Manfred Schoof
European Echoes

★★★★

Manfred Schoof's album is really anything but that. Look at the line-up here: 16 of Europe's finest improv / free jazz musicians of the time. All come together for this chaotic, whirlwind of an album that is almost impossible to tell one player from the other. 

This is all systems go, meaning that every single player pours their entire bodily energy into this and it really shows. People are lost then found once more in between the maelstrom of sound and power. There's multiples of basically every jazz instrument on here and you can sense it too. There's a duality to each sound.

There are some solos and the second part I think is superior as it seems more clear not only in the recording, but in the identifying of each particular player. Those beginning drums are so intense too, straight out of an Art Blakey African death drum bible. 

I think where this album suffers is its really muddy recording quality, if there was a recording set up similar to that of Ornette's Free Jazz then I think there would be more to take in and enjoy. But still, this remains an example of John Coltrane's Ascensionisms taken to the European improv scene, and that's so delightful. 

Favorite Song: Part 2

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