GRIENER / RODER / THEWES – SQUAKK

Michael Griener (drums), Jan Roder (bass), Christof Thewes (trombone)
Recorded August 7, 2008 at NUPHOBIA Studios, Berlin
The 50-minute set of exceedingly diverse pieces is a lively 'par excellence demonstration' of the still very verbally acedemic crippled limping answer to the essential question: 'WHAT REALLY IS JAZZ?' The music of this CD is one possible 'ear-catching answer', in the infinity of varied, individual paths to or into this exciting music: vitality, spontaneity, intelligence, plus swing, drive, and groove, poured into the most different forms of obstinately creative improvisations and compositions. At times convoluted, meaning not easy, the material is presented with a playful lightness, revealing a high level of instrumental mastery. The breathless listener in his auditory corner would like to transform himself into a clandestine accomplice. I recommend listeners to listen many times over, because the hearer, as well as the more intimate sympathizer, will hear this CD by each listening in a different way, each time discovering a new discovery. For example this: 'That's it, what it is = JAZZ!, and 'These wonderful guys have played all of this just for me; how do they know me so well?' Ernst-Ludwig Petrowsky