Chris Hinze Combination - Mission Suite (2015) [Hi-Res]

Endowed with formidable classical and jazz chops, Dutch flutist Chris Hinze has played with Charlie Mariano, Cecil Taylor, and the Brecker Brothers. The lauded Chris Hinze Combination includes two jazz stalwarts, bassist John Lee and drummer Gerry Brown; both credit work with the “who’s who” of the jazz and pop world. Add vocals, electric keyboard, guitar, and percussion, and you have a tasty concoction of jazz and funk, with a pinch of pop and the classics for flavoring. Di-da-du-la-da is a musical tryptic of furious fusion, rhapsodic lyricism, and fast and funky bass-and-drums-led improvisation. Mission Suite is all about modal interplay, including a sizzlingly vocal flute, and a haunting bowed bass-vocal duet. Deliverance highlights Hinze’s passionate, throaty flute solo, the use of space, open tempos, and the emotional gestalt of singer Henny Vonk. The Ballad has an archaic sylvan quality, and Bamboo Funk starts off with a Baroque-tinged melody before it gets down to delivering what the title implies – Chris at his funky best on bamboo flute. An outstanding fusion venture by one of jazz’s premier flutists.

Chris Hinze, flute, alto-flute, bamboo flute, piccolo flute
Henny Vonk, vocals, percussion
Sigi Schwab, guitars, 12-string guitar
John Lee, bass
Gerry Brown, drums
Rob van de Broeck, electric piano, Fender Rhodes
Cees See, percussion
Wim van der Beek, percussion

Recorded in The Cornett Studio Köln
Engineered by Wolfgang Hirschmann
Produced by Willi Fruth, Chris Hinze

Digitally remastered