Sunday 2 September 2018

Dizzy Gillespie - The Verve/Philips Dizzy Gillespie Small Group Sessions (1954-1964) {7CD Box Set Mosaic MCD7-234 rel 2006}


These sessions document unequivocally why Dizzy Gillespie is still considered one of the greatest improvisers in the history of jazz, for his mastery of the instrument, his command of time, his control over musical ideas, and his ability to entertain. He was blessed during this period, which spans 1954 to 1963, with stellar sidemen, unparalleled arrangements, and a surge of excitement for making music.

Various Artists - Famous Organ Music from Europe (2013) {10CD Box Set Ars Musici 233793}


The 10-CD set ‘Famous Organ Music from Europe’ presents organ music from six centuries played on famous organs in Germany, Austria, Poland, Italy, Spain, Belgium, Holland, and Transylvania. The instruments on which the pieces are played are among the greatest in existence and were built by names such as Silbermann, Schnitger, Hillebrand, and Grenzing.

The organ works featured in this collection are by celebrated organ composers like J.S. Bach, Buxtehude and Sweelink as well as lesser-known masters. The music is performed by renowned organists including Harald Vogel, Michael Radulescu, Lorenzo Ghielmi, Jozef Sluys, Christoph Bossert, Horst Gehann, Oskar Gottlieb Blarr, Jean Ferrard, Xavier Deprez, and Andreas Liebig.

Andreas Schaerer & Lucas Niggli - Arcanum (2014) {Intakt CD 232}


Just vocals and drums – that’s the line-up of the dream team of Andreas Schaerer and Lucas Niggli. Outstanding virtuosity and enormous creativity combined with the intuition of sleepwalkers, produces an astonishing sound universe full of surprises.

The imagination and ability of the two musicians to communicate and react is key to their free improvisations, which nevertheless are very precise.

The album was recorded in the legendary “Loft” club in Cologne and is a mixture of live and studio recordings. The result is music played on the first instruments of mankind – voice and drum – which is opulent and impulsive, direct and delicate.

Saturday 1 September 2018

The Turtles - The Complete Original Albums Collection (2016) {6CD Set FloEdCo MFO 48047 Official Digital Download rec 1965-70}

Judging from their radio hits, the Turtles were one of the best American pop bands of the '60s, crafting a series of engaging singles that were tuneful, witty, and fueled by a potent mix of Brill Building professionalism and knowing musical experimentation. But while one could certainly get a perspective on their genius through hits like "Happy Together," "Eleanor," "She's Rather Be with Me," and "You Baby," it was on their albums (and the B-sides of their 45s) where they let their imaginations run free and cut their wittiest and most ambitious material.