“Jazz ‘N’ Spirit” – Continuum – AudioMax (MD&G) multichannel (2+2+2) SACD 912 1662-6, 63:50 [Distr. by Koch] ****:
(Dirk Piezunka, sax; Martin Flindt, guitar; Jens Piezunka, doublebass & vocals)
I’m always interested in the more unusual efforts in the crossover genre of melding classical music with other forms. This is certainly one of them. With the saxophone as the lead instrument and the focus on early choral and secular melodies from the Renaissance and Baroque periods, it reminded immediately of the Officium series with Jan Garbarek and the Hillard Ensemble. Only this effort is all instrumental rather than sax and choir, expect for a couple selections featuring a single voice.
The trio recorded in a historic abbey near Detmold, Germany, and the spacious acoustics became part of their sound. They wanted to perform without amps and without separate mikes for each instrument, so the acoustics of the surround field are most natural-sounding. They attempt to fuse early compositional skills with modern jazz improvisation, and generally the results are very listenable. None of the dozen selections could be said to actually swing, but the adaptations and re-harmonisations are fresh-sounding and enjoyable.
There are songs of Schutz, Praetorius, Dowland, Luther, Arbeau, an Irish song, and even a version of a guitar piece by Fernando Sor, converted from its original 2/4 beat to a ¾ one. One of the surprises is the unique arrangement of Luther’s A Mighty Fortress Is Our God, which starts out in Baroque style and ends up thoroughly modern jazz. The enveloping acoustics of the recording space probably are even better captured with the optional 2+2+2 speaker playback setup, and when I get around to covering more of those unusual MD&G discs I must return to this one to check it out. The photo of the recording setup shows the extremely high pair of mikes on the stand, which feed the pair of height speakers above your normal front L & R speakers.
TrackList: Becker-Psalm, Nach gruner Farb mein Herz verlangt, Come again, Das alte Jahr vergangen ist, Wer nur den liebn Gott lasst welten, She moved thru the fair, Andantino, Lot Gott ihr Christen alle gleich, Pavane, A Mighty Fortress is our God, Lobet den Herren, Nun ruhen alle Walder
– John Sunier
