Record Reviews

MUNICH LAB BAND ~ THE WAY THINGS ARE MUTTERKOMPLEX 024 (Barcode: 4056813175806) ~ GERMANY ~ Big Band Jazz Recorded: 2022 Released: 2023 This is the debut album by the German Munich Lab BandFind albums by this artist Jazz Orchestra / Big Band comprising of young Jazz musicians and co-led by trumpeter / composer Felix EckeFind albums by this artist and conductor / composer Vincent EberleFind albums by this artist. The album presents eight tracks, all of which are original compositions by Ecke, arranged by him for the Big Band, which explains the subtitle “Featuring the music of Felix Ecke”. The music offers a nice amalgam of the American Big Band tradition and European Orchestral Jazz tradition, excellently performed by these obviously well-schooled young musicians. The forte of the album is the original music, which is based on solid melodic continuity and coherent development, which turns the album into a pleasant, but non-trivial listening experience. The arrangements balance well between the rhythm section and the three brass sections, which complement each other splendidly. Some typical German Brass echoes can also be heard in the background, which is hardly surprising. The album offers excellent sound quality, with every subtle sonic development captured and the balance between the soloists and the Big Band is always perfect. Combined with the musicianship and composing skills present herein, this is wonderful European Big Band recording. Overall, this is a surprisingly elegant Big Band album recorded by young but highly skilled and trained musicians, which offers interesting music aesthetically arranged for the communal orchestral effect, in the best tradition of the European Big Bands. It is an impressive debut by all means and hopefully will be continued by new recordings in the future. Well done indeed!

Updated: 23/01/2024Posted: 23/01/2024

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