Record Reviews

JOACHIM KUHN / MICHAEL WOLLNY ~ LIVE AT SCHLOSS ELMAU ACT 9758 (Barcode: 614427975829) ~ GERMANY ~ Free Jazz / Improvised Music Recorded: 2008 Released: 2009 This is an album by German Jazz piano duo comprising of Joachim KuhnFind albums by this artist (born 1944) and Michael WollnyFind albums by this artist (born 1978). The album presents six tracks, two each composed by Kuhn and Wollny, one co-composed by them and one an interpretation of a Classical composition. Four tracks are piano duos and one each is a piano solo by Kuhn or Wollny. Despite the generation gap and stylistic differences between these two musicians, they manage to communicate and cooperate remarkably well, creating a series of Improvised Music vistas, which are as cross-genre as humanly possible. Although based on pre-composed motifs, the music is totally a spur of the moment creation, and yet manages to sound completely coherent and even melodic to some extent. This is a somewhat extreme example of the “Art of the Duo”, waiting to be appreciated. For listeners familiar with Kuhn’s long and illustrious career, such open-mindedness and virtuosic piano playing is nothing new, but at the time this album was recorded Wollny’s career was just taking off and sharing the stage with a legendary figure like Kuhn must have been challenging. Without a doubt he stood up to the challenge without a hitch. For me the highlight of the album is Kuhn’s solo interpretation of Johann Sebastian BachFind albums by this artist’s “Chaconne”, which lasts for over thirteen minutes – an absolute treasure! Overall, this is a very interesting musical meeting, and for piano lovers especially a truly delightful exploration. Although the music is almost completely improvised, it magically makes perfect sense. For more experienced listeners the comparison between the two Artists is especially fascinating. Perhaps not suitable for a wide range of listeners, but those who are up to a challenge, a true delight!

Updated: 26/08/2024Posted: 26/08/2024

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HEINZ SAUER ~ IF (BLUE) THEN (BLUE) ACT 4111 (Barcode: 614427411129) ~ GERMANY ~ Jazz Recorded: 2009 Released: 2012 This is a re-edition of a wonderfully intimate album by the veteran (born 1932) German saxophonist / composer Heinz SauerFind albums by this artist, which consists of a series of duo pieces with two brilliant German pianists: Michael WollnyFind albums by this artist (born 1978) and Joachim KuhnFind albums by this artist (born 1944), separated by time as members of two distinct generations, but united by their musical creativity. Each of the pianists performs eight duos with Sauer, which are partly spontaneously improvised and partly based on standards, most of those by Miles DavisFind albums by this artist. Sauer recorded several duo albums with Wollny, but this is first encounter with Kuhn in a duo setting. The music moves between freely improvised pieces and improvisations based on familiar melodic themes, but the overall atmosphere is full of fragile melancholy and introvert meditation. Sauer´s unique sound and blowing technique creates a magic atmosphere, which is supported by the piano as a frame of reference. At times it seems that the saxophone and the piano are both improvising on separate planes and than these planes intersect and collide creating a new multidimensional universe of sounds. This music is a superb manifestation of European Jazz at its most elusive and mystic manifestation, where the musicians play minimalistic phrases separated by moments of silence and weaving a tapestry of complex, subtle pieces, which sound like soundtracks of imaginary movies. It is as aesthetically aloof from the Jazz tradition as humanly possible, and yet it is entirely Jazz based, simply existing on a celestial rather than earthly plane. Overall this is surely one of the most fascinating examples of the "Art of the Duo" Jazz recordings, which deserves an honorary place in every respectable music collection. This kind of music can be listened to repetitively, with a good chance of discovering previously hidden treasures with each consecutive visit. Obviously I recommend it wholeheartedly to all serious Jazz connoisseurs and followers of the European Jazz scene. A true Gem!

Updated: 04/04/2016Posted: 04/04/2016

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