Gnu High

Kenny Wheeler | Format: MP3 Download

Product Details

• Original Release Date: August 26, 2008
• Release Date: August 26, 2008
• Label: ECM
• Copyright: (C) 1976 ECM Records GmbH
• Record Company Required Metadata: Music file contains unique purchase identifier. Learn more.
• Total Length: 40:40
• Genres:
• ASIN: B001EE6QWC
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #179,213 Paid in MP3 Albums (See Top 100 Paid in MP3 Albums)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

29 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Kenny Wheeler - " Gnu High", October 5, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Gnu High (Audio CD)

"Gnu High" was released in the mid 70's on the innovative ECM label. It represented one of the last appearances by Keith Jarrett as a sideman.

Kenny Wheeler prior to this album had been primarily associated with the avant garde. This is very much of a mainstream affair. The other participants, bassist Dave Holland and drummer Jack DeJohnette are on top of their form in this session. Kenny Wheeler plays flugelhorn instead of his usual trumpet.

This is a dream group which unfortunately never recorded again. In Ian Carr's biography of Keith Jarrett, he indicated Jarrett did not feel comfortable with the music. This does not show up in the results as Jarrett is brilliant.

Kenny Wheeler is one of the most underrated musicians in all of jazz. He has a beautiful tone and a strong melodic sense. The compositions are all first rate.

Kenny Wheeler has made many outstanding recordings since this effort but because of the strong supporting cast this remains a classic.

As usual the ECM production standards do not disappoint. Fans of progressive mainstream jazz will enjoy this recording.

24 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Showcase for Sidemen, August 9, 2002

By 

"jerryexspresso" (Columbia, MO USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Gnu High (Audio CD)

It seemed as if Kenny Wheeler set this record up to provide his sidemen with a chance to boost their reputations enormously. Wheeler sets up the CD with his swooping solo over the changes and then Keith Jarrett produces some of the most lyrical piano playing on record. His solo transition on the first track is one of the high points of the album. Dave Holland seems to have ears the size of a house for everything that he picks up and responds to and sometimes seems like a rock in the middle of all the swirling music around him. Jack DeJohnette has a great solo where he stays on his cymbals for so long that when he finally plays one of his toms it feels like finally stepping on firm ground after an atmoshperic ride. Wheeler's writing is consistantly original and beautiful throughout.

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A true classic from the ECM catalogue, February 16, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Gnu High (Audio CD)

I write in total agreement with the previous reviewer; this is a fantastic album, probably one of Wheeler's best. Although it is hard to imagine Wheeler making less than fantastic album, this is something special because of the fantastic musicians involved. Keith Jarrett plays brilliantly, as usual, and so do Dave Holland and Jack DeJohnette. All the three compositions are excellent, and Kenny's flugelhorn sound is captured excellently by producer Manfred Eicher.

This an overlooked record in the ECM catalogue, and certainly one of the classics of the era.