★Be! Jazz
Contemporary Jazz Mass
Tip**Remastered reissue, released in conjunction with the artist** James Tatum's stunning, spiritualised Contemporary Jazz Mass is one of the only true jazz masses ever released. Inspired by Duke Ellington's Sacred Concerts, Tatum's masterwork was recorded on its first ever performance at St Cecilia Church in Detroit, and released on his own private label in 1974. At the time Ellington’s Concerts were quite controversial. Whilst they contained scriptural references they did not follow liturgica…
Les Liaisons Dangereuses
The music presented here, composed and conducted by Duke Jordan, is an important jazz work. Duke Jordan was known as Charlie Parker's pianist, and his solo recordings revealed an original form in music, a genius pianist and composer. Jordan's original music for 'Les Liaisons Dangereuses' was recorded in 1959, featuring Art Taylor and Charlie Rouse, two members of Duke's group. With these recordings Duke Jordan clearly announced the dawning of a new era in jazz. This reissue comes with newly rema…
European Jazz Sounds
A CD of unreleased live recordings and rare radio sessions. During the period 1953-1964 the Michael Naura Quintett was one of Germany's most successful jazzbands. The music of this eclectic quintet was strongly influenced by George Shearing, Dave Brubeck and Horace Silver's hard bop, but also by the chamber-influenced style of the Modern Jazz Quartet. From 1953 on, vibraphonist Wolfgang Schlüter was the main improviser in Naura's quintet. The remastered music on this album will blow you away and…
European Jazz Sounds
A collection of unreleased radio session recordings from the original tapes! The few recordings made by the New Jazz Group from Hannover in Germany are scarcely documented. The band was founded in -or around- 1954 by Bernd Rabe (alto sax and clarinet), pianist Klaus Wunderlich, drummer Helmut Perschke, bass player Eberhard Pommerencke and Karl Blume (baritone sax and vibraphone). This release documents a special chapter in German jazz history. Alto Saxophone, Clarinet – Bernd Rabe Baritone Saxop…
European Jazz Sounds
Remastered radio sessions from the period 1959-'66, recorded in Cologne. A 16-page booklet is included.
Night Music 1974
A never-heard live session from the great Eje Thelin – a mid 70s set that has the trombonist working with a cool quartet that includes some Fender Rhodes from Harald Svensson – who makes a wonderful partner for Thelin's long-blown lines! Eje had already grown tremendously as a musician in the 60s – from bop to modern to avant in the space of a few short years – and here, he moves back into more soulful territory which opens up perfectly next to the Rhodes – with these very fluid, open solos that…
Jazz Jamboree 62 Vol. 2
A CD-issue of excellent '62 live recordings from the highly regarded Swedish jazz trombonist
European Jazz Sounds
The 'European Jazz Sounds' series, that started around 1960 with legendary albums by the Michael Naura Quintet, Tubby Hayes and Max Greger, sees a welcome revival! This first volume presents the early recordings of the renowned Joki Freund Quintet from the late 1950s. German saxophonist and arranger Joki Freund played with Jutta Hipp in the mid-'50s, before forming his own Joki Freund Quintet. During the late '50s they played various European festivals, together with visiting American musicians …
More Modern At The German Jazz Festival 1966
An incredible meeting of talents – both American and European jazz musicians coming together at a festival that must have been one hell of a event – certainly more exciting than just about any jazz festival we've ever attended in our lifetime! Unlike other festival recordings, this isn't just any sort of rehash of standards, done by all-star groups – and instead showcases some of the best modern jazz talents on both sides of the Atlantic in the mid 60s – all trying to outdo each other with their…
Modern At The German Jazz Festival 1966
Double album with unreleased live recordings from the German Jazz Festival 1966 featuring all the big German names of the time - Albert Mangelsdorff, Horst Jankowski, Hans Koller, Rolf Kühn, Klaus Doldinger etc! Listen to Mangelsdorff's "Plakate" or Kühn/Doldinger's "Gemini Waltz". Limited edition release (500 copies) with spectacular sound quality! "We are very excited to announce what we think is one of the most exciting jazz albums that have been issued in recent years. It includes the most b…
Eje Thelin At The German Jazz Festival
An amazing set from Swedish trombonist Eje Thelin – a live date, but a totally excellent session that stands as one of the best demonstration of his talents in the 60s! On the European scene at the time, Thelin was easily one of the most inventive players on the trombone – one of the few who could hit the soulful swing of American musicians like Curtis Fuller or JJ Johnson, but also an artist who was starting to stretch out into new realms too – just a touch of Grachan Moncur and Roswell Rudd, w…
Fly To Brazil
Strerath is a pianist of European calibre and he has won numerous prizes since 1967. The Walter Strerath Trio played at many Jazz Festivals in Europe and they were invited to play at Newport in the early 1970s. On this 1975 session they explore the music of Brazil.The Bossa Nova is sort of a feed-back of North-American jazz with its drive, blues and beat compared to Brazilian samba with its “joie de vivre” and optimism. The Walter Strerath Trio commands this synthesis between North and South in …
For Friends And Relatives
2018 repress. Landmark work from the Finnish scene of the 60s – one of those ultra-rare European jazz records that collectors have dug for decades! The set's got a stark, modern sort of feel – but also a nice soulful swing, too – a balance that few of the other Scandinavians hit so well at the time – as they were either hanging between farther-out progressions, or more inside, tightly arranged jazz! Drummer Christian Schwindt's vision here is exceptional – full of rich feeling, deep tone, and ca…
Jazz am Rhein 1967-1968
It was the summer of love in 1967, and more than 12 000 people found their way into the Rheinpark in Cologne – situated opposite the majestic cathedral and right at the bank of the Rhine river – for the first German open air jazz festival. Featured on those two sunny days in September were three big bands – including ace musicians like Jiggs Whigham, Dusko Gojkovic, Manfred Schoof and Volker Kriegel – and the Kenny Clarke - Francy Boland Sextet. When the festival was revived the following year, …
International Holy Hill Jazz Meeting 1969
CD version. BeJazz is happy to come up with a true “holy” modern/free jazz gems of the late 1960s. The original double LP was issued by Meno Liechtenstein’s CB Records – he was also the organizer of the “International Holy Hill Jazz Meeting” in Heidelberg/Germany. The sound quality on the original album was not really bad – but it certainly was not really good as well. We spent a lot of work on a proper restoration of the live tapes. The result is truly amazing – after almost 50 years we are now…
European Jazz Sounds
Digipack incl. 16-page booklet. Dusko Goykovich - tp, Derek Humble - as, Karl Drevo - ts, Francis Coppieters - p, Jonny Fischer - b, Stuff Combe - dr, Kenny Clarke - dr. Previously unreleased radio sessions 1958-1961 in Cologne, West Germany. During his career Dusko Goykovich built his own style recognizable for the preciseness and brilliance of his technique. His warm sound is like a mirror of half a century of jazz history. Goykovich set technical standards and played with all the greats of th…