obscure intense music RARE! jazz lp Hermann Szobel

http://www.myspace.com/szobel for more info

audio only video of Hermann Szobel, at the time of recording hermann was 19 years old he wrote and recorded only one album in the 70's, to be called an obscure album maybe an under statement, he is virtualy unknown. his solo debut (only recorded work) can be found as an lp but thats it.i had to get this from a drum teacher who had it copyed from lp to tape then to cd,(a skratched up one at that lol. while it came out during the prog fusion era, it was mostlikely out casted because its really not prog or fusion, avant modern classical may be more fitting, complex arrangements very remenecent of artist like frank zappa and others of that vain. his chops on piano are unique and skills remind me of an Art Tatum meets something else. not much is known about his life, but this music is insanely beautiful and haunting and every track is unique. the following is some of the only info one can find on him.

The enigmatic Hermann Szobel's only album was made marginally less obscure when Mike Magnuson mentioned it in his 2002 autobiographical novel, -Lummox, as a precious treasure around which his beer-swilling, jazz-obsessed protagonists congregate. The back cover carries a love note from Roberta Flack, a hearty plug from Arista's then-resident jazz mogul, Steve Backer, espousing "a very significant career," and special thanks to Flack and Bill Graham. The pianist, 18 years old when the record appeared and photographed naked to the waist at his keyboard, not only composed but also arranged and produced the whole affair, then promptly vanished (Magnuson's characters hear rumors of a mental home). Szobel's soloing runs to simplistic spirals up or down octaves on the opener, "Mr. Softee," but his compositional strengths handily unfurl, and indeed spotting a conventional jazz solo in this set is difficult in a good way. Working not so much in jazz or fusion than in instrumental prog rock or modern classical, he alternately unites, distributes, matches, and contrasts the timbres of five men playing ten instruments on constantly challenging charts. In the early going of "The Szuite," reedman Vadim Vyadro, as otherwise unknown as his leader, jumps through tenor sax octaves nimble as a commuter running for a train, switches to clarinet for a reflective passage accompanied only by vibist David Samuels (Spyro Gyra), then picks the tenor back up for a fresh shot at the hurdles. For "Transcendental Floss" Vyadro unleashes a voluminous run with well-timed shrieks over a an angular, irregular meter. "New York City, 6 A.M." updates the Viscounts' "Harlem Nocturne" with sax as the shuddering subway cars, bass and drums as the clicking of traffic lights. It fades, and with it any knowledge of this distinctive composer, or the whereabouts of the master tapes for a much-needed CD reissue, leaving listeners, as Roberta Flack sang sadly many years later, and probably not with Szobel in mind, "thinking of what might have been." ~ Andrew Hamlin, All Music Guide

Category:

Music

Tags:

• herman
• hermann
• szobel
• szoble
• piano
• classical
• jazz
• fusion
• avant
• prog
• crazy
• insane
• music
• chops
• weird
• mood
• vibe
• zappa

[archangelnegative]

This is so incredible. I love its unpredictable nature. I've been trying to find band members for an avant-jazz combo here in Oklahoma(Enid) but I can't find anybody. It seems they are all into emo and other low art music.

[druman44]

yeah its rough.. then somtimes hard to find a crowd but worth it. good luck in your search.

[GreggaryPeccary]

This is fkin AWESOME! Is this for sale somewhere?

[druman44]

you can some times find it on ebay (if you spell his name right, lol) or a record bin, thats about it?

or u can hear it on myspace

[tonyfreejazz20]

Yeah...this is so great. Awesome. Thanks for this. More please.

[druman44]

check out the myspace page. he only had the one lp that came out in 75. it avalible there or you can find it sometimes on ebay or record bins. its great stuff. szobel was 18 years old when he wrote and recorded.

[shroomadelic]

this song kicks my ass

[lucariololol]

@archangelnegative what do you mean by other "low art music"?

[mylogcold]

i find this bloody scary

[AbramoMike]

Found this over two years ago. Still some of the best jazz I ever heard.

[ManicMoniker]

Oh...Dear...God...I have found love, and it is crazy trippy jazz madness that you simply can't help but loose yourself in and let your idle mind weave a world of images around this music. Definately favourited, and I've got to find more by these guys.

I'm hooked, anyone else?

[Sniffinboots]

This is fucking amazing. I need to get this.

[Ross271290]

this is absolutel cream central!

[2standard]

Great tune. Too bad about the chopped off end.

[egretful]

@KillerBunnyVideos Transcendental Floss

[KillerBunnyVideos]

whats the name of the song?

[qusnakaal]

this is great. my sort of jazz. a bit zappaesque with a bit of sun ra thrown in