Free Jazz Music

Just happened to listen to this right after "Four for Trane". A stark contrast to that CD, this REALLY IS a series of ballads performed beautifully by Mr. Shepp and his band. The feel of this album is what one would expect from a "ballads" compilation, but there is no lack of inspiration. The whole band remains focused throughout, and they put enormous effort into every phrase.

Highly recommended.

Just happened to listen to this right after "Four for Trane". A stark contrast to that CD, this REALLY IS a series of ballads performed beautifully by Mr. Shepp and his band. The feel of this album is what one would expect from a "ballads" compilation, but there is no lack of inspiration. The whole band remains focused throughout, and they put enormous effort into every phrase.

Highly recommended.

This was part of a series of recordings by the same quartet in the late 80's at a single set of sessions. Each has a slightly different mood or agenda. In this case, it is fairly obvious what the agenda is. This is a georgeous set of songs, slow and beautiful. But there is never a dull moment. The songs are lush, but full of interest and activity and interplay. By the same band at the same sessions, also check out "Deep River" , "Spirituals". "Lovers", and "Tenors". All worth getting.

In the 1970s and 1980s I bought most of the ECM catalog as albums were released. This was the first one I actually hated. I also hated Jan Garbarek's "Afric Pepperbird" but was already a Garbarek fan from "Dansere" and "Witchi-Tai-To" and if I had listened to "Afric Pepperbird" first, I might never have bought other Garbarek albums, as I have never purchased another Stanko recording. It is common to comment on a trumpet player's technique, but Stanko has none upon which to comment. For reference, my preferred trumpeters are Kenny Wheeler and Roy Hargrove.

i don't know what happened to the reviewer that gave this masterpiece a 1 star rating. But here i come to the rescue. This is by far one of Stankos best cds for its inventiveness and great compositions. But do not take my word for it. just listen to the samples. The great dave holland plays here and does an incredible job at keeping things under control, and in a way saves it from being just one more'free-jazz style' cd. Highly recommended to those searching for surprises.

I say Tomasz Stanko is great trumpeter. He's far different from nice and smooth players. He's got style. Not easy but for sure worth a discovering. Just listen to this record. Stanko's trumpet goes in waves... dies and gets back to live... and again. Dirty. Roughly. Sometimes nervous, sometimes sadly. And tells hell of a stories. This album is good way to learn a darker side of Stanko. It's sure good.

BALLS is an excellent example of early European free improvisation. It was one of the first releases on the legendary German FMP label (Free Music Production), and was the first recording by the Brotzmann/Van Hove/Bennink trio, which continued to play together throughout the 1970s. It was a true trio, not just a vehicle for Peter Brotzmann -- Fred Van Hove's blend of avant and tonal pop piano and Han Bennink's wild percussion, vocals and the periodic blasting on shells and horns play an equal role in the group's sound.

Recorded and released in 1970, the original BALLS featured two tracks by Brotz on Side 1, and one track each by Van Hove and Bennink on Side 2. The CD reissue also includes two group improvisations ("Untitled 1 and 2"), which adds 14 minutes of music for a total of 55 minutes. This release on Atavistic Records, in its Unheard Music Series, special subcategory Archive FMP Edition, includes the original album art, and the disc itself is a duplicate of the original FMP vinyl edition (Side 1!). The insert folds out to a replica of a poster, with four photos of the trio in action, and in big letters -- FREE ACTION!

This set makes a great pair with the 1969 NIPPLES (see my 6/15/00 review), featuring a sextet more similar to the octet on MACHINE GUN -- it's also available from Atavistic/FMP Edition. And you might even feel like MORE NIPPLES, a more recent discovery, sessions that were never heard at all until 2003. You can hear the same trio on the disc simply called FMP 0130, the name used by devotees for all these years waiting for the little plastic disc, which finally appeared last year. What makes FMP 0130 unique is that it features very short pieces, for the most part, and lots of Bennink's wild humor. It's a sort of dada circus music, and quite different from anything else I've heard Brotz play. This one, BALLS, is more typical -- extended improvisations with minimal vocals or zaniness.