Twogether

A Couple of Times is an exuberant-powerfully tripped out jazzy-electronic trip. With bands as Kollektiv, Kraan, Out of Focus, Xhol, Twogether represent the jazziest side of krautrock. Their sound is rather atypical with reminiscence of notorious epic symphonic keyboardists. A couple of Times is a patchwork of musical styles and influences, an imaginative trip through colourful, soulful and freely improvised jam sessions. A Couple of Times remains a deliciously psychedelic, jazzy, neo-classical orientated musical trip. A little classic and a must have for all prog-heads of the first era.

Both John Hicks and Frank Morgan passed away shortly after making the recordings gathered here: pianist Hicks in May 2006 and alto saxophonist Morgan in December 2007. They had both spent the preceding decades living very different lives: Morgan, as is well known within the jazz community, was a heroin addict to whom incarceration was no stranger. He disappeared from the scene for an interminably long 30 years before finding his way back from his problems and into the music world in 1985. Hicks, meanwhile, was prolific throughout his multi-decade career, recording many albums as a leader and working alongside many of the genre's greats as a sideman. This set of seven tracks does not consist entirely of duets: Morgan appears on only four of them and Hicks plays solo piano on the others (there are no other musicians involved)…

Pianist John Hicks recorded this trio date with bassist Walter Booker and drummer Idris Muhammad in Tokyo. He tackles Monk's pieces as a soloist; "Ruby My Dear" is lovely yet complex, while "'Round Midnight" is dramatic without overkill. His originals "Inc. 1" and "Avocja" are pulsating post-bop efforts. This is an enjoyable date worth picking up.

SIXTY-NINE is a little known German progressive rock duo formed in 1969 by Armin Stöwe (organ, piano, synthesizer, guitar, vocals) and Roland Schupp (drums, percussion, gongs). SIXTY-NINE gained significant popularity as a live act and consequently had the opportunity to play, often as an opening act, at a variety of rock festivals with the likes of popular bands such as GOLDEN EARRING, AMON DÜÜL II, UFO, BEGGAR'S OPERA, PETE YORK, WEST BRUCE & LAING, BIRTH CONTROL, JUD'S GALLERY, AGITATION FREE, FRUMPY, and GURU GURU.

SIXTY-NINE is a little known German progressive rock duo formed in 1969 by Armin Stöwe (organ, piano, synthesizer, guitar, vocals) and Roland Schupp (drums, percussion, gongs). SIXTY-NINE gained significant popularity as a live act and consequently had the opportunity to play, often as an opening act, at a variety of rock festivals with the likes of popular bands such as GOLDEN EARRING, AMON DÜÜL II, UFO, BEGGAR'S OPERA, PETE YORK, WEST BRUCE & LAING, BIRTH CONTROL, JUD'S GALLERY, AGITATION FREE, FRUMPY, and GURU GURU.