Free Jam by Mongezi Feza

30 Mar

Written by Mark Keresman
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The late Mongezi Feza is a quite rightly legend in UK free jazz circles, and he also appeared in the "overlap zone" between the jazz and creative rock circles in the British Isles (Robert Wyatt, Henry Cow). Free Jam is just that, an informal blow-it-out session in the winter of 1972 with a few of Sweden's cutting-edge jazzguys, namely Bernt Rosengren and Okay Temiz (both of whom played with Don Cherry). Fezi had a style like a cross between Freddie Hubbard and Don Cherry: rippling, filled with barely contained energy and a mournful/hopeful human cry. While it would be great to state that the discovery of previously unheard music featuring Feza (along w/ Bernt & Okay, no slouches either) was cause for ecstatic huzzahs and hosannas, I'm afraid I cannot. While much of the soloing here is brilliant and riveting, there's also a lot of water-treading and redundancy -- after awhile it feels the solos are so long because the soloist is in love with the sound of his own playing. Despite the formidable energy of the band, there's very little cohesive ensemble work. If you're a fan of Mongezi Feza and/or the European free scene in the '70s, Free Jam is a must-have; for those wanting to experience Feza for the first time, seek his recordings with Johnny Dyani and Chris McGregor.

Additional Info

Artist / Group Name: Mongezi Feza
CD Title: Free Jam
Genre: Free Jazz / Avante Garde
Year Released: 2004
Record Label: Ayler Records
Musicians: M.F.: trumpet; Bernt Rosengren: alto & tenor sax, flute, piano; Tom Koverhult: tenor sax, flute, euphonium; Torbjorn Hultcrantz: bass; Leif Wennerstrom, drums; Okay Temiz: percussion. Recorded in Stockholm, Sweden in Nov. & Dec. 1972.
Label Website: http://www.ayler.com
Rating: Two Stars