Helen 12 Trees [Original recording remastered]

Charlie Mariano (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 9, 2010)
• Original Release Date: 2008
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording remastered
• Label: MPS / SPV
• ASIN: B0012UQIZ8
• Also Available in: Vinyl
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #101,755 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Helen 12 Trees

2. Parvati's Dance

3. Sleep, My Love

4. Thorn Of A White Rose

5. Neverglades Pixie

6. Charlotte

7. Avoid The Year Of The Monkey

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Superb Re-Issue, May 7, 2008

By 

Star Thrower - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Helen 12 Trees (Audio CD)

As far as the music is concerned, I am in complete agreement with the previous review. This is a stunning piece of work from Mr. Mariano and co. Whether you are a fan of fusion or just great modern jazz, this album is bound to be a fine addition to any collection. I don't believe this line up was ever a working unit but they sure sound like it. It all fits together like a glove and the results are spectacular. Although the full band pieces are excellent, the Mariano/Hammer duo Charlotte is the high point for this listener. It's great to hear Jan Hammer's acoustic piano accompaniment to Mariano's superb playing on soprano sax!
This is my first purchase from Promising Music and I am very impressed with the high quality of this MPS re-issue. The re-mastering job is excellent, and it all comes in a great looking LP style package featuring a booklet of beautiful photos and liner notes. The actual cd itself is an all black mini vinyl replica. Very cool! These MPS re-issues are a little pricey but well worth it!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Taste and imagination and talent= Helen 12 trees, December 13, 2008

By 

rick from Boston - See all my reviews

This review is from: Helen 12 Trees (Audio CD)

I stumbled across this album back in the 70's because I had to have anything with Jack Bruce on it. Turns out it is one of the few jazz/rock/fusion albums I still listen to. Many bands back then were playing as fast and loud as they could, but this music is played with real taste and imagination. Mariano also put out a couple of other albums in this style. And NO guitars! Just sax,violin, and keyboards over a solid rhythm section of bruce and John Marshall. If you like this album, be sure to check out Mariano's other 2 from this period:"reflections",recorded in Finland, and featuring Jukka Tolonen on guitar, and "october", recorded in Germany. His style of jazz/rock/fusion may not be as loud and frantic as some of the other bands of that era, but I find it more rewarding.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a true fusion classic, April 11, 2008

By 

Bodhi Heeren (Copenhagen) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Helen 12 Trees (Audio CD)

This forgotten gem, originally released at the adventurous MPS-label is certainly fusion at its best. Progressive, experimental, virtuosic. Featuring the dynamic rythm section of basslegend Jack Bruce and masterdrummer John Marshall, who played on Jack's classic "Harmony Row" supplemented by percussionist Nippi Noya.

The music ranges from Indian-like fusion, showing Mariano's deep interest for South Indian music - besides sax and flute he also plays the nagaswaram - to the tender sax/piano duet "Charlotte", featuring Jan Hammer in an unusual tender moment.

But of course Hammer also plays his trademark superfast guitarlike synth-lines, trading solos with Mariano and Polish violonist Zbigniew Seifert, a stunning player who unfortunately passed away in 1979, only 33. Here he shows some beautiful and electrifying playing.

Highly inventive and transcendental. Great players concentrating on making pure and intense music.