Jack DeJohnette Group live at NDR 2011

Jack DeJohnette (dr/melodica)
Rudresh Mahantappa (as)
George Colligan (p/ keys/ tp)
Dave Fiuczynski (git)
Jerome Harris (b, voice)
recorded live at Rolf- Liebermann-Studio, Hamburg, May 19, 2011

1. Introduction by Jack DeJohnette - One For Eric
2. Soulful Ballad
3. Blue
4. Tango Africaine

Born in Chicago in 1942, Grammy^® winner Jack DeJohnette is widely regarded as one of jazz music's greatest drummers.  Music appreciation flourished in DeJohnette's family.  He studied classical piano from age four until fourteen, before beginning to play drums with his high school concert band and taking private piano lessons at the Chicago Conservatory of Music. In 1966, he drummed alongside Rashied Ali in the John Coltrane Quintet.  International recognition came with his tenure in the Charles Lloyd Quartet, one of the first jazz groups to receive cross-over attention, which also alerted the world to Keith Jarrett's skills.

Jack DeJohnette has collaborated with most major figures in jazz history.  Some of the great talents he has worked with are John Coltrane, Miles Davis, Ornette Coleman, Sonny Rollins, Sun Ra, Jackie McLean, Thelonious Monk, Bill Evans, Stan Getz, Keith Jarrett, Chet Baker, George Benson, Stanley Turrentine, Ron Carter, Lee Morgan, Charles Lloyd, Herbie Hancock, Dave Holland, Joe Henderson, Freddie Hubbard, Abbey Lincoln, Betty Carter and Eddie Harris, who is responsible for convincing DeJohnette to stick with drums because he heard DeJohnette's natural talent.

It was in 1968 that DeJohnette joined Miles Davis's group in time for the epochal upheaval marked by Bitches Brew, an album that changed the direction of jazz.  In his autobiography, Miles Davis said, "Jack DeJohnette gave me a deep groove that I just loved to play over."  Jarrett soon followed DeJohnette into the Davis group, and the drummer's first ECM recording, the duet Rutya and Daitya was made in 1971.  Working with Miles also brought about collaborations with John McLaughlin, Chick Corea and Dave Holland.

His latest project is The Jack DeJohnette Group, featuring Rudresh Mahanthappa on alto saxophone, David Fiuczynski on double-neck guitar, George Colligan on keyboards and piano, and long-time associate Jerome Harris on electric and acoustic bass guitars.  The Group has toured North America and Europe in 2010 and will record and tour in 2011. They released a first album "live at Yoshi´s" this year

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"