Mps Records

All the Colours of the World in the Black Forest ‘High quality music to be enjoyed by many people all around the world, no matter where they are’ Andreas Brunner-Schwer, MPS Records The German SABA and MPS family of labels extended this sentiment to include music from musicians all around the world, no matter where they were from - and here on Spiritual Jazz 17 SABA MPS we explore that very theme. Throughout the ‘60s & ‘70s both labels released a wealth of music from a wealth of international jazz musicians coming from both North and South America, Europe, the Caribbean and the Far East. The aim was to release jazz that was exciting, innovative and interesting, regardless of style: there was swing, blues, bop, avant-garde, fusion – and spiritual jazz. Plurality became a defining feature and the immense breadth of their output made both SABA and MPS worthy European counterparts to American imprints such as Blue Note and Impulse.

All the Colours of the World in the Black Forest ‘High quality music to be enjoyed by many people all around the world, no matter where they are’ Andreas Brunner-Schwer, MPS Records The German SABA and MPS family of labels extended this sentiment to include music from musicians all around the world, no matter where they were from - and here on Spiritual Jazz 17 SABA MPS we explore that very theme. Throughout the ‘60s & ‘70s both labels released a wealth of music from a wealth of international jazz musicians coming from both North and South America, Europe, the Caribbean and the Far East. The aim was to release jazz that was exciting, innovative and interesting, regardless of style: there was swing, blues, bop, avant-garde, fusion – and spiritual jazz. Plurality became a defining feature and the immense breadth of their output made both SABA and MPS worthy European counterparts to American imprints such as Blue Note and Impulse.

All the Colours of the World in the Black Forest ‘High quality music to be enjoyed by many people all around the world, no matter where they are’ Andreas Brunner-Schwer, MPS Records The German SABA and MPS family of labels extended this sentiment to include music from musicians all around the world, no matter where they were from - and here on Spiritual Jazz 17 SABA MPS we explore that very theme. Throughout the ‘60s & ‘70s both labels released a wealth of music from a wealth of international jazz musicians coming from both North and South America, Europe, the Caribbean and the Far East. The aim was to release jazz that was exciting, innovative and interesting, regardless of style: there was swing, blues, bop, avant-garde, fusion – and spiritual jazz. Plurality became a defining feature and the immense breadth of their output made both SABA and MPS worthy European counterparts to American imprints such as Blue Note and Impulse.

Avec Welcome to the Black Forest (compilation en qualité Hi-Res 24-Bit exclusive pour Qobuz !), MPS Records offre un superbe panorama de son éclectique catalogue.

After Welcome to the Black Forest (The Sounds of MPS), a magnificent compilation in 24-bit Hi-Res quality released exclusively for Qobuz in February 2022, highlighting the variety of MPS Records' eclectic catalogue, now comes Reunion in the Black Forest - The Sounds of MPS Vol. II! With this second volume, also available exclusively on Qobuz, the German label founded in 1968 by Hans Georg Brunner-Schwer proves yet again the breadth of its repertoire. Jazz-rock, swing, hard bop, Latin jazz, vocal jazz - nothing is missing from this compilation. It features Oscar Peterson on a brilliant live version of “On a Clear Day (You Can See Forever)” and other equally legendary pianists such as Red Garland, Chick Corea and Monty Alexander (the stunning “Monticello” kick starts the compilation with a 5-star rhythm section featuring Eugene Wright on bass and Bobby Durham on drums).Another gem from Reunion in the Black Forest is the languorous “Candlelight” by Joe Henderson's quartet with Chick Corea, Ron Carter and Billy Higgins, as well as a swinging cover of The Beatles' “Hey Jude” by Ella Fitzgerald. For those with a taste for real groove, “Au Right” by a youthful George Duke (a 1971 recording when Californian keyboardist was only 25!) promises to excite even the most conservative listener. The 20 tracks on this compilation are a musical delight.

After Welcome to the Black Forest (The Sounds of MPS), a magnificent compilation in 24-bit Hi-Res quality released exclusively for Qobuz in February 2022, highlighting the variety of MPS Records' eclectic catalogue, now comes Reunion in the Black Forest - The Sounds of MPS Vol. II! With this second volume, also available exclusively on Qobuz, the German label founded in 1968 by Hans Georg Brunner-Schwer proves yet again the breadth of its repertoire. Jazz-rock, swing, hard bop, Latin jazz, vocal jazz - nothing is missing from this compilation. It features Oscar Peterson on a brilliant live version of “On a Clear Day (You Can See Forever)” and other equally legendary pianists such as Red Garland, Chick Corea and Monty Alexander (the stunning “Monticello” kick starts the compilation with a 5-star rhythm section featuring Eugene Wright on bass and Bobby Durham on drums).Another gem from Reunion in the Black Forest is the languorous “Candlelight” by Joe Henderson's quartet with Chick Corea, Ron Carter and Billy Higgins, as well as a swinging cover of The Beatles' “Hey Jude” by Ella Fitzgerald. For those with a taste for real groove, “Au Right” by a youthful George Duke (a 1971 recording when Californian keyboardist was only 25!) promises to excite even the most conservative listener. The 20 tracks on this compilation are a musical delight.

A curious happenstance in 1966 triggered the partnership between MPS head Hans Georg Brunner-Schwer and George Duke. Brunner-Schwer was in San Francisco to record the Art van Damme Quintet. After finishing the recording session one evening, he and his team strolled over to a club called the Jazz Workshop. Les McCann was supposed to be playing, but this particular day was his day off. Instead, a 20 year old pianist, still involved in his studies, was performing with his quartet. The music’s freshness so enthralled the German that he set up a recording session on the spot. This encounter between George Duke and Hans Georg Brunner-Schwer in sunny California was both accidental and noteworthy. It turned out to be the jazzy prologue to future events: five years later the American began his fusion-infused sessions for the man from Germany’s Black Forest. These sessions are the theme of this box set with its seven LPs. Some 40 through 45 years after their initial releases, these albums still count as a fascinating and essential part of George Duke’s life’s-work and canon of the genre.