Inside Missing Link

A 20th Century Renaissance man, cartoonist, film director, author, radio personality, record company owner, German guitarist Volker Kriegel played an important role in the European jazz-rock and fusion movements. Co-founder of the United Jazz and Rock Ensemble, Kriegel’s own groups and collaborations with American vibraphonist Dave Pike gained him a world-wide audience. On Inside: Missing Link Kriegel assembled a band of some of the leading musical visionaries on the European jazz scene for this 1972 double album. The first album contains four extended pieces featuring an international octet with a hip mix of rock & jazz, pulsating arrangements, and distinctive solos. You find a three-piece brass section with German trombone icon Albert Mangelsdorff and saxophone master Heinz Sauer as well as English saxophone giant Alan Skidmore. The rhythm section likewise consists of ace musicians: Eberhard Weber on bass, John Marshall on drums and Dutch percussionist Cees See. English keyboard legend John Taylor’s electrifying play completes the sound. The second session is done without the brass section, giving Taylor's electric piano and Kriegel's electric and acoustic guitars more room, as well as Weber who also contributes one of his compositions. Peter Baumeister takes over at the drums. The album was remastered from the original analogue master tapes.