FolkWorld Issue 43 11/2010

FolkWorld CD Reviews

Violons Barbares "Violons Barbares"
Label: Own label; 2010
Violons barbares is a meeting between three musicians from Bulgaria, France and Mongolia. On the traditional Mongolian violin Morin Khur, the Bulgarian Gadulka and percussion the trio b rings a refreshing mixture of their traditions both on their instruments and vocally. Most of the compositions are traditional and take you on a journey throughout the world, travelling on the wild Mongolian horses, from the melodic, romantic country of France to the more open hearted soul of Bulgaria and all the places that lay between the three countries. Sometimes the music almost sound like a rock song, although it’s played on acoustic instruments, other moments it’s the pureness of the traditional sounds that gets full attention. The best of three worlds brought together in an energetic and professional way. An irresistible combination on an irresistible album.
www.violonsbarbares.com
Eelco Schilder


Groef "Des avonds in klein maneschijn"
Label:
Appel rekords; APR 1322; 2010
Seen the fact that it’s very rare an album with (more or less) traditional Dutch folk is released, it’s always something to look forward to. Groef is a new project around multi string-instrumentalist, keyboard player and producer Guy Roelofs. His dream was to create music inspired by Dutch traditional vocal music and make it suitable for bal folk dancing. This album is the result of his dreams on which he cooperates with nine other musicians including female vocalists, several (traditional) string instruments, flutes, drums, fender Rhodes and many other instruments. The album starts with the very known Jan mijne man and ends with the self composed mazurka called Tjade. In between ten traditional and new tunes and songs all suitable for dancing and full of electronic sounds and beats. Some beautiful melodies are played by the musicians and it’s clear that some of the best (Dutch) (folk) musicians are part of the band. I’m personally not a fan of the sterile, sometimes overproduced, sound of the album. The beats etc, might be ‘modern’ for Dutch folk standards, but internationally spoken it’s at least ten years back in time and many international folk names are much more rooted in the 21st century. Groef leaves me with double feelings, some wonderful music and strong compositions. But it’s all so decent, so well thought over and closer to mainstream pop-folk than to anything else. Visit their webpage and listen to their music and see how you think about this new Dutch folk album.
www.groef.eu
Eelco Schilder


Vilma Timonen Quartet "Forward"
Label:
Ääniä Records; 15; 2009
Ruuti "Ruuti"
Label: Ääniä Records; 14; 2009
Two albums released at the end of 2009 by a young and dynamic label and studio called Aania from Finland. Vilma Timonen is a Kantele player and singer from Finland and teaches folk music at the famous Sibelius academy. She plays a big role in the revival of the Kantele and was one of the first to play an electric version of the traditional instrument. She has been part of several musical projects including Brelo and Tsuumi. This forward is the second album with her own quartet. Together with her fellow musicians on bass, drums, percussion, guitar, trumpet and vocals she recorded seven original compositions and two traditional tune. Her style isn’t as traditional as you might expect but a mixture of jazz, folk and light-rock. Good example of her style is her version of the traditional song Kokko. The prominent sound of the kantele is backed in an exciting way by the other musicians and together they create a hypnotizing, haunting almost scary song. Songs like Getting your hopes up and Repstellen 1 (Peipposen Polka) have a more light-feted atmosphere and fill the air with sunshine. I like the many sides Timonen shows on this album. From sadness to happiness, from dark to light and from tradition to jazz(rock). To my opinion a strong second album with some great compositions. The second album comes from a band called Ruuti. This trio exists out of a violinist, guitarist and bassist and they play new compositions in folk style. This is the groups debut album. The thirteen compositions are all very nice, uplifting and well played tunes. The band mixes influences from the Finnish folk with styles from other places of West and Northern Europe. Very nice is Vihtahousu with delicate guitar-play and a dancing violin. In Onneni tähdet violinist Kukka Lehto shows to be blessed with a nice voice. Her earthy way of singing suits this ballad very well. A nice album with friendly acoustic folk, very easy going and therefore suitable for a wide audience.
www.vilmatimonen.com, www.myspace.com/ruutimyspace
Eelco Schilder


Tibetrea "Mimirmeidr"
Label: Prudence/Rough trade; 39867532; 2009
Tibetrea is a German quintet that plays fantasy folk (the bands own description). I never know what that is exactly, but in the interpretation of this band it’s folk music deeply rooted in the middle ages and with Celtic influences. On instruments such as the hurdy gurdy, harp, darbuka, cornamuse and many others the musicians create their own musical universe. Their dreamy music has some nice moments and it’s clear that the musicians are full of ideas and creativity. Sometimes I hear a fraction of how the band would like their music to be, but the album doesn’t do their ideas justice. The play is a bit careful, sometimes almost shy. The musical arrangements are simple and the group doesn’t always sound like one band, but sometimes like separate musicians who play the same tune. A nice try, but it needs more self confidence and a higher technique to be ready for a big audience.
www.tibetrea.de
Eelco Schilder


Amira & Merima Ključo "Zumra"
Label:
World village; 450012; 2010
A duo from Bosnia Herzegovina formed by singer Amira and accordionist Merima Ključo. They bring their own interpretations of fourteen traditional songs from Bosnia, Macedonia and Serbia. In a very personal and unique way this female duo impresses with intense, emotional and powerful music. With only the accordion and voice they keep me close to the stereo set so I don’t miss a sound they create. The album starts fabulously with Kradem ti se, a beautiful, fragile love song from Bosnia. What follows is the madness of Mujo & Kuje. A wild, dark accordion solo ends in a passionate duet between voice and the instrument. I love the way Merima creates a dark, scary atmosphere on her accordion in Mehmeda majka budila. A song about a bad dream, told by a son to his mother. Listen to this and feel the dream, feel the desperation and feel the darkness. The album ends with the old Bosnian shepherd song called Jo hanino tu hanina, one of the more easy going songs on this album. A pleasant end to a beautiful, intriguing album.
amira.com.ba, merimakljuco.com
Eelco Schilder


Brenna MacCrimmon "Kulak Misafiri"
Label:
Green goat music; cd002; 2010
Interesting new album by (now based in Toronto) singer Brenna MacCrimmon. Different as the name might suggest, her music is Turkish with Balkan influences. In past and present she has worked with many known names in the Turkish/ Balkan world music. By listening to old recordings she fell in love with the atmosphere of the music and she gathered a fine band of musicians who help her bringing the old tunes back to live in a jazzy, traditional kind of way. The result is a strong album by a great singer who has a nose for good music and sings from her heart. It’s easy to fall for her passionate way of making music and I like the way she mixes traditional patterns with sometimes surprisingly new and up to date musical arrangements. An album that breaths the old Turkey, crosses the border to the Balkan countries and entertains people far behind these border in all parts of the world.
www.myspace.com/brennamaccrimmon
Eelco Schilder


Mirco Menna & Banda di Avola "E l’italiano ride"
Label:
Felmay; 8160; 2010
This is an interesting Italian cooperation between singer-songwriter Mirco Menna from Bologna and the orchestra Banda di Avola. This orchestra recorded an album with Sicilian brass music eight years ago and this second album contains eleven tracks written by Menna. This lively album is a mixture between Italian songs, brass and tradition. A song like Evviva has this typical Italian bombast, while Ecco has the more dramatic side and Vieni a trovarmi shows the sadness of the Italians. Somehow Menno’s way of singing reminds me sometimes of Becaud. It’s not his voice, but his singing techniques and the structure of his compositions. This E l’italiano ride is a beautiful album which brings the best of both the orchestra and the singer together.
www.mircomenna.com
Eelco Schilder


Milagro Acustico "Thermæ Atmospheræ"
Label: Salmieri; CNDL23700; 2010
Fifteen years ago Bob Salmieri founded Milagro Acustico. This Sicilian artist leads this sextet and together they recorded music from the many cultures that meet at Sicily. This new album is a big project and includes three full length cd’s. Together with over twenty five musicians from Italy, Turkey, Egypt, Iran, India and Senegal the band plays Salmieri’s composition. Each album is named after a Roman bath and influenced by the atmosphere is those baths. The mixture of cultures, traditions and styles is sometimes stunning and the highly professional musicians know how to bring ancient atmospheres to live. I’m not always a fan of the bombastic arrangements like on the album based on the Frigidarium bath, I prefer the more sober album Caledarium which has a more acoustic and authentic feeling. Nevertheless deep respect for the way these musicians recorded this project. When listening to it, you have to take it piece by piece. It’s like the baths, you don’t soak in the water for hours (well at least I don’t) you relax, enjoy and after a while you move on. Take your time and listen to a part of the project each day and discover the beauty of the compositions. When you do listen to all three albums at the same day you might get a bit too much and instead of relaxing, the sounds might start to annoy you. But this three disc set has enough to offer to please everybody who is into this genre.
www.milagroacustico.com
Eelco Schilder


Galandum Galundaina "Senhor Galandum"
Label: Own label; 2010
See also the German
review in this issue
Galandum Galundaina is a Portuguese quartet that in the past fifteen years has been studying the traditions of the North Eastern part of Portugal. On traditional instruments such as several types of bagpipes, flutes, hurdy gurdy, percussion and vocals the band brings the traditional music in a highly professional way. The music might remind you a lot of the Galician tradition, which isn’t that strange seen the geographical location of the areas the music comes from and the fact that Galician singer Uxia is one of the guests on this album. It’s amazing how modern these old melodies sometimes sound. In the third song (sorry, but the song titles are not printed in the booklet I got so I don’t know the name of this composition) the hurdy gurdy plays a melody that would suit a rock band. Besides the good instrumental parts the strong vocal parts should be mentioned as well. An album full variation with strong music by a fantastic band.
www.galandum.co.pt
Eelco Schilder


Ralf Kleemann "Hugs & Kisses"
Label: Own label; 2010
Ralf Kleemann is a German musician who originally is a pianist but fell in love with the Celtic harp, his instrument on this solo album. He won several prices for his work and now teaches and gives solo concerts all around Europe. On this third solo album he looks beyond the standard Celtic Harp repertoire and plays twelve own compositions with influences from the known Celtic parts of Europe, but also from jazz, Classical music, Tango and so on. The album shows a master at work. His crystal clear, melodic way of playing intrigues me. His soft, almost shy, way of playing makes that the listener hears every detail of the compositions. Kleemann has the talent to express emotion with music, and that is something not many musicians are able of doing. For me, not a Harp expert in any way, this is just a strong album with music that touches me.
www.harfenspieler.de
Eelco Schilder


Herwig Strobl & Atanas Dinovski "Von Dublin bis Dubai"
Label:
Extraplatte; 803-2; 2010
This new album on the Extraplatte label is a result of the collaboration between the Austrian violinist Herwig Strobl, who has a long history in (traditional) music, and the young accordion player Atanas Dinovski from Macedonia. The duo recorded twelve traditional tunes from all over Europe. Starting with the Irish Napoleon in Ireland which somehow is a slow start, I miss some dynamic in this one. Much nicer is the second tune from Turkey called Izmir in which they show some beautiful, melodic harmonies. They continue with Romanian, Jewish, Russian and many other traditional and classical pieces. The musicians show a great technical quality, but somehow I personally find the sound of the album a bit clean. Well played, but the focus is too much on the technique and to less on the emotion of a tune.
www.extraplatte.com
Eelco Schilder


Fayvish "Yiddpop"
Label:
Oriente/Danzone; 102; 2010
Shir "Ashk’farad"
Label: Own label; 2009
Schmarowotsnik "Lider"
Label: Own label; 2010
Three albums with Yiddish/Klezmer related music. First Fayvish, a band from Berlin playing Yiddish pop music. This debut album contains thirteen pop/rock songs, both from the Yiddish tradition and new compositions. The well documented booklet shows the nice lyrics in English which gives the listener the opportunity to get an idea of the theme’s of the songs. The trio on drums, bass, guitar and vocals is assisted on this album by Alan Bern on accordion and keyboards, Paul Brody on trumpet and Zoe Cartier on violoncello in Aza blum. The main ingredients are rock/pop music which gives really nice music at moments. I like their version of the traditional Daloy politsey, which I have in several interpretations, but this is the first rock version. Nice is the light-jazzy Ikh hob mikh untergenumen where they take a more acoustic approach. This song shows that the guest musicians really add something extra to the music. Listen to the beautiful accordion in Kh’vel oyston di shikh, one of my favorites on this album. I think the band took an interesting approach to Yiddish music and although I think this album could use a bit of fine tuning now and then, it shows a band with great potential and this debut album is a strong start of, hopefully, a long career in music. The second album comes from the Shir quartet. Located in the UK, the group brings music from every corner of the Jewish musical tradition. From wedding music, Sephardi to Ladino music and many other styles. Together with a bunch of guest musicians, including a string quartet, they play known and lesser known songs and tunes. Nice is how they show the many European influences in the Jewish music, with Southern, Eastern and Western sounds the band impresses with well played acoustic folk music. The third album is by Schmarowotsnik, a duo from Germany. On this album they sing poems by Rajzel Zychlinski. I like the sober, simple way of composing and arranging the music. They put the focus on the lyrics and doesn’t let the music take the attention away from the nice texts. Interesting combination, a young woman with her airy, easy going vocals and Oboe and an older man with a nice, deep voice and an accordion. I think the album is most interested for those who are into poetry and lesser for those who expect melodic Yiddish or Klezmer music. The duo deserves a compliment for daring to follow their own course and create an intimate album.
www.fayvish.de, www.shirmusic.co.uk, www.schmarowotsnik.de
Eelco Schilder


Dectera Lugh "Lumina"
Label: Own label; 2007
A bit older album for review this time by the German group Dectera Lugh. The five musicians play traditional music and songs from all over Europe, mixed with rock. They are clearly inspired by Medieval groups, seen their interpretation of the tunes and their choice of repertoire. With both ancient and modern instruments they recorded a really nice album and this makes me wonder what happened to the group as there is no new album around and their webpage isn’t updated for a while. The album starts strong with the Estonian traditional Soidin tieda, an over six minutes marvelous folk-rock piece with great vocals by singer Kira Langelott. During the whole album she changes from Nordic to Balkan and so on without any noticeable problems. Backed by an energetic band, she really knows how to entertain. A strong debut album, with occasionally a slightly unbalanced sound between percussion and instruments. But full of good ideas, strong arrangements and good music. I do hope this band still exists and a new album will come out soon. Make sure you send me a copy, as it would be my pleasure to review it.
www.dectera-lugh.de
Eelco Schilder


Bordunrot "Zeitblüten"
Label: Ojo music; 002; 2010
See also the Dán
review in this issue
Bordunrot is the name of the band formed by Johannes Mayr on nyckelharpa, Accordion, piano, hurdy gurdy and other instruments. He is joined by Ingrid Mayr-Feilke on flutes and hurdy gurdy. Both take care of the vocals as well. On their debut album called Zeitblüten they have Matthias Rülke as a guest musician on the bouzouki and Valentin Mayr on percussion. Eleven tracks including original and traditional work. Starting with the sweet and beautiful Je ne l’ose dire, a madrigal from the 16th century. What follows are two three new compositions by Mayr, intriguing pieces with a rich sound and beautiful melodies. In 14 Jahre später the accordion overrules the hurdy gurdy a bit which is a pity, but nevertheless a strong composition. The album has an overall calm and relaxing atmosphere. The duo knows their way on their instruments, although a very few times I think the hurdy gurdy could be played a bit more fluently. A very nice debut album indeed. This is feel good European acoustic music. Suitable for dancing and for listening.
www.bordunrot.de
Eelco Schilder


Dulce Pontes "Momentos"
Label:
Galileo; GMC038; 2010
See also the German
review in this issue
It was twenty years ago that the Portuguese singer Dulce Pontes started her impressive career and from the first moment het unique voice and way of singing gave her a lot of fans worldwide. My first acquaintance with her music was in 1997 when my father bought her album Caminhos. It’s still one of my favorite Fado albums and although she did record some great music after that CD, I still think it’s her best album. She even recorded one record I really disliked, the much to pretentious and bombastic result of her collaboration with Ennio Morricone. But now she is back, with a two CD set called Momentos which contains seventeen beautiful, older and newer, tracks. Including a duet with Jose Carreras and with George Dalaras. On this album all bombast is gone and she is back to a more pure and acoustic kind of music. This well recorded album is a great way to celebrate her 2oth anniversary as an artist and will be enjoyed by both old and new fans.
www.dulcepontes.net
Eelco Schilder


Benedicte Maurseth "Alde"
Label:
Heilo; HCD 7529; 2010
Benedicte Maurseth is a Norwegian Hardanger violin player, to my opinion the most beautiful type of violin I know of. I love the sound of the instrument and getting an album like this always makes me curious. In 2006 she recorded an album with the famous Knut Hamre, who has been her teacher for a long time. In 2008 another CD was recorded together with three other musicians including Berit Opheim. Most musicians who play the Hardanger fele would choose to record traditional Hardanger pieces on their debut album. Maurseth made a very dangerous choice, she only recorded her own compositions. The album shows that this was the right choice. She is not only a fantastic musician, she has a great technique and a sound with a very own identity. She also proofs to be a talented composer. All fifteen songs are of high quality, deeply rooted in the Norwegian tradition but never old fashioned in anyway. Over three quarters of an hour of solo Hardanger fele without any dull moment. An absolute dream debut which shows the beauty of the instrument and the talent of a young musician. Benedicte Maurseth is definitely a musician I will follow very closely in future.
www.maurseth.net
Eelco Schilder


Gstättner, Heckel and Sahmaoui "Lava"
Label:
Cracked Anegg Records; 012010036; 2010
Gstättner, Heckel and Sahmaoui is a trio based in Austria recorded a more than interesting debut album. With experience in jazz, tradition, experimental and other types of music they create a sound with a very own identity. The twelve newly written compositions mix Mid-European tradition with North African sounds, jazz and blend this with sometimes a bit minimalistic approach. A central role on this album plays the Bassoon, an instrument that is not often used as a solo instrument on folk related records. I love the heavy, down to earth sound of this instrument and in combination with the fabulous jazz piano and soft strings and percussion in a track like Belladonna and Amaryllis this trio reaches great heights. Nice is also the combination of accordion and Bassoon in Shoot. They kept the right balance between two instruments that both have a strong sound. I experienced this CD as a kind of concept album. The songs fit perfectly to each other and after 40 minutes, when the album ends, I’m back from an intriguing trip on the wings of three highly professional and passionate musicians.
www.magst.at
Eelco Schilder


Oliver Schroer & the Stewed Tomatoes "Freedom Row"
Label:
Borealis; 201; 2010
[The late] Canadian fiddler and composer Olivier Schroer had an impressive history in music. He had recorded several solo albums and played with many known names in folk, world, roots and rock music. Freedom Row is with band and shows fourteen new compositions. It’s unbelievable how Schroer in a creative way mixes styles from Celtic, jazz, Balkan, rock and many others into his own melting pot of sounds. He switches from melodic violin solo’s to unexpected violin rock or a swirling dance. Sometimes he takes the traditional road, but he clearly loves adding sounds and small changes in the regular musical patterns. This makes his music really enjoyable and Freedom Row turns out to be a feel good album with bloody good music.
www.oliverschroer.com
Eelco Schilder


Hanggai "Juan zou de ren"
Label:
Worldconnection; WC039; 2010
From China, Hanggai is a successful band on the European alternative concert halls. With their throat singing and rock music influenced by the Mongolian tradition, they know how to surprise an audience that normally never hears traditional influenced music of any kind. Since many years I’m following the Mongolian and Tuva influenced music and heard many great groups and albums. Hanggai is the more mainstream variant of the genre, easy going rock with simple musical arrangements but with the ‘exotic’ sounds and rhythms. A concert I saw last year, was nothing more than a party with sing a longs. I was disappointed by the bad presentation and their lack of concentration during their concert. The album is much better than the concert but I think won’t satisfy those who are familiar with this style of music. For those who like rock with a different kind of style, this is definitely a great album to start with.
www.myspace.com/hanggaiband
Eelco Schilder


Fuxan os Ventos "Terra de Soños"
Label:
Boa; 10002038; 2009
Berrogüetto "Kosmogonias"
Label: Own label; 2010
In this review two beautiful releases from Galicia. Both albums come in special edition booklets with a CD and a DVD. First Fuxan os Ventos one of the legendary groups in Galician traditional music. The band was founded in 1972 and has released many albums ever since. With this new release they show the many sides of Galician traditional music and together with an impressive group of guest singers and musicians, they show exactly why they deserve to be one of the leading groups in traditional music. With their mixture of polyphonic singing, solo singing and acoustic music they clearly focus on the oral tradition of Galicia. Although their bit static presentation, the DVD concert registration is very well done and is a great souvenir for those who were at their concerts of for those, like me, who live to far away from the halls they perform. The CD contains a selection of the recordings that are available on the DVD. I’m very much impressed by the dance in Romance da laveindeira done by the Nova Galega de danza. And I’m always jealous when I see how Pepe Ferreiros plays the Pandeireta like he does in As pachocas. Those two guests are not the only one who make a great contribution to the album. Mercedes Peon with her powerful vocals, Uxia is singing, Rodrigo Romaní plays the harp and many more are there. This all comes in an over seventies page long booklet with all the lyrics and information about the artists. A beautiful addition to the impressive Fuxan os Ventos discography.
The second CD/DVD comes from the 23 years younger band Berrogüetto. On this double album a CD with eleven new tracks all mixing traditional elements with electronic instruments. The songs and dances sound fresh and fit perfectly in the modern approach of many Galician folk bands. With strong gaita parts, nice vocals and energetic percussion the musicians clearly know how to entertain their audience. The DVD I find less interesting than the Fuxan os Ventos concert registration. There is a long interview with band members, but unfortunately without English subtitles so I don’t have a clue what they are talking about. Nice is the eleven minutes long video with moody images and dreamy music. Nevertheless two albums that show two sides of the Galician (folk) music in a very nice and intriguing way.
www.fuxanosventos.net, www.berroguetto.com
Eelco Schilder


Ivan Santos "Grampeado"
Label: Mac aca records; 002; 2010
Santos is a Brazilian Singer-songwriter who lives in Germany for many years now. Eight years after his debut album he know comes with a new album called Grampeado. Together with his band, which includes a lot of percussion, he brings a nice kind of South-American folk-pop. Mixing traditional rhythms with electronic sounds and his calm, down to earth vocals. Sometimes bluesy, sometimes rock and many times just fine late nineties/early 21st century influenced roots music. The twelve songs are of high quality and Santos really tries to create his own sound. I personally think it’s a pity that he stays to close to the pop music. Would have been nice when he chooses between more rock orientated interpretation or a more rots orientated approach. But that’s only a matter of personal taste.
www.ivansantos.de
Eelco Schilder


Klapp "Hopp!"
Label: Own label; 2009
This album comes from a trio that wants to guard the dance tradition from Setumaa, which is the South-Eastern part of Estonia. On accordion, guitar and percussion they like to play the old music in such a way that both the dancers and the ‘sophisticated urban listener’ will be satisfied. Their music is a mixture between Estonian and Russian tradition. I recognize a lot of the style from groups I know from the Pskov region in Russia. The same rhythms and sometimes even the same melodies. The trio plays the tunes in a very easy going, basic way. They know their way on their instruments, but nothing more than that. Sometimes they surprise with a nice 21st century beat, but that are only a few rare moments that the group really knows to add something extra to the music. Nevertheless a nice album with good dancing music mostly played in a conventional way.
www.myspace.com/valkvabarnapriks
Eelco Schilder


Hoelderlin "8"
Label: EMI; 0094638538523; 2007
Well, being a record collector as well of course I have the album Hölderlins Traum in my collection. Being one of the most beautiful albums in the German prog-folk history I even listen to it know and then. Many people think the band only made one album, but as Hoelderlin seven albums followed and the eight one was released in 2007 and is on review now. With a different line up (still wondering what happened to the Dutch female vocalist of that first album) ten new songs are recorded. Twenty six years after their last album the band returns with both original and new members with a leading role for singer Ann-Yi Eötvös. With strong rock orientated music, mixed with dreamy flutes and the high pitched vocals of Eötvös. The organ is still present and of course the guitars play a major role as well. It’s not as refreshing as in the early years, but with this album Hoelderlin proofs that it still has quality after all these years. Now as a rock band that creates music just outside the mainstream rock style.
www.hoelderlin.com
Eelco Schilder


Edgar Knecht "Good Morning Lilofee"
Label:
Ozella; 032CD; 2010
Eyal Maoz & Asaf Sirkis "Elementary Dialogues"
Label: Ayler Records; 104; 2006
Edgar Knecht is a German pianist and together with his trio (bass and drums) he recorded eight original compositions, six based on traditional theme’s. Don’t expect a traditional CD in any way, this is a jazz piano album. Although I keep the non-folk reviews as short as possible, I must say that this album has a very strong sound. The piano play by Knecht is very nice and melodic. Together with his fellow musicians he created an album with fresh sounding, well played jazz music and for those who don’t mind hearing some non folk music at times. This is a really nice album to add to your collection.
The second jazz album comes from the duo Eyal Maoz & Asaf Sirkis. With Elementary Dialogues they present the opposite jazz style of Edgar Knecht. No gentle piano but electric guitar solos and beating drums. That are the two ingredients of this album. Eleven own compositions with a lot of improvisation and free jazz. I like it for two songs, but then the sound of the guitar starts to annoy me. Would probably be loved by weird freak jazz fans, but for me this is a bit too much.
www.edgarknecht.com, www.maozsirkisduet.com
Eelco Schilder


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