Shalosh (translated: three) is considered among connoisseurs as one of the most interesting young bands in the jazz scene. With more than a hundred concerts around the world, the trio has been causing a stir internationally since 2014 with its acoustic, progressive raw jazz. Despite the classic jazz trio lineup (piano, bass, drums) and the deep roots of the musicians in jazz, Shalosh also treads paths between rock, classical, electro, African and Middle Eastern influences. The music is equally enchanting as it is moving, intense and soulful. The live atmosphere in the studio, the enthusiastic audience and the legendary Steinway piano inspired the trio to new, energetic interpretations, even of works that they have played hundreds of times on tour.
"We believe it is a great moment in time and sincerely hope that you enjoy partaking in it."
After the two critically acclaimed albums DEUS EX MACHINA and DARK WAVE, the French Big Band Initiative H is releasing a third opus, BROKEN LAND, modeled on Grieg's "Peer Gynt Suite" or Moussorgsky's "Pictures of an Exhibition". The origin of this suite is due to a climatological study. In this it is assumed that we have reached the "climatic point of no return" since 3 August 2017.
BROKEN LAND embodies the sound and visual soundtrack of this dark statement: a dark and imposing, but also fragile and intimate music that makes the listener fly into a dreamy road movie. Far removed from fatalism, this album also creates a consciousness that conveys hope: fight not to resign. "BROKEN LAND" provides a new impetus - at the same time strong, sensitive and bright. Founded in 2012 by David Haudrechy, Initiative H has embraced the ambitious challenge of creating dense, modern, passionate and cross-genre music (jazz, rock, electro, 20th-century music). The powerful sound of this 21st century orchestra is enlivened by the energy of a large collective project in which every single musician has his place. The interpretation is masterful, the commitment absolute and the listener is kidnapped by the telling power of this music. A musical adventure, human, urban, that makes Initiative H an inescapable asset in the renewal of French jazz.
The extraordinary crossover in his music becomes a lot more understandable when you know the special enthusiasm of saxophonist David Haudrechy for surfing, snowboarding and skating. The thrill, the slight shiver and the risk were sublimated by the director and composer of the Ensemble Initiative H, around the iconic image of the "Dark Wave". David Haudrechy develops his own free musical language inspired by Berlioz and Moussorgski, as well as Gill Evans, Carla Bley, but also King Crimson and Arvo Pärt. Unexpectedly and paradoxically, the musical process in the "slalom" meanders between the collaboration with Médéric Collignon, Magic Malik or Emile Parisien, as well as various projects around music, contemporary dance, or even audiovisual productions.
Still in the Woods - that's indie jazz. As relaxed as it is profound. As danceable as emotionally moving. As delicate and complex as energetic and captivating. It was only in the fall of 2015 that Anna Hauss (vocals), Robert Wienroeder (piano, keys), Raphael Seidel (bass) and Jakob Hegner (drums) - four young, outstanding music students from three cities (Leipzig, Berlin Dresden) - came to Still in The Woods closed together. What connects them is their unconditional love for music itself and an almost intuitive musical understanding among each other. Free-spirited, eager to experiment, open to the wide variety of musical stylistic devices and beyond any genre-drawers, the four exceptional musicians immediately find the "right tone", a common, unmistakable language that lets the spark pass. On stage and in interaction with her enthusiastic audience. And the success proves them right - already in the spring of 2016, the EP will be released in My Own Arms followed by a tour of Germany and the Netherlands. In 2017, alongside the "Still Rootless Tour" in front of a constantly lapping fanbase, the extraordinarily successful crowdfunding campaign to finance their album debut, which Still in the Woods presents here: More info...
„I chose the title Universal Citizen for the album and for one of the compositions of this album, to describe the importance of being beyond a nationality, a religion or a community. This aspect of being open-minded and universal is a key for living in our world today. We are of course all different, with many many different habits, knowledge, opinions, but we are all looking to the same goal; life and happiness. Around this common goal, there is no geographic boarders that can separate people, we all want the same. I wrote the music of this album in this sense and I feel extremely thrilled about releasing it, because it expresses my need to unify people through music, my passion.“
As Larry Crockett himself says: "To be a drummer requires a certain artistic commitment and dedication". Over the years, this incredible and subtle musician has his value alongside legends of soul, blues, pop, funk and gospel music, such as: Martha Reeves, Liz McComb, Sam Moore, and Eric Bibb proved. His new album, DRUM LOVE, is the result of his experiences and his personal career. Crockett calls it "the echo of his musical adventure". With this new production Crockett wants to convey a positive attitude, to bring a spiritual encouragement through his repertoire. Larry Crockett was born in Long Branch, New Jersey, in 1963. He learned drums with Michael Carvin (Dizzy Gillespie, Freddie Hubbard) and quickly became known for his skills.
With DRUM LOVE, his third album as bandleader, Larry Crockett goes a step further. He is now a comprehensive artist, multidisciplinary, composer, conductor, drummer, and ... singer. A great challenge for this artist, who has so far captured the melody of a song only behind his drums and cymbals. Still very modest in terms of his vocal qualities, Crockett "trains" his voice and uses the nuances of the slam to accompany his interpretation. The challenge is huge: Larry Crockett wants to tell his story through a sparkling soul / funk sound. He believes in the authenticity of the speech. "Music has allowed me to stay on the right path and positive. As whites and blacks once fought on the street, I focused on my drum lessons. In my opinion, love has no color, and so does the music. I never thought that skin color should be a controversial topic. There is so much violence in society that I have chosen the other way. "
"The original compositions in the wide spectrum of soul, jazz, rap and funk are lighter-footed and catchy than many other things, which spills one out of this sector every day."
With breathtaking runs, rhythmic patterns and the many timbres of the vibraphone, Wolfgang Lackerschmid and his trio enchanted the great audience. The perfect sound for the Brazilian feeling was provided by sound engineer Johannes Wohlleben.
"He is one of the most important German jazz musicians and also has an excellent international reputation as a vibraphonist."
With his first own big band album AUGMENTED REALITY, the conductor, composer and arranger Jochen Neuffer impressively demonstrates why he has already written for such greats as Lalah Hathaway, the metropolis Orkest and Helen Schneider. Finely balanced melodic phrases, colorful harmonies and wide-ranging musical arcs: AUGMENTED REALITY contains except for a refreshingly modern implementation of the classic "Pennsylvania 6-5000" exclusively multilayered original compositions from the pen of Neuffer, the traditional conventions of traditional big-band jazz , In this project, he trusts in the renowned Tobias Becker Bigband, who once again proves her outstanding musicality and versatility in her meanwhile third studio production. In doing so, Tobias Becker relinquishes the musical responsibility of his handpicked band and confidently places them in the hands of his longtime colleague Neuffer. The compositions are tailor-made for the band and also give the outstanding soloist due space for development. Neuffer produced the album together with Henk Heijink, who was a member of the Metropole Orkest for more than 30 years. As a producer he supervised artists like Kurt Elling, Gregory Porter and Joshua Redman. Heijink played a major role as producer in awarding the Metropole Orkest with a Grammy Award in the Best Contemporary Instrumental Album category for his collaboration with Snarky Puppy in 2016. AUGMENTED REALITY is the first project for which Heijink was drawn back from his retirement to the producer's chair.
5 Through a Mirror's Weary Eyes (Tobias Becker Bigband & Jochen Neuffer) 8:49
6 As Far as Light (Bart Van Lier & Jochen Neuffer Tobias Becker Bigband) 11:28
Reeds: Markus Harm (as/ss/cl); Daniel Roncari (as/cl/fl); Alexander Bühl (ts/cl); Lukas Pfeil (ts/cl); Christoph Beck (bs/fl/bcl); Jonas Brinckmann (bs/bcl)
Trumpet: Christian Mück (tp/flgh); Christian Mehler (tp/flgh); Heidi Bayer (tp/flgh); Benjamin Lindner (tp/flgh)
Trombone: Florian Seeger; Tim Hepburn; Marc Roos; Patrick Flassig (b-tromb.)
Rhythm Section: Tobias Becker (p/Fender Rhodes); Christoph Neuhaus (git); Markus Bodenseh (db/b); Martin Grünenwald (dr)
Shawn Grocott and Wolfgang Meyer met in 2005 in Detmold and founded the duo Shawn & the Wolf, a name that can be derived from "Peter and the Wolf".
The wolf of the duo is Wolfgang Meyer, primarily music dealer in Detmold. After more than 15 years as an active musician, he was reactivated by his friend Shawn for the stage. As a guitarist in some jazz and big bands, as a conductor and acting musician, he has previously gained plenty of stage experience, which is reflected in the range of his playing. Sometimes he plays bass, drums and guitar on his instrument at the same time. The combination of the two is also not ordinary in jazz: Trombone and guitar are rarely heard in this congenial constellation. There was a real boost with the idea of a first tour to Canada. A success, because in the meantime there have already been a total of three tours in Canada - as well as concerts and festival appearances in Albania, Brazil and of course in Germany.
Since 1995, the Canadian trombonist Shawn Grocott lives in Germany. He joined u.a. in the Berlin Philharmonic, the Elbphilharmonie, the Festspielhaus Baden Baden and the Mozart Festival in Würzburg. Shawn Grocott is head of the Big Band at the Hochschule für Musik, Detmold.
If you listen to Shawn & the Wolf, you will want more. The two musicians have performed together on several continents and have immortalized their music with their debut album ATLAS HORAS - music that moves and touches.
Many music recordings are produced entirely in studios, the outside world acoustically sealed off. In addition to these "clinically pure" sound conditions, such productions often involve far-reaching, sophisticated technical rework, so that the result is sometimes less artful but more artificial. Shawn & the Wolf, on the other hand, wanted a shot that impressed with authenticity - and they succeeded in doing so. The present album presents the music of the two in their creation process and draws the listener into these unique moments.
Martin Sasse has been one of the most active and well-known jazz pianists in Germany for many years. His recordings have received the best reviews in the world for years and are regularly top of the list in American and Japanese radio playlists. On tour he was among others with world star Sting, guitar virtuoso Philip Catherine or saxophone legend Steve Grossman. The international press speaks of the "Wunderkind of Europe" and the "fantastic interplay" of his new trio, consisting of Martin Gjakonovski and Klemens Marktl. With concentrated energy and swing, on one of the best jazz wings in Europe, the musicians played in front of an enthusiastic audience. M. Sasse:"The result is an album full of enthusiasm, mutual inspiration and a lot of creativity, recorded by Philipp Heck, a terrific sound engineer. The sound is just as I imagine a modern Jazz Trio album: open, direct, precise, jazzy ... "
"With Gjakonovski and Marktl he has found like-minded and equal members and together they make this LP a must-have for all strait-ahead jazz fans."- Jazz-Podium 03/18 (Hans-Bernd Kittlaus)
Kicks'n Sticks is the professional jazz orchestra of the Rhine-Neckar Metropolitan Region and unites many of the best jazz musicians living here. The existing since 2002 band today includes a musician pool of over 30 musicians. Kicks'n Sticks has set itself the task of presenting the entire history and range of orchestral jazz in artistically high-quality performances. Kicks'n Sticks has u.a. played with Bill Ramsey, Janice Dixon, Xavier Naidoo and Marc Marschall. From these varied concert experiences, Kicks'n Sticks has developed over the years an extremely extensive repertoire ranging from the swing of the 1930s to contemporary world premieres. Today, the musical direction of the band is distributed equally on Frank Runhof, as well as Martin S. Schmitt and Jochen Welsch, all of whom contribute as well-versed composers and arrangers to the independent sound of Kicks'n Sticks.
1. Hi-Heel Sneakers
2. Spring
3. Non Ti Scudari Mai
4. Here's That Rainy Day
5. What...?
6. I've Never Been in Love Before
7. It's All Right With Me
8. You Are Here
9. Das was bleibt - Prelude
10. Das was bleibt
11. Liebeslied
12. Zeralda's World - Prelude
13. Zeralda's World
14. Cloak and Dagger
Woodwinds: Tim Hurley (lead), Olaf Schönborn (lead), Fabian Schöne (lead), Gary Fuhrmann, Cordula Hamacher, Nicolai Pfisterer, Sebastian Nagler
Trombones: Marcus Franzke (lead), Garrelt Sieben (lead), Thomas Weiland, Peter Hedrich, Frederic Andrej (b-tb)
Trumpets & Flugelhorns: Jens Müller (lead), Claus Löhr (lead), Alexander Hartmann, Stephan Udri, Janis Hug, Heiko Hubmann
Rhythm Section: Rocco Dürlich - Guitar; Volker Engelberth - Grand Piano, Electric Piano; Friedrich Betz - Double Bass, Electric Bass; Dominik Raab - Drums
Conductors: Frank Runhof, Martin Sebastian Schmitt, Jochen Welsch
MURMURES, like the warm breath of someone familiar, whispering softly, gently in your ears. MURMURES, like the sound of an intimate word, like timidly sharing a secret. The saxophone, the guitar, the accordion and the singing design a poetic, idyllic atmosphere. In alliance or alone, they oat smoothly, resembling the movement of the human soul. On the way for looking themselves, they improvise, and finally they encounter utterly during the moments of sharing. Melancholic and warm at the same time; the music - composed by Tom Bourgeois - passes through several states, in the same manner as humans pass through the stages of life. In 2016 he teamed up with the singer Lois Le Van, the accordion player Thibault Dille and the guitarist Florent Jeunieaux, as their strongly defined musical style highlights his compositions. The sounds that emerge from this unusual acoustic instrumental formation translate into a true simplicity. The listening, almost naturally, guides us along the story that is already familiar to our ears. Tender, but powerful. MURMURES is a genuine work of composition and arrangement. Each title highlights the formation, in the form of duo, trio or quartet, to explore the highest possible richness of the sounds.
The program consists of two parts: the first one includes 10 own compositions by Tom Bourgeois. The emphasis is on the harmonic writing and on the French and English texts, interpreted by the vocalist Lois Le Van. The second part is an arrangement of Maurice Ravel’s quartet for strings in F Major. Completely transformed, the piece was re-written by Tom Bourgeois for his group, giving it a completely new life. The first movement leaves some place for the accordion, the second one for the soprano saxophone. The third movement had been enriched with a text in French, written by François Vaiana and sung by Lois Le Van. At last, the fourth movement underlines the place of the guitar. The four strings of the quartet by Maurice Ravel becomes a collection of the voices by four different instruments. With his program, Tom Bourgeois had re-discovered - in his own way - a piece written some hundred years ago, taking into account the modernity of our time. This development is guided by a clear and precise thread: to create something new by transforming something from the past. Very active on the jazz scene in Belgium and abroad, Tom Bourgeois embarks for the first time his album as leader and as composer. MURMURES is the result of a long work of writing for the acoustic quartet that he had formed in 2016.
CD 1
1 Melancholia 5:36
2 Charlie 7:12
3 Créatures (Suite) 9:00
4 Duke Ellington's Sound of Love 4:10
5 Mechanical Boy 5:28
6 The Old Father and the Polaroid 5:50
7 Jeff (3) 4:44
8 Les Petits Cailloux 3:09
9 Transience 4:32
10 Winter 5:38
CD 2
1 String Quartet M.35: 1. Allegro Moderato 6:49
2 String Quartet M.35: 2. Assez Vif, Très Rythmé 8:01
