Christian Muthspiel "Yodel Group" live at Jazzfest Saalfelden 2009

Christian Muthspiel - Trombone, Piano, Electronics
Gerald Preinfalk - Saxophones, Clarinet, Bass clarinet
Matthieu Michel - Trumpet, Flügelhorn
Franck Tortiller - Vibraphone
Jerome Harris - E-Bass
Bobby Previte - Drums

Jazzfestival Saalfelden/Austria, August 28, 2009

1. Yodeler No. 1 (Mai-Jodler)
2. Introduction by Christian Muthspiel
3. Yodeler No. 6 - No. 4 - No. 3 - No. 5
4. Yodeler No. 2 - Königsberger

"Yodelling" is the Blues of the Alps, at times rapid and exciting, at times sustaining, calming, sad, heroic and solemn. The origin of yodelling was singing and calling from pasture to pasture in the Alps. This is all part of the childhood I grew up in, that was shaped by song and mountain and was a ritual whenever we reached the top of the hill. At the same time simple and of highest refinement and always full of soul, sometimes with the spirit of nature, sometimes provoking the love of the "dirndl", archaic cheering and crying out with joy, sung since prehistoric times in all the earth's mountain regions, this wonderful type of music cannot even be destroyed by the "Musikantenstadl".
With this venture I want to approach this style of music with an Austro-European-American band, whose musicians I have known closely for years from various mutual performances and by using totally non-alpine instruments. In so doing we treat this music respectfully but not too seriously.
Just as with several of my previous developments of music of the Renaissance or of alpine music, my aim in this project is to feel, be inspired by and express the tension between the original music and my own interpretation, between bygone times and the present where new music can freely take place. (Christian Muthspiel, translation: Bobby Previte)
Christian Muthspiel´s latest CD is a trio recording called "Dancing Dowland"