CD-Charts Position 181
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Let Freedom Ring

CD-Charts > Music > Avant-garde
by: Jackie McLean

Release Date September 08, 2003
Even in the pantheon of great Blue Note albums, this is very good indeed. The opening "Melody for Melonae" sets the tone - a mournful opening section before the alto saxophonist unleashes chorus after blistering chorus prompted by a "pedal" from the bassist. Drummer Billy Higgins rattles away behind his kit as McLean soars majestically - the result sounding like something an Atlantic-era Ornette Coleman would have played had he had been a Hard Bopper. After a reprise of the second theme, pianist Walter Davis is released from his box as if he had never been allowed to solo before and matches his leader with a couple of choruses that sound like un angular Bud Powell. Both the pianist and bassist Herbie Lewis are little known to me (although I ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 182
Average Rating:

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Sun Bear Concerts: Piano Solo/Kyoto/Osaka/Tokyo/Sapporo November 1976

CD-Charts > Music > Avant-garde
by: Keith Jarrett

Release Date October 15, 1990
I first heard this 10 LP set of his Japanese tour way back in 1984 (still many years after it was released), whilst staying with a friend in Germany. I hunted and hunted but not until 1990 did I manage to find the 6 CDs, which are excellent quality despite being over 30 years old, now, and I indulged myself the £60 at the time without any hesitation.

I was initially blown away by the first dozen melodic minutes or so of part 1 of Kyoto and this remains one of my most played tracks.

However, of all the pieces, there is one (mere) 5 minute 'movement' on Sapporo pt1 (and a similar bit on pt 2) that I would have to class as THE most unbelievably beautiful (harmonic and melodic) piano piece I have heard by any performer ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 183
Average Rating:

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Compulsion

CD-Charts > Music > Avant-garde
by: Andrew Hill

Release Date April 16, 2007
Any album with five exclamation marks !!!!! after the title promises something out of the ordinary and this definitely delivers.

The key element to this album is the presence of two percussionists in addition to Joe Chamber's drums but rather than giving the music a funky feel it sounds almost tribal. Hill's own playing adds to the very dense sound.

The chance to hear John Gilmore away from Sun Ra is what made me buy this record and I wasn't disappointed. He is often cited as an influence on John Coltrane and you can certainly hear the similarities and although Gilmore has a harsher, tighter tone he's the equal in power. Freddie Hubbard as always sounds great but I'm not sure if he's as connected to what the other musicians are ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 184
Average Rating:

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Prime Directive

CD-Charts > Music > Avant-garde
by: Dave Holland

Release Date October 18, 1999
First and foremost, this a superlative group, one of the greats. Not since Mingus' early groups, with Horace Parlan, and his last group, with George Adams, have I enjoyed small group jazz so much. I am not going to count all the others that come to mind as soon as one says that, but I think Dave Holland deserves every accolade. His playing is exemplary. I don't like bass solos, except for Mingus', and I hardly ever pick out the instrument to listen to in a group, unless it jars, except that is for Buster Williams. Dave Holland is not only a great soloist, but knows what a bassist can do, where he can take a group musically without becoming overbearing.

In my opinion he is also a great leader. Not only due to his choice of sidemen and instrumentation, ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 185
Average Rating:

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Complete Cole Porter Songbook [European Import]

CD-Charts > Music > Avant-garde
by: Various Artists

Release Date October 01, 1999
First and foremost, this a superlative group, one of the greats. Not since Mingus' early groups, with Horace Parlan, and his last group, with George Adams, have I enjoyed small group jazz so much. I am not going to count all the others that come to mind as soon as one says that, but I think Dave Holland deserves every accolade. His playing is exemplary. I don't like bass solos, except for Mingus', and I hardly ever pick out the instrument to listen to in a group, unless it jars, except that is for Buster Williams. Dave Holland is not only a great soloist, but knows what a bassist can do, where he can take a group musically without becoming overbearing.

In my opinion he is also a great leader. Not only due to his choice of sidemen and instrumentation, ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 186
Average Rating:

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Goodbye

CD-Charts > Music > Avant-garde
by: Bobo Stenson, Anders Jormin, Paul Motian

Release Date September 26, 2005
First and foremost, this a superlative group, one of the greats. Not since Mingus' early groups, with Horace Parlan, and his last group, with George Adams, have I enjoyed small group jazz so much. I am not going to count all the others that come to mind as soon as one says that, but I think Dave Holland deserves every accolade. His playing is exemplary. I don't like bass solos, except for Mingus', and I hardly ever pick out the instrument to listen to in a group, unless it jars, except that is for Buster Williams. Dave Holland is not only a great soloist, but knows what a bassist can do, where he can take a group musically without becoming overbearing.

In my opinion he is also a great leader. Not only due to his choice of sidemen and instrumentation, ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 187
Average Rating:

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Floratone

CD-Charts > Music > Avant-garde
by: Floratone

Release Date August 13, 2007
This is sparklingly terrific "dub jazz", for want of a better descriptor; not unlike Panthalassa, the Bill Laswell remixes of Miles Davis' eclectic, electric 1969-74 period. Bits of Americana creep through in the guitar, textures are rich and rewarding, especially through headphones. A production rather than a performance, I suppose. Thoroughly recommended.

CD-Charts Position 188
Average Rating:

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Live in Tokyo

CD-Charts > Music > Avant-garde
by: Brad Mehldau

Release Date November 01, 2004
I received this CD from Amazon today. I'm listening to Someone To Watch Over Me right at this instant, and it's just awesome how this man is so in control of everything and yet so imaginative at the same time. There are echoes of other jazz pianists here but this is definitely a unique voice. And such a lot of space around the music, too.

CD-Charts Position 189
Average Rating:

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The Intercontinentals

CD-Charts > Music > Avant-garde
by: Bill Frisell

Release Date April 14, 2003
Oh,dear . Although Bill Frisell is my all-time favourite jazz musician, there is little in this effort that merits the praise heeped upon it by the other reviewers and is, in my opinion, the weakest effort he has produced. The Bill Frisell of such classic albums as "Is that you?", "Quartet", "Ghost Town" and "Nashville" seems a long time ago.
Joined by fellow guitarists from South America, Greece and Africa, as well as fellow American Greg Leisz, Frisell's ability to craft instantly memorable tunes appeared to have deserted him in this instance. Whatever you want to call the music, there is very little jazz here and what emerges is a blur of strings from which even Bill seems unable to extrocate himself.
With the exception of "Good old people" and "Eli", ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 190
Average Rating:

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Stranger Than Fiction

CD-Charts > Music > Avant-garde
by: John Surman

Release Date September 19, 1994
Oh,dear . Although Bill Frisell is my all-time favourite jazz musician, there is little in this effort that merits the praise heeped upon it by the other reviewers and is, in my opinion, the weakest effort he has produced. The Bill Frisell of such classic albums as "Is that you?", "Quartet", "Ghost Town" and "Nashville" seems a long time ago.
Joined by fellow guitarists from South America, Greece and Africa, as well as fellow American Greg Leisz, Frisell's ability to craft instantly memorable tunes appeared to have deserted him in this instance. Whatever you want to call the music, there is very little jazz here and what emerges is a blur of strings from which even Bill seems unable to extrocate himself.
With the exception of "Good old people" and "Eli", ... Read More: