Moritz Koser - Gnar Gnar Rad - Jazz Thing Next Generation, Vol. 102 - COMPACT DISCS [CD]

The Leipzig bassist Andreas Pientka sets massive, monumental music in scene with his tentet on InchTiefe NachtInch (trans. Deep Night). Seven brass players - two trumpets, a trombone, a tuba and three saxophones - as well as a rhythm group composed of Pientka himself as well as the pianist Niklas Roever and the drummer Alex Parzhuber bring the music to life, and the flutist Camila Moukarzel-Ortega also intervenes occasionally in the action. Pientka actually composed this music for orchestra, but the Corona pandemic thwarted his goal and so he opted for this brass-heavy and much more jazz-inspired instrumentation. InchI had the feeling that brass players can more easily switch between classical and jazz and, above all, improvise,Inch Pientka said, who has ample experience with wind instrument movements from his time with the JugendJazzOrchester of North Rhine-Westphalia andthe BundesJazzOrchester.

This album is a collection of musical portraits - intimate sketches shaped by memory, place, and human connection. It reflects the soundscape of Alexander Ruess' upbringing near the Baltic Sea, the people who accompanied him along the way, and the impressions gathered through travel and encounter.At it's core, the music is deeply personal. Fur Opa is dedicated to Ruess' grandfather, who never played an instrument yet supported his musical journey unconditionally, driving him to countless lessons and proudly claiming responsibility for his grandson's talent. Sangen Fra Havet is an homage to the Baltic Sea and the Danish coastline, whose quiet vastness and shifting moods echo throughout the record. Cornflower draws inspiration from the vivid blue flower that grew at the edges of rural fields - a favorite of Ruess' maternal grandfather - symbolizing memory, landscape, and rootedness.The album balances composition and spontaneity. Interlude, the only fully improvised piece, captures the natural interplay between guitar, double bass, and drums, allowing the music's energy to unfold organically in the moment. Throughout the record, lyrical melodies meet open forms, creating space for both narrative clarity and collective expression.Recorded in Berlin with longtime collaborators Luca Curcio and Sebastian Merk, the trio's sound is defined by trust, subtle interaction, and shared musical intuition. A special highlight is the appearance of trombonist Nils Landgren on Fur Opa, whose music was a formative influence on Ruess' childhood and whose presence adds a distinctive warmth and depth to the album.Ultimately, this record is a dedication - to family, mentors, friends, and places that shape who we become. It is an expression of gratitude and belonging, rendered through sound

Contemporary jazz with a touch of rock-dynamic, surprising, and thrilling. The music of the InchDriftwood QuartetInch develops from fragile miniatures to orchestral soundscapes and sharp-edged riffs. The band moves skillfully in the area of tension between melodic composition, polyrhythmic structure, and individuality in ensemble playing and improvisation