EJE THELIN GROUP – Live '76 (2LP-1977 / Caprice Records – CAP 2007:1-2)

Label: Caprice Records – CAP 2007:1-2

Format: 2 × Vinyl, LP, Album / Country: Sweden / Released: 1977

Style: Contemporary Jazz, Free Jazz, Free Improvisation

Recorded at Moderna Museet (Museum of Modern Art), Stockholm, June 23, 1976.

Cover [Front] – Ewert Karlsson (EWK)

Design – Jan Vilhelmsson

Photography By – Ove Alström

Engineer – Nils Edström

Liner Notes [Translation To English] – Fred Lane

Liner Notes [Translation To German] – Gerhard Hladik

Management – Eje Thelin Group

Matrix / Runout (Runout Side A): CAP 2007 A

Matrix / Runout (Runout Side B): CAP 2007 B

Matrix / Runout (Runout Side C): CAP 2007 C

Matrix / Runout (Runout Side D): CAP 2007 D

A1 - Onbird ................................................................................ 10:00

A2 - Another Piece Of Music ....................................................... 8:25

A3 - Time ..................................................................................... 7:00

B1 - Little Green Men ................................................................ 15:10

B2 - Balance ................................................................................ 3:40

C1 - Diesel .................................................................................. 8:15

C2 - Tesseraction, Part 1 ............................................................. 9:20

D1 - Tesseraction, Part 2 ............................................................. 3:25

D2 - Solo VI ................................................................................. 5:50

D3 - Entity .................................................................................... 5:35

D4 - Capricorn ............................................................................. 4:40

Eje Thelin – trombone

Harald Svensson – double bass, electric bass

Bruno Råberg – piano, electric piano

Leroy Lowe – drums, percussion

Written-By – Eje Thelin except tracks A1 and C1 - Written-By – Harald Svensson.

Rikskonserter ℗ 1977 / Printed By – SIB-Tryck, Tumba / Made in Sweden

Eje Thelin (born Eilert Ove Thelin) (June 9, 1938 - May 18, 1990) was an innovative Swedish trombonist, widely admired among fellow trombonists for his facile technique and rhythmic intensity. He was, perhaps, the first jazz trombonist to translate that technique into the so-called "sheets of sound" style that characterized much of the music of tenor saxophonist John Coltrane and, in general, Free Jazz of the late 1960s and 1970s.

Thelin started his own quintet in 1961. From 1969 to 1972 he was on the faculty of the Music Academy in Graz, Austria. For the rest of the 1970s, he led his own Eje Thelin Group in Sweden. In the 1980s he expanded into composition, writing commissioned works for large European orchestras, sometimes featuring himself as soloist. In spite of the attention given to the obvious technical side of his playing, Thelin was also known for his warm approach to traditional ballads, a somewhat retro-romanticism that comes through in his later playing.

If you find it, buy this album!

JEAN-LUC PONTY – Live At Montreux 72 (LP-1976-Inner City Records – IC 1003)

Label: Inner City Records – IC 1003

Format: Vinyl, LP, Album / Country: US / Released: 1976

Original releaze: Les Disques Pierre Cardin – STEC 133 / France - 1972

Style: Free Jazz, Fusion, Experimental

Recorded live at the 1972 International Festival of Jazz in Montreux by Pierre Cardin

Album Design – Frank Vega

Photo – Tom Copi

Engineer – Stephen Sulke

Remix – Emmanuel Sciot

Executive Producers – Irv Kratka, Eric Kriss

A - Sonata Erotica ....................................................................................... 18:00

      a) Preludio

      b) Pizzacato Con Fuocco E Con Echo (Did You See My Bow?)

      c) Appassionato

B - Sonata Erotica ....................................................................................... 23:40

      d) Con Sensualita

      e) Accelerando E Rallentando

Experience:

Jean-Luc Ponty – electric violin

Joachim Kühn – piano [Fender]

Jean-François Jenny-Clark – acoustic bass, electric bass

Oliver Johnson – drums

Naná Vasconcelos – berimbau, congas, gong, percussion

Jean-Luc Ponty "Experience" ‎– Live In Montreux 72, live recording 19.06.1972 at the 6th International Festival of Jazz in Montreux, contents of five movement called "Sonata Erotica" suite, one of the most interesting works from his early days in fusion...

... Ponty's solos here seem far more inspired than his efforts in the 1990s. The violinist makes good use of delays, accompanying himself on the intense solo "Pizzicato Con Fucco E Con Echo." A number of passages were used in Ponty's earlier "Concerto for Jazz Violin and Orchestra," found on his record with Kurt Edelhagen (Vantage LP 504). Supporting musicians included Joachim Kühn on Fender Rhodes, acoustic bassist J.-F. Jenny Clarke, drummer Oliver Johnson and percussionist Nana Vasconcelos. While this LP won't be considered essential to a lot of jazz fans, Ponty's followers will find that is very inspired and a rare opportunity to enjoy.

Extremely strange and exciting album.

If you find it, buy this album!

LÉON FRANCIOLI – Nolilanga (LP-1970 / Evasion Disques – LP E 109)

Label: Evasion Disques – LP E 109

Series: Living Now - 1

Format: Vinyl, LP / Country: Switzerland – Press in France / Released: 1970

Style: Free Jazz, Contemporary Jazz, Free Improvisation

Recorded on the 3rd of April 1970.

Layout – Studiopizz

Photography By – Alain Ogheri

Engineer – Stephen Sulke

Producer – Gaston Schaefer

A1 - Ndi'funa'imali ................................................................... 2:40

A2 - Noma'khephu .................................................................. 8:20

A3 - In Bubwe .......................................................................... 6:25

B  -  Nolilanga ........................................................................ 18:40

Léon Francioli – double bass, conductor

Alan Skidmore – tenor sax and soprano sax

Pierre Cullaz – guitar

Pierre Favre – drums, percussion

Alain Petitmermet – drums, percussion

Léon Francioli (1946 to 2016) was a Swiss double bass player, was born in Lausanne, Switzerland, on May 22nd 1946. After studying piano and double bass at the Conservatory of Lausanne, he worked sessions in studios for mainly 'rock' and classical artists (he was also an accomplished cellist). As a founding member and lead guitarist of the instrumental group 'Les Aiglons', from 1963 to 1965 he recorded several LP-s with them for the record label 'Golf Drouot de Barclay'. In 1970 however, Francioli released his first solo record, under his name but with assistance from Alain Petitmermet, Pierre Favre, Pierre Cullaz and Alan Skidmore. Michel Portal played with him during concerts in Nantes and at the Châteauvallon Festival in 1972, the both of them assisted by Favre, plus Beb Guerin and Bernard Vitet. He then went on to play as a duet with Favre, and this continued until 1980...

... He later recorded and toured with artists such as Johm Tchicai, Albert Mangelsdorff (in 'Triple Entente'), Don Cherry, Radu Malfatti (in 'Humanimal'), and sometimes just solo. In 1982, Francioli co-founded the 'jazz' ensemble 'BBFC' (along with J F Bovard on trombone, Daniel Bourquin on reed instruments and Olivier Clerc on drums). In 1984, he played once more with Pierre Favre, and also collaborated with composer Stan Tracey on the film music for the movies "Les Petites Fugues" and "Le Bus...", as well as playing with various dance bands. In 1995, he won the "Grand Prix de la Fondation Vaudoise pour la Culture", and since 1991 had helped create music for many musical shows, including "Border Line", "Le Cirque", "Une Saison en Enfer", "Amnésie Internationale" and "Délices des Jardins...". He later formed a group along with Daniel Bourquin, called 'Les Nouveaux Monstres'. Léon Francioli died in Lausanne on March 9th 2016. He was 69.

 Alan Skidmore – tenor sax and soprano sax

"Nolilanga", his first album as a leader, one of his few recordings where is in completely gave himself and showed what is actually a master of the instrument. But even more is its intuitiveness and its disconcerting but liberating power at all consider a purely playful angle that will push him to exceed the limits imposed by the shackles of too strict education. The playground is the music itself in time as malleable material which everything can be said. The abstraction of "Ndi'Fuma'Imali" opening is a good example: the bass is not content to play the strings, he played the instrument himself ... playing companions are, it must be say, extremely well chosen too: two drummers, Alain Petitmermet and painfully exciting Pierre Favre, guitarist Pierre Cullaz and finally the brilliant British saxophonist Alan Skidmore who is known for his solo work and participation in many UK jazz fusion/prog groups, i.e; Soft Machine, Keith Tippett's Centipede, The Nice, Elton Dean's Ninesense, etc... "Noma'Khepu" holds the long beach where you can hear that on balance is a philosophy of life be put into practice collectively. Tumultuous and energetic, "Nolilanga" faithful representative of a current to the envied but not always understood precepts, tends to prove that harmony can also be born from chaos...

If you find it, buy this album!

LÉON FRANCIOLI with PIERRE FAVRE, EJE THELIN, JOUK MINOR – Live in Montreux (LP-1972 / EA 100 804)

Label: Evasion Disques – EA 100 804

Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Stereo

Country: Switzerland / Printed in France / Released: 1972

Style: Free Jazz, Free Improvisation

Recorded live at the Montreux Palace Pavillion, 21 June 1972.

(6th Montreux Jazz Festival)

Layout – Studiopizz

Photography – Alain Ogheri

Engineer – Chris Pennycate

Matrix / Runout: Side1: EA 100 804 A1

Matrix / Runout: Side2: EA 100 804 A2

A - Public 1 ............................................................................. 20:28

B - Public 2 ............................................................................. 20:17

Line-up:

Léon Francioli – double bass

Eje Thelin – trombone

Jouk (Jouck) Minor – baritone saxophone / sopranino saxophone

Pierre Favre – drums / percussion

Note:

Evasion Disques, Swiss records and publishing company, created by Gaston Schaefer and François Vautier.

Evasion Disques has different label graphic styles and various confusing denominations such as: Disques Evasion; Evasion Records; and Evasion (in three different colors).

For its 6th edition – 13 days at the Montreux Palace Pavillion – the Festival hosts Chuck Mangione, Don Burrows, Herbie Mann, Les McCann, Lightnin’ Slim, Muddy Waters and Blood Sweat & Tears as well as Roland Kirk, Ray Bryant, Richie Havens and The Aces.

The first three days are devoted to the Blues, Claude Nobs' favorite music: Chuck Berry performs with two prestigious guests, Willie Dixon and T-Bone Walker.

John McLaughlin and the Mahavishnu Orchestra play at the Festival for the first time. Jean-Luc Ponty and Joachim Kühn give a duo concert as does Phil Woods with Daniel Humair.

Spectators also discover the Stan Getz Quartet, then comprising Chick Corea, Stanley Clarke and Tony Williams.

From local musicians, a remarkable performance (21 June) he had Léon Francioli with a group of friends and associates Pierre Favre, Eje Thelin, Jouk Minor...

This album requires active engagement on the part of the listener. It’ll push you through your confusion into a place satisfyingly close to enlightenment.

High volume and good speakers are heavily recommended.

Enjoy!!!

If you find it, buy this album!

RED TRIO + JOHN BUTCHER – Empire (LP-2011-NoBusiness Records - NBLP 37)

Label: NoBusiness Records – NBLP 37

Format: Vinyl, LP, Album / Limited edition of 400 copies

Country: Lithuania / Released: Jul 2011 / LP press in Germany

Style: Free Improvisation, Free Jazz

Recorded April 6, 2010 at Namouche Studio, Lisbon

Recorded By – Joaquim Monte

Mixed by – John Butcher

Mastered by – Arūnas Zujus at MAMAstudios

Design by – Oskaras Anosovas

Cover printed in Lithuania by UAB“Garsy pasaulis“

Produced by RED trio and John Butcher

Executive production by Danas Mikailionis and Valerij Anosov

A1 - Sustained ................................................................................ 7:00

A2 - Pachyderm ............................................................................ 17:02

B  -  Empire ................................................................................... 23:34

Music By – Rodrigo Pinheiro, Gabriel Ferrandini, Hernani Faustino, John Butcher

RED TRIO:

Rodrigo Pinheiro - piano

Hernani Faustino - double bass

Gabriel Ferrandini - drums and percussion

+

John Butcher - tenor and soprano saxophone

NoBusiness Records NBLP37, 2011 / Limited edition of 400 copies. Sold Out.

http://nobusinessrecords.com/NBLP37.php

Although it may be fanciful to suggest that this is British saxophonist John Butcher’s Hard Rock record, his playing is certainly more voluble, raunchy and strident than on the majority of his recent sessions.

It may be because on this three-track LP the master of cerebral understatement is matched up with a trio of Portuguese Gen Xes who in this context enliven the common piano-bass-drum trio with enough rough and physical textures to frighten fans that prefer impressionistic pastels. That’s rough, but not crude however, for pianist Rodrigo Pinheiro, bassist Hernani Faustino and percussionist Gabriel Ferrandini have demonstrated a sensitive interface on other discs.
Besides touring the Iberian Peninsula with Butcher, the Lisbon-based trio members have a working knowledge of Rock; have played as a group with American avant trumpeter Nate Wooley; and individually worked with other anything-but-shy improvisers such as saxophonist John Zorn (Pinheiro), saxophonist Jon Irabagon, (Faustino) and cornetist Rob Mazurek (Ferrandini).

Whatever it is, as early as the first track, Butcher lots unbrace with some thickly vibrating and splintering altissimo punctuation that`s a lot closer to 1960s Free Jazz expression than what he usually plays. Meanwhile Pinheiro, for one, spurs minimalism, instead studding his solos with swift soundboard echoes, internal string strumming and high-intensity chording. Similarly as the expositions are developed, there are times when slide-whistle-like shrilling is heard. With his saxophone mastery, Butcher could be adding an intense parallel line to his improvisations. Or, on the other hand, the screech could arise from Ferrandini’s percussion mastery, which includes hand-patting drags, rim shots and flams plus measured cymbal claps and stentorian thumps. Nonetheless it’s the pianist who is most percussive in his playing. Frequently tremolo and highly syncopated, his circular keyboard chording sometimes matches the saxophonist’s circular breathing. Other times he’ll focus on repeated, high-pitched key clicking or use pressure to expose the deepest vibrations from his instrument. For his part, Butcher stresses trills that are watery and murmuring at one point, yet ascend to staccato interstellar-space exaggerations at others. In a way odd man out, Faustino keeps time and stays out of the way.

Exposing individual variants of note distension early on, the four-way communication reaches a climax of cumulative tension on the final and title track. With the bassist finally asserting himself with sul ponticello and col leno swipes and the percussionist’s mallet-driven chops providing the backdrop, the more-than-23-minute exposition bounds from Butcher to Pinheiro and back again. The pianist’s chromatic keyboard work takes in tremolo cadences in the instrument’s lowest register until he breaks free for friction-laden episodes of syncopated string strumming. Meantime the saxophonist blasts out juddering multiphonics, slurring, stuttering and splaying broken chords. In short order the nearly three-dimensional polyphony reaches a crescendo of drilling reed bites and nephritic honks matched with keyboard claps, clips and smacks until both are cut off and the narrative is completed by an isolated string pluck from Faustino.

Likely to be a unique entry in both Butcher’s and the Red trio’s discographies, Empire is a wild ride that should be experienced by everyone, music which shatters preconceptions.

—Ken Waxman

Not to be missed if you have a sense of adventure.

I recommend that you buy their recently released a new album:

https://cleanfeed-records.com/product/summer-skyshift/

https://www.discogs.com/RED-Trio-John-Butcher-Summer-Skyshift/release/8507374

If you find it, buy this album!