Kovac

Released by ReR in 1995, this CD reissues Boris Kovac's LP Ritual Nova, Vol. 2 (1989, Points East) and adds three cuts from the first Ritual Nova (1986, Symposion) that were tucked in at the end of each LP side. It reintroduced the music of this brilliant ex-Yugoslavian composer, paving the way for his two magnificent CDs for Victo in the late '90s. But while these later efforts would be recorded with a working ensemble, both Ritual Nova albums were built track by track by Kovac alone. He plays saxophones and clarinets, plus flute, Hungarian zither, percussion, an array of Eastern European folk instruments, and sampler. Djordje Delibasic has added touches of percussion (minimal but very effective, orchestra-like). Violinists and singers appear occasionally…

The Roland Kovac New Set released several instrumental LPs on the Selected Sound label from Hamburg, the second and third of which, "The master said" (1971) and "Love that" (1972), are good progressive rock with a clear emphasis on jazz. The line-up on "The master said" consisted of top musicians: Master Roland Kovac himself had obtained his doctorate in music as early as 1952 and written numerous classical works and soundtracks. Guitarist Siegfried Schwab had just become famous at that time by working with Et Cetera and other groups and shows his brilliance on this LP with his fuzz guitar. Drummer Charly Antolini ("Knock out") had already been in business for many years and is still first choice on the jazz scene today. The fourth member was Franz Löffler on bass, who had already released several guitar LPs in the 1960s.

Unique compilation and 100th release in the catalogue of Sonorama Records - file under: cool, modern, hard bop, modal! Fourteen previously unknown tracks recorded 1959-63 in West-Germany by some of the best European jazz artists of the time, featuring Barney Wilen, Francy Boland, Rolf Kühn, Joki Freund, Attila Zoller, Fats Sadi, Roland Kovac, Rolf Ericson, Michael Naura and countless others. All tunes picked from collectors' archives, carefully mastered for 2LP-Gatefold and Longplay Digipack-CD with new sleeve notes and artist photos by Susanne Schapowalow and Hans Harzheim. Great moments from the most prosperous period in the development of European progressive jazz.

At the beginning of the 70s in Yugoslavia not many artists were given opportunity to record an album. Indeed, when speaking of rock music, the preferred media format still was a single or EP, and of course the rock discographic industry was underdeveloped. However, among the first four LP records of rock music issued in this period, the two belonged to the progressive genre - the first TIME album and this one. "Korni grupa" is excellent example of early Yugoslavian prog rock which will remain unique effort of the best known line-up of Kovac, Bocek, Hreljac, Furduj and Pejakovic…