Minafra, Reijseger, Bennink - Noci...Strani Frutti - Live at Europa Festival Jazz -1991- (CD, Leo Records), Italy/Netherlands

This is a rare CD-only release of a live concert of Italian jazz trumpeter Pino Minafra with Dutch Cellist Ernst Reijseger and Dutch drummer Han Bennink. It took place at Europa Jazz Festival di Noci somewhere in Puglia on the 14th of July, 1990. Because a lot of information is already in the booklet (click on it) I keep it short:

Minafra is an important figure in the Italian free-jazz and avant-garde improvisation scene. In 1990 he founded the Italian Instable Orchestra (IIO) to bring Italian jazz musicians closer together since many of them never played together because of the big distances between the northern and southern part of Italy. Minafra and the IIO can be compared to the Dutch Willem Breuker Kollektief (only less of a constant entity) and were a.o. indeed influenced by the Dutch improvisation and free-jazz scene. Hence this great collaboration with Ernst Reijseger (of whom I have posted other albums on the blog) and legendary impro-drummer, Fluxus artist and ICP Orchestra founder Han Bennink.

A nice slab of European free-jazz! Specially the voice parts.

Get it HERE

Various Artists - In Keller -1997- (CD, Gold Coast), Netherlands

This is quite a very nice compilation around artists that performed at the Galerie Keller in The Hague during the nineties. Also it's the first CD that I ever post on the blog. Lately I did some searches and found some CD rarities in my house that I will start to post at times.

In Keller compiles some important Dutch experimental acts. One of them is Kapotte Muziek, founded in 1984 by Frans de Waard who is still active today today with this project as well as many more. Kapotte Muziek is one of the pinnacle electro-acoustic, found and recycled sounds, noise, industrial and everything in-between music acts of the past decades in The Netherlands.

Then there is also living legend techno act Unit Moebius that emerged as the great anti-hero force of the DIY and squatting scene of The Hague's underground and punk minded rave culture of the early nineties. The unit is also responsible for the whole Bunker Records legacy. One of the Unit Moebius' founders Jan Duivenvoorden (a.o. Leuk & Ko, Shitcluster, Salò Mentale) is also included once more on this compilation under his moniker Nimoy.

Furthermore on In Keller there are installation sounds by Icelandic artist Haraldur Karlsson and experimental guitar drone by Ultrasound (Robert Ovetz and Kirk Laktas). Lastly present on here is sound artist Anne Wellmer and a few unknown hero's like Marcel Kaars with Didi Fire and Stephane Brys.

In Keller was released in a limited edition of 50 self-made copies. It was put together with a lot of care which subsequently resulted in an incredible album of experimental music. 

Get it HERE