Mps Saba

Jonny Teupen was one of the few who could make the harp swing. The late German musician, a classically trained harpist and composer who could play in an orchestra as well as any jazz band. This album has been originally released on SABA (later MPS) label.

"All Smiles" is an album by the Kenny Clarke/Francy Boland Big Band featuring performances recorded in Germany in 1968 and released on the MPS label. The album was also released in the US on Prestige Records as "Let's Face the Music".

The Romanian Eugen Cicero was a Wunderkind, performing his first piano concert with a symphony orchestra at the age of six. His first SABA/MPS album, Rokoko Jazz sold over a million copies. Cicero was acknowledged as an "all-around entertainer, someone who gives a damn about stylistic borders and takes whatever is useful, from Bach to Cole Porter".

Just barely 20 at the time, pianist George Duke made his recording debut with a straight-ahead quartet also including the obscure bass trumpeter David Simmons, bassist John Heard and drummer George Walker. This was one of Duke's very few all-standards sets, and he proved to be a fine hard bop/soul-jazz pianist; unfortunately, that phase would not last long. Highlights include "The Night Has a Thousand Eyes", "Jeannine" and "Secret Love." But by the time the pianist recorded his second date as a leader three years later, this particular George Duke would be history.

Swiss singer-pianist Elsie Bianchi may not be a household name, but from the early 1950s through the 60’s she was one of the best jazz singers in Europe. Her sensuous voice and hip phrasing has shades of Anita O’Day. Elsie first gained fame through her appearances at the Zurich Jazz Festival in the early 50’s. Elsie and husband bassist Siro Bianchi toured the USA in 1958-59, playing at the legendary Lighthouse jazz club south of LA. She and Siro then began playing winters in Europe and summers in America before permanently moving to the States. Siro and MPS ‘house drummer’ Charly Antolini make it a tight trio.

This is a classic – the jazz album that signaled the beginning of Hans-Georg Brunner-Schwer’s storied SABA-MPS record company, and pointed the way to the label’s next two decades of creative, beautifully recorded music performed by some of the greatest players in jazz.

The blind Spanish pianist Tete Montoliu was an international star; an original stylist with prodigious technique, he was one of the foremost hard bop pianists. Dedicated to Tete’s daughter, Blues for Nuria is a stunning original that mixes a taste of Monk, freewheeling dissonance, and the Catalonian’s turbulent hard bop style.

This is a classic – the jazz album that signaled the beginning of Hans-Georg Brunner-Schwer’s storied SABA-MPS record company, and pointed the way to the label’s next two decades of creative, beautifully recorded music performed by some of the greatest players in jazz.

Renowned Swizz pianist/composer George Gruntz became entranced by the music of the North African Maghreb on his 1964 visit to Tunisia. Over the next few years he revisited the area, taking in the melodies, rhythms, and improvisational styles of a Bedouin music rooted in 1000 years of nomadic culture. With the intent of integrating this music with jazz, Gruntz assembled the crème of the Bedouin players and a top-flight group of like-minded jazz musicians.

Although largely overlooked even in his native France, an avid cult has been building around Jef Gilson’s music. The eclectic Thurston Moore of Sonic Youth fame collects pressings, and journalist Gilles Peterson has praised his recordings. Composer, pianist, sound engineer, producer, label owner, Gilson played bop, modal, free, world music. Jean-Luc Ponty and Michel Portal first found their footing working with Gilson. Nathan Davis, Woody Shaw, Philly Joe Jones, David Murray, hung out, recorded and toured with Gilson. Archie Shepp, Randy Weston, Martial Solal, Steve Lacy made albums in Gilson’s studio. This album’s first four pieces comprise the Suite Pour San Remo.