The Romanian Eugen Cicero was a Wunderkind, performing his first piano concert with a symphony orchestra at the age of six. His first SABA/MPS album, Rokoko Jazz sold over a million copies. Cicero was acknowledged as an "all-around entertainer, someone who gives a damn about stylistic borders and takes whatever is useful, from Bach to Cole Porter".

In this 1980 outing Antolini has once again assembled an impressive ten-man mix of top-flight German and American players, with the inventive compositions written by members of the band.

Swiss drummer Charly Antolini has been a force in European mainstream jazz for over half a century, a super-technician often compared with Buddy Rich and Louis Bellson. Beginning his professional career playing in Paris with such New Orleans legends as Sidney Bechet and Albert Nicholas, he graduated to swing and bop, working with Benny Goodman, Earl Hines, Jimmy Guiffre, and Art Farmer, among others. Antolini is best known for his own all-star ensembles.

A true evaluation of Cicero's creativity requires not only an appreciation of his tremendous technique but also an ability to listen with the heart. Cicero loved music and he loved his audience. He never played for himself, but for his audiences, which he always succeeded in captivating. His careful selection of originals, prior to each performance, was a pure delight not only for the friends of classical music but also for jazz lovers. On this 1967 release Cicero interprets Liszt arranged for jazz ensemble.

Swiss singer-pianist Elsie Bianchi may not be a household name, but from the early 1950s through the 60’s she was one of the best jazz singers in Europe. Her sensuous voice and hip phrasing has shades of Anita O’Day. Elsie first gained fame through her appearances at the Zurich Jazz Festival in the early 50’s. Elsie and husband bassist Siro Bianchi toured the USA in 1958-59, playing at the legendary Lighthouse jazz club south of LA. She and Siro then began playing winters in Europe and summers in America before permanently moving to the States. Siro and MPS ‘house drummer’ Charly Antolini make it a tight trio.

Along with Joe Venuti and Stéphane Grappelli, and Svend Asmussen, Stuff Smith was one of the pre-eminent violinists of the swing era and played an important role in the violin’s transition into the modern jazz era, playing with tenor sax giant Coleman Hawkins, bebop icon Dizzy Gillespie, and avant-gardist Sun Ra. A crack rhythm section including MPS ‘house drummer’ Charly Antolini provide ample support on this 1967 offering.

This 1965 production was at the time a sensation. It was one of the first records of SABA (later MPS) and they presented - unlike the Play Bach records of Jacques Loussier - jazz improvisations moderate and not just themes and variations thereof. This record hit the public taste so well that it sold over a million copies worldwide.

Romanian jazz pianist Eugen Cicero established a unique style throughout his career walking the line between classical and jazz. He recorded several theme albums like this one, each drawing on material from a specific classical composer; on this 1966 session Cicero interprets Tchaikovsky, including an excerpt from The Nutcracker Suite.

Jonny Teupen was one of the few who could make the harp swing. The late German musician, a classically trained harpist and composer who could play in an orchestra as well as any jazz band, enlisted top musicians from both jazz and rock to back him on this 1969 recording. The Günter Kallmann Choir, at the time internationally renowned, takes care of the nostalgic mood on Teupen’s relaxing “easy listening” compositions. What’s more, the nine-piece vocal group could come up with a swinging scat chorus. Teupen’s love for modern jazz is shown on the piece Harp Revolution; every member improvises over the theme and even dares venture into the realm of free jazz.

Jazz accordion-master, Art Van Damme plays much more than cool/accordion mush. Born in Norway, Michigan, raised in Chicago, he is considered one of the greatest Jazz accordionists of all time. In the '60-'70 he is recorded many albums for German label MPS, considered among the best of his prolific career. Some of them are included into this combined Hi-Res collection.