The Intersection: Brandt Brauer Frick

The Intersection: An ongoing feature on JazzWrap that looks at artists that have blended jazz, world and electronica in new and highly creative ways.

Brandt Brauer Frick (trio)

Miami (K7! Records; 2013)

Daniel Brandt (electronics)

Jan Brauer (electronics)

Paul Frick (electronics)

Miami is the German group, Brandt Brauer Frick's third and most dramatically cinematic album so far. While the previous albums, Mr. Machine and You Make Me Real had elements of dance, free jazz and experimentalism mixed throughout, Miami strips things down to the deeper introspective parts. And it delivers on every level.

Harboring more dark beats and themes than its predecessors, Miami is a intricate leap forward and exciting listening experience. The opening title theme is a slow plodding movement based on basic two or three chord piano notes, some eerie electronics, slow bowed cello (possibly even a tuba!) and haunting vocals from Erika Janunger. A lengthy opening piece with a lot of emotional impact that resonates throughout the album.

"Plastic Like Your Mother" has a dense, soulful vibe to it that is almost reminiscent of early Tricky or mid-period Massive Attack. The dance elements finally emerge towards the middle of the piece with trippy repetition and vocal loops. And just as you think the piece is about to explode--it ends. Intelligent and crafty.

"Empty Words" is like walking through a hall of mirrors in any horror flick. Slow descending heart-thumping paces on the keys and lots of improvised moments with Jamie Lidell's loving and cries floating in and out. And then having the slicing bass lines defining each movement made this one of my favourite tracks in the session.

"Fantasie Madchen" keeps true to the Bodo Elsel original with simple electronics and infectious attitude and the rough vocal treatment by Gudrun Gut. Gut's vocals give the piece a little more of a sexy vibe with the instrumentation making this late 90s dance piece more futuristic.

Yes, musicians want to challenge themselves every time out. But you don't get many that succeed with each effort. With Miami's more improvised vision the trio of Brandt Brauer Frick manages to do that over and over and over. This is an excellent session and must have for music fans. Highly Recommended!

The Intersection: The Souljazz Orchestra

The Intersection: An ongoing feature on JazzWrap that looks at artists that have blended jazz, world and electronica in new and highly creative ways.

The Souljazz Orchestra

Solidarity (Strut Records; 2012)

Funky for sure. Soulful, certainly. Growing with grace and hard-edge maturity...definitely. Canadian outfit, The Souljazz Orchestra have infused Latin, Caribbean, funky and greasy Lou Donaldson style grooves into their music for almost a decade now.

 

Solidarity, is a grittier outing and continues the socio-political vibe that all their albums inhabit. The massive floor-burning, "Conquering Lion," fills the air with infectious African percussion and commanding horns. There's really no way not to start dancing once you hear this piece. An anthem and a statement that the ensemble is back and better than ever.

 

"Jericho" and "Cartao Postal" both provide a ferocious reggae and humorous samba message about social inadequacies and upon further listens make you really want to go out and make some effective change in your environment. "Cartao Postal" delivers a more raw cultural groove while "Jericho encompasses all the political dub you would expect from this multi-cultural ensemble.

 

Solidarity is another brilliant step forward for The Souljazz Orchestra. There are very few groups on the scene today on this side of the Atlantic that can do this and do it right. Global grooves with a message that is never hidden and never overwhelming to the music as a whole. Excellent and worth seeking out.