1.Pink Panther (Henry MANCINI) [5:18]
2. M.w.M.i.O.f.R (Jan ZEHRFELD) [3:54]
3. Smoke on the Water (BLACKMORE/GILLAN/GLOVER/LORD/PAICE) [3:22]
4. Friede,Freude, Fussball (Jan ZEHRFELD) [7:53]
5. Wind of Change (K.MEINE) [4:42]
6. Birdland (Joe ZAWINUL) [4:21]
7. Dreamology (Jan ZEHRFELD) [6:53]
8. Thunderstruck (YOUNG/YOUNG) [3:27]
9. Zickenterror (Jan ZEHRFELD/C.KREITMEIER) [3:49]
10. Paranoid (BUTLER/IOMMI/OSBOURNE) [4:09].
Total Time: [47:48]
Jan Zehrfeld: Guitar, Andreas Dombert: Guitar, Gregor Bürger:
Saxophone, Florian Scmidt: Bass, Sebastian Lanser: Drums with special
guests Ulf Wakenius: Guitar, Nguyên Lê: Guitar, Peter O'Mara:
Guitar, Alexander v. Hagde: Saxophone, Conny Kreitmeier: Vocals, Andy
Lind: Vocals, Jan Vacik: Keyboard, Naomi Isaacs: Vocals. Recorded, Mixed
and Mastered by Jan Vacik at Dreamscape Studios, Munich, 2007.
This disc is in the ACT series entitled Young German Jazz and shows
that there is a lot of inventive cutting edge music coming from such
quarters. However, it is a disc that I had to listen to several times
before I could relate to it at all as first impressions were of a relentless
wall of sound that battered at my audio senses! As the liner notes say
"Offhand it seems foolish to combine, of all things, jazz and heavy
metal". Well it was a revelation to me as I never knew what heavy
metal was for a start! Coupled with this is the line-up of musicians
- my preferred jazz combo has always been sax, piano, bass and drums
and it has to be special for me to enjoy the inclusion of guitar which
I often feel lacks the drive and excitement I look for in jazz. Imagine
then my reaction to a disc that includes as many as 5 guitarists and
track one of which has three of them together! However, perseverance
led to an appreciation of what the band is trying to achieve. Most of
the tracks are loud 'in your face' numbers that take no prisoners and
the first track nails its aural colours to the musical mast with a thunderous
rendition of the famous Pink Panther theme - more Burt Kwouk and Peter
Sellers than Clouseau's hapless boss! Most of the tracks are originals
but Birdland, a Joe Zawinul tune is given the Panzerballett treatment
which I'm sure Joe could have related to. Wind of Change and Paranoid
show the band in lower key, more reflective mood and emphasises their
abilities to be musical. This is a disc to go back to and discover things
one missed before but I reckon its best to wait for another occasion
when you're ready to be bombarded rather than beguiled!
Steve Arloff
CD Reviews
The
ACT Company ACT 9661-2
