Chris Wiesendanger Quartet - Urban village (2000)

PRESS REVIEWS
This is a collaboration between the Swiss pianist /composer Chris Wiesendanger and three American musicians from New York; Mark Turner, Ben Street and Nasheet Waits. A long musical friendship connects these three musicians with most compositions on this album coming from the pianist hinself. There is a wide stylistic variety from chamber-like compositions, jazz pieces, shades of brazilian songs, free interplay forms and a very personal harmonic language.

Profound mutual, musical understanding and a strong group sound characterizes the groups music. Salvador is a bossa nova, dedicated to the beautiful people of Brazil and their incredible musical legacy. Arriving Tomorrow was written after experimenting with certain chord colors. Its a slow swing groove and the solopart is over five changing chords, open to any direction. Folk Song reminds me of Ornette Coleman. It is based on a simple melody that leads through the tune. Improvisation is divided in two duo sections.

Simplicity of the Soul is full of floating chords. Sometimes bright, sometimes dark. Shunyata means emptiness in Japanese _ the void. The melody only appears at the end. After the Rain is one of my favourite composition from John Coltrane. A Hymn to love and passion.

Chris Wiesendanger (p)
Mark Turner (ts)
Ben Street (b)
Nasheet Waits (d)