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SQUARE GROOVE - Various Artists
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CAT.
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CS-05
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Rare Jazz/Fusion Gems From Russian
Vaults vol. 2
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LP
/ CD
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£8.50 + VAT
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£8.50 + VAT |
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Everyone that knows me would be surprised that I
am putting out an 80's compilation knowing how deeply I am into 60's
and 70's sound. Fortunately that 70's sound has been preserved in
Russia till late 80's and here are a lot of examples. My favorite
Russian tune ever "Ekstraversija" is the only one on this compilation
actually recorded in 70's. All others are from the 80's and all
are recorded in Russia and released on MELODIJA label.
It
was always difficult for me to point out my favorite tune but in this
case I had no doubt. It was EKSTRAVERSIJA by EGIL
STRAUME JAZZ COMBO. Strong latin rhythms, with amazing,
pwerful M. Briezhkalns on drums. Nice main theme and brilliant
solos especially by I. Birkans on flute. BOOMERANG
is heading in a different direction that I would call deep spiritual
fusion. DERVISH is where East meets West. DANCE OF THE BEES by DUSTAR BAND is a standard Fusion track
where the main theme is coming and going and you just wait for to come
again. ORNAMENT by BOOMERANG reminded me
a lot of German 70's Fusion (in particular "Oncle Joe" by Catch Up)
because of the specific rhythm pattern. It's for sure on top of my list. ENSEMBLE ORLAN is presented here with BASHKIR
VILLAGE'S BLUES. Another deep spiritual fusion track with excellent
production. Full of nice little patterns and passages. Samples galore.
EXPECTATION by A. RJABOV & SYNTHESYS could
be the odd one out. It is the most Jazzy track on this compilation and
probably the best version of Jimmy Giuffre's tune. MARINA GRANOVSKAJA's track PERPETUM MOBILE
sounds like a solid and funkier version of some Bob James tune. Let's
say like B. J. remastered by Nuyorican Soul. Maybe not that solid but
it is still very good.!!
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| 01
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E.STRAUME JAZZ COMBO -
Ekstraversija
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6'28 |
| 02
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BOOMERANG BAND - Dervish |
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8'36 |
| 03
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DUSTAR BAND - Dance Of The Bees |
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8'07 |
| 04
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BOOMERANG BAND - Ornament |
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7'11 |
05
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ENSEMBLE ORLAN - Bashkir Village's
Blues |
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10'00 |
06
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ALEXANDER RJABOV ENSEMBLE SYNTHESYS -
Expectation |
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2'42 |
07
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MARINA GRANOVSKAJA - Perpetum Mobile |
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5'38 |
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ECHOES
magazine (April 2001, page 39) Elia Rulli
As Kerleta says
in his liner notes, the '70s sound was preserved in Russia up until
late '80s. Whether this is because of technology or aesthetic doesn't
matter, no one's complaining. This is proof that jazz-fusion in a
colder climate is just as hot. Kerleta's favourite track is
Ekstraversija by E. Straume Jazz Combo, the one track here actually
recorded in the '70s, but my choice has to be the Boomerang Band's
wonderful Dervish, utilising congas, tablas, a droning upright bass and
one hell of o piano groove. Gorgeous.
DUSTY GROOVE AMERICA
The
Cold War is over -- and here's the reason why! These jazz funk gems
were cut in the Soviet Union during the 80s -- but they've got a
richness that's right up there with the excellent work coming out of
Eastern Europe during the 70s, particularly the jazz funk and fusion
sides cut in Poland and Czechoslovakia during the time. They represent
a rich culture that hasn't really ever been tapped over here -- as all
the sides were cut for the state-owned Melodiya label, and never issued
strongly in the west -- and it's almost hard to believe that these
tracks weren't recorded in a culture that was more open to influences
from other jazz scenes. Most of the best tracks have kind of a funk
spacey quality -- almost CTI-ish, but a bit more jamming.
JAZZWISE (May 2001. page 59)
Duncan Heining
"...The
Russian CD has very little wrong with it. The final track Marina
Granovskaja's 'Perpetum Mobile' is really ersatz fusion and the
Alexander Rjabov & Ensemble Synthesys version of Jimmy Guiffre's
'Expectation' is cruelly too short. The rest is really very attractive
from the Straume Jazz Combo's Blakey-ish 'Ekstraversija' to Dustar
Band's Weather Report influenced 'Dance Of The Bees'. There are two
tracks from the excellent Boomerang Band with definite influences from
Miles, Hancock and Charlie Lloyd. But the best performance here is
Ensemble Orlan's 'Bakshirs Village's Blues'. The most obvious reference
here is Joe Zawinul but I'm also reminded of some of Andy Sheppard's
work..."
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