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 More

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
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PART 2.... PART 1 = www.youtube.com The full track is 20.25 secs. From the "Actuel Festival", 25 October 1969. The Actuel festival was More

PART 2.... PART 1 = www.youtube.com The full track is 20.25 secs. From the "Actuel Festival", 25 October 1969. The Actuel festival was organized by the publication of the same name (who, under different editorship, went on to become a prime mover of the French counterculture in the early to mid-70s) in collaboration with the fledgling BYG label. It was originally going to take place in or near Paris, but French authorities forbid it and the marquee was eventually set up a few miles outside the French border, on Belgian soil. It took place over 5 nights, entertaining an audience of 15-20000 to a unique mixture of progressive pop, free jazz and contemporary music. Frank Zappa was present at the festival (well, the first four days, it seems) in a twofold capacity. First, as Captain Beefheart's road manager; secondly, as MC, assisting Pierre Lattes, a famous radio/TV presenter at the time (and the pop music editor for Actuel magazine). The latter task proved problematic given FZ's very limited mastery of French, the prevailing language among the audience, who themselves didn't seem to understand much English. Instead, FZ relinquished his MC job for one of occasional guest guitarist. A couple of films, directed by Jerome Laperrousaz and Jean-Noel Roy, came out in 1970 but were instantly banned because of objections from various bands (most notably Pink Floyd) whose permission hadn't been properly secured. The whereabouts of the master tapes for the festival, if any exist, are <b>...</b>
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