdrecht” album, also on Strata-East, which I posted back in October of last year.

The personell on this date is Tolliver on trumpet, Stanley Cowell on piano, Cecil McBee on double bass and Jimmy Hopps on drums.

This original LP came in a beautiful gatefold cover, which features a lovely photograph of the band inside.

Essential.

2 Comments

"Beyond the Rain" by Chico Freeman on Contemporary S7640

Comment

"Beyond the Rain" by Chico Freeman on Contemporary S7640

A treat from Chico.

This a terrific album by Chico Freeman from his early career, featuring Elvin Jones. Recorded in 1977 and released 1978. The album kicks off with ”Two Over One”, which is my favorite out of the five quite varied tunes. Freeman impresses with his wonderful tone, technique and lyricism. He’s slowly growing into a favorite for me. I am continuing to explore his work and hoping to add more LP’s of his to the collection.

Bought this title today along with four others in a local store. Been diggin’ around a bit in stores the last year or so, which has been quite rare historically for me, but is so much fun. And the supply of great stuff is really good in Stockholm.

Comment

"Now Is The Time" by Idrees Sulieman on Steeplechase SCS-1052

2 Comments

"Now Is The Time" by Idrees Sulieman on Steeplechase SCS-1052

Fine hard bop from the mid 70’s.

In between all the modal and avant-garde stuff I’ve been listening to lately it’s quite nice to put on a more straight ahead hard bop date, like this newly acquired Idrees Sulieman title on the wonderful Steeplechase label. Recorded on the 16th and 17th of February in 1976, and I was born on the 15th of February of that year, so a day after they started to record this, which is quite cool.

I haven’t got much of Sulieman’s work in the collection but he was a great trumpeter and this album is a testament to that. He’s got a really great band backing him as well in Cedar Walton, Sam Jones and Billy Higgins.

I really enjoy this one and you probably will too if you appreciate classic hard bop, albeit recorded on the mid 70’s. Recommended!

2 Comments

"It's Not Up To Us" by Byard Lancaster on Vortex 2003

Comment

"It's Not Up To Us" by Byard Lancaster on Vortex 2003

Amazingly diverse effort by Lancaster.

Love Lancaster. His stuff on Palm is great (very expensive though) and ”Exodus” on Philly Jazz. This one on Vortex is his debut. It’s a beautiful album with Lancaster playing both alto and flute. Love the change between these two instruments on each track. The session produced a very diverse set of tunes, each with it’s own special mood. Still, for some reason it feels cohesive to me.

The personell backing Lancaster are Sonny Sharrock on guitar, Jerome Hunter on bass, Eeic Gravatt on drums and Kenny Speller on congas.

Favorite picks are Sharrock’s spiritualistic ”John’s Children”, Lancaster’s take on Harold Arlen’s classic ”Over the Rainbow” and the beautifully dark ”Satan” where Sharrock’s guitar and Hunter’s bowed bass delivers the goods.

Highly recommended.

Comment

"Impressions" by Three Motions with soloists from Chicago, New York and Vienna on Kovarik's Musikothek R.A.U. 1010

2 Comments

"Impressions" by Three Motions with soloists from Chicago, New York and Vienna on Kovarik's Musikothek R.A.U. 1010

Magnificent stuff.

Fantastic avant-garde album that is quite accessible, recorded live in 1978 at the First International Music Workshop in the Town Hall in Krems, Austria. The concert features Anthony Braxton and Clifford Thornton among others.

The music is very dynamic with plenty of interesting passages, and the group improvisation is absolutely sublime. Lots of different instruments are featured. We have tenor, alto and soprano sax, trumpet, violin, electric piano, arabian flute, E-flat clarinet, drums, percussion and double bass.

The first side consists of two numbers which features the full band minus Thornton. Brilliant stuff that I feel is accessible even in the most fiery parts. Coltrane’s ”Impressions” kicks things off and it’s outstanding.

On the second side we have just a trio with Braxton (alto), Thornton (trumpet) and Muhammad Malli (soprano). It’s a lenghty, masterful exercise in horn improvisation. Highly enjoyable and engaging during the full 25 minutes.

The cover painting was created by Muhammad Malli.

If you appreciate the avant-garde then this is probably something you’ll enjoy a lot. It’s a clear favorite in the more adventurous part of my collection.

2 Comments

"Some More Changes" by Changes on Ego 4022

Comment

"Some More Changes" by Changes on Ego 4022

German jazz under the radar.

Enjoyable effort from German jazz group Changes. A modal/post bop album with some really good tunes. This group was one of the leading outfits on the German jazz scene in the late 70’s and early 80’s. 

The musicianship is great and I like trumpeter Uli Beckerhoff in particular. Great player. I also dig his two compositions on the second side a lot. Wolfgang Engstfeld on soprano and tenor sax is a wonderful player as well. The rhythm section consists of Ed Kröger in piano, Detlef Beier on double bass and Peter Weiss on drums and they lay a solid foundation as well as contributing to some really tasteful interplay between each other and both soloists.

Favorite pick is probably Beckerhoff’s ”Yaiza”, the last tune on the second side on which Engstfeld plays a beautiful soprano solo. Beckerhoff lays down a wonderful trumpet statement as well.

Under the radar for sure, but worth checking out.

Comment

"Spirit Sensitive" by Chico Freeman on India Navigation IN 1045

2 Comments

"Spirit Sensitive" by Chico Freeman on India Navigation IN 1045

Chico showing his sensitive side.

This title on India Navigation was in that package with several albums I mentioned in a previous post being lost for several months. The package remains lost. This copy is another one from that local store I’ve mentioned, and when I saw it I just had to grab it, cause who knows if that package will turn up. I would guess it won’t so now I have at least secured this one which I’m very happy about.

Been after this one for a while. It’s a lovely serene album, recorded between 1978 and 1979, with Freeman really nailing his most lyrical approach to a tee. The set consists of mostly standards. It’s beautiful music. And the band backing him adds their magic to the proceedings. We find the outstanding Cecil McBee on double bass, John Hicks on piano, Billy Hart and Famoudou Don Moye on drums.

Chico Freeman was a superb tenor player and there are plenty of titles of his I’m aiming to acquire. There are several others also on India Navigation for example. He was definitely more adventurous during his career than on ”Spirit Sensitive”, but I think it’s a great album and it shows that he could masterfully connect with the older guard of musicians and celebrate the lyrical side of jazz.

2 Comments

"Compassion" by Charles Tolliver Music Inc on Strata-East SES 8001

Comment

"Compassion" by Charles Tolliver Music Inc on Strata-East SES 8001

Anything with Tolliver on it is worth getting.

Another find from that previously unknown (to me) local store. Tolliver is always dope and I’m aiming to collect much more of his stuff. Got another one by him on it’s way as well. This album is a real treat. Post bop at is finest. An unusual combination of only trumpet and guitar besides the bass and drums creates a wonderful sound. It’s delicate and detailed. The musicians are Tolliver on trumpet, Nathan Page on guitar, Steve Novosel on double bass and Alvin Queen on drums.

We have four cuts, three of them are of the longer format which is always a plus for me. Favorite pick is the title track, which clocks in at almost 11 minutes. The closing ballad ”Truth” is amazing as well. The session was recorded in 1977. All compositions are by Tolliver.

Have some packages on their way to me next week with some very good stuff, so stay tuned.

Comment

"Witchdoctor's Son" by Johnny Dyani with John Tchicai and Dudu Pukwana on SteepleChase SCS 1098

Comment

"Witchdoctor's Son" by Johnny Dyani with John Tchicai and Dudu Pukwana on SteepleChase SCS 1098

A great title on the SteepleChase label.

Fantastic title by Johnny Dyani with John Tchicai and Dudu Pukwana. The music is so full of life and joy. The style is a mix of different stuff. It’s very rhythmic and I think of African rhythms in particular at different points. We also have some sporadic vocals present on a couple of tunes, which is a rare occurrence on records in my collection.

Found this one and a couple of other gems in a local store which I hadn’t heard of before actually. So satisfying to buy something in a physical store rather than online, which I’ve been doing a lot through the years.

I’ve been getting in some albums on SteepleChase which is a lovely label based in Denmark. So much great stuff to discover in their catalogue. I have several albums on that label dating back to when I first started buying jazz vinyl. Will have to browse through my collection and see what pressings I have. Haven’t played them for a very long time.

Anyway, highly recommended album which is a bit different to the rest of the stuff I have.

Comment

"Bordercrossing" by the Mike Osborne Trio on Ogun OG 300

Comment

"Bordercrossing" by the Mike Osborne Trio on Ogun OG 300

Top notch avant-garde trio.

Live album by English altoist Mike Osborne recorded in 1974 at the Peanuts Club in London. The piano-less trio format is always appealing to me with just a single horn. Really dig the sound and feeling of that kind of a stripped down setting. It’s way more primitive than having a piano in there, and I love that.

The music is avant-garde. It’s a lovely album and another one picked up at a store before I had heard it. I think I should do this more often. It’s very exciting when you take a chance and the music turns out to be great.

Osborne, who I haven’t listen to before, was a wonderful player. Really technically gifted and plays quite fiery, incorporating fast runs that produces lots of energy. I need to take a deep dive into his catalogue I reckon.

The cats backing Osborne in the trio are Harry Miller on double bass and Louise Moholo on drums. Both from South Africa. I mentioned them some time ago as well when I posted the Brötzmann album ”Opened, But Hardly Touched”. Great pair of musicians who played very well together.

The album was released on the Ogun label, which was founded 1973 in London by Miller and his wife Hazel, together with sound engineer Keith Beal. Will have to check that out to see if I can find any more good stuff.

Comment

”Endangered Species” by Hamiet Bluiett on India Navigation IN 1025

2 Comments

”Endangered Species” by Hamiet Bluiett on India Navigation IN 1025

An avant-garde treat.

Blind buy here on India Navigation. Very seldom do I take a chance on an artist or album I haven’t listen to before when visiting a record store. I’m happy I did cause this album is lovely. It’s the debut by baritonist Hamiet Bluiett. He was a multi-instrumentalist and besides his primary instrument he also played the bass saxophone, E-flat alto clarinet, E-flat contra-alto clarinet, and wooden flute.

The music here has both spiritual and avant-garde elements. It’s a live recording from 1976 at The Ladies’ Fort in New York. The cats playing with Bluiett are Jumma Santos on balafon, Junie Booth on double bass, Olu Dara on trumpet and Phillip Wilson on drums. All are new to me. Dara on trumpet is superb. So cool to discover these wonderful artists that are definitely not household names in jazz. At least not for me.

My explorations into the 70’s and 80’s continues and I must say I haven’t had this much fun collecting as I do now, and the journey hasn’t been quite this rewarding, on so many levels, than it is at this moment.

2 Comments

"Year Of The Iron Sheep" by Ken McIntyre on United Artists UAJS 15015

2 Comments

"Year Of The Iron Sheep" by Ken McIntyre on United Artists UAJS 15015

My first McIntyre title.

The opportunity to open a sealed album from the early 60’s is a rare occasion. This one was still in it’s original loose plastic sleeve. It’s an original 1st stereo pressing, with the Plastylite ”P” in the dead wax on both sides.

Didn’t have any titles by multi-instrumentalist Ken McIntyre in the collection before this one. Haven’t explored his stuff much. He was a great player. Very accomplished on both alto and flute, which he plays on this session.

The music is beautiful. McIntyre is backed by three different groups. Some of the players include Jaki Byard, Ahmed Abdul-Malik, Ron Carter and Louis Hayes.

The album was named after McIntyre’s birth year in the Tibetan calendar. Love the music, love the cover art and it’s matte surface, it’s all good.

2 Comments

"Ballads" by Paul Bley on ECM 1010

Comment

"Ballads" by Paul Bley on ECM 1010

Early ECM title with a Paul Bley trio.

Meditative and suggestive session featuring a piano trio led by Paul Bley, recorded in 1967 and released 1971. We also have Gary Peacock (side 1) and Mark Levinson (side 2) on double bass and Barry Altschul on drums.

The music here is sparse and for me creates an emotion or feeling that is never resolved. Instead it’s fleeting and searching, It’s music to reflect upon. All the tunes are written by Annette Peacock.

Comment

"Katzenvilla" by Joe Haider on Spiegelei 28 772-2 U

Comment

"Katzenvilla" by Joe Haider on Spiegelei 28 772-2 U

A new discovery.

Lovely post-bop piano trio led by Joe Haider recorded in Germany in 1971, which also features Isla Eckinger on double bass and Pierre Favre on drums. 

This is good example where new artists comes into view when you explore a lot and you find great stuff that you’ve never heard of before. There is a lot of wonderful music to be found and enjoyed coming from European labels/musicians and also American artists recording in Europe during the 70’s and 80’s. It’s a very rewarding journey exploring outside of the classic labels and eras of the 50’s and 60’s for sure.

Check this one out.

Comment

"Up Popped The Devil" by Mal Waldron on Enja 2034

2 Comments

"Up Popped The Devil" by Mal Waldron on Enja 2034

Beautiful stuff by a true genius.

Here is a trio masterpiece from one of my favorite pianists in jazz. I love Maldrons dark flavored and rhythmically distinct playing. It’s truly unique. I’m loving his later career and this title is just one of many outstanding sessions from that period. Not entirely easy to find his Enja recordings. Glad to have acquired this superb sounding copy. 

Waldron is joined by two top side men in Reggie Workman and Billy Higgins on this session. Also, on the second tune of side 1 we have Carla Poole joining in on flute, which really adds something extra. Wonderful flautist.

The album consists of four lenghty Waldron originals. The interplay between the members is brilliant. Everything feels interconnected and executed in a sensitive and thoughtful way. Quite explorative at times which I love. What I really dig in Waldrons later work is his choice of chords in the lower bass register of the piano and his rhythmically potent style, together with his repetitive notes and passages. It’s quite meditative and soothing to listen to his playing, and all the while it’s edgy and keeps you engaged and attentive to his every note. Not many pianists in jazz has that affect on me.

It’s a new year, hopefully full of new discoveries.

2 Comments

The Woody Shaw Concert Ensemble at the Berliner Jazztage on Muse MR 5139

2 Comments

The Woody Shaw Concert Ensemble at the Berliner Jazztage on Muse MR 5139

Woody Shaw is always a great treat.

Lovely Shaw title on Muse recorded live in Berlin in 1976. It features a great group with Louis Hayes and Frank Foster among others. René McLean, Jackie Mac’s son, is also featured which is quite cool. Didn’t know he had a son who was a musician.

The music is some awesome post bop with top playing by all involved. Woody Shaw was such an amazing artist and he is definitely on my top 5 list of favorite trumpeters now. Since I started to explore his work I’ve really felt I’ve been missing out in the past. Better late than never, right?

2 Comments