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.
Paintbox celebrate the release of their second album “Alto”. Jonas Windscheid is the composer and guitarist of the Jazz-Quintet. His atmo- spheric music enchants with dense textures and surprising twists.
Erik Leuthäuser, with the songs of the brilliant writer, Kent Carlson, and in his collaboration with the outstanding pianist, Wolfgang Köhler, has turned the page to a new, simultaneously relaxed and energizing chapter.
The European jazz scene boasts a number of world class professional Big Bands, all with their own rich history and tradition. The Zurich Jazz Orchestra, founded in 1995, undoubtedly belongs to this exclusive club.
There can hardly be a more fitting time for the album “SONGS OF FAITH – Glaubenslieder”, Bending Times’ presentation of arrangements and compositions based on chorales which, for centuries, have given solace and encouragement to countless people throughout every imaginable crisis. Lines like “He will find paths your feet can follow” or “who freely helps us in this time of need that has befallen us” have a special echo in these insecure times.
With there way of playing together and being focused on dynamics the three musicians create atmosphere and space. Sometimes you feel hugged by warm sounds, nearly weightless, and then you find yourself in the middle of a hurricane where you don’t know what is up or down and the feeling of speed roars in your ears.
#1 Apple Music “Jazz Szene: Deutschland“ –
The Beatles in a different way.
A consistently creative homage.
“Rüdiger Baldauf’s arrangements are great and the soloists well chosen”. (Jazz ’n’ More, Jan./Feb. 2021)
“Another Step We Take is a must for those who want to feel and enjoy the essence of sounds.“ (Jazz ’n’ more)
– “This album is highly recommended.” (Jazz in Europe)
– With alternating dialogues, finely crafted melodies and accentuated statements, the playing of the three musicians from Cologne is reminiscent of an intimate yet enthusiastic conversation between good friends.
In the mid-1970s, the American singer Irene Kral recorded the albums “Where Is Love” and “Gentle Rain” with the pianist Alan Broadbent. These two records, almost unsurpassable in their intimacy and authenticity, were then nearly forgotten for close to half a century. Together with pianist Wolfgang Köhler, the Berlin-based singer Erik Leuthäuser is now taking these wonderful gems up again. Over forty years later, and with a dazzling transparency, they allow the pieces to sound almost provocative in their very personal nature.
Peter Fessler, of Canadian-German descent, is probably the only jazz musician from Germany who has ever had a global hit. As the singer of Latin jazz band Trio Rio (1983–1987), he created a true evergreen with the hit “New York – Rio – Tokyo”.
The singer Sónia Pinto was born in Porto, northern Portugal, as the opening line of her biography states. But the first thought that this bit of information brings to mind is “Portugal? = Fado!”… Far from it!
Mia Brentano opens up a very individual, very personal cosmos for us here, even more so than on her first CD. Her music is very entertaining, very diverse, but nevertheless unique. Just listen for yourself – there is nothing like it.
Music that touches your mind and soul. Music that provides for relaxing conversation as well as stimulating the intellect. Music that grooves like the devil, compelling you to listen with its intelligent compositions. Music that serves up a solid big band sound and that celebrates finely-shaped melodies. Music that pays stylistic tribute to easy going jazz, as well as refining pop music pearls with its arrangements, and exploring musical depths …
“Top album of the year 2019” (Jazz in Europe) –
On Eleven is music which allows you to feel the vastness, that gives you the room to breathe – that provides equal nourishment for the mind and the soul. It lets you forget time by making time come alive!
Hand in Hand – an album title that contains two meanings. Firstly, it of course reflects the artists’ collaboration as a duo; two creative individuals pursuing a musical goal together. Secondly, it is the combination of two harmonic instruments; their sounds are interwoven in such a way that individuality is maintained, while at the same time, a genuine dialogue is created rather than simple musical duplication.
Some projects can seem like haut cuisine recipes: the long list of ingredients alone can have chefs quaking in their boots. But then again, the mere thought of the delights to come can set the mouth watering …
“Come on, I’ll paint our colours for you on the wide walls of the house …” That’s a line from a song by Gisela Berndt, and that’s exactly what happens when this singer-songwriter from Cologne opens her lyrical paintbox for us. Gisela Berndt paints – with her lyrics and with her voice.
Secret Songs has become a very personal album. The two artists play mostly their own compositions, together with a few special arrangements of well-known jazz standards. Miriam Ast‘s vocals and Victor Gutierrez‘s piano playing enter into an intense musical dialogue that is characterized by warm and lyrical sounds, experimental and free-form passages, and virtuoso improvisations.
Behind the name REINBERG – a conceptual fusion of Konstantin REINfeld and Christoph SpangenBERG – two young shooting stars of the German music scene can be found. Here they are presenting a very unusual duo programme, namely a combination of diatonic harmonica (Reinfeld) and piano (Spangenberg).
You just need to listen to Paul Heller‘s new CD for a few seconds before you notice it; here are two people who fit together like the pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. It‘s not just because they both play the same instrument, the tenor saxophone …
“Best big band album of the year 2018!” (All about jazz ,Dec. 2018) – “One of the most innovative and relevant line-ups in a European big band scene that’s hungry for more.” (Manfred Papst, Neue Zürcher Zeitung)
A unique tribute to the great master Jiggs Whigham, played and expanded by Peter Hedrich, a rising star on the trombone. And appearing as guest of honour on three of the pieces – Jiggs Whigham himself. New Hope is a unique audio document from the 1970s dressed up in brand new clothes!
You really don’t need to do any research into the composer Mia Brentano. She has concealed her identity intentionally and meticulously, and only wants to be perceived through her music …
“An early candidate for any best-of 2018 list.” (Hans-Bernd Kittlaus, JazzPodium) – “I’d been thinking about heading out to record an album in New York, which for me is the most inspirational jazz source, ever since I did part of my studies there in 2006. Two years ago I heard Clarence Penn again in New York’s ‘Smalls’, and I suddenly decided – I can pull this off! I really wanted to capture that special sound and the energy of the local scene”
The Ed Partyka Jazz Orchestra (EPJO) was launched in Berlin in 2007. Its trademark is an unmistakable, and in all likelihood globally unique, mix of musical personalities. “Old stars” from the European …
Ivan Paduart – born in 1966, the Belgian pianist and composer first sat at the piano as a ten-year-old. At seventeen he discovered jazz, and since then he’s been steadily climbing the career ladder step by step, reaping major awards along the way. He has long been regarded as a fixture on the international jazz scene and has his own …
Paul Heller has proved that he can serve up classic and modern across a number of albums. And on the album Good Times, Paul Heller displays a new aspect; Good Times grooves like hell. The 10 original compositions really make you want to dance!
Ed Partyka’s Jazz Orchestra (EPJO) was launched in Berlin in 2007 – its hallmark is the distinctive, and perhaps globally unparalleled, mix of musical personalities. All-stars from the European big band establishment play side by side with newcomers from the young and hip jazz scenes of Berlin, Amsterdam, Vienna and Prague. Musicians from the USA, Germany, Austria, Holland, Switzerland and the Czech Republic come together.
Celebrated as the “quintessence of female jazz singing” Ann Malcolm fascinates her audiences with her very personal style and phrasing. She will definitely touch your heart with her unique voice that one does not forget.
“Between the years” is the name given to the period that follows on the heels of the Christmas festivities, even before the New Year’s Eve fireworks once again cast a glow on the wintry darkness. And even if this term is not found in any dictionary, it is still generally valid. Everyone immediately associates a very special feeling with this time.