JOACHIM KÜHN – This Way Out (MPS/BASF Rec. ‎– 2921752-3 / 2LP-1973)

Label: MPS/BASF Records ‎– 2921752-3

Format: 2 × Vinyl, LP / Gatefold sleeve / Country: W. Germany / Released: 1973

Style: Free Jazz, Modal, Free Improvisation

Recorded in January 1973 at MPS Studio, Villingen, W. Germany.

Design [Cover], Photography By – Bernhard Wetz

Photography By [Liner Photos] – A.C. Besgaard, Anne Delmas, G. Hasenfratz, R. Kühn

Produced by MPS-Records, Villingen

Matrix / Runout (Side A runout, etched): A 0666 121 S 1 / 2921752-3 -1

Matrix / Runout (Side B runout, etched): B 0666 121 S 2 / 2921752-3 -2

Matrix / Runout (Side C runout, etched): C 0666 122 S 1 / 2921752-3 -3

Matrix / Runout (Side D runout, etched): D 0666 122 S 2 / 2921752-3 -4

side 1

A1 - Brother Rolf ....................................................................................................... 1:53

A2 - Byg Bridge ......................................................................................................... 5:53

A3 - Amok ................................................................................................................. 5:50

A4 - She's A Beauty .................................................................................................. 4:30

A5 - Spaced In .......................................................................................................... 4:28

side 2

B1 - Body And Soul ................................................................................................... 5:11

B2 - Phallic Dance ..................................................................................................... 6:03

B3 - Juxtaposition ...................................................................................................... 3:46

B4 - All The Things You Are ...................................................................................... 3:35

B5 - Paris '72 ............................................................................................................. 0:58

side 3

C1 - This Way Out ..................................................................................................... 4:51

C2 - Do Dat Dudek .................................................................................................... 5:25

C3 - Sound Color One ............................................................................................... 2:00

C4 - Sound Color Two ............................................................................................... 1:16

C5 - Other Way Out ................................................................................................... 3:45

side 4

D  -  Unison Union .................................................................................................. 20:25

Musicians:

Joachim Kühn – piano, alto saxophone

Gerd Dudek – tenor & soprano saxophone, flute

Peter Warren – bass, cello

Daniel Humair – drums, percussion

JOACHIM KUHN "This Way Out" (1973 German, 16-track double LP on MPS, with red labels and 2921752-3 catalogue prefix, front laminated gatefold sleeve with 0666 121 overstickered catalogue number. Stunning advanced Jazz here from a label that putout some of the very best, forward thinking, and often glorious sounding Fusion records of the seventies.

Joachim Kühn is joined by Daniel Humair, one of Europe’s most celebrated drummers, along with bassist/cellist Peter Warren, whose play has graced the albums of such diverse greats as Clarla Bley and John Scofield. The impressionistic miniature Brother Rolph serves as an introduction, the up-tempo Byg Bridge spans over to the helter-skelter of Amok, while the well-named ballad She’s a Beauty precedes the straight-ahead swing of Spaced In. Kühn tenders a personal solo-rendering of the classic Body And Soul, then switches to alto sax on the harsh, ritualistic Phallic Dance.

Juxtaposition features contrasting solo and group dynamics, and the trio show their standards chops on the medium-tempo All The Things You Are. The musical snapshot Paris 72 book-ends the 10 trio pieces. German saxophonist Gerd Dudek, whose playing credentials include Carla Bley and Don Cherry, joins the trio on the next six pieces. He takes up soprano on the Latin-like This Way Out, while he’s on tenor and Kühn on alto with hell-bent free solos on Do Dat Dudek. Sound Color One and Two are miniatures that explore the possibilities of musical textures. Other Way Out is a free dialogue between piano and soprano, and Unison Union brings the quartet together in a display of intuitive inspiration. 16 pieces of creative brilliance.

If you find it, buy this album!