Release Date: 18 December 2008
Label: Lost Marble
Packaging Type: Digipak
No of Units: 1
Barcode: 873371000326
Genres: Jazz Contemporary
Description
The pianist/composer Django Bates completes his "Four Seasons" with 'Spring is Here (Shall We Dance)?' After 'Summer Fruits', 'Autumn Fires' and 'Winter Truce' comes earthy grooves, blatant simplicity, hidden complexity and sunny humour. This lively 10-track album of original compositions is the result of two years' experimentation and exploration at Denmark's Rhythmic Music Conservatory where Django is resident Professor. It features his new musical juggernaut stoRMChaser, a band made up of 19 rising stars on the Danish jazz scene, who rehearse with him every Friday. They have regular residency at Copenhagen Jazz House and have performed internationally at the Copenhagen Jazz Festival and Jazzfest Berlin.
Django's new compositions are as eclectic as ever, with such diverse subject matters as patriotism in "The Right to smile", the incendiary nature of love in "Fire Brigade", and the individuality of Sheep in "Sheep". Although 'Spring is Here' is essentially a big-band album, there are two notable exceptions featuring Som en Sten, RMC's international choir: "Early Bloomer" (originally on Winter Truce but now with lyrics), and its counterpart "Evening Primrose". Both pieces relish in the beauty of the human voice and show Django's desire to explore other genres. Tim Berne makes a brief cameo appearance as raconteur on the extraordinarily punchy "Something Less Soothing", and effervescent Swedish singer, Josefine Lindstrand is featured on all ten tracks.
Personnel: Django Bates (keyboards, e flat horn, vocals), stoRMChaser: Julie Kjaer (flute, piccolo), Bo Skjold Christensen (clarinets), Anders Bast (soprano & alto saxophone), Aske Drasbek (alto saxophone), Marius Neset (tenor saxophone), Martin Stender (tenor saxophone, flute), Johan Bylling Lang (baritone saxophone), Lars Søberg Andersen, Jimmy Nyborg (trumpets), Ulrik Kofoed (flugelhorn), Kevin Christensen (trombone), André Jensen (bass trombone), Daniel Herskedal (tuba), Josefine Lindstrand, Elena Setién Yeregui (vocals), Christian Bluhme (guitar), Petter Eldh (bass), Mikkel Schnettler (percussion), Anton Eger (drums)
Before Something Less Soothing: Tim Berne, Mud and ai fujisaki speak over Django's secret Pop song 'My Number' which is played by Stuart Hall, Martin France, Michael Mondesir and Django, Som en Sten (RMC's international choir) (5, 9)
Tracklisting
Django Bates
Django Bates
Loose Tubes
Django Bates
Django Bates
Loose Tubes
Loose Tubes
Django Bates
Django Bates
Django Bates
Django Bates
Django Bates
