Various Artists
Creating Magic
ACT *** (2-CDs)
The Munich label ACT do not rest on their laurels and their new Duo Art series as well as a continued championing of new German jazz from the next generation of talent are just two indications of this, as well as releasing albums by the best international artists they can get their hands on, many of whom are sampled here. Creating Magic is a compilation of duo moments dating back to the early days of the label in the 1990s (although much of it is fairly recent) and over the course of its two CDs there are notable reminders of often forgotten records, one of the best things about this set. But there’s also new music and most intriguing of all is the inclusion of ‘Polygon’ a previously unreleased collaboration between new signing Norwegian sax sensation Marius Neset and one of ACT’s most recorded pianists of the new generation, Michael Wollny, whose new album Weltentraum with US bassist Tim Lefebvre and [em]’s Eric Schaefer, is released in less than a month’s time. There’s also an unreleased track by pianist Yaron Herman (‘Letter for E’), another of ACT’s brightest stars, in duo with interesting violinist Adam Bałdych, plus the inclusion of several recordings out of print. Fans of guitarist Wayne Krantz will be pleased that ‘Fate’ from the under-known 1990s album Blue Corner is included, this from a duo record with saxophonist Bob Malach, and the opener of the first CD with Malach joined by Jasper van’t Hof on ‘Black is the Color of My True Love’s Hair’ is also a beauty, a fine way to begin a generous compilation. The inclusion of a track by Euro-jazz New Melodic piano pioneer Jan Johansson, a huge influence on a range of pianists from the late Esbjörn Svensson to Kit Downes, is also essential.
Released on 10 February