Nils Landgren Funk Unit & NDR Big Band "Big Funk" live at JazzBaltica 2010

Nils Landgren Funk Unit
Nils Landgren, tb, voc
Magnum Coltrane Price, el-b, voc
Magnus Lindgren, reeds, voc
Jonas Wall Schlosser, reeds, voc
Sebastian Studnitzky, keys, tp, voc
Andy Pfeiler, g, voc
Robert Mehmet Ikiz, dr
special guest Wolfgang Haffner, dr
NDR Big Band
Jörg Achim Keller, cond

live at Große Konzertscheune, Salzau, July 2, 2010

1. Funk For Life
2. Dry
3. Kenya Kane
4. Kibera
5. Matutu
6. Finish What You Started
7. House Party (Fred Wesley)
8. Ain't Nobody

Earlier this year I introduced the Funk for Life project to you.

Please make a donation to Médecins Sans Frontières:

Michael Wollny live at JazzBaltica 2010

Michael Wollny´s Wunderkammer

Michael Wollny (p)
Tamar Halperin (cemb)
Hanno Busch (git)
recorded live at Große Konzertscheune Salzau, July 4, 2010

1. Kabinett 5
2. Sagée
3. Hexentanz

ELECTRONIC MOODS
Michael Wollny (p)
Guy Sternberg (electronics)
Barbara Buchholz (theremin)
recorded live at Große Konzertscheune Salzau, July 3, 2010

1. In the middle of the riddle
2. Dune

Michael Wollny is a musical adventurer, someone who always seeks out new sounds and sends his audience on exciting journeys of sonic discovery. Consequently, the critical response to his music has been appropriately enthusiastic. On his lastest CD, Wunderkammer, Wollny, together with harpsichordist Tamar Halperin, and producer Guy Sternberg, again searches for that which hasn’t been heard before. This CD is a sound trip into the wonderful worlds which are created when all the historic and modern keyboard instruments of an entire museum are combined.
Keyboard instruments which for a long time didn’t appear to go hand in hand: here you have it all on one CD. Harpsichord, celesta, harmonium, rhodes piano, concert grand: a kaleidoscope of palpable possibilities - the hard, “quill” sound of the harpsichord, the heavenly sound of the ringing celesta and the warm, sacral musical air of the harmonium sit beautifully next to the captivating, oscillating, metal reed sound of a Rhodes E piano and the dependable brilliance of a concert grand. The title Wunderkammer (“chamber of curiosities”) is therefore spot on. These Wunderkammer were the secret rooms in castles and monasteries in which rulers and bishops stored all their curious treasures in Late Renaissance and Baroque times. These may have included anything from a narwhal’s tusk to porcelain from Eastern Asia, obscure gaming machines, globes and surgical instruments – many bizarre and wonderful things that would amaze onlookers. It is these chambers of curiosities which fascinate Michael Wollny; “They should also always be a miniature portrayal of the world, a microcosm. Many moments come together to form the whole.”

Lars Danielsson Tarantella live at JazzBaltica 2010 - UPDATE!

Lars Danielsson (b/vcl)
Leszek Mozdzer (p)
Mathias Eick (tp)
John Parricelli (g)
Magnus Öström (dr)
Cæcile Norby (voc) (8-11)
recorded live at Große Konzertscheune Salzau, July 3, 2010

1. Both Sides Now
2. Pegasus
3. Tarantella (Lars Danielsson)
4. Fellow (Lars Danielsson)
5. Pasodoble (Lars Danielsson)
6. Fiojo (Leszek Mozdzer)
7. Suffering (Lars Danielsson)
8. Hallelujah (Leonard Cohen)
9. Dead Princess (Maurice Ravel)
10. Wholly Earth (Abbey Lincoln)
11. Asta

Over the past few years Swedish bassist, cellist, composer, and arranger Lars Danielsson has matured into one of the most important voices in European jazz. On his duo album Pasodoble he and his Polish peer, pianist Leszek Możdżer, executed a beautiful and breathtaking manifesto of melody and harmony that mediated between classic and jazz.
These previous concepts form the basis of Danielsson’s new CD, Tarantella. For instance, some of the duo pieces and passages on Tarantella, such as “Melody on Wood” and “Fiojo”, are built directly upon passages from Pasodoble, and on listening, it’s no wonder that Danielsson calls Możdżer “the perfect pianist for me”. It is simply amazing how Danielsson consistently refines his work, how he continues to open up new areas of sound and place them in new contexts and combinations. “I have taken the character of my music as the starting point, and have looked for the people who will best fit to it.” He found Norwegian trumpeter Mathias Eick, British guitarist John Parricelli, and the American drummer Eric Harland.
This assembled international line-up is ideal for pieces that, with their controlled sense of arching suspense, seem so classically oriented on the one hand, and on the other hand are wide-open for improvisation and intimate musical dialogue. Those who know Mathias Eick can confirm that his lyrical trumpet playing, saturated with its bold sense of space, is a perfect accompaniment. More surprising is how John Parricelli, who is best known for his fusion-sound, and who has worked with the likes of Colin Towns and Django Bates, obtains such delicately shaded sounds on the guitar. And it’s even more amazing as to how the young drummer Eric Harland has traded in the hard-edged, energy-loaded US school of drumming in favour of a more laid-back, melodically innovative percussion style.

 

Jazzbaltica-Ensemble 2010 directed by Martin Wind

Martin Wind - Bass, Composer, Arrangements
Johannes Enders, Niels Lyhne Løkkegaard - Saxophones
Axel Schlosser - Trumpet, Flügelhorn
Karin Hammar, Øyvind Brække - Trombone
Christopher Dell - Vibraphone
Michael Wollny - Piano
Andy Haberl -  Drums
Guests:
Donny McCaslin - Tenor Saxophone
Nils Wülker - Trumpet
Nils Landgren - Trombone
Don Friedman - Piano
Wolfgang Haffner - Drums
Lars Danielsson - Violoncello

recorded live at Große Konzertscheune, Salzau, July 2, 2010

1. Out in Pennsylvania
Soloists: Dell, vib, Schlosser, tp
2. Cruise Blues
Soloists: Wülker, tp; Enders, ts
3. Remember October 13th
Soloists: Enders, ts, Brakke, tb, Hammar, tb, Wollny, p, Haffner, dr
4. Get It

Soloists: Dell, vib, Landgren, tb, McCaslin, ts, Enders, ts
5. Memories Of Scotty (Don Friedman)

6. Theresia
Soloists: Lars Danielsson, cello; Nils Landgren, tb; Donny McCaslin, ts
7. Rainy River
Soloists: Michael Wollny, p; Martin Wind, b; Axel Schlosser, flh

Bassist and composer Martin Wind was born in Flensburg, Germany in 1968 and moved to New York in 1996 to study at New York University (NYU) with a scholarship by the German Academic Exchange Service.
In 1995 he earned himself a diploma as Orchestra Musician at the Music Conservatory in Cologne, Germany while studying with Prof. Wolfgang Guettler, former bassist with the Berlin Philharmonics.
In 1998 he earned his Master’s degree in Jazz Performance and Composition studying with Mike Richmond, Jim McNeely, Tom Boras, Mike Holober and Kenny Werner.
Since his move to New York Martin has become a regular at all major jazz clubs and is also in demand as a session player; his credits include movies such as "The Alamo", "Intolerable Cruelty", " Mona Lisa Smiles", "Fur", "The Bounty Hunter", and "True Grit".
In 1995 Martin came in third at the International Thelonious Monk Bass Competition in Washington, D.C.
In 1996 Martin Wind won the first Cognac Hennessy/Blue Note Jazz Search in Germany with his trio "Dreiklang" and got to record an album for Blue Note Records.
Since 2007 he’s been leading his own quartet featuring the talents of Sott Robinson (reeds), Bill Cunliffe (piano) and Tim Horner (drums). They’ve released the albums "Salt’n Pepper!" (2008), and "Get it?" (2010).
After their performance at JazzBaltica 2009 (released on DVD), Martin Wind was asked to compose and arrange the programme for the 2010 edition of the JazzBaltica Ensemble.

 

McCoy Tyner meets Dave Holland – Hommage to Hank Jones live at JazzBaltica 2010

Dave Holland, bass
McCoy Tyner, piano

recorded live at Große Konzertscheune Salzau, July 4, 2010

Dave Holland solo:
1. Interface (Hank Jones)
2. Secret Garden (Dave Holland)
3. Segment (Charlie Parker)
4. God Bless The Child (Billie Holiday/ A.Herzog)
5. Pass It On (Dave Holland)
Duet:
6. In a Mellow Tone (Ellington)
7. Softly As In A Morning Sunrise (Sigmund Romberg and Oscar Hammerstein II)
McCoy Tyner solo:
8. Improvisation
9. Ballad For Aisha (Tyner)

Hank Jones, pianist and jazz legend, friend to music, inspiration to countless musicians, died May 16, 2010 in New York City, after a brief illness. He was 91 years old, and would have been 92 on July 31st.  Having played several times in Salzau in the last few years, he was scheduled for a duo concert with Dave Holland at the 20th anniversary of JazzBaltica this year. McCoy Tyner filled in and played a great hommage to the late great gentleman of jazz piano.

Bobby Hutcherson/Joe Locke “Homage to Milt Jackson“ live at JazzBaltica 2007

Bobby Hutcherson - Vibraphone
Joe Locke - Vibraphone
Don Friedman - Piano
Martin Wind - Bass
Andi Haberl - Drums
Johannes Enders - Tenor Saxophone
Darren Barrett - Trumpet

recorded live at Große Konzertscheune, Salzau, July 2007

1. I Love You
2. Mr. PC
3. Old Folks
4. Star Eyes
5. What Is This Thing Called Love?
6. My Foolish Heart
7. Bag´s Groove

Born on Jan. 1, 1923, in Detroit, Milt Jackson's musical beginnings were in the neighborhood gospel churches as a pianist, guitarist, violinist percussionist and singer. He took up the vibraphone in high school. He moved to New York, played with Earl Hines and in 1945, joined Dizzy Gillespie's big band rhythm section, which also included pianist John Lewis, bassist Ray Brown and drummer Kenny Clarke. He worked with Charlie Parker, Thelonious Monk and Miles Davis and in 1951 recorded with Gillespie bandmates Lewis, Clarke and Brown. Inspired by that recording, they reformed as the Modern Jazz Quartet in 1952 with Percy Heath replacing Ray Brown and Connie Kay taking the drum chair after the departure of Kenny Clarke in 1955. For the following 50 years the sound of Milton “Bags” Jackson's vibraphone would signature the Modern Jazz Quartet and inspire generations of followers. Jackson's impassioned improvisations and compositions, including “Bluesology” and “Bag's Groove,” helped define the MJQ sound. Jackson recorded many splendid dates as a leader, including, The Ballad Artistry Of Milt Jackson, Ballads And Blues and Big Band Bags, and worked with many jazz immortals, including John Coltrane, Coleman Hawkins, Ray Charles and Quincy Jones. In '99 he fronted an exciting album date with the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra, Explosive! (Qwest). He died in 1999.

"Bobby Hutcherson´s vibraphone playing is suggestive of the style of Milt Jackson in its free-flowing melodicism, but his sense of harmony and group interaction is thoroughly modern. Hutcherson has influenced younger vibraphonists like Steve Nelson, Joe Locke and Stefon Harris" (Wikipedia)

”Joe Locke is a wonderful young man who's all about the music, all the time! You can hear it in every note he plays.” (Bobby Hutcherson)

Bobby Hutcherson´s latest recording "Wise One" was released in 2009 on Kind of Blue Records.

Herbie Hancock - Wayne Shorter Quartet live at Münchner Klaviersommer 1991

Herbie Hancock, piano, synth
Wayne Shorter, tenor and soprano saxophones
Stanley Clarke, bass
Omar Hakim, drums

recorded live at Munich Philharmonic Hall, Munich, July 1991

1. Amethyst Secrets (Omar Hakim)
2. Bluesland/ One Finger Snap (Herbie Hancock)
3. Maiden Voyage (Herbie Hancock)
4. Round Midnight (Thelonious Monk)

Manu Katché & Band live at 24th International Jazzfestival Viersen 2010

Manu Katché - Drums
Tore Brunborg - Tenor & Soprano Saxophone
Alfio Origlio - Piano
Laurent Vernerey - Bass

recorded live at Jazzfest Viersen, September 25, 2010

1. Morning Joy 
2. Being Ben

3. Shine And Blue

4. Senses

5. No Rush

6. November 99

7. Lovely Walk

8. Song For Her

9. Clubbing

10. Snapshot

Intensified commitment to the French-African drummer’s programme of “beautifully mutated grooves and jazzy themes” (to quote The Guardian) distinguishes Manu Katché’s third ECM album. Inside an all-new line-up, bassist Pino Palladino nonchalantly reinforces the groove element – he and Katché have much shared history as sessioneers – and helps the pulses of Manu’s tunes to dance. Pianist Rebello has both delicacy of touch and energy to burn, and saxophonist Brunborg, currently playing at a peak, solos passionately on Katché’s melodies. Guest guitarist Jacob Young shades and colours a handful of pieces, while Kami Lyle adds innocent vocals to “Stay With You”. Recorded in the South of France in December 2009 and issued on the eve of a major European tour, “Third Round” is poised to be one of the season’s jazz hits.

Steve Coleman & Five Elements live at 24th International Jazzfestival Viersen 2010

Steve Coleman (as)
Jonathan Finlayson (tp)
Jen Shyu (voc)
Miles Okazaki (g)
David Bryant (p & keyb)

recorded live at Jazzfest Viersen, September 25, 2010

1. Formation

Steve's latest CD entitled "Harvesting Semblances and Affinities" features Coleman’s band Five Elements, a shifting group of musicians, many of whom have worked with Coleman for years. The band features Coleman on alto sax, Jonathan Finlayson on trumpet, Tim Albright on trombone, Thomas Morgan on bass, Tyshawn Sorey on drums and Jen Shyu on vocals. Completely defying the traditional role of jazz singing, Coleman puts Shyu’s voice right into the front-line mix, demanding the rhythmic incisiveness and tonal clarity of a horn. Her vocals – with its precise and beautifully nuanced articulation – bring an emotional element to this complex and cutting-edge music while pushing the possibilities of jazz singing into new territory.

Klaus Doldinger´s Passport live at 24th International Jazzfestival Viersen 2010

Klaus Doldinger (sax)
Ernst Ströer (perc)
Biboul Darouiche (perc)
Christian Lettner (dr)
Michael Horneck (keyb)
Peter O’Mara (g)
Patrick Scales (b)
Uwe Ochsenknecht (voc)

recorded live at Jazzfest Viersen, September 25, 2010

1. Riyad El Cadi
2. Djemaa El-Fna

3. Yellow Dream
4. Samba Cinema

5. Sahara Sketches
6. Only One Woman
7. Keep Forgettin´
8. Tatort
9. Fifty Years Later

German saxophone legend Klaus Doldinger is perhaps best known for his film scores to the acclaimed German film Das Boot (1981) and later The NeverEnding Story (1984). His recurring jazz project Passport, started in 1971 (then called "Klaus Doldinger´s Passport"), still enjoys huge success in Germany. In its influence it was sometimes called the European version of Weather Report. Their latest album "Passport to Morocco" is a dynamic and unusual album, not only in Klaus Doldinger's discography, but also in the international jazz scene. At first glance it is remarkable that the Moroccan and jazz styles complement each other so well. In the artist's perspective, this was a homogenous and simple combination, as Doldinger explains: "It is mainly Gnawa music in which I see a strong connection with jazz, as well as to Irish folk music, by the way. It is melodic music, that for example in the piece "Merhba" has an obvious connection to our own notion of sound. And one shouldn't forget that there were always close cultural ties to Europe due to
the proximity of Spain. If we take the mediaeval Gregorian structure and its sound we recognise a connection to the music that exists today in Morocco." Doldinger and his band try out these points of contact and overlapping with as much pleasure as they ocassionally ignite a volcano of fusion. None of which disturbs the flow of the album. 

Manu Katché & Band live in Wiesbaden 2010

Manu Katché - Drums
Tore Brunborg - Tenor & Soprano Saxophone
Alfio Origlio - Piano
Laurent Vernerey - Bass

recorded live at Rheingau Musik Festival, Kurhaus Wiesbaden, August 11, 2010

1. Keep On Trippin'
2. No Rush
3. November 99
4. Lovely Walk
5. Clubbing
6. Spring Time Dancing
7. Snapshot
8. Morning Joy
9. Being Ben
10. Shine And Blue
11. Senses
12. Song For Her
13. Flower Skin
14. Rose

Paris-born (in 1958) and originally a pianist, Katché switched to percussion while studying at the Paris Conservatory. His distinctive drum style is derived from classical snare drum and kettledrum studies as well as from a conscious embracing of African roots. His work with Peter Gabriel on the album “So” and, subsequently on the Amnesty International World tour with Gabriel, Sting and Tracey Chapman catapulted him to world attention and he was soon recording and/or touring with Joni Mitchell, Robbie Robertson, Dire Straits, Simple Minds, The Bee Gees, Tears for Fears, Youssou N’Dour, Joan Armatrading, Joe Satriani, Nigel Kennedy and dozens more. His ECM affiliations include recordings with Jan Garbarek, amongst them: “Took Up The Runes”, “Twelve Moons”, “Visible World”, “In Praise of Dreams”, and the recent live album “Dresden”. Katché’s first leader date for the label, “Neighbourhood”, was recorded in 2004, with “Playground” following in 2007.
  “Third Round” is issued on the eve of a major European tour for the Katché band, beginning at Switzerland’s Chiasso Jazz Festival, continuing with more than 20 dates in France (including Paris’s Théatre des Champs Elysées), and also venturing into Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Spain and Turkey).

Herbie Hancock – The Imagine Project live at ViennaJazz 2010

Herbie Hancock - Piano, Keyboards
Vinnie Colaiuta – Drums
Tal Wilkenfeld – Bass
Lionel Loueke – Guitar
Greg Phillinganes – Keyboards
Christina Train - Vocals, Violin

recorded live at Staatsoper Wien (Vienna State Opera), July 5, 2010

1. Watermelon Man
2. Don´t Give Up (Peter Gabriel)
3. Actual Proof
4. Tamatant Tilay / Exodus (Bob Marley)
5. Maiden Voyage/ Dolphin Dance/ Round Midnight
6. Speak Like A Child/ Cantaloupe Island
7. The Times, They Are A Changin (Bob Dylan)
8. Space Captain (Matthew Moore)
9. Imagine (John Lennon)

Herbie Hancock is perhaps the most important crossover artist in Jazz today. In 2008 he won a the Album of the Year Grammy for his Pop-Jazz album “River/The Joni Letters”, an honor seldom bestowed on Jazz musicians. The man born Herbert Jeffrey Hancock in Chicago in 1940 achieved prominence in the 1960s with his recordings for Blue Note records.
In addition to his superb solo albums, he also served as a sideman for Miles Davis, Donald Byrd, Kenny Dorham, Freddie Hubbard, Wayne Shorter and many other fine musicians. Herbie Hancock also recorded soundtracks which helped electrify Jazz.
Free thinker that he is, Hancock also extended his talents beyond the realm of Jazz. His current opus, “The Imagine Project”, is an all-star affair, which includes prominent musicians from both the Jazz as well as Pop worlds. Recorded in Mumbai, Paris, London, and Dublin, this project features mutually-diverse musicians such as sitar player Anoushka Shankar, guitarists Jeff Beck and Lionel Louke, and bassist Marcus Miller. The vocalists include the Blues team of Susan Tedeschi and Derek trucks, Pop stars Pink and Seal, Latin musician Juanes, and Africa’s Oumou Sangare.
With this project Herbie Hancock is once again proving that music is the universal language which is optimal for communicating messages advocating world peace, humanity, and tolerance. In addition to the album, the project also has its own website which includes a documentary film, live performances and additional background information.

Geir Lysne & NDR Bigband feat. Stefano Bollani: Visioni live in Hamburg

NDR Big Band
directed by Geir Lysne
Stefano Bollani, piano
Jeff Ballard, drums

recorded live at Studio Rolf Liebermann, Hamburg, June 10 & 11, 2010

1. La Sicilia
2. Il Dormatore - Para Frase
3. Storta Va
4. Elena e Il Suo Violino
5. Il Barbone (Di Bamako)

Italian pianist Stefano Bollani had a clear vision as a child when he was six years old: he wanted to become a famous singer. A few years later he recorded a tape and sent it to singer Renato Carosone  who told him to listen to Jazz and Blues. Stefano did as he was told and became a sought after sideman, until he met trumpet player Enrico Rava, who convinced him finding his own voice in Jazz.  Later on Stefano founded his quintet "Orchestra del Titanic".

Bollani achieved his childhood dream singing through the piano and is now one of the top jazz acts. in Italy and  Europe. When he played at NDR, the idea was born to perform with a real jazz orchestra, the NDR Big Band.

In 2006 Stefano released his album "I visionari".

Carla Bley & Steve Swallow & NDR Bigband: On the Stage in Cages - live in Kiel/ Salzau 2006

Carla Bley, piano
Steve Swallow, bass
Danny Gottlieb, drums
NDR Big Band

recorded live in Kiel/ Salzau, August 2006

1. Appearing Nightly At The Black Orchid, Part 1 (Carla Bley)
Soloists: Carla Bley, p, Steve Swallow, b, Christof Lauer, ts, Nils Landgren, tb, Peter Bolte, as, Danny Gottlieb, dr
2. Los Cocineros (Carla Bley)
Soloists: Fiete Felsch, as; Frank Delle, ts; Nils Landgren, tb; Marcio Doctor, perc
3. Lo Ultimo (Carla Bley)
Soloists: Christof Lauer, ts; Frank Delle, ts; Lutz Büchner, bs; Peter Bolte, as
4. Tijuana Traffic (Carla Bley)
Soloists: Dan Gottshall, tb; Claus Stötter, tp

Post-bop jazz has produced only a few first-rate composers of larger forms; Carla Bley ranks high among them. Bley possesses an unusually wide compositional range; she combines an acquaintance with and love for jazz in all its forms with great talent and originality. Her music is a peculiarly individual type of hyper-modern jazz. Bley is capable of writing music of great drama and profound humor, often within the confines of the same piece. As an instrumentalist, Bley makes a fine composer; she plays piano and/or organ with most of her bands, and while her playing is always quite musical, it's clear that her strengths lie elsewhere. Bley's asymmetrical compositional structures subvert jazz formula to wonderful effect, and her unpredictable melodies are often as catchy as they are obscure. In the tradition of jazz's very finest composers and improvisers, Bley has developed a style of her very own, and the music as a whole is the better for it. (allmusic.com)

Her latest recording "Carla's Christmas Carols" was released in 2008 on Watt.

HR Big Band feat. Joachim Kühn Trio - Out Of The Desert live in Frankfurt 2009

Joachim Kühn, piano, comp. & arr.
Majid Bekkas, oud, guembri, vocals, kalimba
Ramon Lopez, drums
HR Big Band
cond. by Örjan Fahlström

recorded live at HR Sendesaal Frankfurt, Jazzfestival Frankfurt 2009, October 29, 2009

1. Fresh Air
2. Lichtquelle
3. Night in the Desert
4. Der Wanderer
5. Klangzeit

The great avant-garde pianist Joachim Kühn celebrated his 64th birthday in March, 2008, and spent it in the desert doing what he does best – making music. He played in the middle of the Sahara with Moroccan Berbers, the desert musicians of the “Source Bleue des Meski”, a small oasis near the Algerian border. This is documented on his album Out of the Desert. Kühn, his trio members and the North African musicians share the Maghreb’s heat, its richness of colours and its variety of forms. Departing from this experience and this fundus of material, Kühn wrote a special programme for the hr-Bigband. The 2009 premiere at German Jazzfestival Frankfurt was an overwhelming success and Frankfurter Allgemeine magazine even praised the stirring performance a “musical miracle”.

Joachim Kühn, first and foremost world-renowned as an imaginative virtuoso, in this project also impressively bears witness to his capabilities as a composer and big band-arranger. His input is the perfect starting point for the vibrant attacks of one of Germany’s longest-serving jazz orchestras which happily contributes all of its wealth of experience reaching from swing to avant-garde. 

HR Big Band feat. Steffen Schorn: Tuvawabohu! – Mongolia live at 41st German Jazzfestival Frankfurt 2010

Steffen Schorn | cond, arr, bs
Nara Naranbaatar Purevdor | Moorin Hoor (Horsefiddle), Hoomii (Overtone singing)
Epi Enkhjargal Dandarvaanchig | Horsefiddlebass, Umzad
Badma Badamkhorol Sandandamba | voc
Bodek Janke | perc
Frank Wellert, Thomas Vogel, Martin Auer, Axel Schlosser | tp
Günter Bollmann, Peter Feil, Christian Jaksjø | tb
Manfred Honetschläger | bass-tb
Heinz-Dieter Sauerborn, Oliver Leicht, Tony Lakatos, Julian Argüelles, Rainer Heute | reeds
Martin Scales | g;  Peter Reiter | p; Thomas Heidepriem | b; Jean Paul Höchstädter | dr

recorded live at HR Sendesaal Frankfurt, October 28, 2010

1. Introduction
2. F.A. (Enkhjargal Dandarvaanchig)
Soloists: Peter Feil, tb; Oliver Leicht, alto clarinet; Bodek Janke, perc
3. Far Away (Schorn)
Soloists: Steffen Schorn, bass-fl; Martin Scales, gt; Bodek Janke, tabla
4. Gii´ngo
5. Mongolian Love Song (Gool´dingor)
6. Moorun Torg´un (Horse Race) (Enkhjargal Dandarvaanchig)
Soloists: Axel Schlosser, tp; Tony Lakatos, ts
7. Sana ch´riin (Naranbaatar Purevdor)
8. Aryuna - Die Heilige (Schorn)

For this very special project Steffen Schorn arranged original Mongolian folk songs for the HR Big Band featuring three soloists from Mongolia playing horse fiddle and doing some very nice overtone singing. I have no idea how to spell the titles of these tracks correctly, I wrote down just what I heard, but due to my bad Mongolian I might have spelled them wrong... can someone help?

Enkhjargal Dandarvaanchig is one of the most active, open minded and creative Mongolian musicians and has played with a lot of different people from all over the world.

Lansiné Kouyaté – David Neerman Quartet feat. Mamani Keita & Moriba Koita live at 41st German Jazzfestival Frankfurt 2010

Lansiné Kouyaté | balaphon
David Neerman | electric & acoustic vibes
Antoine Simoni | b
David Aknin | dr
Mamani Keita | voc
Moriba Koita | ngoni

recorded live at HR Sendesaal Frankfurt, October 30, 2010

1.
2.
3.
4.
5. Djanfa Magni
6. Bamanan Don
7. Boloba
8. Touma
9.

As youngest son of the famous Malian female bard Siramori Diabaté, Lansiné is born into the tradition of the Kela griots (French term for West African bards/diplomats). This group of griots is particularly recognized for its narrations of the Sundjata epopee. His mother remains for many Malian people one of the greatest jelimusow (female bard) who paved the way for Malians modern female singers.
Lansiné began playing the balafon with his father Nankoman Kouyaté. As he was still too young to join the famous national music groups of Mali, he first participated in local ceremonies in his home region within the Kangaba district, located about 100km from Bamako. At the age of 12, he was chosen by the national competition “Biennale” to join the prestigious « Ensemble instrumental national du Mali » (Malian National Instrumental Orchestra) where he met Ballaké Cissoko, Baba Sissoko, Toumani Diabaté and other artists.
In 1984 Lansiné's first trip out of Mali was to France on a tour, where in 1989 he settled to play with his uncle Kassé Mady Diabaté’s group. In the 90s Lansiné played for six years with Salif Keita and world toured with his group. Since then, he has performed with a wide range of artists: Mory Kanté, Baaba Maal, Moriba Koita, Manu Dibango, Positive Black Soul, Sekouba Bambino, Hank Jones, Jean-Jacques Avenel, Cheick Tidiane Seck, etc.

David and Lansiné, together with string bass player Ira Coleman and drummer Laurent Robin just recorded their first album, “Kangaba”, named after Lansiné’s native village in Mali.

Stephan Schmolck Harm-o-troniX live at 41st German Jazzfestival Frankfurt 2010

Stephan Schmolck | b, electronics
Hans-Peter Salentin | tp
Burkard Kunkel | bassetthorn
Walerie Kühl | p, keyb
Harald Oeler | acc
Martin Standke | dr

recorded live at HR Sendesaal Frankfurt, October 28, 2010

1. Never Change a Winning Team (Ein Blick zurück)
2. Symbiosis
3. Styles Conclusion
4. The Caper
5. April Blues
6. Move In Transition

Frankfurt-based bassist Stephan Schmolck opened this year's German Jazz Festival with his sextet called Harm-O-Tronix.
Schmolck, who will receive the Hessen Jazz Award this year, is a local legend on Frankfurt´s Jazz scene. He has played with nearly everyone there from Albert Mangelsdorff, Heinz Sauer, Bob Degen until Christof Lauer. "Stephan Schmolck proved to be both a noticeable composer of atmospheric ballads and an organizer of suite-like sound kaleidoscopes" (Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung). In 2008 he released his album "Back and Forth Electric +" featuring Bob Degen on piano.

Transition in Tradition – Courtney Pine Group salutes Sidney Bechet live at 41st German Jazzfestival Frankfurt 2010

Courtney Pine | ss, ts, bcl, fl
Omar Puente | violin
Zoe Rahman | p
Cameron Pierre | g
Darren Taylor | b
Robert Fordjour | dr

recorded live at HR Sendesaal Frankfurt, October 28, 2010

1. Haiti
2. New Orleans (a.k.a. Crescent City Blues)
3. Le Matin Est Noir
4. The Tale Of Joe Harriott
5. Toussaint l´ouverture
6. Au Revoir
7. Afropean

Courtney's eagerly anticipated 12th studio album "Transition in Tradition", and his debut release on Destin-E World Records, not only pays tribute to the first great saxophone star Sidney Bechet, but also marks several new forays into sound for the ground breaking Jazz Warrior.

The music was composed and evolved through a series of shows in the UK during 2007 before Courtney brought his band into the studio to document
and capture the energy, support  and encouragement that only a live audience can give.

Bill Evans Soulgrass with special guest Sam Bush live at 41st German Jazzfestival Frankfurt 2010

Bill Evans | ts, ss
Ryan Cavanaugh | banjo
Mitch Stein | g
Mark Egan | el-b
Josh Dion | dr, voc
Sam Bush | mandolin, voc

recorded live at HR Sendesaal Frankfurt, October 30, 2010

1. Celtic Junction
2. Sweet Tea
3. Introduction of the Band
4. Snap Dragon
5. Georgia
6. Katy Hill (Bill Monroe)
7. Same Ol´ River (Sam Bush)
8. Ode To The Working Man
9. Feel (Josh Dion)

Throughout his 20-year career as a solo artist, multi Grammy nominated saxophonist Bill Evans has explored a variety of musical settings that go well beyond the confines of traditional jazz, including hip-hop, fusion, reggae, Brazilian and slamming funk. Evans steps into more adventurous territory on Soulgrass, blending jazz, funk and roots music into a seamless and wholly unique hybrid of quintessentially American styles.  His daring collaboration with Bela Fleck and Nashville session aces Sam Bush, Stuart Duncan and Jerry Douglas on "Soulgrass" is Bill's latest exploration in an ever-evolving career. More currently, Bill finished his new and latest CD titled "The other side of something" (released on Intuition) featuring, once again, Bela Fleck, Victor Wooten, Sam Bush, Pat Bergeson, plus the addition of musicians like Dennis Chambers, Richard Bona, and his current working band of Chris Howes, Joel Rosenblatt and Ryan cavanaugh, etc. "The other side of Something" is the next step after "Soulgrass".

Jake Shimabukuro Ukulele Solo live at 41st German Jazzfestival Frankfurt 2010

Jake Shimabukuro | ukulele

recorded live at HR Sendesaal Frankfurt, October 30, 2010

1. Introduction
2. One For Three
3. Dragon
4. Bring Your Adz
5. Blue Roses Falling
6. Me & Shirley T
7. Let´s Dance Flamenco Ukulele
8. Sakura Sakura (Japanese Traditional)
9. Spain (Chick Corea)
10. Orange World
11. While My Guitar Gently Weeps (George Harrison)
12. Bohemian Rhapsody (Queen)
13. Ave Maria (Franz Schubert)

It's rare for a young musician to earn comparisons to the likes of Jimi Hendrix and Miles Davis. It's even harder to find an artist who has entirely redefined an instrument by his early thirties. But Jake Shimabukuro (she-ma-boo-koo-row) has already accomplished these feats, and more, in a little over a decade of playing and recording music. As the San Francisco Gate recently posited about the Hawaiian musician: "The sounds the boyish 33-year old wrings from his ukulele…are unlike anything else in the history of the instrument."

Yes, the ukulele. In the hands of Jake Shimabukuro, the traditional Hawaiian instrument of four strings and two octaves is stretched and molded into a complex and bold new musical force. On an album like his new ‘Peace Love Ukulele,' Jake and his "uke" effortlessly (it seems) mix jazz, rock, classical, traditional Hawaiian music and folk, creating a sound that's both technically masterful and emotionally powerful…and utterly unique in the music world.

Jake released som great albums, for example the 2009 CD "Live"

HR Big Band feat. Aki Takase & Rudi Mahall: The Music of Eric Dolphy live at 41st German Jazzfestival Frankfurt 2010

Manfred Honetschläger | cond
Jim McNeely | arr
Aki Takase | p
Rudi Mahall | bcl
Frank Wellert, Thomas Vogel, Martin Auer, Axel Schlosser | tp
Günter Bollmann, Peter Feil, Christian Jaksjø | tb
Achim Hartmann | bass-tb
Heinz-Dieter Sauerborn, Oliver Leicht | as
Tony Lakatos, Steffen Weber | ts
Rainer Heute | bs
Martin Scales | g
Thomas Heidepriem | b
Jean Paul Höchstädter | dr

recorded live at HR Sendesaal Frankfurt, October 29, 2010

1. 17 West/ Something Sweet, Something Tender (Eric Dolphy)
Soloists: Aki Takase, p; Rudi Mahall, bcl; Oliver Leicht, cl; Paul Hochstädter, dr; Christian Jaksjø, tb
2. Rudi My Beer! (Takase)
Soloists: Aki Takase, p; Rudi Mahall, bcl
3. Hat And Beard (Dolphy)
Soloists: Aki Takase, p; Rudi Mahall, bcl;  Steffen Weber, ts
4. Serene (Dolphy)
Soloists: Aki Takase, p; Rudi Mahall, bcl
5. Miss Ann (Dolphy)
Soloists: Aki Takase, p; Rudi Mahall, bcl;  Paul Höchstädter, dr; Axel Schlosser, tp
6. 245 (Dolphy)
Soloists: Peter Feil, tb; Rudi Mahall, bcl; Aki Takase, p; Rainer Heute, bcl

Berlin based pianist Aki Takase and bass clarinetist Rudi Mahal did a duo recording featuring tunes by late Eric Dolphy called "Duet for Eric Dolphy" released on enja, so they were a kind of natural choice for the HR Big Band on this tribute.