Cool Blends (III) ★ European Panorama

Cool Europa

European Progressive Jazz in Germany 1959-63

A good record is not just an album, it is a story, and few people understand this better than Ekkehart Fleischhammer, who runs Sonorama. The label specializes in reissues and discoveries of lost jazz classics, library music, funk and soul. Every release is a labor of love and the albums in the following batch all include photography and liner notes (...)

Karlhanns Berger, who is now known as Karl Berger, also shows up on a nice compilation of modern jazz that marks the 100th release on Sonorama. The album portrays the golden age of the German jazz scene in the period 1959-1963 and includes unreleased cuts by Sonorama regulars like saxophonist Barney Wilen, guitarist Attila Zollar, clarinet "bird" Rolf Kühn and others. The playing time is generous (almost seventy minutes) and spans the big sound of Francy Boland's Ensemble, Rolf Ericson Quintet's interpretation of Thelonious Monk's "Straight No Chaser" and the tight trio sound of pianist Roland Kovac.

What is thought-provoking about this compilation is how the musicians walk the tight line between mainstream accessibility and progressive experiments. Nothing here will scare listeners away, but, at the same time, the by now established musical conventions of hard bop, cool jazz and modal jazz sound fresh and full of possibilities. *Jakob Baekgaard (allaboutjazz.com)*

Fourteen previously unknown tracks recorded 1959-63 in West-Germany by some of the best European jazz artists of the time, featuring Barney Wilen, Francy Boland, Rolf Kühn, Joki Freund, Attila Zoller, Fats Sadi, Roland Kovac, Rolf Ericson, Michael Naura and countless others. All tunes picked from collectors' archives, carefully mastered for 2LP-Gatefold and Longplay Digipack-CD with new sleeve notes and artist photos by Susanne Schapowalow and Hans Harzheim.

This music celebrates the 100th release of Sonorama, an independent record label from Berlin. Its founder Ekkehart Fleischhammer started in June 2004 with a 7-inch single that features an unreleased track by Swiss piano player Elsie Bianchi. A new cottage industry was born, bringing hidden treasures of modern jazz to international music lovers. Today the focus of Sonorama Records is on unavailable European jazz and American musicians playing in Europe.

The criteria Fleischhammer is looking for always is the quality of music, the condition of the source recording, if it is a rarity and the belief that people need to hear that music. "European Progressive Jazz in Germany 1959-1963" is the subtitle of this anniversary compilation and mainly features a selection of musicians from the Sonorama roster. Most of the tracks presented here are previously unreleased, a few others have appeared on hard to find EPs only. Some of the tunes are live takes, others hail from unreleased studio tapes, all recorded in former West-Germany by some of the best European jazz artists of the time and finally discovered in archives or in the vaults of collectors and musicians.

1959-1963 was the most prosperous period in the development of European modern and progressive jazz. Post-war Europe saw an influx of American jazz artists who felt more appreciated on the old continent. These expatriates brought with them a fresh influence, and European jazz musicians revered their American stage mates. American greats such as Stan Kenton and Lionel Hampton gave their premiere European concerts, creating a jazz-boom. By the late 1950s a new sound emerged as European players gained confidence and started to play and compose in their own style. The fervor for modern jazz was especially apparent in the many crowded jazz clubs which appeared across post-war Germany.

The cover of this album Cool Europa comes from the archive of German photographer Susanne Schapowalow. She loved jazz and followed musicians with her camera whenever she could. Trumpet player Fred Bunge was a member of the Joe Wick Orchestra and later played in the Edelhagen orchestra. Schapowalow met Bunge in Hamburg at the Heiligengeistfeld in 1949: "I don't remember if it was his or my idea to pose up there in the ruins. I was worried because it was slightly dangerous for him, but he looked great playing the trumpet. The two young boys came by on their wooden carriage and stopped to listen. The whole situation was improvised". After the end of the second world war, this picture seems optimistic. The two boys symbolize the post-war generation and Fred Bunge was very much into progressive jazz, but he missed the blossom of that period. He died in a car crash in 1960, only 36 years old. Another German photographer, Hans Harzheim contributes several portraits here. Harzheim has produced an impressive body of work and captured many jazz greats.

Sonorama Records has unearthed some excellent unpublished tracks here that will satisfy the serious connoisseur. Fleischhammer explained in an interview for the website "All About Jazz" what Sonorama is looking for: "It must always touch me in a spiritual sense, and be of historical importance regarding the repertoire of the artist. Even better if it can close a gap in certain fields of music that people, or especially the record industry forgot about". These rediscovered recordings are perfect to celebrate the 100th release of Sonorama. *(from the liner notes)*

1 - Blues For Koebes

(Francy Boland)

Francy Boland Ensemble:

Francy Boland (piano), Dusko Goykovich (trumpet),

Karl Drewo (tenoir sax), Derek Humble (alto sax),

Bubi Aderhold (baritone sax), Heinz Kretzschmar (bass clarinet),

Jean Warland (bass), Kenny Clarke (drums).

Cologne, Germany,February 14, 1961

2 -  Gigi's Pad

(Fats Sadi, Francis Coppieters)

Fats Sadi Quintet:

Fats Sadi (vibes), Jimmy Deuchar (trumpet),

Roland Ronchaud (piano), Maurice Salvat (bass), Stuff Combe (drums).

Cologne, Germany, May 22, 1959

3 - Straight No Chaser

(Thelonious Monk)

Rolf Ericson Quintet:

Rolf Ericson (trumpet), Rolf Kühn (clarinet).

[rhythm section unknown]

Hamburg, Germany, July 3, 1962

4 - Inspiration In 6/8

(Dieter Reith)

Hermann Mutschler Trio:

Dieter Reith (piano), Werner Schultze (bass), Hermann Mutschler (drums).

Frankfurt, Germany, June 3, 1962

5 - Tempus Fugit

(Bud Powell)

Barney Wilen Quartet:

Barney Wilen (tenor sax), Joel Vandroogenbroeck (piano),

Karl Theodor Geier (bass), Peter Baumeister (drums).

Frankfurt, Germany, August 1, 1962

6 - You Stepped Out Of A Dream

(Nacio Herb Brown)

Attila Zoller Trio:

Attila Zoller (guiytar), George Joyner (bass), Buster Smith (drums).

Berlin, Germany, August 30, 1961

7 - Marihuana

(Wolfgang Dauner)

Götz Wendland Quintet:

Lothar Behr (tenor sax), Jürgen Schmidt-Oehm (bass trumpet), 

Wolfgang Dauner (piano), Götz Wendland (bass), Sigi Knispel (drums).

Frankfurt, Germany, June 2, 1962

8 - Ginger

(Jack Sels)

Jack Sels  Ensemble:

Jack Sels (tenor sax), Lucky Thompson (soprano sax), Ado Broodboom (trumpet),

Jack Fanis (piano), Fats Sadi (vibes), Benoit Quersin (bass), Ghana M'Bow (drums).

Cologne, Germany, February 7, 1959

9 - Warm Up

(Helmut Brandt)

Helmut Brandt Combo:

Helmut Brandt (baritone sax), Harry Samp (trumpet),

Siegfried Schmidt (valve trombone), Hajo Lange (bass), Heinz Niemeyer (drums).

Rheda, Germany, October 13, 1962

10 - Prof. Wotasnozzle

(Karlhanns Berger)

Karlhanns Berger Quartet:

Karlhanns Berger (piano), Bent Jaedig (flute),

Joop Christoffer (bass), Bob Petrin (drums).

Bremen, Germany, July 3, 1963

 

11 - Bag's Groove

(Milt Jackson)

Rolf Kühn Sextet:

Rolf Kühn (clarinet), Wolfgang Schlüter (vibes).

[sax and rhythm section unknown]

Hamburg, Germany, May 10, 1962

12 - Psychophysis

(Roland Kovac)

Roland Kovac Trio:

Roland Kovac (piano), Jonny Fischer (bass), Rudi Sehring (drums).

Munich, Germany, October 24, 1962.

13 - Futurity

(Gigi Gryce)

Michael Naura Quintet:

Michael Naura (piano), Wolfgang Schlüter (vibesb),

Klaus Marmulla (alto sax), Hajo Lange (bass), Heinz von Moisy (drums).

Hamburg, Germany, February 24, 1959

14 - Olé Coltrane

(Joki Freund)

Joki Freund Sextet:

Joki Freund (soprano sax), Emil Mangelsdorff (flute),

Bernhard Kirchgärtner (guitar), Karl Theodor Geier (bass),

Günter Lenz (bass), Peter Baumeister (drums).

Frankfurt, Germany, June 2, 1962