New Release: Schwimmende Elefanten – enja records 2018
The journey to bass player Holger Scheidt ́s fourth album as composer and band leader started with a particularly resounding dream: „While diving I spot a group of swimming elephants above me in the diffuse day light“ These animals, usually empowered by gravity, find themselves stripped of their special force by the alien element of water and with respect to their will and ability to survive they are equal to their human under-water-companion. This dream and this image stuck with Scheidt and led him to compose nine extraordinary pieces of music, which are supposed to capture the interplay of gravity and upswing, of physical presence and dancing transparence.
For this new music he chose the format of a quartet: three voices, trumpet, tenor saxophone and bass, plus drums. Hence, the respective instruments are presented with a particular weight as much as the challenge to create a richness of sound on the basis of generally 3 voices. Scheidt ́s „three dimensional“ voice leading allows every indiviual note to develop an impressive effect of space and facilitates an extraordinary differentation of actually rather dense and contentious compositions, which results in a somewhat paradox lightness – just like that of the swimming giants.
While „Schwimmende Elefanten“ is consistent with Scheidt ́s earlier work in terms of a clear reference to traditional forms of Jazz as point of departure for innovation, there is also a most recognizable European, classical angle to it.
Scheidt himself has a lot of experience with handling „alien elements“. He, as a matter of fact, seems to be drawn by them. Curiosity and wanderlust led him to travel Europe and the US for a decade. All those cultural and social contacts and musical encounters are now being reflected in his music and his line ups as well. Holger Scheidt ́s work has been profoundly shaped by those years of wanderings and one can hear that he is familiar with the forces of gravity on the one hand, as much as levitation on the other. He has become part of an international Jazz scene this new album „Schwimmende Elefanten“ is celebrating, while praising alien elements, gravity and levitation. Three different quartets with the same instrumentation recorded in Berlin. Real, inclusive, friendly encounters. Different sounds and colors from different individuals. Jazz.
Holger Scheidt Quartets:
Holger Scheidt, composition and upright bass on all tracks
Voro Garcia, trumpet on tracks 1, 4, 7
Florian Menzel, trumpet on tracks 3, 5, 8 Matthias Lindermayr, trumpet on tracks 2, 6, 9
Rich Perry, tenor saxophone on tracks 1, 4, 7 Ben Kraef, tenor saxophone on tracks 3, 5, 8 Peter Ehwald, tenor saxophone on tracks 2, 6, 9
Matthias Gmelin, drums on tracks 1, 4, 7 Anthony Pinciotti, drums on tracks 3, 5, 8 Marc Ayza, drums on tracks 2, 6, 9
Schwimmende Elefanten Playlist:
1. Canon, 2. Fin Del Mundo, 3. November Sunday Beauty, 4. Hinterland, 5. Schwimmende Elefanten, 6. Amitiés 7. Sarabande, 8. Pasearse, 9. Jump Start Broken Heart
Credits:
Composed by Holger Scheidt
Published by enja records edition MAWI in 2018
Mixed an edited by Sebastian Ohmert and Holger Scheidt
Produced by Holger Scheidt
Mastered by Uwe Schwideski
Recorded in 2016 and 2017 by Sebastian Ohmert at Blackbird Studios in Berlin Artwork and Graphic Design by Fivos Chatziantoniou
Photos by Hannah Fee Kreuzer und Dennis Haase
Text: Claudia Pescatore, Stefan Nauheimer, Holger Scheidt
