Jazz i Sverige '72 (Caprice, 1972)
as Maffy Falay, Sevda
Instrumental
Instrumental
International relevance: ***
Ranked #9 on the blog's Top 25
One of my all time favourite bands
operating on the progg/jazz scene, led by Turkish trumpeter Maffy
Falay and featuring fellow countryman and drummer Okay Temiz, Fläsket Brinner saxophonist Gunnar Bergsten, and jazz pianist Bernt Rosengren
to name a few of Sevda's original members.
Sevda was a very powerful unit,
strikingly vital, organic, dynamic – everything you could ask for
from a top notch jazz outfit. The Turkish harmonies enrich the music
immensely, creating a tension field that is almost unique to Sevda
(almost, because Okay Temiz's albums under the Oriental Wind banner
were rather similar to Sevda).
I've included only one album by each artist on the Top 25 list, and I picked this one to represent Sevda, but I could easily have chosen any of their albums because all of them are absolutely brilliant. They're all so good they're basically beyond criticism.
Live at Jazzhus Montmartre (Caprice,
1972)
Instrumental
Instrumental
International relevance: ***
Recorded on legendary Copenhagen jazz
ground a mere week after ”Live i Sverige '72” and released in the
same year, this is like a companion volume to the previous album.
”Live at Jazzhus Montmartre” captures Sevda in an even more
expressive mood; the music is rawer and with an even greater Turkish
emphasis. The playing is so intense it's almost dangerous – when at
their most frenzied, I almost want to duck not to get hit in the head
from the debris and splinters flying off the music. An incredible
album.
Caprice combined ”Jazz i Sverige '72” and "Live At Jazzhus Montmartre to the lovely "Exclusive Collector's Edition" box set in 2011, adding a bonus DVD with the television performance also documented on the ”Jazz i Sverige” album. An essential edition of two essential albums.
Live at Fregatten (Sonet, 1974)
as Maffy Falay and Sevda
Instrumental
International relevance: ***
All Sevda albums are recorded live,
this one at Stockholm Jazz Festival in August 1973. Like their
previous albums it opens with a taksim (an improvisation) by the
wonderful violinist Salih Baysal, and then all hell breaks lose
again. ”Live at Fregatten” has an altered line-up, with Björn
Alke on bass instead of Ove Gustavsson, and Tommy Koverhult replacing
Gunnar Bergsten on sax. Maybe that changed the musical chemistry of
the band, as the album again has a different feel than Sevda's
previous albums. Actually, this is very much Okay Temiz's album –
he pushes the music ahead of him like a powered up high speed
bulldozer, drumming away like a raging madman. I can almost see the
faces of the other members while they're playing – ”man, Okay's
really on tonight!”. ”Live at Fregatten” is every bit as
essential as the ”Jazz i Sverige '72” and ”Live at Jazzhus
Montmartre”, another a masterpiece from an almost unrivalled band.
It should have been a great inclusion in the Caprice box set, but
”Live at Fregatten” was an original Sonet release.
Live At Fregatten no links found
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