Thomas Bracht Band - Don't Play to Impress (2018)

The opening piece "I believe in you" makes it clear that the arrangement also includes a good portion of jazz rock. And that starts with the first bar, with and without strong brass section. As it rumbles and gargles it, there goes in the truest sense of the word from the post office. There you can hear hisses and sizzles; a broad sound geyser seems to be discharging. Sonores penetrates the ear of the listener and also the sound of classic cars of the skies, thanks to Nils Wogram. However, the trombone played by Wogram, with all its turbulences, also dissolves from the existing sound melee and unites with the keyboard in a "nebulous sound flow". And then, yes, then one hears a wild roar, as if a discharge, which is replaced by soft, but also overturning sound waves. In addition to Nils Wogram, Sven Decker with his tenor saxophone is very much involved in these. He brings us a ball of sound that occupies the entire musical space.

Thomas Bracht presents in "Gifts" a hochflorigen sound carpet. Discerning things are heard, bubbling up. Out of deep breasts, the winds sound like a cloud bank of sound, almost impenetrable. First and foremost, the saxophone emerges from the tutti of the wind and takes us along, exploring highs and lows, with a strongly rhythmic notation. Thomas Bracht works "counterpointically" on the "key chest" in places, before the bass also speaks up. Oh, is there a guitar involved? That can not be, but at least a corresponding sound illusion arises before Nils Wogram begins to phrasing, detached and reminiscent of the flapping of migratory migratory birds. But everything ends up in the expected tutti.

An alienated keyboard announces itself at the beginning of "Do not play to impress". After the first few bars you can expect a musical progression like the legendary film music title "Shaft". But it is not so soulful and funky, but fusion is already felt very close, before you even perceive Aufsprengungen that seem more borrowed from free jazz. Otherwise, you might think while listening to "Earth, Wind & Fire" or "Papa was a rolling stone", right? Soul has the piece in any case!

By the way, anyone who still sits quietly while listening to them really can not help with this song. This song screams for "Shake your bump"! Another sound flash of thought should be mentioned: United Jazz & Rock Ensemble revisited whether Thomas Bracht had had such a connection in composing in mind or not.

Finally, the band presents us a three-part suite, which also comes with deliberate and quiet tones, but is also interspersed with elements of rocky fusion. In the second part of the suite it also gets a bit oriental, we hear tablas or damburka and "flute tones" from an "organ register". The third part, however, is at times wrapped in a robe of funky, funky, funky. With continued applause - to expect a live recording - ends the sound excursion, which has brought us Thomas Bracht. Will there be a sequel?