Simon Sieger / Joel Grip / Michael Griener - Elastic Bricks (January 7, 2022 Umlaut Records)

With a sound reminding us of acoustic piano trios from the 50s and 60s, Oùat sets out to discover a standard song format of today. Even though the nine original compositions on this release are performed instrumentally, they all stand in close relation to text and the vocal; first there was the word, then the simultaneous hearing and speaking, reading and writing of the music and its meaning. The forms are elastic and tend to give the improvisers open access to a great variety of techniques heralding the expressionism as well as romanticism in jazz and classical music. The resonances are dense like dry bricks piled up to conquer and question the times we are living today. The whole recording process have been followed by writer Erin Honeycutt who let us fall back into the word and the thought in her digging as well as constructing liner notes.

Oùat is a trio that found its origins in instinctive moments cast over the front and rear windows of jazz history. On their home ground in Berlin (Au Topsi Pohl) they have performed the music of Ellington, Hasaan Ibn Ali, Elmo Hope, Per Henrik Wallin and Sun Ra. Their debut album of strictly original material, Elastic Bricks, might remind you of Hindemith's dream holiday in Tangier. Sounds and tempi in a strange mix of recognisable disarray and unrecognisable order.

Oùat (Once upon a time) is collective storytelling, about what, where, and at, bringing forth questions about being when and where. Its members play revolving roles in the creative music scenes in Europe, from Marseille to Dala-Floda via Berlin. Their individual work encompass groups like Monks Casino, [ahmed], and Art Ensemble of Chicago. 

1. Shall we

2. Mother and Son

3. Sommer

4. Dala-Floda Departure

5. Height of Nothingness

6. Tibia of the Mole

7. Weihnachten

8. Topsi Dance

9. Borghini Ballade

Simon Sieger: piano

Joel Grip: bass

Michael Griener: drums

All compositions by Joel Grip, except A3 and A5 (by Simon Sieger and Joel Grip) and B3 (by Simon Sieger).

Recording: March 24-25, 2021 at Traumton, Berlin- Spandau

Engineering: Andreas Lammel

Mixing and digital premastering: Alexis Baskind

Vinyl Cut: Kassian Troyer at Dubplates and Mastering/ Berlin

Cover painting and photos: Joel Grip

Liner notes: Erin Honeycutt

Produced by Topsi Series for Umlaut Records

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Karl Naegelen / Sylvain Darrifourcq / Toma Gouband - Cartographie de rythmes #1 (November 2021 Umlaut Records)

Cartographie de rythmes - Vitesses approchantes [Cartography of rhythms - Approximating speeds] is a startling duo comprised of two drummers following their own respective rhythmic paths.

Toma Gouband’s path is littered with stones, plants and traditional drum elements, all leading him into a complex and direct polyphonic world.

Sylvain Darrifourcq’s instrumental exploration is rife with machine esthetics and questions on temporality, space and rupture.

In uniting these two singular yet complementary musicians, composer Karl Naegelen brings them to collaborate on a written object of rhythmical invention that stems from extended shifts in interval and phasing.

1. Impacts

2. Vitesses approchantes

3. Déphasage circulaire

4. Minimal

5. Continuum - filtrage

Karl Naegelen: composition

Sylvain Darrifourcq: drums, percussions, objects

Toma Gouband : drums, percussions, vegetal lithophones

Recorded in July 2021 at Athénor - Centre National de Création Musicale (Saint-Nazaire)

Engineering, mix and mastering : Ananda Cherer

Design : copyright atelier informationCare / Ronan Le Régent

Produced by Athénor scène nomade - CNCM with the support of Centre National de la Musique.

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MARY'S IDEAS : Umlaut Big Band plays Mary Lou Williams (September 17, 2021 Umlaut Records)

MARY'S IDEAS

Umlaut Big Band plays Mary Lou Williams

PDF BOOKLET INCLUDED

1930 - 1981

Rare and newly discovered works of Mary Lou Williams

Since 2011, the Umlaut Big Band has made a specialty of going back to the early decades of jazz to revive the music of the great bands of that era, while commissioning contemporary composers to write new works.

After working on Don Redman in 2018, the Umlaut Big Band continues its series of portraits of forgotten composer-arrangers by focusing on the work of Mary Lou Williams (1910-1981), a prolific musician whose career spanned 50 years of jazz history, constantly open by its transformations.

Initially a pianist and prolific arranger for Andy Kirk's orchestra, she aroused the curiosity of the public – for women instrumentalists were rare in this male-dominated milieu – and in the 1940s became the mentor of Thelonious Monk, Bud Powell and Dizzy Gillespie. She wrote for Duke Ellington and Benny Goodman on numerous occasions and collaborated with Cecil Taylor, Shafi Hadi and Buster Williams in the 1970s.

The personal archives of Mary Lou Williams, preserved at the Institute of Jazz Studies in Newark, bear the traces of this prolific trajectory. The original manuscripts, mostly unpublished, served as the main source for this project informed by precise historical research. Thus, the Umlaut Big Band allows us to hear for the first time numerous compositions written between 1930 and 1981.

Here, for the first time, the work of Mary Lou Williams the composer and arranger, has been considered as a whole. This album was conceived around themes specific to her musical practice: her relationship to the blues, the influence of Kansas City, the rewriting and reinvention of old works, the expression of a point of view on history and a relationship to youth. A reading that we hope will shed new light on an unjustly neglected figure. 

1. History of Jazz for Wind Symphony: Introduction – Suffering

2. Chunka Lunk

3. New Musical Express

4. Just an Idea (Mary's Idea)

5. Medi No.2

6. Truth

7. Aries

8. The Count

9. Harmony Blues

10. Mary's Idea (1930)

11. After You've Gone

12. Body and Soul

13. Mary Steps Out

14. Gjon Mili's Jam Session

15. Sweet Georgia Brown

16. Stardust (big band version)

17. Lonely Moments (1943)

18. Sleepy Valley

19. Kool

20. Conversation

21. Scorpio

22. Untitled Incidental Music (excerpts)

23. Fill the Cup

24. Blue Skies

25. Joe

26. O.W.

27. Mary's Idea

28. Stardust (trio)

29. Lonely Moments (1946)

30. Ghost of Love

31. Fifth Dimension

32. Earl's Boogie

33. Roll 'Em

34. Taurus

35. Aquarius

36. Virgo

37. History of Jazz for Wind Symphony : Spiritual #1 - Spiritual #2

38. Fandangle

39. Zoning Fungus II

40. Chief Natoma from Tacoma

41. Shafi

42. Rosa Mae

Recorded January 23-27, 2021, at Philharmonie de Paris, France and mixed by Baptiste Chouquet/B media, assisted by Jean Viardo and Francesco Parolo

Mastering by Benjamin Joubert

Artwork and graphic design by Bonnefrite

Produced by Nawel Benziane and Pierre-Antoine Badaroux

Coproduced by Philharmonie de Paris, la vie brève – Théâtre de l’Aquarium, Umlaut Records, with support from the Mary Lou Williams Foundation, Inc.

Umlaut Big Band (in various combinations)

direction, alto saxophone: Pierre-Antoine Badaroux

alto saxophone, clarinet: Antonin-Tri Hoang

tenor saxophone, clarinet: Pierre Borel

tenor saxophone, clarinet, bass clarinet: Geoffroy Gesser

baritone, alto and bass saxophone: Benjamin Dousteyssier

trumpet: Brice Pichard, Pauline Leblond, Gabriel Levasseur, Emil Strandberg

trombone: Michaël Ballue, Alexis Persigan, Robinson Khoury

bass trombone: Judith Wekstein

piano: Matthieu Naulleau

guitar, banjo: Romain Vuillemin

double bass: Sébastien Beliah

drums: Antonin Gerbal

Umlaut Chamber Orchestra conducted by Pierre-Antoine Badaroux (on Roll ‘Em and excerpts from the Zodiac Suite)

flute: Liselotte Schricke

oboe: Sylvain Devaux

clarinet, bass clarinet: Geoffroy Gesser

clarinet: Antonin-Tri Hoang

tenor saxophone: Pierre Borel

bassoon: Ricardo Rapoport

trumpet: Brice Pichard

french horn: Nicolas Josa

trombone: Michaël Ballue

violin: Hugo Boulanger, Aliona Jacquet, Clémence Meriaux, Stéphanie Padel, Manon Philippe, Lucie Pierrard, Emilie Sauzeau, Léo Ullman

viola: Issey Nadaud, Elsa Seger

cello: Félicie Bazelaire, Elsa Guiet

piano: Matthieu Naulleau

double bass: Sébastien Beliah

drums: Antonin Gerbal

All compositions and arrangements by Mary Lou Williams unless otherwise stated. All arrangements by Mary Lou Williams.

CD1

History of Jazz for Wind Symphony: Introduction – Suffering 02:00

VARIATIONS IN THE BLUES

Chunka Lunk 03:18

New Musical Express 02:41

Just an Idea (Mary’s Idea) 04:22

Medi No.2 04:45

Truth 03:24

Aries 03:28

KAYCEE

The Count (Thomas Gordon) 03:33

Harmony Blues (Bennie Moten) 02:49

Mary’s Idea (1930) 02:53

After You’ve Gone (Henry Creamer & Turner Layton) 03:31

Body and Soul (Edward Heyman, Robert Sour, Frank Eyton & Johnny Green) 02:54

Mary Steps Out 02:52

PRELUDE TO DUKE - Pt. 1

Gjon Mili’s Jam Session 03:55

Sweet Georgia Brown (Kenneth Casey, Ben Bernie & Maceo Pinkard) 03:56

Stardust (big band version) (Mitchell Parish & Hoagy Carmichael) 03:12

Lonely Moments (1943) 04:39

Sleepy Valley 02:42

63, HAMILTON TERRACE

Kool 02:57

Conversation (Leonard Feather) 03:09

Scorpio 03:29

Untitled Incidental Music (excerpts) 04:13

CD2

PRELUDE TO DUKE - Pt. 2

Fill the Cup 03:22

Blue Skies (Irving Berlin) 03:05

Joe (Milton Orent & Mary Lou Williams) 02:23

O.W. 03:27

NEW BOTTLE, OLD WINE

Mary’s Idea (1938) 03:51

Stardust (trio) (Parish & Carmichael) 03:10

Lonely Moments (1946) 03:47

Ghost of Love (Jack Lawrence & Williams) 03:02

BOOGIES

Fifth Dimension 03:28

Earl’s Boogie 03:18

Roll ‘Em 10:32

ZODIAC SUITE

Taurus 03:01

Aquarius 03:34

Virgo 04:12

ETERNAL YOUTH

History of Jazz for Wind Symphony: Spiritual #1 – Spiritual #2 01:50

Fandangle 01:53

Zoning Fungus II 07:52

Chief Natoma From Tacoma 03:58

Shafi (Shafi Hadi & Williams) 03:28

Rosa Mae (Gracie Glassman & Williams) 04:08

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Superklang - Superklang (July 2021 Umlaut Records)

…Then they both stopped on the side of the road…

While dusting their coats to remove the dust of the path, they looked back towards the fertile meadows from which they had picked flowers. Already fifteen years playing together! Sylvain Lemêtre and Frédéric Aurier, trained in classical school, committed to the contemporary cause, curious of musics from around the world, Fred and Sylvain wanted to write the score that would resemble them. Interpreters, composers and improvisers, they gathered the seeds that they had patiently grown : musical theater and electro pop, bourrées with five or seven beats, Ligeti and Machaut, what is below as well as what is above…They grabbed the zarb and the violin, the nyckelharpa, the frame drum and the Tibetan bowls, they also found on the mound a threaded rod and a Newtonian pendulum : SuperKlang was born!

They then turned their gaze forward... the horizon was far away... they set off again!

1. Fred et moi (Bonjour) 01:42

2. Trois Totems 05:32

3. Horloge 1 01:36

4. Sucre d'Orge 05:21

5. Retro passacaille 04:50

6. Rage de Danse 03:00

7. Horloge 2 01:35

8. Sans Additif 07:13

9. Horloge 3 01:40

10. Retour aux Chazeaux 05:41

11. Sylvain et moi (Au revoir) 02:06

Frédéric Aurier : violin, nyckelharpa and voice

Sylvain Lemêtre : zarb, percussions and voice

Compositions : Frédéric Aurier - Sylvain Lemêtre

Sound engeneering and mastering : Adrian' Bourget

Recorded in July 2020 at Studio l’Artscène

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سم [ISM] - Japanese Flower (June 4, 2021 Umlaut Records)

To follow up on their first album Nature in its inscrutability strikes back (Umlaut Records 2015), the unclassifiable European trio سم [ISM] is releasing two new recordings captured during a studio session in Tokyo in November 2018. The first part titled Metaphor was released on CD in the spring of 2019 while the second installment - the LP Japanese Flower - will be available in June 2021.

In this dense and adventurous diptych, the rhythm section of the group أحمد [Ahmed] exposes and propels music populated by sound fictions that pulverise the listening habits of the jazz trio format. Sometimes polyphonic, meditative, pulsed and repetitive, abstract or hypnotic, the music of سم [ISM] is crude, direct, labyrinthine, always rooted in an immediate sound mattere — as consisting of abrupt breaks and renewed continuities. Like the floral compositions of the Ikebana artist Junichi Kakizaki, this music can be listened to « like a flower » and step by step unveils a secret unity where the work of improvisation intensifies each of its moments.

[ISM] is a name written in ink. A dash through European creative music. A round trip, Berlin – Oxford, via Paris. اسم [ISM] is Pat, Joel and Antonin in a dotted silence without name. Acoustically, the trio creates abstract forms close of written contemporary music with sounds reminding us of ancient traditional jazz trios. The groove wich appears in this music is dense, extreme but always quiet. Music in a continuous flow of high voltage charges. In Arabic, اسم [ISM] is a way to connect between different cultural and imaginary worlds. اسم [ISM] is an Arabic word, which means The Name.

1. Dahlia

2. Tomato

3. Tomato EXCERPT

all music by Pat Thomas, Joel Grip and Antonin Gerbal

recorded 23 november 2018 at Knuttel House Tokyo by Taku Unami

remixed and mastered by Taku Unami

floral art on cover and liner notes by Junichi Kakizaki

photo by Joji Okamoto

design by Takashi Nagata

produced by Antonin Gerbal and Joel Grip

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Topsi Series / Cloud Reading Society (May 3, 2021 Umlaut Records)

“Hopscotch” is a Berlin based Company and represents Tristan Honsinger’s latest effort in a lifetime search for unity between music, theatre and poetry. This gatefold vinyl contains a collection of songs and compositions invented through the years as musical material for Hopscotch’s performances and plays, along with improvisations and dialogues.

1. Mother‘s Song Suite

2. Stupidity March

3. Family Suite

4. Potatoes

5. Father‘s Song Suite

6. Mockery Suite

7. 10 Inch Screw Suite

8. Electromagnetismo

Featuring:

Tristan Honsinger (cello, voice), Izumi Ose (voice, toy piano), Franziska Hoffmann (violin, voice), Tobias Delius (saxophone, clarinet, voice), Axel Dörner (trumpet), Hiroki Mano (tap dance, voice), Klaus Kürvers (bass), Antonio Borghini (bass, voice), Steve Heather (drums, voice).

Children choir on tracks A1, A4 and B3:

Mathilda Burand, May Fischer, Greta Grip, Frieda Simons, Pauline Simons

All compositions by Tristan Honsinger. Recorded (Kühlspot, Berlin, February 12 and 13, 2020), mixed and mastered by Alexis Baskind. Cover painting by Joel Grip. Still photos from the film Proud Cloud by Mauricio Hernandez (also including Hopscotch members Ciska Jansen and Hisako Horikawa). Produced by Topsi Series for Umlaut Records. Topsi Series produces records, books and films related to the activities around the venue Au Topsi Pohl in Berlin.

tslp1 c & p Topsi Series / Umlaut Records 2021

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Topsi Series / When Will Never Meet (May 3, 2021 Umlaut Records)

“When will never meet” is the soundtrack of a fragmented movie in transformation. Engaging many musicians of the Berlin scene, performing in solo or in small bands, this soundtrack is a collage of the impossible, a mosaic of wishes and lost opportunities, the dream of a lonely demiurge.

1. Kleiderordnung

2. Irrenanstalt Buch, Festes Haus

3. Das Schiffchen Fliegt, Der Webstuhl Kracht

4. Niemand Ist Hier Geboren

5. But Being

6. Spreekreisschiftfahrtsgesellschaftstouristenselfiestangenhauptknopf video

7. Über Das Taubenproblem

8. Du Bist Bereits Auf Der Anderen Seite

9. Smalltalk Über Zeit

A : Sheeps

Olga Nosova : drums, voice

DJ Illvibe : turntables

Antonio Borghini : electric bass

B : Andrea Neumann

Andrea Neumann : inside piano

C : Carpet Below

Michael Thieke : clarinet

Kai Fagaschinski : clarinet

Liz Albee : trumpet, conch shell

Matthias Müller : trombone

D : Heather / Repotente

Steve Heather : drums

Rico Repotente : electric guitar

E : Il Salto del Dogo

Antonio Borghini : double bass

Grégoire Simon : violin

Anil Eraslan : cello

Rudi Fischerlehner : drums

F : Peepholes have the power

Mat Pogo : voice

Liz Albee : trumpet, conch shell

Antonio Borghini : double bass

Steve Heather : drums

G : Lillinger /Schick

Christian Lillinger : drums

Ignaz Schick : turntables

H : Al Schachtel

Alexis Baskind : electronics

I : Manunkind

Almut Kühne : voice

Michael Thieke : clarinet

Gerhard Gschlößl : trombone

Girogio Pacorig : piano

Antonio Borghini : double bass

J : An Kopf

Antonio Borghini : double bass

K : Hook, Line and Sinker

Tristan Honsinger : cello, voice

Antonio Borghini : double bass, voice

Tobias Delius : tenor saxophone, clarinet, voice

Axel Dörner : trumpet

L : Die Hochstapler

Louis Laurain : trumpet

Pierre Borel : alto saxophone

Antonio Borghini : double bass

Hannes Lingens : drums

Conceived and produced by Antonio Borghini and Alexis Baskind.

Recording : Berlin . 2017-2018

Sound engineering : Alexis Baskind (Christoph Schlimbach for session I)

Painting and graphic design : Joel Grip

Produced by Topsi Series for Umlaut Records.

Topsi Series produces records, books and films related to the activities around the venue “Au Topsi Pohl” in Berlin.

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Musaeum Clausum - Musaeum Clausum (2018 UMLAUT RECORDS)

Musæum Clausum is a French-German trio that features Louis Laurain on cornet (Die Hochstapler, Umlaut Big band, ONCEIM), Hannes Lingens on drums (Obliq, Konzert Minimal) and Sebastien Beliah on bass.(Un Poco Loco, Ensemble Hodos, Umlaut Big Band). The music of Musæum Clausum is a constant flow with small variations of speed and intensity without beginning or end. In this music each player is drawing freely and independently a path in the development of his ideas and then reveal the elements of a general frame that moves slowly and patiently to reach sometimes a high level a complexity.

This album was recorded in two days in September 2016 in Halle, in a former East German Ballroom. The music is recorded, mixed and mastered by Christoph Schlimbach.

1. A La Ventura part 1 & 2 (22:42)

2. Rareties in Pictures: A Large Submarine Landscape / A Night Piece (20:05)

3. Remarquable Books (11:12)

Louis Laurain, cornet

Sebastien Beliah, double bass

Hannes Lingens, drums

UMLAUT RECORDS

La Soustraction des Fleurs - Airs de Moyenne Montagne (UMLAUT RECORDS 2018)

D’amont en aval coule la musique que l’on entendra ici.

Roulant son chant au rythme des déclivités de la montagne douce, elle se cogne aux grandes roches volcaniques, s’enrichit des terres et des humus, et fait voyager quelques fleurs arrachées des berges printanières.

Cette musique qui se souvient (les traditions orales du massif central furent longuement fréquentées) goûte également aux délices de l’écriture et enfin, dans l’instant et la joie de la cascade, s’improvise.

« En montagne, la gorge se libère »  (Franz Kafka)

D’aval en amont ou d’amont en aval, l’oreille surprendra quelques fugitives correspondances musicales laissant se dévoiler ce que l’on pourrait appeler : « l’intime machinerie » du trio La Soustraction des Fleurs.

CD1 « Amont » :

01. Aléas de notice

02. Dans 4 temps à table

03. En forme de gallinacé

04. OA

05. AE

06. Les pleureurs 1

07. Happy 14 temps

08. 2 guitares

09. Electrochoc

10. Obstiné mais clair

11. Obstiné mais indécis

12. Obstiné mais matinal

13. Obstiné mais sans excès

14. Les pleureurs 2

15. Chose d’importance

16. Tango 2TX

17. Last dance, last chance

CD2 « Aval » :

01. La mazurka du bout du quai

02. Où sommes-nous ?

03. Echo de ressort

04. Air de moyenne montagne en automne

05. Total rebonds

06. Post Milton

07. Nez bouché (une seule narine)

08. Rêve de mouche

09. Le chasseur et le rossignol

10. La racleuse

11. Norsechretto

12. Tréméoc

13. Destins parallèles

14. Pour un roi pacifique

15. Scordature trou d’air

16. Colindada

Jean-François Vrod : violon, objets, guitare, kazoo, radio, percussions voix

Frédéric Aurier : violon, alto, voix

Sylvain Lemêtre : zarb, percussions, voix

UMLAUT RECORDS