From Europe With Jazz

Released in 1972 on the MPS label, this varied collection includes highlights from festivals in Sodertalje, Zurich, and Ljubjana. The opening track features The Nordic All-Stars, led by reedist Jan Gabarek and guitarist Terje Rypdal with others, to create an aggressive, groove-oriented jazz that was in line with what Miles Davis was doing at the time. The vocal-driven “Next Please” by The Novi Singers lands somewhere between choral music, jazz vocalese, and open-ended jazz-rock fusion. The highlight here, though, is the orchestral version of Ornette Coleman’s “Lonely Woman” featuring Zurich International Festival All-Stars, including American beboppers Art Farmer (prominently) on flugelhorn and Dexter Gordon (less so) on tenor saxophone, among other American and Europeans—it's a wonderful oddity that honors the original. Boško Petrović Quintet & The Non-Convertible Eastern All-Stars closes things out with “Sigo’s Garden,” which is a lengthy groove with various solos but notably carried by Petrovic's expressive violin work. Now available digitally for the first time, this release also has a fresh mastering job.