Eberhard Weber

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

oh Ian that is such a 90's take on this music .....

and er speaking of resurgent partnerships from the last century:

[Ian Thumwood]

Calum

that comment made me laugh!

I was listening to Garbarek's "Legend of the seven dreams" in the car today. I actually caught this group on tour when they promoted the disc having previously heard the band performing music from an earlier album. At the tie (1988) the music seemed so original it felt to me that they were pulling away from what the Americans were offering at the time - even if my palette back then was not as broad as it is now. today, I was staggered at how many licks Garbarek plays on the opening track where he doesn't actually "play" a great deal. The interest comes from the unfolding harmonies.

I eagerly awaited the new batch of ECMs whenever they were released and my allegiance switched to a wide range of the label's artists. I'd started with Chick Corea (trio live = one of the best albums of the 1980s) but quickly spread to the likes of Garbarek, Stanko, Gismonti, etc. Listening back, the best music of that era is easily the most jazz-influenced stuff like Jarrett, Abercrombie, Bass Desires, Corea, Bowie, etc, etc.

The curious thing about Weber is that his music sounds like no one else' and is quite catchy or even amusing. Some of the tracks have a sombre quality about them yet I always think of albums like "Orchestra" as being quite peppy! The issue most people coming to these records will have in 2015 is the snyth sounds which date but it's also quite fair to say that a lot of the music isn't really that demanding to listen to. It has a pop music mentality about it and, to me, it was no surprise whatsoever to hear Weber crop up as a regular contributor to Kate Bush's albums. (I think the appearance of Rolf Harris on "Aerial" might make this double CD harder to shift!) I find it harder to believe that Weber's back ground was in pretty extreme Improv.

The group "Colours" are agreeable enough. It is a difficult group sound to find objectionable and maybe only a fraction away from the kind of music that the Canterbury set were producing at the time. Mariono's involvement has always perplexed me but I was equally astonished to hear him on the flawed Mingus masterpiece. (Again, digging that album out again made me appreciate that the basis of the suite isn't too complicated and it features some of the most beautiful saxophone writing in the history of jazz on part II.) I think Mariano is probably better comparing to someone like Yusef Lateef in that he explored world music as well.

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

.... all masterpieces are flawed, perfection is impossible ... try this for an account of the making of Black Saint and Mariano's part in it

[Ian Thumwood]

I agree it is a good album albeit the record doesn't sustain the brilliance of the opening two movement through the disc. Jay Berliner's guitar also seems like it has strayed in from another record. I find it extremely intense and can't drive the car with it on as it is such as distraction. The influence of Ellington is almost over-powering with a couple of Ellingtonians in the line up to boot.

Mariano's musical path was pretty amazing. I believe he started in the Boston scene , became associated Kenton, performed with Mingus and Weber before finally performing with a jazz-rock ensemble. I suppose that this is testament to how quickly the music was moving between the 1950's and 1980's. I also find it hard to believe that the likes of Bill Frisell recorded with Weber.

I think the disappointment with these ECM records is that they sounded hugely original at the time and radically different from the then current American scene. Unfortunately, the style has just be absorbed and maybe improved upon by contemporary players. I often wonder whether these ECM albums will become to be regarded like the classic Blue Notes. Some stand the test of time more than others and the label itself seems to have become increasingly austere with the passage of years. The cover art used to be terrific as well whereas they now all look the same.

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

i am getting too old for the waxing and waning of taste and reputation Ian, i like what is in front of me [metaphorically speaking]

still having a Weber day and finding that Mariano is stunning on the Colours albums

[BLUESNIK'S REVOX]

i am getting too old for the waxing and waning of taste and reputation Ian, i like what is in front of me [metaphorically speaking]

still having a Weber day and finding that Mariano is stunning on the Colours albums

You are only as old as your Ampeg tape heads.

Mariano cut two very good Konitz like "standards" albums in 1989 with Tete Montoliu's trio in Barcelona. On Fresh Sound if you can find them. I also like very much his playing with Shelly Manne's outfit in the mid 50s. One of the first jazz records I bought. The other was Elvis Golden Records Vol 2.

BN.