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Reviewers: Don Mather, Dick Stafford, John Eyles, Robert Gibson, Ian Lace, Colin Clarke, Jack Ashby



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ROBERT MAGRIS EUROPLANE

Featuring Tony Lakatos

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Soul Note 121325 – 2

 

 

 

  1. I Remember You
  2. Blues for my Sleeping Baby
  3. African Mood
  4. Luci Lontane
  5. What Blues?
  6. Why Did I Choose You
  7. I Concentrate on You
  8. Che Cosa C’E’

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

 

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