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Lost in Translation - Jazz Thing Next Generation Vol. 76

Michel Meis 4tet

Lost in Translation - Jazz Thing Next Generation Vol. 76

Price: € 14.95
Format: CD
Label: Double Moon Records
UPC: 0608917135428
Catnr: DMCHR 71354
Release date: 11 January 2019
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Label
Double Moon Records
UPC
0608917135428
Catalogue number
DMCHR 71354
Release date
11 January 2019

"The music on this eight-piece album is anything but traditional. He has achieved a nice balance between free passages and beautifully hammered written parts."

Jazzism, 24-4-2020
Album
Artist(s)
Composer(s)
Press
EN
DE

About the album

A drummer. Yes, of course! But one who wants to be different than the rest. Loud, distinctive, violent, “a true powerhouse”, as confidently stated on his website, yet subtle, sensitive, delicate, and a bit complicated, as the person concerned emphasizes. “The drummers always used to be told: Stay with your beat, focus on time and don't get too complex! This then meant to refrain from all embellishments as much as possible and limit yourself to classical timekeeping. But I love to divide the beat into smaller sub-grooves, build it up as densely as possible, scatter them in many thirty-second notes. This does not necessarily make it easier for the rest of the band members, because you can quickly get out of time. But it keeps the tension high and is tremendously fun. I love lots of details!”

You are certain to hear a lot of such remarkable sentences from Michel Meis. And certainly with the utmost probability in his music as well, which can be at least as interesting as the spoken word. The fact that the 29-year-old is also the first Luxembourger to make it into the fine talent smithy of the Jazz thing Next Generation gives him a unique selling point in any case. “Luxembourg is just a small country with far too many drummers,” he describes the situation in the manageable but vital scene of his home country. “That's why I never really understood myself as a sideman from the beginning, but instead always wanted to be a band leader to get myself heard. This was mainly about the realization of my ideas to put it in a figurative sense: I didn't want to see the pictures of other people handing in galleries, but instead my own.”

Last but not least, you can call Michel Meis’ approach quite unconventional. Trained as a classic percussionist and blessed with a very interesting voice, he cultivated the drum set more via harmonies than rhythms. In the meantime, Meis studied jazz drums with Oliver Strauch and Georg Ruby at Saar University of Music in Saarbrücken. He also attended master classes held by Emmanuel Séjourné, Christian Lillinger, Christina Fuchs, Jérome Goldschmidt and Eric Durrer. In principle, he did not have any classical jazz training, Michel Meis emphasized, although the tradition is very dear to him. The fact that he nevertheless includes many electronic elements, for example via the sound of a synthesizer, and grants the trombonist Alisa Klein all freedom to play what she wants, speaks for the spirit of his band. “Alisa is good for all of us," confesses the ardent fan of the trumpeter Ambrose Akinmusire. The deep sheet-metal sound enriches the combo with the pianist Cedric Hanriot and bassist Stephan Goldbach with an appealing touch. And having a woman along suppresses the male ego to a reasonable level. Because I'm more of an impulsive guy. ‘Whatever’s on your mind, spit it out!’ That's my motto!”

It is somehow logical that Michel Meis also likes hardcore metal, “because I above all like the pressure that prevails on stage.” The fact that he has nevertheless found the way to jazz is mainly due to its limitless possibilities. “You can try almost anything, mix a lot of things. Each one of my musicians can play what he or she wants and take the lead. For me, jazz is the basis of all the music. David Guetta wouldn't exist without jazz nor would the Beatles. And I love the atmosphere in jazz clubs where you can play up close for a certain number of people. You can see immediately how the music is received there. And even if people leave during the break, that's some kind of feedback we should respond to.”

It is important for him to build a bridge to the audience, to find the right language in which to communicate. “Lost in Translation” If that doesn't happen to someone, then that person is Michel Meis.
Ein Schlagzeuger. Ja natürlich! Aber einer, der anders sein will als der Rest. Laut, markant, heftig, „a true powerhouse“, wie selbstbewusst auf seiner Homepage steht, und dennoch subtil, feinnervig, delikat und ein bisschen „frickelig“, wie der Betreffende hervorhebt. „Früher hörten die Drummer immer: Bleib bei deinem Beat, konzentrier dich auf die Time und frickle nicht rum! Das bedeutete dann, alle Schnörkel tunlichst zu unterlassen und sich auf das klassische Timekeeping zu beschränken. Aber ich liebe es nun mal, den Beat in kleinere Unter-Grooves zu unterteilen, ihn so dicht wie möglich aufzubauen, viele 32-stel einzustreuen. Das macht es nicht unbedingt leichter für die restlichen Bandmitglieder. Denn da kann man schnell rausfliegen. Aber es hält die Spannung hoch und macht ungeheuer Spaß. Ich liebe frickeln!“

Von Michel Meis wird man unter Garantie noch eine Menge solch bemerkenswerter Sätze hören. Und mit an Sicherheit grenzender Wahrscheinlichkeit auch von seiner Musik, die mindestens genauso interessant sein kann, wie das gesprochene Wort. Dass der 29-Jährige außerdem der erste Luxemburger ist, der es in die Edel-Talenteschmiede der Jazz thing Next Generation geschafft hat, verschafft ihm ohnehin ein Alleinstellungsmerkmal. „Luxemburg ist nun mal ein kleiner Staat mit viel zu vielen Schlagzeugern“, beschreibt er die Situation in der überschaubaren, aber vitalen Szene seines Heimatlandes. „Deshalb habe ich mich eigentlich von Anfang an nie richtig als Sideman verstanden, sondern wollte schon immer eine Band führen, um mir Gehör zu verschaffen. Dabei ging es vor allem um die Verwirklichung meiner Ideen. Um es im übertragenen Sinn zu formulieren: Ich wollte nicht die Bilder anderer Leute in der Galerie aufhängen, sondern meine eigenen.“

Nicht zuletzt deshalb darf man die Herangehensweise des Michel Meis durchaus unkonventionell nennen. Ausgebildet als klassischer Schlagwerker und mit einer durchaus interessanten Stimme gesegnet, erschloss er sich das Drumset mehr über Harmonien als über Rhythmen. Inzwischen studiert Meis bei Oliver Strauch und Georg Ruby an der Hochschule für Musik Saar in Saarbrücken Jazz-Schlagzeug. Außerdem belegte er Meisterklassen bei Emmanuel Séjourné, Christian Lillinger, Christina Fuchs, Jérome Goldschmidt und Eric Durrer. Im Prinzip durchlaufe er keine klassische Jazz-Ausbildung, betont Michel Meis, obwohl ihm die Tradition sehr am Herzen liege. Dass er dennoch viele elektronische Elemente, etwa über den Sound eines Synthesizers, einfließen lässt und der Posaunistin Alisa Klein alle Freiheiten einräumt, spricht für den Geist seiner Formation. „Alisa tut uns allen gut“, bekennt der glühende Fan des Trompeters Ambrose Akinmusire. Der tiefe Blechsound bereichert die Combo um den Pianisten Cedric Hanriot und den Bassisten Stephan Goldbach um eine reizvolle Farbe. „Und eine Frau dabeizuhaben, das drückt das männliche Ego auf ein vernünftiges Maß. Denn ich bin mehr der impulsive Typ. ´Von der Lunge auf die Zunge`: Das ist mein Motto!“

Irgendwie logisch, dass Michel Meis auch auf Hardcore Metal steht, „weil ich vor allem den Druck mag, der dabei auf der Bühne herrscht.“ Dass er dennoch den Weg zum Jazz gefunden hat, liegt vor allem an dessen grenzenlosen Möglichkeiten. „Man kann quasi alles ausprobieren, vieles miteinander mischen. Von meinen Musikern darf sich jeder ausspielen und die Führung übernehmen. Für mich ist Jazz die Basis der gesamten Musik. David Guetta gäbe es genauso wenig ohne den Jazz wie die Beatles. Und ich liebe die Atmosphäre in Jazzclubs, wo man hautnah für eine bestimmte Anzahl von Menschen spielen kann. Da merkt man unmittelbar, wie die Musik ankommt. Und selbst wenn sie in der Pause gehen, dann ist das eine Art Feedback, auf das wir reagieren sollten.“

Dabei kommt es ihm vor allem darauf an, eine Brücke zum Publikum zu bauen, die richtige Sprache zu finden, in der man sich verständigen kann. „Lost In Translation“: Wenn einem das nicht passiert, dann Michel Meis.

Artist(s)

Michel Meis (drums)

Born in 1989, Michel Meis belongs to the new generation of Luxembourgish jazz musicians and regularly proves his versatility and openness through numerous projects.   After years of style shaping and sound experiments, his 4tet is about to make its mark on the European jazz scene with a sonic vocabulary that skillfully blends the traditional palette of drums, trombone, piano and double bass with the fresh approach and the broad musical background of open-minded and fearless musicians. The result is an exciting modern jazz where free and experimental improvisations meet well-crafted compositions. Where a rhythm, bursting with energy and vivacity, meets introverted and lyrical melodies. Where conventional jazz elements meet a clever and subtle use of jungle beats and electronic sound effects....
more
Born in 1989, Michel Meis belongs to the new generation of Luxembourgish jazz musicians and regularly proves his versatility and openness through numerous projects.
After years of style shaping and sound experiments, his 4tet is about to make its mark on the European jazz scene with a sonic vocabulary that skillfully blends the traditional palette of drums, trombone, piano and double bass with the fresh approach and the broad musical background of open-minded and fearless musicians. The result is an exciting modern jazz where free and experimental improvisations meet well-crafted compositions. Where a rhythm, bursting with energy and vivacity, meets introverted and lyrical melodies. Where conventional jazz elements meet a clever and subtle use of jungle beats and electronic sound effects. Although a true powerhouse drummer, Michel Meis gives enough room for the other instruments to unfold, thus emphasizing the cohesiveness and harmony of the project.

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Alisa Klein (trombone)

Stephan Goldbach (double bass)

Composer(s)

Michel Meis (drums)

Born in 1989, Michel Meis belongs to the new generation of Luxembourgish jazz musicians and regularly proves his versatility and openness through numerous projects.   After years of style shaping and sound experiments, his 4tet is about to make its mark on the European jazz scene with a sonic vocabulary that skillfully blends the traditional palette of drums, trombone, piano and double bass with the fresh approach and the broad musical background of open-minded and fearless musicians. The result is an exciting modern jazz where free and experimental improvisations meet well-crafted compositions. Where a rhythm, bursting with energy and vivacity, meets introverted and lyrical melodies. Where conventional jazz elements meet a clever and subtle use of jungle beats and electronic sound effects....
more
Born in 1989, Michel Meis belongs to the new generation of Luxembourgish jazz musicians and regularly proves his versatility and openness through numerous projects.
After years of style shaping and sound experiments, his 4tet is about to make its mark on the European jazz scene with a sonic vocabulary that skillfully blends the traditional palette of drums, trombone, piano and double bass with the fresh approach and the broad musical background of open-minded and fearless musicians. The result is an exciting modern jazz where free and experimental improvisations meet well-crafted compositions. Where a rhythm, bursting with energy and vivacity, meets introverted and lyrical melodies. Where conventional jazz elements meet a clever and subtle use of jungle beats and electronic sound effects. Although a true powerhouse drummer, Michel Meis gives enough room for the other instruments to unfold, thus emphasizing the cohesiveness and harmony of the project.

less

Stephan Goldbach (double bass)

Press

The music on this eight-piece album is anything but traditional. He has achieved a nice balance between free passages and beautifully hammered written parts.
Jazzism, 24-4-2020

Meis has delivered a beautiful and especially intimate album with 'Lost In Translation', worth the effort of listening.
Draai Om Je Oren, 27-2-2019

An excellent debut of the Michel Meis 4Tet
Rootstime, 08-1-2019

Meis and his quartet give everything they have: the group members regularly search for the adventure.
Jazzenzo, 04-1-2019

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Videos

Michel Meis 4tet – Lost in Translation (Album Trailer)

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