NES | BLACK STRING | MAJID BEKKAS | NGUYÊN LÊ — East - West (2020) Serie : Jazz at Berlin Philharmonic — X | FLAC (tracks), lossless

‘East meets West’ was the central theme in the life of Nesuhi Ertegün (1917-1989). He grew up as the son of the Turkish Ambassador in Washington, and Nesuhi himself was to become an ambassador too: one of the most important producers and advocates that jazz has ever had. On the 30th anniversary of his death, Jazz at Berlin Philharmonic curator Siggi Loch dedicated an evening to commemorating this friend and mentor who had been like a father to him. For Nesuhi, jazz had no borders; this concert was a posthumous validation of the farsightedness of that vision.

On the cultural world map, East-West today is synonymous with the tense relationship between Europe and Asia, between Occident and Orient. From the Renaissance to the present day, there have been repeated waves of enthusiasm for Eastern culture in the West. And for the hundred years or so that jazz has existed, it too has always tended to absorb elements from other cultures into its stylistic vocabulary. Conversely, artists from Eastern cultures have embraced jazz, fused it with their own traditions, revealing new and fascinating expressive possibilities.

Black String, the South Korean quartet led by geomungo player Yoon Jeong Heo, takes a 1500-year old Korean musical tradition and brings it into the modern era and into jazz in way which is totally compelling artistically. NES Trio with charismatic singer/cellist Nesrine Belmokh has a distinctive sound drawn from the musical melting pot of the Mediterranean region. A special guest is the Moroccan oud and guembri player Majid Bekkas, who has often brought the Gnawa blues of his homeland into projects ranging from “folklore imaginaire” to avantgarde jazz. And providing the perfect East-West link is French-Vietnamese guitarist Nguyên Lê, whose go-between role combin-ing the worlds of jazz, rock and Asian folk music has been pio-neering. Together they celebrate a meeting of East and West. Nesui Ertegün would have been overjoyed. ACT
Tracklist :
1    Aicha    2:55
2    Bye Bye    5:26
3    You Made It Hard For Me    5:04
4    Ahlam    6:32
5    Rimitti    6:31
6    Hanging Gardens Of Babylon    7:23
7    Elevation Of Light    3:51
8    Encore: Bania    5:23
Credits :
the art in music: Cover art by Philip Taaffe, Isfahan (2009), by courtesy of Jablonka Galerie Cologne
Majid Bekkas - Guembri & Vocals
Nguyên Lê - Guitar

NES
Nesrine - Vocals & Cello
Matthieu Saglio - Cello & Vocals
David Gadea - Percussion

Black String
Yoon Jeong Heo - Geomungo
Jean Oh - Guitar
Aram Lee - Gaegeum & Yanggeum
Min Wang Hwang - Ajaeng & Janggu

STEFANO BOLLANI TRIO — Mediterraneo (2017) Serie : Jazz At Berlin Philharmonic — VIII | FLAC (tracks), lossless

Tracklist :
1    Toccata 0:36
Composed By – Monteverdi
2    Sinfonia 6:55
Composed By – Monteverdi
3    Amarcord 2:47
Composed By – Rota
4    Chi Mai 6:30
Composed By – Morricone
5    The Good, The Bad And The Ugly 7:24
Composed By – Morricone
6    Indagine Su Un Cittadino Al Di Sopra Di Ogni Sospetto 6:30
Composed By – Morricone
7    Azzurro 7:51
Composed By – Virano, Conte
8    O Mio Babbino Caro / Mattinata 5:37
Composed By [Mattinata] – Leoncavallo
Composed By [O Mio Babbino Caro] – Puccini
9    Largo Al Factotum 8:38
Composed By – Rossini
10    Fortunella 2:00
Composed By – Rota
Credits :
Stefano Bollani - Piano
Jesper Bodilsen - Bass
Morten Lund - Drums
Vincent Peirani - Accordion & Accordina
Mitglieder der
Berliner Philharmoniker
Geir Lysne - Arranger & Conductor

LESZEK MOŻDŻER | IIRO RANTALA | MICHAEL WOLLNY — Piano Night (2017) Serie : Jazz At Berlin Philharmonic — VII | FLAC (tracks), lossless

"Three men, three grand pianos, one feeling - jazz": this is how ZDF heute journal summed up the piano summit in the sold-out Great Hall of the Berlin Philharmonie. ACT
Tracklist :
1    Iiro Rantala–    Candide Overture 5:05
Composed By – Leonard Bernstein
2    Iiro Rantala–    Freedom 6:41
Composed By – Iiro Rantala
3    Michael Wollny & Iiro Rantala–    White Moon 6:05
Composed By – Chris Beier
4    Leszek Możdżer–    She Said She Was A Painter 4:41
Composed By – Leszek Możdżer
5    Leszek Możdżer & Iiro Rantala–    Africa 7:17
Composed By – Lars Danielsson
6    Leszek Możdżer, Iiro Rantala & Michael Wollny–    Summertime 7:53
Composed By – George Gershwin
7    Leszek Możdżer, Iiro Rantala & Michael Wollny–    La Fiesta 8:05
Composed By – Chick Corea
Credits :
Leszek Możdżer - Piano, Fender Rhodes on Summertime
Iiro Rantala - Piano
Michael Wollny - Piano
All three play Fender Rhodes, in turn, on La Fiesta

KNUT REIERSRUD | ALE MÖLLER | ERIC BIBB | ALY BAIN | FRASER FIFIELD | TUVA SYVERTSEN | OLLE LINDER — Celtic Roots (2016) Serie : Jazz at Berlin Philharmonic — VI (2016) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

An exploration of the traces left by Celtic music on its journey from European music into jazz. In "Jazz at Berlin Philharmonic," curated by the Norwegian guitarist Knut Reiersrud, an illustrious group of exceptional musicians embarked on these musical paths. ACT
Tracklist :
1    Opening    2:27
2    Mole In The Ground    4:30
3    Hymn And Sword Dances    5:16
4    Willie Murray's Reel    5:57
5    Lament For The Children / Den Første Gang    10:05
6    Buck Ride    5:02
7    In The Pines    4:49
8    On The Big Sea    6:46
9    Shetland Medley    4:59
10    Two Sisters    8:22
11    St. James Infirmary    5:56
12    Right On Time    5:52
Credits :
Knut Reiersrud - Guitars, Weissenborn lap steel & Harmonica
Ale Möller - Mandola, Trumpet, Shawm (“skalmeja”), Overtone flutes, Hammered dulcimer & Harmonium
Fraser Fifield - Soprano Sax, Low Whistle & Scottish border pipes
Tuva Syvertsen - Vocals, Hardanger fiddle & Harmonium
Aly Bain - Fiddle
Eric Bibb - Vocals & Guitar
Olle Linder - Percussion & Double Bass

IIRO RANTALA | VIKTORIA TOLSTOY | ULF WAKENIUS | LARS DANIELSSON | MORTEN LUND — Lost Hero - Tears for Esbjörn (2016) Serie : Jazz At Berlin Philharmonic — V | FLAC (tracks), lossless

Few European jazz pianists have been as influential in recent years as the Swedish musician Esbjörn Svensson, who tragically passed away in 2008. In varying lineups, moods, and interpretive approaches, Iiro Rantala, Viktoria Tolstoy, Ulf Wakenius, Lars Danielsson, and Morten Lund pay tribute to some of Svensson's most well-known compositions from his trio, e.s.t., on "Jazz at Berlin Philharmonic." And when the album title "Tears for Esbjörn" is fulfilled with Svensson's perhaps most emotionally charged composition, "Love is Real," no one needs to be ashamed. Neither for tears of sorrow over the irreplaceable loss of Esbjörn Svensson nor for tears of joy over the music he left us. ACT
Tracklist :
1    Tears For Esbjörn 6:27
Composed By – Iiro Rantala
2    Love Is Real 5:22
Composed By – Esbjörn Svensson, Josh Haden
3    Waltz For The Lonely Ones 3:09
Composed By – Esbjörn Svensson, Lina Nyberg
4    Seven Days Of Falling 6:01
Composed By – E.S.T.
5    Elevation Of Love 6:40
Composed By – E.S.T.
6    Shining On You 6:29
Composed By – Emrik Larsson, Esbjörn Svensson
7    Dogde The Dodo 10:27
Composed By – E.S.T.
8    From Gagarin's Point Of View 4:22
Composed By – E.S.T.
9    Imagine 8:19
Composed By – John Lennon
Credits :
Iiro Rantala - Piano
Viktoria Tolstoy - Vocals
Ulf Wakenius - Guitar
Lars Danielsson - Bass
Morten Lund - Drums

VINCENT PEIRANI | STIAN CARSTENSEN | RÉGIS GIZAVO | KLAUS PAIER – Accordion Night (2015) Serie : Jazz At Berlin Philharmonic — IV | FLAC (tracks), lossless

"Jazz at Berlin Philharmonic" puts the program in the spotlight. In the always sold-out concert series at the Kammermusiksaal, curator Siggi Loch aims to bring together previously unheard combinations of musicians under a thematic focus. On February 13, 2015, the accordion took center stage... ACT
Tracklist :
1    Klaus Paier & Asja Valcic–    Tango Loco 5:19
Accordion, Composed By – Klaus Paier
Cello – Asja Valcic
2    Régis Gizavo & Nguyên Lê–    South África 6:54
Accordion, Vocals, Composed By – Régis Gizavo
Guitar – Nguyên Lê
3    Régis Gizavo & Nguyên Lê–    Love 4:59
Accordion, Vocals, Composed By – Régis Gizavo
Guitar – Nguyên Lê
4    Stian Carstensen–    Horgalaten 4:00
 – Traditional
Accordion, Arranged By – Stian Carstensen
5    Stian Carstensen & Adam Bałdych–    Oriental Hoedown 6:37
Accordion – Stian Carstensen
Composed By – Ola Kvernberg
Violin – Adam Bałdych
6    Vincent Peirani & Emile Parisien–    Egyptian Fantasy 4:12
Accordion – Vincent Peirani
Composed By – Sidney Bechet
Soprano Saxophone – Emile Parisien
7    Vincent Peirani & Emile Parisien–    Song Of Medina - Casbah 8:57
Accordion – Vincent Peirani
Composed By – Sidney Bechet
Soprano Saxophone – Emile Parisien
8    Vincent Peirani & Emile Parisien–    3 Temps Pour Michel'P 4:48
Accordion, Composed By – Vincent Peirani
Soprano Saxophone – Emile Parisien
Finale    
9    Vincent Peirani, Stian Carstensen, Régis Gizavo, Klaus Paier, Asja Valcic, Nguyên Lê, Emile Parisien, Adam Bałdych–    Libertango 8:05
Accordion – Klaus Paier, Régis Gizavo, Stian Carstensen, Vincent Peirani
Cello – Asja Valcic
Composed By – Astor Piazzolla
Guitar – Nguyên Lê
Soprano Saxophone – Emile Parisien
Violin – Adam Bałdych
Credits :
Klaus Paier - Accordion & Asja Valcic - Cello
Régis Gizavo - Accordion & Vocals & Nguyên Lê - Guitar
Stian Carstensen - Accordion & Adam Bałdych - Violin
Vincent Peirani - Accordion & Emile Parisien - Soprano Saxophone

LESZEK MOŻDŻER | LARS DANIELSON | ZOHAR FRESCO | ATOM STRING QUARTET — Leszek Możdżer & Friends (2014) Serie : Jazz at Berlin Philharmonic — III | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Together, Możdżer & Friends conjure up a celebrated concert evening that once again demonstrates that the blend of jazz, classical, and folk music provides important impulses for the future of European jazz, with Poland, with Możdżer at the piano, playing a significant role in it. ACT
Tracklist :
1    Etude No 2 4:32
Composed By – Witold Lutoslawski
2    Praying 5:24
Composed By – Lars Danielsson
3    Follow My Backlights 5:48
Composed By – Leszek Możdżer
4    Love Pastas 12:01
Composed By – Leszek Możdżer
5    Na 7 5:31
Composed By – Dawid Lubowicz
6    África 6:04
Composed By – Lars Danielsson
7    Gsharim 7:10
Composed By – Zohar Fresco
8    Eden 8:55
Composed By – Lars Danielsson
9    Hunchback Porn Angel 4:01
Composed By – Leszek Możdżer
10    Winter Song 6:13
Composed By – Krzysztof Lenczowski
Credits :
Leszek Możdżer - Piano
Lars Danielsson - Bass & Cello
Zohar Fresco - Percussion

Atom String Quartet :
Dawid Lubowicz - Violin
Mateusz Smoczyński - Violin
Michał Zaborski - Viola
Krzysztof Lenczowski - Cello

IN THE COUNTRY | SOLVEIG SLETTAHJELL | BUGGE WESSELTOF | KNUT REIERSRUD — Norwegian Woods (2014) Serie : Jazz at Berlin Philharmonic — II | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

It was another one of those evenings of magical moments that the "Jazz at Berlin Philharmonic" series curated by Siggi Loch is so sure to generate. Knut Reiersrud, Solveig Slettahjell, Bugge Wesseltoft, Morten Qvenild and his trio In The Country demonstrate, as if under a burning glass, the reasons for the almost uncanny success of Norwegian jazz: a return to its own roots, i.e. Norwegian folk music and classical music. ACT
Tracklist :
1    Ingen Vinner Frem Til Den Evige Ro 8:42
– Traditional
Arranged By – K. Reiersrud, M. Qvenild
2    Can I Come Home Now 7:14
Composed By – Morten Qvenild
3    Have A Little Faith In Me 7:06
Composed By – John Hiatt
4    Chicken Feathers 6:34
Composed By – Steve Kuhn
5    Jargo 3:35
Composed By – Knut Reiersrud
6    Sæterjentens Søndag 8:35
Composed By – B. Wesseltoft, K. Reiersrud
Composed By [Based On] – Ole Bull
7    Ned I Vester Soli Glader 3:57
 – Traditional
8    Take It With Me 8:30
Composed By – Kathleen Brennan, Tom Waits
9    Nobody's Fault But Mine 7:44
– Traditional
Arranged By – M. Qvenild, S. Slettahjell
Credits :
Solveig Slettahjell - Vocals
Bugge Wesseltoft - Piano & Synths (except 2 & 5)
Knut Reiersrud - Guitars & Harmonica
In The Country :
Morten Qvenild - Piano & Synths (except 4 - 6)
Roger Arntzen - Bass
Pål Hausken - Drums

IIRO RANTALA | MICHAEL WOLLNY | LESZEK MOŻDŻER – Jazz At Berlin Philharmonic I (2013) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

The acclaimed premiere of "Jazz at Berlin Philharmonic" with Iiro Rantala, Leszek Możdżer and Michael Wollny as a live recording:

"Jazz and classical music at eye level with rarity value for Berlin" (Tagesspiegel).

"That was great, not to say world class" (ZDF). ACT
Tracklist :
1    Iiro Rantala–    Aria And Goldberg Variation 7:12
Composed By – J.S. Bach
Arranged By – I. Rantala
2    Iiro Rantala & Michael Wollny–    Tears For Esbjörn 6:53
Composed By – I. Rantala
3    Michael Wollny–    Hexentanz 10:22
Composed By – M. Wollny
4    Leszek Możdżer–    No Message 5:28
Composed By – L. Możdżer
5    Leszek Możdżer–    Incognitor 5:33
Composed By – L. Możdżer
6    Leszek Możdżer & Michael Wollny–    Svantetic 6:34
Composed By – K. Komeda
7    Iiro Rantala & Leszek Możdżer–    Suffering 8:08
Composed By – L. Danielsson
8    Iiro Rantala, Leszek Możdżer & Michael Wollny–    Armando’s Rumba 6:16
Composed By – Chick Corea
Credits :
Electric Piano [Fender Rhodes] – Leszek Możdżer (tracks: 6, 8)
Piano – Iiro Rantala, Leszek Możdżer, Michael Wollny

IIRO RANTALA | ERNIE WATTS | CHARENÉE WADE | ANGELIKA NIESCIER | DAN BERGLUND | ANTON EGER — Pannonica (2019) Serie : Jazz At Berlin Philharmonoc — IX | 24-48Hz FLAC (tracks), lossless

A tribute to the Jazz-Baroness
A single moment can change a life forever. That happened to the Jewish baroness and heiress Pannonica (Nica) de Koenigswarter (1913-1988), née Rothschild. On hearing Thelonious Monk’s ‘Round Midnight’ on a trip to New York at the beginning of the 1950s, she was so totally captivated by the music, she turned her back on her native Europe and on all the glamour of her previous existence, and became one of the great supporters of American jazz.
Siggi Loch experienced a similarly decisive moment in his life when, at the age of just 15, he heard a concert by Sidney Bechet and decided that his life from then on would be dedicated to jazz. This decision had a profound effect not just on him, but also on the way this music has developed in Europe, most notably in the years since he founded ACT in 1992.
So it was above all a feeling of affinity with Pannonica which inspired Siggi Loch to dedicate an entire evening to her in the “Jazz at Berlin Philharmonic” concert series which he has curated since 2012. The concert, on 6 February 2019, thirty years after her death, focused on pieces by the musicians whom the “Jazz Baroness” supported over many years with money, accommodation, advice and friendship, and who often dedicated compositions to her to express their gratitude: Thelonious Monk, Horace Silver, Bud Powell and Sonny Rollins.
Musicians from five countries took part in the concert: Finnish pianist Iiro Rantala, a habitual unifier of the traditional and the modern, was directing. Alongside Swedish bassist Dan Berglund and Norwegian-born drummer Anton Eger, he formed the musical foundation. In addition, there were three outstanding soloists: American saxophonist Ernie Watts, who shared the stage with Thelonious Monk back in the pianist’s lifetime, German saxophonist Angelika Niescier and New York singer Charenée Wade. Together they do not only demonstrate magnificently that a single moment can indeed transform an individual life story, but also that such occurrences have the power to shine beyond the confines of continents, cultures and epochs. ACT
Tracklist:
1. Round Midnight (Thelonious Monk) 7:22
2. Boliviar Blues (Thelonious Monk) 10:16
3. Poor Butterfly (Raymond Hubbell & Sonny Rollins) 9:04
4. Nica’s Dream (Horace Silver) 10:17
5. Celia (Bud Powell) 4:34
6. Little Butterfly (Thelonious Monk / Jon Hendricks) 5:31
7. Get It Straight (Thelonious Monk / Sally Swisher) 7:22
Line Up
Iiro Rantala - Piano & Leader
Dan Berglund - Bass
Anton Eger - Drums
Angelika Niescier - Alto Saxophone
Ernie Watts - Tenor Saxophone
Charenée Wade - Vocals