Pirouet PIT3040
Henning Sieverts, bass and cello
Chris Speed, clarinet and tenor saxophone
Johannes Lauer, trombone
Achim Kaufmann, piano
John Hollenbeck, drums
I heard a couple of samples from this while surfing
Jazz Loft, and I was intrigued by the line-up, particularly the presence of Achim Kaufmann, who I've enjoyed on the recent
Unearth (
nuscope), with Frank Gratowski and Wilbert de Joode.
After one spin, the word that comes to mind to describe
Blackbird is delightful. It has a sunny disposition that makes it perfect for listening on a summer's day. With forward-thinking names like Speed and Kaufmann on board, it might seem strange to refer to the CD this way, but this is a thinking person's lite jazz. Which is not to say it's lightweight; there's plenty of satisfying improvisations and angular themes penned by Sievert. In addition, the group tackles Charlie Parker's
Blues for Alice, and the
Blackbird in question is of the Lennon/McCartney variety.
The front line of Lauer's trombone and Speed's clarinet make a great match, bouyant or moody as the music requires. Sievert never calls attention to himself, choosing to emphasize the group sound in service to the compositions. I look forward to digging into this more; even my wife might like it!
Linear Mode
