The Czech Republic can boast about their well-documented representation of accomplished bass players (Miroslav Vitous, George Mraz) within the International jazz community. Here, Czech bassist Robert Balzar along with fellow countrymen pianist Stanislav Macha and drummer Marek Patrman pianist perform as a Trio. In 1998, Travelling was touted by many, as the best jazz album emanating ...

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Article: Album Review

Bireli Lagrene: Routes To Django/Bireli Swing '81

by Douglas Payne
August 1, 1999

Close your eyes and play any one of the 28 songs on this two-disc set. Guess when the recordings were made, who's playing and how old the player is. It sounds like the catchy, acoustic guitar swing pioneered by Django Reinhardt at the Hot Club de France in Paris during the 1930s.Hard as it ...

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Article: Album Review

Jan Jankeje: A Portrait Of

by Glenn Astarita
July 1, 1999

Slovakian-born bassist Jan Jankeje is well known and highly respected within European jazz circles as Jankeje has performed with legends such as the late trumpeter Doc Cheatham and legendary alto saxophonist Benny Waters. Besides scoring music for films, and discovering guitarist and child prodigy Bireli Lagrene, Jankeje has been the house bassist and producer for the ...

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Article: Album Review

Bireli Lagrene w/Larry Coryell & Miroslav Vitous: Special Guests

by AAJ Staff
June 1, 1999

“Are you ready?” Bireli Lagrene shouts with excitement. “Yeah...I am,” says Larry Coryell; he sounds testy but all is forgotten as we dive in a bed of strings. The crowd is still: the two strum mightily and then Bireli starts the theme, a Coryell line with a bit of flamenco. Notes wiggle and twist, with a ...

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Article: Album Review

Oscar Klein: Oscar Klein's Jazz Show, Volume Two

by AAJ Staff
May 1, 1999

Oscar Klein is a major figure in Europe’s traditional jazz scene. In 1997 he toured with a quartet, including Romano Mussolini and Jazzpoint Records’ Jan Jankeje. When the tour ended, they entered a studio; eight hours later they had this album. Ignored the speed: this sounds carefully planned, and Oscar is up to the challenge. With ...