Robert Keßler Trio - Bloodline (March 2021)

Bloodline - that means something like family tree. Every artist must honestly decide for himself to whom he feels obliged and why. To himself and thus to those who can identify with his statements, or to external factors such as media expectations, zeitgeist or a canon. Guitarist Robert Keßler has made a very clear decision, and his album 'Bloodline' bears witness to this step.

'Bloodline' is not a concept album, and yet the CD follows a very clear concept. This concept is called life. Not some imaginary life or life itself, but Robert Keßler's very personal balance sheet of the last ten years. His role as a family father, patient friend and selfless coach for countless young musicians as well as all the other factors that put his own musical ambitions on the back burner for long stretches. 'It wasn't a matter of just focusing on myself,' Keßler holds. 'That's rather difficult for me. That's why this record comes ten years after the last one. In the past years, it was not my turn, but that of children, students and other people.' He is a quiet as well as alert observer of his surroundings and also of his own reflection. In the end, we come face to face with a musician with the rare gift of knowing himself. Robert Keßler does not define himself by his conflicts, but is - at least outwardly - a pragmatist of everyday poetry. Amusement and pensiveness are the essential personal ing edients with which he gives his pieces their special flair.

1. Jesaja 41,10

2. Theo

3. Mann Mann

4. White lake

5. Along came Betty

6. Bloodline

7. Mach die Äuglein wieder auf

Robert Keßler - Guitar

Andreas Henze - Bass

Tobias Backhaus - Drums

Pre-order

Bastian Stein - Diegesis (2018)

“Was für ein Ton! Bastian Stein bläst Trompete und Flügelhorn so facettenreich… Vier Virtuosen berichten dem Hörer von einer Welt ohne Hektik und Stress.” (Werner Stiefele, Audio)

“Zeitlos schöner Jazz. So fein ziseliert und hoch konzentriert und präzise hier auch musiziert wird, kommt diese Abenteuerlust auf dem Album doch nicht zu kurz und entlädt sich in einer emotionalen Intensität, die kein ‘Höher’, ‘Schneller’ und ‘Lauter’ braucht.” (Beate Sampson, BR Klassik)

“Eine wunderschöne CD, die den Zuhörer selbst zum Meditieren anzuregen vermag.” (Teddy Doering, Jazzpodium)

New West

In Honor of a Friend

Gladiolus Tristis

Sung Fang Ching

Chiva

Without Words

The Quest

Con Alma

Bastian Stein, trumpet & flugelhorn

Pablo Held, piano

Matthias Pichler, bass

Tobias Backhaus, drums

Tal Arditi - Portrait (2018)

''Portrait'' is the debut album by the young Israeli guitar player Tal Arditi. 

The album was recorded live at ''A-Trane Jazz Club'' in Berlin , featuring Tobias Backhaus on drums and Andreas Lang bass . 

The idea behind the name ''Portrait'' is , That the concert in ''A-Trane'' was a portrait of Tal's life until that point. 8 original music pieces that resembles his year and a half alone in Berlin , and all his experiences so far. 

The album will be out in ''Ancor Lable'' on a CD and a limited edition of Vinyl 

''This recording will for sure spread around the name of Tal Arditi as a new important guitar voice in Jazz not only of Berlin but all over Europe and the music world wherever''- Rainer Harrmann ,founder of ''Jazz Baltica'' festival and ''Ancor Records'' Label .

1. One Step Behind 11:10

2. Berlin Vibe 10:08

3. Sassari 08:33

4. One For J.S 05:48

5. Walts No. 1 08:06

6. My Dream 08:30

7. Long Live The Bird 05:25

8. Circles 06:37

Wanja Slavin Lotus Eaters - Salvation (WHY PLAY JAZZ 2018)

Wanja Slavin (BMW World Jazz Award, Echo Jazz Award) presents his new album, “Salvation” with music that dazzles like the iridescent layers of a rainbow, evoking a radiance and authority – seven compositional gems with an orchestral feeling, rich tonal colors and sophisticated arrangements.

It’s a given that he’s one of the best alto saxophonists in Germany – or anywhere else, for that matter. His play has earned him the commensurate awards – important waystations along Wanja Slavin’s musical journey rather than any sort of existential musical goal. 

The exceptional new album from Slavin and his Lotus Eaters is the best evidence that the bandleader wants more. It’s the reason why he is so meticulous about the music he releases and why he so scrupulously fine-tunes his arrangements; it’s why time and again he alters his band personnel in order to more conclusively encompass the overriding musical ideas.

The music on “Salvation” dazzles like the iridescent layers of a rainbow. Yet it does not intrude on or attempt to overwhelm the listener. It develops its radiant power and authority reflectively, with discipline, devoid of clichés. In listening, one witnesses the burgeoning of something beautiful. Known for his free play in diverse Avant-garde constellations, here Wanja commits to the melodics of song form. Wanja Slavin considers The Lotus Eaters to be his most important band.

Like a gourmet, he seeks out the musicians that best suit his intentions. Thus, this second Lotus Eaters album consists of three recording sessions with alternating lineups and seven musical gems. There is an orchestral feeling to the music, with rich tonal colors and sophisticated arrangements. The solos are delineated, and come quickly and precisely to the particular point, since totally free play would not serve the purpose. Less is more, with pieces that project the feel of thoroughly arranged pop songs, or a kinship to Alfred Schnittke, or they could be the heroes of an imaginary Shorter-Wheeler-Konitz lineup leaning towards a rare multi-dimensional quality. After listening to the music, it’s clear that the particular line-up is essential.

Wanja isn’t one to hide behind his music. In this postmodern period, he has to deal with everything that’s out there. With the Lotus Eaters, he has come a long way in the art of defining and refining the essential. He doesn’t copy and he stays clear of irony. He doesn’t need those crutches because he’s not afraid of standing on his own two feet. 

The music alludes to something precious that goes beyond the six individuals involved and towards a spiritual level in which everything is transformed.

1 Salvation  6:36

2 W.S. 1  6:54

3 Melancholia 1  6:25

4 Melancholia 2  3:51

5 W.S. 2  6:33

6 Moonlight Becomes You  4:48

7 Love Song  3:53

Tom Arthurs (tp)

Erik Kimestad Pedersen (tp)

Wanja Slavin (as, synth)

Philipp Gropper (ts)

Rainer Böhm (p, rhodes)

Andreas Lang (b)

Bernhard Meyer (eb)

Petter Eldh (b, eb, synth)

Ivars Arutyunyan (dr)

Tobias Backhaus (dr)

Nasheet Waits (dr)

Track 1 recorded March 24, 2016 by Falko Duczmal at Forest Studios Steinbeck, Germany. Track 2/3/4 recorded September 28/29, 2016 by Marco Birkner at Casa San Francesco Loft Studios, Italy. Track 5/6/7 recorded January 19, 2017 by Rainer Robben at AudioCue Tonstudios Berlin, Germany. Produced by Wanja Slavin for WhyPlayJazz. Mixed by Marck Fuck. Mastered by Katherine Miller. Photo by Dovile Sermokas. Design and artwork by Travassos. Supported by Initiative Musik gGmbH with project funds from the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media, Germany.

Concerts 2018

Apr 17, 2018 - Mannheim, DE @ Klapsmühl

Apr 18, 2018 - Köln, DE @ LOFT

Apr 19, 2018 - Berlin, DE @ Orania

Apr 21, 2018 - Pohrsdorf, DE @ Saxstall

Mock Grandeur - 2 (WIDE EAR RECORDS 2017)

The Quartet Mock Grandeur with Benjamin Weidekamp and Christian Weidner on alto sax and Tobias Backhaus on drums plays sort of a conceptual music, with different combinations of the quartet but also some tunes featuring the whole group. An engaging music, soaked with Berlin Jazz Style attitude. READ MORE...

1. TS 02:07

2. #4 03:47

3. #21 03:19

4. BS 02:04

5. BCS 03:07

6. #17 02:14

7. CB 02:02

8. TC 02:20

9. CS 02:10

10. S 01:03

11. BC 02:09

12. STC 03:02

13. B 01:11

14. BCST 04:04

15. #20 03:26

16. #2 02:49

17. T 01:04

18. CBT 03:09

19. BST 03:05

20. C 00:51

21. #6 01:48

22. TSCB 02:04

23. #21-1 01:11

24. #7 01:08

25. BT 04:09

Sascha Henkel guitar/composition

Benjamin Weidekamp alto

Christian Weidner alto

Tobias Backhaus drums