phlogistone liner notes
by Randy Brecker
I recently met Axel Schlosser for the first time after playing with the wonderful hr Bigband in Frankfurt of which he is a member. I had been hearing much about this young trumpet player on the scene, and was honored when he asked me to write some liner notes for this most impressive of CDs.
Nürnberg... My first impression: I thought my player had skipped! Reminded me of the "Some Skunk Funk" 7/8 bars where I had fantasized dancers tripping over themselves! A very effective overture forecasting things to come and the thought: This CD will be something truly different!
What is This Thing... I found this an interesting companion to the Don Grolnick version of the same tune which I recorded many years ago... very inventive "off-set" displaced writing... strong solo by Axel who sets up lots of tension which is released when Steffen comes roaring in with a swinging tenor solo... likewise Rainer on piano swinging and adding some abstract punches... Head out is very tight and investigates a lot of musical territory in a short span of time. Then into some fine collective blowing and a suspicious final chord... destination out!
Starsearch... alternating bars of 7 and 5... bridge floats in and adds some tension up to the break then back into alternating bars... (great head). Out of the blue with a nice contrast the piano comes in with a "floaty" solo, then over the vamp, Axel burns with an exercise in chromatics. Steffen burns on the tenor after which tenor and trumpet have an animated conversation and join each other for the head out, which is expertly played.
A little hip interlude or transitional piece called Donkey Race leads into a soulful tune called Lost in Fargau... Axel in swing mode duets with the piano. "Swing" is "in the house" here... strong bass solo by Arne on the nicely flowing changes which leads everyone back into the mellow head which has some really nice subtle dissonances and everyone takes it home.
Sun Odyssey 4551... angular challenging head leads into a broken time piano solo floating in and out of a loose swingin" seven. Polytonal blowing. Axel settles into an intense ride over some challenging changes... Steffen steps in and breaks it up a bit... Lars drums solo over the vamp and morphs back into the head... then a nice vamp out in seven.
All these tunes so far have a nice variety of moods within themselves... this feat is hard to accomplish without sounding forced... In these guy"s hands emotions change seamlessly at any given moment!
Ice Cream... a moody piece with Axel vocalizing through the horn... sounded like some kids who weren"t getting their anticipated desserts!... like the way the guys bend the notes... there is so much to find in those spaces between pitches!
Sidewinder... a co-incidence! On a recent Nagel-Heyer CD called "Both/And" Marc Copland and I did the same tune. Albeit this version is more rhythmically displaced and modulated than our version...might I suggest that one picks up both CDs and compare the 2! Steffen solos first with some 21st century soul. Axel does some original things with a Harmon mute and takes a fiery solo. Nice Arne bass solo before the off-set head... Lee Morgan would probably go "huh?" to both versions!
Tagwache... lovely ballad played with a lot of feeling and soul. Touching changes that put you in a dream state, introduced by an introspective drum solo by Lars. Passionate tenor solo leads into a contemplative piano musing... back into the beautiful head, Steffen blowing strong with some added collective trumpet-tenor blowing and vamping at the end.
Vogel... beautiful head with a nice interlude section which builds nicely into the upper register.... ow-that break! In the pocket - everyone is grooving during the trumpet solo. The well placed interlude into a drum solo revs up everyone- then a gear shift into an intense piano solo which goes a lot of directions at once - interesting! Head creeps in then swoops you into it. Very impressive!
Cat of Pray... great moving tune, arrangement, and sounds: a perfect mood which leaves you in a peaceful contemplative place.
Tomorrow.... a bit more modal with some free-ish punctuations and inflections... everyone is really on their toes on this one... strong solos by all - once again a lot of different moods in one tune - I like that. Nice unison head breaks into harmony with well-tuned dynamics.
This CD is extremely well thought out in it"s form, from beginning to end it - is not just a bunch of compositions just thrown together. It is truly a journey of the heart and mind.
What impresses me most about the band is the fact that these guys move from mood to mood effortlessly and are not afraid to try anything. Also the compositions and arrangements (most are by Rainer, but also Steffen"s and Axel"s) are extremely original and inventive and fit like a glove together - this is truly a "band". Those who say there is nothing new or adventurous in 21st century jazz should check out this CD. All involved are absolutely first rate well-trained artists who at a young age have already found their inner voices both playing-wise and compositionally. Quite amazing indeed.
I"m sure we"ll be hearing hear a lot more from everyone involved!
Randy Brecker
