SALIH BAYSAL – The Myth (Sonet, 1978)

Instrumental, other languages
International relevance: **

Imagine a Sevda album where the spotlight is almost exclusively on their deft violin player Salih Baysal and you'd get ”The Myth”. It's a solo album of his to all intents and purposes, but with Maffy Falay and Okay Temiz appearing on various drums and percussion, it's still something of a lost Sevda album, or at least a Sevda stripped to the basics. Especially the second side where Temiz really have a go at it on the drums.

But the focus is really on Baysal's violin and, on several tracks, his throaty, experienced voice. The material is all Turkish folk tunes, collected and arranged by Falay. If you enjoy the Turkish melodics, you'll probably love both sides of the disc equally. If not, the B side is still worthy of many spins as it's always such a rousing pleasure hearing the multifaceted rhythms of Okay Temiz. A little gem from the outskirts of progg!

Full album

ORIENTAL WIND – Chila-Chila (Sonet, 1979)

Instrumental

International relevance: ***

The second Sonet album credited to Oriental Wind with great Turkish drummer Okay Temiz at the helm. Those familiar with his other albums including those by the majestic Sevda know what to expect from ”Chila-Chila”, a fine blend of Turkish modes and Swedish jazz.

Those thrilled by Oriental Wind's eponymous 1977 debut but disappointed by the too fusion-y ”Bazaar” from 1981 should certainly lend an ear to this effort. Lots of Eastern flavours and a constant motion forward thanks to Temiz himself, Bobo Stensson's piano excursions and Lennart Åberg's forceful and often transcendent sax playing.

Only ”Julu Kara Nayni” feels a bit bland in the company of the more adventurous tracks dominating the album, such as ”Chila-Chila”, ”Estergon Kalesi”, and most of all the aboslutely marvellous ”Karasar Zeibegi” with its haunting, melancholy melody soaring in the heights of Arbete & Fritid passing Fläsket Brinner's ”Gånglåten” on the way.

A lovely album!

Full album playlist

SEVDA – Jazz i Sverige '72 (Caprice, 1972) / Live at Jazzhus Montmartre (Caprice, 1972) / Live at Fregatten (Sonet, 1974)

Jazz i Sverige '72 (Caprice, 1972)

as Maffy Falay, Sevda
Instrumental

International relevance: ***

 

Ranked #9 on the blog's Top 25

One of my all time favourite bands operating on the progg/jazz scene, led by Turkish trumpeter Maffy Falay and featuring fellow countryman and drummer Okay Temiz, Fläsket Brinner saxophonist Gunnar Bergsten, and jazz pianist Bernt Rosengren to name a few of Sevda's original members.

Sevda was a very powerful unit, strikingly vital, organic, dynamic – everything you could ask for from a top notch jazz outfit. The Turkish harmonies enrich the music immensely, creating a tension field that is almost unique to Sevda (almost, because Okay Temiz's albums under the Oriental Wind banner were rather similar to Sevda). 

I've included only one album by each artist on the Top 25 list, and I picked this one to represent Sevda, but I could easily have chosen any of their albums because all of them are absolutely brilliant. They're all so good they're basically beyond criticism.

Live at Jazzhus Montmartre (Caprice, 1972)
Instrumental 

International relevance: ***

 

Recorded on legendary Copenhagen jazz ground a mere week after ”Live i Sverige '72” and released in the same year, this is like a companion volume to the previous album. ”Live at Jazzhus Montmartre” captures Sevda in an even more expressive mood; the music is rawer and with an even greater Turkish emphasis. The playing is so intense it's almost dangerous – when at their most frenzied, I almost want to duck not to get hit in the head from the debris and splinters flying off the music. An incredible album.

Caprice combined ”Jazz i Sverige '72” and "Live At Jazzhus Montmartre to the lovely "Exclusive Collector's Edition" box set in 2011, adding a bonus DVD with the television performance also documented on the ”Jazz i Sverige” album. An essential edition of two essential albums. 

Live at Fregatten (Sonet, 1974)

as Maffy Falay and Sevda

Instrumental

International relevance: *** 

 

All Sevda albums are recorded live, this one at Stockholm Jazz Festival in August 1973. Like their previous albums it opens with a taksim (an improvisation) by the wonderful violinist Salih Baysal, and then all hell breaks lose again. ”Live at Fregatten” has an altered line-up, with Björn Alke on bass instead of Ove Gustavsson, and Tommy Koverhult replacing Gunnar Bergsten on sax. Maybe that changed the musical chemistry of the band, as the album again has a different feel than Sevda's previous albums. Actually, this is very much Okay Temiz's album – he pushes the music ahead of him like a powered up high speed bulldozer, drumming away like a raging madman. I can almost see the faces of the other members while they're playing – ”man, Okay's really on tonight!”. ”Live at Fregatten” is every bit as essential as the ”Jazz i Sverige '72” and ”Live at Jazzhus Montmartre”, another a masterpiece from an almost unrivalled band. It should have been a great inclusion in the Caprice box set, but ”Live at Fregatten” was an original Sonet release.

Exclusive Collectors Edition including full Jazz i Sverige and Jazzhus Montmarte playlist

Live At Fregatten no links found

OKAY TEMIZ – Oriental Wind (Sonet, 1977)

Instrumental

International relevance: ***

Drummer Okay Temiz is one of Turkey's best known jazz musicians and was a part of the exceptional Swedish/Turkish band Sevda in the 70's. He released a couple of albums featuring Swedish musicians, including this one.

As with Sevda, this is jazz with a Turkish twist. The musicianship's extraordinary, with bass man Palle Danielsson, pianist Bobo Stenson and sax player Lennart Åberg (Rena Rama and others) being the Swedes in the lot. Temiz himself is one of the few that can play a drum solo that aren't merely a pee break to the listener; his playing is marvellous, he always keeps the momentum going through sharp attention without ever losing the direction. He truly leads the band, focuses each of the musicians' efforts into one collective, transcendent performance. It's a true joy to listen to ”Oriental Wind”, and other Sevda fans ought to be just as delighted as I am by it. Simply excellent.

Full album playlist

ANTHONY 'REEBOP' KWAKU BAH – Anthony 'Reebop' Kwaku Bah (Philips, 1973)

 
Instrumental, English vocals, other languages
International relevance: ***

Percussionist Anthony 'Reebop' Kwaku Bah (usually spelt Baah) made a couple of albums for Island Records (including ”Welcome to the Canteen” with Traffic members in 1971) but this was his only uniquely Swedish album, with a stellar cast of Fläsket Brinner members, jazz pianist Bobo Stenson, the everpresent Jan Schaffer. and Maffy Falay of the mighty Sevda. It's an eclectic jazz effort with well proportioned ingredients of American and African funk, prog, and even dashes of psych. It's tempting to compare it to early 70's Don Cherry and while not entirely wrong this album has a stronger fusion feel than what Cherry usually had. It's a vital concoction, highlighted by the merciless groove of ”Lovin' You Baby” and the sexy ”200 to 500 Years Ago” that goes on for nine funky and hypnotizing minutes. Essential.

Originals are very rare but French label JetRecords reissued it in 2020.

Full album playlist