Tobias Meinhart - Tenorsax & EWI
Ingrid Jensen - Trumpet & Effects (USA)
Yago Vazquez - Piano (USA)
Phil Donkin - Bass (Great Britain)
Jesse Simpson - Drums (USA)
„Natural Perception“ ist Thema der neuen CD und kommenden Tour des Saxophonisten, der seit fünf Jahren in New York lebt und nach zwei Alben auf Doublemoon Records ist „Natural Perception“ sein erstes Album bei ENJA. Der Album-Titel bezieht sich auf die spirituelle Kraft von Musik, die entsteht, wenn alle Musiker ohne mentale Hindernisse musizieren. Wenn sie, vereinfacht gesagt, nicht mehr denken, sondern sich frei spielen. Nur so kann Musik fließen. Und um eben diesen ‚Flow’ geht es. Ihn möglichst oft zu erreichen, hat sich die Band zum Ziel gesetzt. Meinhart wurde beim Komponieren – der Prozess dauerte fast zwei Jahre – sehr von Alejandro Jodorowskys Buch ‚The Spiritual Journey“ inspiriert. Der preisgekrönte chilenische Autor und Regisseur, der mit "Dune" ein episches Sci-Fi-Movie schuf, schreibt von einem Zustand, den er als ‚empty mind - full heart’ bezeichnet. Der Kopf ist leer, aber das Herz voll. Für dieses Projekt hat Tobias seine langjährige Mentorin Ingrid Jensen in die Band geholt und das erste Mal explizit für Trompete komponiert. „Ich kenne Ingrid mittlerweile seit zwölf Jahren und gerade in meiner Anfangszeit in New York hat sie mir sehr geholfen“ sagt der Saxophonist. „Ihr Trompetensound ging mir von Anfang an nicht mehr aus dem Kopf.“ Bekannt geworden vor allem durch ihre Arbeit mit dem Maria Schneider Orchestra, ist die Kanadierin immer wieder in den Top 5 der jährlichen Downbeat Critics Polls zu sehen. Jensen ist begeistert von dem jungen Komponisten: „Tobias is an interesting combination of someone who is sweet and soft-spoken, but turns into a monster when he puts the horn on his face. That’s why he’s been able to put out a record that’s full of great tunes, with a good band - and he’s playing his butt off.”
“Natural Perception” is Tobias Meinhart’s debut album for ENJA Records. After spending five years living and playing in New York City, the saxophonist has compiled a series of original compositions that he feels represent his personal exploration of the spiritual power of music. The concept of the album was heavily inspired by Alejandro Jodorowski’s book, The Spiritual Journey, and especially the mental and emotional state that Jodorowski describes as “Empty mind, full heart.” To make a performance of such proportions possible, Tobias put together a band with whom he feels completely free, and thus capable of reaching a level of playing that is transcendent. First, Tobias recruited his longtime mentor and master trumpet-player, Ingrid Jensen. “I have known Ingrid for over 12 years now and right from the beginning of my time in New York, she was extremely helpful to me. I immediately found her unique way of playing absolutely remarkable, and she still surprises and impresses me,” said the saxophonist of his former teacher. Having gained recognition through her work with the Maria Schneider Orchestra, Ingrid Jensen’s name can be seen frequently among the top five in the Down Beat Magazine’s annual critic’s polls. Ingrid is also very enthusiastic about Tobias: “[he] is an interesting combination of someone who is sweet and soft-spoken, but turns into a monster when he puts the horn on his face. That’s why he’s been able to put out a record with a good band that’s full of great tunes-and he’s playing his butt off”, she says. On “Natural Perception”, Meinhart explores a wide range of styles and moods. The album opens with a song reminiscent of the post-bop era of the 1960s, and continues into a rubato ballad in which the band swells and sways together in collective improvisation. The song “The Effort” was inspired by Wayne Shorter, and his recounting of his own experience searching for musical satisfaction. According to Mr. Shorter, he considers this strife merely as an “effort”. “What fascinates me about Wayne Shorter is that on stage he is completely vulnerable, without hiding behind technical tricks and prepared phrases”, says Meinhart. “Native Speaker” provides the album with a classic groove number in which Jensen and Meinhart feed off of each other's lines, and Yago Vasquez plays Rhodes instead of piano. The album also features Jensen experimenting with various electronic effects – a field which is increasingly attracting to Tobias. Consequently, the quintet’s live show now sometimes features him playing an EWI, an electronic wind instrument.
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