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| MPS Records - Wolfgang Dauner; Werner Baumgart‘s Bigband; Schlüter/Spendel - Exclusively Mastered for iTunes. Releases: May 22nd, 2015 (Exclusively on iTunes) Wolfgang Dauner Quintet - The Oimels Wolfgang Schlüter with Christoph Spendel - Dualism Werner Baumgart's Big Band Baden-Baden - Jazz, Rock & Sweet The Oimels This 1969 record has more in common with the Beatles and sixties psychedelic pop-rock than that period's jazz. The Oimels also highlights three internationally acclaimed eclectic European musicians: keyboardist Wolfgang Dauner is a German jazz institution; fellow Stuttgarter bassist Eberhard Weber is known for his band Colours with Charlie Mariano, and his work with Jan Garbarek, while guitarist Sigi Schwab's career spans work with a host of headliners, film, theatre, and TV music, and his own projects. Oh Baby I Don't Love You Anymore starts out with an old-fashioned honky-tonk blues before electric guitar distortions take the music to the edge. With Schwab's sitar and the band vocals, Take Off Your Clothes To Feel The Setting Sun shows its Beatles influence. Gershwin's My Man's Gone Now is reinterpreted in a Latin-rock feel with lots of affects. Come On In On In starts off with Weber's electrified cello melding into an Indi-country-rock rhythm guitar riff and a raga-like vocal line before ascending into chaos. Dig My Girl moves to the mysteries of India, with sitar and vocals ala George Harrison. Dauner takes an acidic electric organ solo and the guitar is ablaze with distortion. The Traditional English ballad Greensleeves is given the Latin treatment. Uwii has a funk groove with Dauner scatting along with his solo. Rolling Stone rated A Day In The Life as the Beatles' greatest song. Dauner and Co. rework it into a minimalistic masterpiece. Dauner in the Sky with Diamonds. Dualism Two German stars in Duo – pianist Christoph Spendel, 26 at the time of this 1981 recording, vibraphonist Wolfgang Schlüter some 20 years older. The two sound more like musical twins than dualistic opposites. A member of the renowned NDR Big Band, Schlüter is also acclaimed for his work with Family of Percussion and James Last, and was named in Downbeat's prestigious critic's poll. Known for his work with Jazztrack, Spendel would go on to play with such German greats as Albert Mangelsdorff and Christoff Lauer. With one exception, the compositions are Spendel's. Flohmarkt hints of the classics before moving into hard driving jazz and funk. With it 7/4 ballad feel, Quiet Summer Nights imparts a raga-like serenity. Schlüter's composition Requerdos Del Alhama presents an impression of the Spanish town. Birds At Their Cherry Meal is an up-tempo modal romp with masterful integrated playing on a piece that displays a bit of country, a bit of Jarrett. Backstage Serenade reveals a romantic ballad that makes one wonder what was going on between sets. Donald Duck has Spendel in a fast and furious double-time solo, while Schlüter plays at a more laid-back tempo. Dualism: a sublime musical unity of intent. Jazz, Rock & Sweet Jazz, Rock & Sweet evokes images of the iconic jazz fusion band Blood, Sweat & Tears. Like BS&T, the band is packed with brass and reeds, and with 23 members it has an even harder kick. Baumgart's compositions also have a BS&T flavor, with hip contemporary arrangements stacked up and over a solid rock rhythm base. Known for his work as composer, arranger, and player with Stuttgart's Südwestfunk Dance Orchestra, and his Big Band Baden-Baden, here Baumgart explores the environs of the Big Apple. New York at Midnight offers rock- based sax and guitar solos with horns on the bottom, reeds on top. A medium-tempo saunter through Greenwhich Village has Ack Van Royen taking the melodic lead into a beautifully expressive solo. His lush warm sound exemplifies why the Dutchman is one of Europe's leading trumpeters. Jones Beach features Lazi Wolpert's breathy flute a la Roland Kirk. Long Island Sound rocks with a brassy sound and standout guitar and tenor solos. Manhattan Skyline features a blues-rock guitar solo, before Van Royen goes sight-seeing in straight-ahead swing. Coney Island is a summer jaunt at the amusement park as tenor and alto trade lines. Baumgart's alto sax takes on the melody and solo duties on his rock ballad East River. With Otto Bredl's sweet Dorsey-like trombone, it must be lovers in Central Park taking a stroll Around the Lake. Fifth Avenue has a touch of Tiffany before transforming into a rock gem with an impassioned flute solo. Big band fusion at its best! write your comments about the article :: © 2015 Jazz News :: home page |