Mark Ritsema's Roxy Jazz Music – Mark Ritsema's Roxy Jazz Music (LP + CD)
What perhaps fewer people realize—though it cannot be emphasized enough—is that, outside of his main band, Ritsema has a number of memorable releases to his name, such as those under the monikers Nightporter and Raskolnikov, or (together with Mecano’s Dirk Polak) as Polar Twins. And now comes the live project Roxy Jazz Music.
From the moment he saw "Do the Strand" on TV in 1973, Ritsema was fascinated by Roxy Music. The band served as a gateway to the avant-garde, art, literature, and self-expression. The album *For Your Pleasure* became a constant presence in Ritsema’s life. In 2015, as part of a weekly Thursday jam session at the Rotterdam jazz café Dizzy, Ritsema decided—alongside a group of jazz musicians—to reinterpret Roxy Music’s early material. The four musicians accompanying Ritsema were not particularly familiar with Roxy Music, yet within the "rules" of free jazz and improvisation, the old songs took on a new twist: possessed, anarchic, and ominous.
In terms of design and the length of the liner notes, the back of the album certainly looks like a classic jazz LP. The opening track, "Stronger Through The Years" (from the 1979 album *Manifesto*), is actually a very logical choice. You would think this is material Ritsema could really work with—and indeed he does: with a freer role for guitar and saxophone, the track offers nearly eight minutes of simmering tension; it sounds less "mechanical" than Roxy Music’s original but is equally successful, retaining that beautiful cadence.
Ritsema effortlessly makes the somewhat mellower interpretation of "Beauty Queen" (from *For Your Pleasure*, 1973) his own. The extended intro and the prominent role of the saxophone—features seen elsewhere on the record—stand out here. Ritsema’s versatility as a vocalist shines on "Strangely Confidential," also from *For Your Pleasure*; sparse drumming and a fine interplay with the saxophone characterize this excellent arrangement. "A Song For Europe" was a popular track from the album *Stranded* (1973).
Solemn, melancholic, and multilingual, it is naturally the kind of song you want to hear in this context. The nine-minute track is captivating; the bass solo is freer, and Ritsema embodies the seasoned *chansonnier* steering the band toward an impressive finale. "In Every Dream Home A Heartache"—another track from *For Your Pleasure*—is a song where the tension remains palpable throughout, even in the hands of Ritsema and his band. The climax following the line "…but you blew my mind" is extended, allowing the band to really cut loose.
Label: IMC Records
Country: Netherlands
Media Condition: Near Mint (NM or M-)
Sleeve Condition: Near Mint (NM or M-)