EMBRYO - Invisible Documents (1999) 2CD | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Now this one is gone. Drummer and percussion master Christian Burchard's Embryo, undergoing continual personnel changes since its inception, is caught live here in 1974. Charlie Mariano had already departed and was replaced by Edgar Hofmann, but his cohort, guitarist Roman Bunka, remains. The band is rounded out as a quartet by bassist Norbert Domling. This is the smallest Embryo manifestation on record, and it is one of the most adventurous and powerful, as well. This gig features four selections over two CDs, the shortest of which is just over nine minutes, and the longest almost 40 minutes. While they are listed as "compositions," these pieces are far more like structured improvisations. Burchard has less control over the proceedings here -- though he does play drum solos that last too long -- and they benefit as a result. Here saxophones, funk, African rhythms, and folk melodies collide in a mix of jazz-rock fusion's electricity and free-form out jamming. The individual selections don't matter so much, but the gig as a whole does. In particular, the sax playing by Bunka, and the violin work by Hofmann (who is a fine soprano saxophone player as well) are more than remarkable, they are astonishing in how they propel this music to a point where all ideas of time, space, and categorization blue and melt into the ether of intensity. Highly recommended.
->This comment is posted on Allmusic by Thom Jurek, follower of our blog 'O Púbis da Rosa' <-
Tracklist 1 :
1     Invisible Documents 20:04
Roman Bunka / Christian Burchard
2     Minaret 31:40
Roman Bunka
Tracklist 2 :   
1     Singing 38:51
Roman Bunka / Christian Burchard
2     Riad 9:12
Roman Bunka / Christian Burchard
3     Shine of Walt Dickerson 13:28
Roman Bunka / Christian Burchard
Credits :
Bass – Norbert Dömling
Drums, Marimba, Vibraphone [Vibes], Vocals – Christian Burchard
Guitar, Oud, Baglama [Saz], Percussion, Vocals – Roman Bunka
Soprano Saxophone [Soprano Sax], Violin – Edgar Hofmann

EMBRYO - La Blama Sparozzi (1982-1999) 2CD | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

This sprawling double album is the last Embryo title to feature the great guitarist Roman Bunka. Here, as on many of the band's other recordings, the basis sextet led by Christian Burchard is augmented by dozens of other musicians to varying effect. For starters, Embryo's live recordings are always their best. That is testified to here, as well, since the album was recorded in studios all over Europe, and features a live performance from Munich. It's the sprawl that testifies simultaneously to this album's greatest strength and weakness. While Embryo's musical restlessness counts for great improvised music, particularly in concert settings, the band's studio offerings sometimes lack focus, and that is certainly the case here. There are few long pieces on these two CDs, with 22 tracks in all. Taken as a whole, it would be unfair to say that these are Embryo's "pop" recordings; it is not inaccurate to say that they are consciously more accessible than on any of their other outings. This band has never aspired to relevance in terms of pop culture, before or after these sessions. The vocal tracks here fall flat and are uninspiring, while the music itself is brilliant and often visionary. This is a mixed bag to be sure, but a far from uninteresting one.
(This comment is posted on Allmusic by Thom Jurek, follower of our blog 'O Púbis da Rosa')
Tracklist 1 :
1     Abart 4:21
Roman Bunka
2     Reportage 6:55
Christian Burchard
3     Xingu 1:37
Roman Bunka
4     La Blama Sparozzi 7:00
Roman Bunka
5     Jay 1:28
Christian Burchard
6     Computer Killer 2:54
Christian Burchard
7     Cimbalero 2:55
Christian Burchard
8     Zapata Pasteta 7:26
9     Kehlig Selig 7:47
Christian Burchard
10     Duo 2:32
Tracklist 2 :
1     Mundbogen 9 4:31
2     El Moro 6:28
Chris Karrer
3     Fun-Bahia 7:39
4     Auf Gottes Auge Wächst Kein Gras 4:44
Edgar Hofmann
5     Evas Zimmer 0:50
Christian Burchard
6     Nigeria, Karnataka 4:41
7     Pia Pia 5:31
Traditional
8     Wasserräder 6:12
9     Egypt Straat 4:04
10     Grace 1:37
11     Cimbaleros 11:08
Christian Burchard
12     Salam Salah 5:53
Christian Burchard
Credits :
Performer – Chris Karrer, Christian Burchard, Colin Offord, Edgar Hoffmann, Freddy Setz, Gerald Luciano, Grace Youn, Jay Ziehr, Machin Abdul Raschid, Malang Nedjrabi, Michael Wehmeyer, Muhammed Hilal, Muraina Oyelami, Ramesh Shotam, Rolf Silvester, Roman Bunka, Salah Ragab, Schamsdin Masrur, Sehnap Eizard, Ulli Bassenge, Werner Aldinger

EMBRYO - Tour 98 : Istanbul-Casablanca (1999) 2CD / FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Tracklist 1 :
1    Roberto    5:39
2    Nasredin    9:01
3    Renk    5:45
4    Bisterve    4:50
5    All Alone    11:14
6    Istanbul Suite    12:37
7    "3-2-3"    5:50
8    "Air"    3:47
9    Mirhaba Herzberg    1:08
10    Mongolenblues    8:34
12    Session 2 (Part 1)    3:43
Tracklist 2 :
1    Telefon    4:53
2    Chinese Rap In 9    7:37
3    Rumba Di Llanca    2:27
4    Saat Holm    10:17
5    Pirata    2:20
6    Gnawamagic    12:57
7    Andalouse    2:46
8    Essauira    9:17
9    Banda, Banda    2:28
10    Nayi!    2:19
11    Onibo    4:00
12    Session 2 (Part 2)    1:49
ft. Christian Burchard, Lothar Stahl, Jens Pollheide, Karsten Hochapfel

EMBRYO with MAL WALDRON ft. CHRISTIAN BURCHARD - For Eva (2000) APE (image+.cue), lossless

This album is an Embryo album without being one.. As this collection had appeared under Mal Waldron name back then. Indeed this 67 live collection shows the partnership between American jazz pianist and vibraphonist Christian Burchard, but also many other Embryo familiars like drummer Serfas, bassist Meid (also AD), etc. The whole thing was pure jazz back then, you could even call swing, because of its Lionel Hampton-type mallet-driven jazz. The quartet developed some very enjoyable but out-of-scope for this site jazz that borders Armstrong or the afore-mentioned Hampton. Virtuosic, but certainly not arrogant or show-off-ey, the 9 tracks taken from '67 concerts in Munich or Graz (Austria) are all originals penned by Mal Waldron or Burchard (just one) , with one cover, Autumn Leaves, with none standing out from the selection. web
Tracklist :
1. Sugar Lump (5:09)
Walt Dickerson
2. For Eva (7:54)
Christian Burchard
3. For Bob (11:26)
Mal Waldron
4. Cool World (12:04)
Mal Waldron
5. Anka's Trance (10:24)
Mal Waldron
6. Autumn Leaves (3:50)
Joseph Kosma / Johnny Mercer / Jacques Prévert
7. Infinite You (5:16)
Walt Dickerson
8. Bud Study (5:20)
Mal Waldron
9. Fire Waltz (4:28)
Mal Waldron
Total Time: 65:56
Line-up / Musicians
- Mal Waldron / piano, percussion
- Christian Burchard / vibes
- Dieter Serfas / drums
- Reinhard Knieper / bass

EMBRYO - Live 2000, Vol. 1 (2000) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Tracklist :
1    3 Continents    7:43
2    Kawalli    2:06
3    Turkish Drums    4:22
4    Robbed In Spain    6:53
5    Yulyus In Madurei    7:55
6    Blues 21    6:52
7    2 Keys    6:33
8    Rhubabdreams    4:59
9    Chlebnikov    3:55
10    Mejor Venti    3:03
11    Flip Out    6:59
12    Burru Gara Dara    9:05
Credits :
Alto Saxophone – Monty Waters
Baglama [Saz] – Murat Ertel
Bass – Nick McCarthy
Cello, Guitar, Oud – Karsten Hochapfel
Erhu – Xizhi Nie
Flute – Masaro Nishimoto
Flute, Bass – Jens Pollheide
Guitar – Geoff Goodman
Keyboards – Michael Wehmeyer
Keyboards, Lute [Rhubab] – Larry Porter
Oud – Chris Karrer, Yulyus Golombeck
Percussion – Dieter Serfas, Klaus Gehn, Lothar Stahl, Max Weissenfeldt, Izet Kizil
Percussion, Santoor, Vocals – Christian Burchard
Soprano Saxophone – Serguei Letov
Thavil [Tavil] – Karuna Murti
Trombone – Marty Cook
Trumpet – Götz Liekfeld, Jurji Parfionov
Vocals – Bayka, Mac Grimmen Sesler