“This is fun and shows the metamorphosis of a sideman who has a lot to offer.” (Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, 08.11.2021)
With I AM, Altfrid M. Sicking has fulfilled a long-cherished wish during the pandemic forced break: After decades as a sideman, permanent soloist in the Götz Alsmann Band and as a university lecturer in Münster and at the Folkwang in Essen, the vibraphonist and marimba specialist has rounded up a few favorite colleagues to record an album under his own name exclusively with original compositions.
As a busy concert and studio musician for the WDR Bigband, Charlie Mariano or Romy Camerun, among others, Sicking knows how to deal with diverse styles and genres, so the restrained arrangements are very consciously laid out terrains for relaxed soloistic development.
The basic quartet à la “Modern Jazz” with full-grip piano voicings (Sebastian Altekamp), walking bass (Ingo Senst) and very swinging, sometimes funky accented drums (Christian Schoenefeldt) is occasionally complemented by two smooth brass players (Christian Kappe on trumpet and flugelhorn as well as Martin Classen on tenor sax) and – when it gets danceable – by longtime Alsmann Band colleague Markus Paßlick in the middle of the percussion.
Sicking gives the classic ambience between swing and neo-cool a stylistically confident update: balladic, up-tempo numbers with bop appeal and movement-promoting Latin infusions. A round, lively album with vintage charm recorded live over two days with audible joy of playing.
More Releases:

Ed Partyka Jazz Orchestra feat. Efrat Alony – „Songs Of Love Lost“

Ed Partyka, Efrat Alony, Sunday Night Orchestra – “Overcast”

Ann Malcolm – “Shadows Who Dance”

Matthias Berg, Reiko Honshoh – “Debut”

George Robert & Phil Woods – Soul eyes

Jeff Hamilton Trio – “Hamilton House / Live at Steamers”

George Robert & Phil Woods – “The Summit”

Ann Malcolm – “R.S.V.P”

Ben Wolfe – “Bagdad Theater”

Jeff Hamilton Trio – “Hands On”

Andy Martin & Metropole Orchestra

Ben Wolfe – “13 Sketches”

Jeff Hamilton Trio feat. Frits Landesbergen – “Dynavibes”

“Straight Into Your Heart” – Metropole Orchestra, Nancy King & Steve Christofferson

Claudio Roditi – Metropole Orchestra

Joris Teepe – “Bottom Line”

Pete Yellin & His All Star Group – It’s You Or No One

Here comes Allan Harris and the Metropole Orchestra

Jeff Hamilton Trio – “Live!”
