Tony Lakatos – Soprano & Tenor
Michael Erian – Soprano & Tenor
Robert Magris – Piano
Robert Balzar – Bass
Gabriele Centis – Drums
Fulvio Zafret – Congas on track 3
Recorded on September 2, 2003, Urban Recording
Studios, Trieste.
This really is a European
band, Tony Lakatos is Hungarian and his
saxophonist partner on the front line
Michael Erian is Austrian, Pianist leader
Robert Magris and Drummer Gabriele Centis
are Italian and Bassist Robert Balzar
is Czech. These guys are all seasoned
veterans who have played the jazz scene
for years and it shows. There music is
as modern as tomorrow, without being weird,
they call themselves a ‘modern mainstream
band’, and it is an accurate description.
From my point of view it is about as far
along the jazz journey as I want to go
and thoroughly enjoyable.
For someone who listened
to The Jazz Couriers in his formulate
years, comparison with Tubby Hayes and
Ronnie Scott is only natural and these
guys are worthy of comparison. If Tubby
and Ronnie were still alive, this is probably
the kind of music they would make today.
The rhythm section is
excellent Robert Magris is a fine soloist
and he is excellent at comping behind
the other soloists. Both Tenor players
have excellent tones and techniques and
their ensemble playing is perfection.
Robert Balzar is another
excellent Czech bass player following
in the tracks of George Mraz and Miroslav
Viteos.
The programme is excellent
with a fine blend of original compositions
from Robert Magris and some excellent
standards. The overall balance is perfect
and both tenor sax players a joy to listen
to. They both double on soprano which
is very difficult to play well, and both
succeed.
This album is a must
for anyone who likes modern mainstream
and is a lesson to many of the contemporary
groups who seem to me to have forgotten
that jazz is supposed to swing!
Don Mather
CD Reviews
Soul Note 121325 – 2
