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ELEMER BALAZS Always That Moment 2 BMC Records CD149

 
 
 
1. I Can’t Tell
2. Every One of Them Let Me Down
3. I Only Remember the Good Times
4. Hold on to Love
5. If There are Chestnuts for Sale
6. It Was Nothing Like Love
7. What Happened to that Summer
8. Autumn Leaves

Elemer Balazs – Drums
Jozsef Barcza Horvath – Bass
Zoltan Zana, Gabor Bolla – Tenor saxes
Jozsef Balazs – Piano
Marton Fenyvesi – Guitar 
 

The tunes played here are songs that are held dear and well known to Hungarians. Most are from many years ago and they were certainly penned before any of the musicians on this record were born. The music although unfamiliar (apart from Autumn Leaves) is tuneful and worthy of the attention of these players from the second generation of Hungarian jazz musicians. 

Under what was called the Eastern European system, many musicians received their nurture and became very competent. The performances here are just that: the two tenors complement each other well and the rhythm section supports them in a very positive way. 

These are not any Hungarian musicians, they represent the crème de la crème and they have appeared with many famous stars of the jazz world and played at jazz festivals and concerts throughout the world. It is just amazing these days that every country produces such a crop of excellent jazz musicians, despite the fact that the public demand for the music, although consistent, is at a low level. 

This album is well packaged with excellent sleeve-notes and detailed biographical information, which always enhances the listening pleasure. I recommend it to anyone with a love of modern jazz that is exciting without being weird. 

Don Mather

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