Jazzfest Berlin '81

Guitarist Volker Kriegel was one of Europe's finest jazz-rock guitarists and is still remembered for his tasteful contributions to recordings by vibraphonist Dave Pike and the United Jazz and Rock Ensemble. Kriegel is captured at his very best on "Live At Jazzfest Berlin '81", a combined CD and DVD package which is released for the first time. Also featured is bassist Eberhard Weber who is, of course, best known for a number of groundbreaking albums on ECM.

Weber had also worked with Kriegel previously as a member of "Spectrum", a quartet which the guitarist formed in the early 1970's, and was also a key component of Kriegel's recordings for Joachim Ernst Berendt's legendary MPS label. On November 1981 in Berlin, however, the band presented in concert was simply titled "Volker Kriegel and Friends" and the group performed an unfamiliar (but enthusiastically received) repertoire mostly based around new pieces recorded for his solo album, "Journal". Largely modal in character, the music is notable for its dreamy textures and in addition to the exemplary six-string work also features Kriegel on (so-called) sitar guitar.

Personnel: Volker Kriegel (guitar & sitar guitar), Wolfgang Schluter (vibraphone), Thomas Bettermman (keyboards), Eberhard Weber (bass), Ralf Huebner (drums)