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A Swinging X-Mas With Friends

Sabine Kühlich & Laia Genc

A Swinging X-Mas With Friends

Price: € 14.95
Format: CD
Label: Double Moon Records
UPC: 0608917136524
Catnr: DMCHR 71365
Release date: 18 October 2019
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Label
Double Moon Records
UPC
0608917136524
Catalogue number
DMCHR 71365
Release date
18 October 2019
Album
Artist(s)
Composer(s)
EN
DE

About the album

Since the end of August, the layered pralines called Dominosteine, Christmas stollens and the chocolate bunnies melted into little Santa Clauses have been on supermarket shelves announcing the holiday season like writing on the wall. Snow begins in late summer in television advertising, while chubby teddy bears sled in the shop windows of department stores. Bets are placed among colleagues about who will hear “Last Christmas” by the group Wham! droning from a radio first. Everyone suddenly knows what's coming: shopping and social stress, the cooking of the most complicated recipes, overheated living rooms, fir trees losing their needles, and gifts that you did not wish for and for which you are supposed to express thanks. This excess is commonly called "Christmas." At the end of a year, it saps our strength that we no longer have a lot of. Only when the festivities are finished is the promise be fulfilled: Silent Night, Holy Night.

However, there are occasionally places of respite, places of reflection or secret formulas for lowering the stress level. Even though the abundance of Christmas records by jazz musicians in recent years has assumed almost inflationary proportions, thankfully a few still stand out that not only fulfill their mission for the “festival of love”, but also infuse all their passion and anticipation in the music. Vocalist Sabine Kühlich (studies in Amsterdam and New York) and singing pianist Laia Genç (one of the most renowned keyboard sound artists between composed structures and improvisational freedom) are definitely among them. “Swinging X-Mas With Friends”, the current album of the successful duo, puts exactly one of the central messages at the center, namely spending Christmas with family and friends, i.e., having people you like around you. And of course, the really special thing here are the two musicians, Sabine Kühlich and Laia Genç.

“If you are a fan of ours, then you are also a fan of ours at Christmas,” Genç laughs at a simple but conclusive common denominator. Because the way the successful duo interacts with each other, feeding each other the next phrase, already caused enthusiastic audience reactions to and fantastic reviews for “In Your Own Sweet Way” (Double Moon DMCHR 71164) in 2016. Following the meticulous compilation from Dave Brubeck's songbook, the two women simply let their hearts speak this time. “We reflected on which songs fit which one of us particularly well,” the pianist remembered. “There are so many great themes for Christmas. You can actually make a second Christmas record right away. And we heard many great productions while searching and browsing – old and new ones.” The selection was indeed difficult for the two of them. There is a broad stylistic band extending from “Winter Wonderland” to “Santa Claus Is Coming To Town”, “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas”, “Santa Baby”, “Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer”, “Hallelujah”, “White Christmas” and “Silent Night” to German titles such as "Lass es schneiʼn” and “Schneeflöckchen, Weissröckchen”. It also extends to French chansons, jazz, gospel and Dixieland, but also includes Finnish lyrics.

Laia Genç remembers that the most beautiful thing was the atmosphere that evolved when they were recording. This was not least due to the numerous friends who actively supported the project. “We thought about the people, with whom we've already worked. And with whom we'd love to work.” The rhythm group remained the same with Markus Braun (bass) and André Spajic (drums), and it was also supported by Paul Heller (tenor saxophone), Ryan Carniaux and Klaus Osterloh (both trumpets), Matthias Strucken (vibraphone), Bernd Lechtenfeld (trombone), Heiner Wiberny (clarinet) and Martin Scholz (piano/organ). Sabine Kühlich added: “We were all very happy – time passed more slowly, sweetly, and deeply.”

17 slightly different Christmas songs, interpreted by two exceptional musicians “with a little help from their friends” – actually the perfect recipe against the annual madness. Those who get involved with the two passionate Christmas fans Sabine Kühlich and Laia Genç will quickly notice how tranquility and happiness take hold of you. And not just at the end of the year.
Seit Ende August kündigen es die Dominosteine, die Christstollen und die zu Nikoläusen umgeschmolzenen Schokoladenosterhasen in den Supermarktregalen an wie Menetekel. In der Fernsehwerbung beginnt es bereits im Spätsommer zu schneien, in den Schaufenstern der Kaufhäuser fahren mollige Teddybären Schlitten. Unter Kollegen werden Wetten abgeschlossen, wer wann zum ersten Mal „Last Christmas“ von Wham! durch den Äther dudeln hört. Jeder weiß dann schlagartig, was einem bevorsteht: Einkaufs- und Sozialstress, das Nachkochen kompliziertester Rezepte, überhitzte Stuben, nadelnde Tannen, Geschenke, die man sich nicht gewünscht hat und über die man sich dennoch freuen muss. Man nennt diesen Exzess gemeinhin „Weihnachten“. Am Ende eines Jahres kostet er uns die Kraft, die wir nicht mehr haben. Erst wenn das Fest vorbei ist, wird das Versprechen eingelöst: Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht.

Vereinzelt gibt es jedoch Refugien, Orte der Besinnung oder Geheimrezepte zum Herunterfahren des Stresslevels. Auch wenn die Fülle der Weihnachtsplatten von Jazzmusikern in den vergangenen Jahren geradezu inflationäre Ausmaße annahm, so stechen Gott sei Dank doch immer noch die wenigen hervor, die nicht nur ihre Pflicht zum „Fest der Liebe“ erledigen, sondern ihr ganzes Herzblut und die Vorfreude in die Waagschale werfen. Die Vokalistin Sabine Kühlich (Studium in Amsterdam und New York) und die singende Pianistin Laia Genç (eine der renommiertesten Tasten-Klangmalerinnen zwischen komponierten Strukturen und improvisatorischer Freiheit) gehören definitiv dazu. Denn „Swinging X-Mas With Friends“, das aktuelle Album des Erfolgsduos, rückt exakt eine der zentralen Botschaften in den Mittelpunkt, nämlich Weihnachten mit Familie und Freunden zu verbringen, kurzum Menschen, die man gerne um sich hat. Und das eigentlich Besondere sind natürlich Sabine Kühlich und Laia Genç.

„Wer Fan von uns ist, der ist auch an Weihnachten Fan von uns“, bringt es Genç lachend auf einen simplen, aber schlüssigen Nenner. Denn die Art, wie das erfolgreiche Duo miteinander interagiert, sich die Bälle zuwirft, das sorgte bereits 2016 bei „In Your Own Sweet Way“ (Double Moon DMCHR 71164) für begeisterte Publikumsreaktionen und überschwängliche Kritiken. Nach der akribischen Zusammenstellung aus dem Songbook von Dave Brubeck ließen die beiden Frauen diesmal einfach ihr Herz sprechen. „Wir haben überlegt, welche Songs zu wem von uns beiden besonders gut passen“, erinnert sich die Pianistin. „Es gibt so viele tolle Themen zu Weihnachten. Man kann eigentlich gleich eine zweite Weihnachtsplatte machen. Und beim Scouten und Stöbern hört man so viele tolle Produktionen – alte wie neue.“ Die Auswahl fiel den beiden in der Tat schwer. Vom „Winter Wonderland“ über „Santa Claus Is Coming To Town“, „Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas“, „Santa Baby“, „Rudolph The Rednosed Reindeer“, „Hallelujah“, „White Christmas“ und „Silent Night“ bis zu hin deutschen Titeln wie „Lass es schneiʼn“ oder „Schneeflöckchen, Weißröckchen“ erstreckt sich ein breites stilistisches Band. Es erstreckt sich auch auf französische Chansons, Jazz, Gospel- und Dixie, aber auch finnische Texte.

Das Schönste dabei sei die Stimmung gewesen, die sich beim Aufnehmen verbreitet habe, erinnert sich Laia Genç. Was nicht zuletzt auch an den zahlreichen Freunden lag, die das Projekt tatkräftig unterstützten. „Wir haben überlegt, mit wem haben wir schon gearbeitet. Und mit wem wir wahnsinnig gerne einmal arbeiten würden.“ Die Rhythmusgruppe blieb mit Markus Braun (Bass) und André Spajic (Drums) gleich, daneben halfen noch Paul Heller (Tenorsaxofon), Ryan Carniaux und Klaus Osterloh (beide Trompete), Matthias Strucken (Vibrafon), Bernd Lechtenfeld (Posaune), Heiner Wiberny (Klarinette) sowie Martin Scholz (Piano/Orgel). Sabine Kühlich ergänzt: „Wir waren alle beglückt – die Zeit verlief langsamer, lieblicher, tiefer.“

17 etwas andere Weihnachtslieder, interpretiert von zwei Ausnahmemusikerinnen „with a little help from their friends“ – eigentlich der perfekte Turnaround für den alljährlichen Wahnsinn. Wer sich auf die beiden leidenschaftlichen Weihnachtsfans Sabine Kühlich und Laia Genç einlässt, der bemerkt schnell, wie Ruhe und Fröhlichkeit von einem Besitz ergreifen. Nicht erst ganz am Ende des Jahres.

Artist(s)

Sabine Kühlich (vocals)

Sabine Kühlich studied Jazz in Amsterdam and New York, is a passioned composer, and swinging interpret of the Great American Songbook. Brazilian and Cuban music influence her work as much as touring and CD-productions with the Jazz-legend Sheila Jordan – born 1928! Since 2006 Sabine is teacher of the Jazz Department at the Conservatory Maastricht, she lives in Germany. The „singer with a tempting voice“ won the Montreux Jazz Voice Competition in 2008, she played concerts in Europe, North and South America and Asia. Her „perfect timing“ (Barry Harris) and „brilliant music with wonderful lyrics“ (Sheila Jordan) can be found in several CD-productions as guest and front-woman.
more
Sabine Kühlich studied Jazz in Amsterdam and New York, is a passioned composer, and swinging interpret of the Great American Songbook. Brazilian and Cuban music influence her work as much as touring and CD-productions with the Jazz-legend Sheila Jordan – born 1928! Since 2006 Sabine is teacher of the Jazz Department at the Conservatory Maastricht, she lives in Germany. The „singer with a tempting voice“ won the Montreux Jazz Voice Competition in 2008, she played concerts in Europe, North and South America and Asia. Her „perfect timing“ (Barry Harris) and „brilliant music with wonderful lyrics“ (Sheila Jordan) can be found in several CD-productions as guest and front-woman.

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Laia Genc (vocals)

Laia Genc is living and working in Germany, she is part of the indeed very rich Cologne music scene and plays concerts all around Europe and in the world, wether with her own projects or as a sidewoman. To a lot of projects she adds a special colour as a sensitive soundpainteress, improviser, composer and arranger in her own particular way of mixing Jazz, free improvisation and lots of musical charme to an unmistakable sound. Her extended piano techniques give Laia the freedom to fully explore the border between composed structures and improvisational freedom.  Laia graduated her studies in jazzpiano at the conservatory in Cologne/Germany with some brave teachers, among them John Taylor. During her studies Laia lived in Paris for one year and...
more
Laia Genc is living and working in Germany, she is part of the indeed very rich Cologne music scene and plays concerts all around Europe and in the world, wether with her own projects or as a sidewoman.
To a lot of projects she adds a special colour as a sensitive soundpainteress, improviser, composer and arranger in her own particular way of mixing Jazz, free improvisation and lots of musical charme to an unmistakable sound. Her extended piano techniques give Laia the freedom to fully explore the border between composed structures and improvisational freedom.
Laia graduated her studies in jazzpiano at the conservatory in Cologne/Germany with some brave teachers, among them John Taylor. During her studies Laia lived in Paris for one year and studied at the Conservatoire national supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris. This year in France for her became one of the most inspriring and onleading periods of her studies.
Since she has started playing extensively she has been travelling and working musicwise in Luxemburg, Italy, France, Norway, Lithuania, Haiti, Belgium, The Netherlands and Australia. In Australia she toured in 2009 with her LiaisonTonique and Adam Simmons as special guest on the saxophone.

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Paul Heller (tenor saxophone)

Paul Heller is a WDR Big Band saxophonist and the artistic director of his own concert series 'Next Level Jazz' in Cologne.
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Paul Heller is a WDR Big Band saxophonist and the artistic director of his own concert series "Next Level Jazz" in Cologne.

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Matthias Strucken (vibraphone)

Ryan Carniaux (trumpet)

Markus Braun (double bass)

Klaus Osterloh (trumpet)

Composer(s)

Press

Play album Play album
01.
Winter Wonderland
03:36
(Felix Bernard, Richard B. Smith) André Spajic, Markus Braun, Laia Genc, Sabine Kühlich
02.
Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
04:13
(John Frederick Coots, Haven Gillespie) André Spajic, Klaus Osterloh, Markus Braun, Ryan Carniaux, Laia Genc, Sabine Kühlich
03.
Let It Snow – Lass es schnei‘n
04:43
(Jule Styne, Sammy Cahn) Paul Heller, Ryan Carniaux, Markus Braun, André Spajic, Laia Genc, Sabine Kühlich
04.
Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
03:53
(Hugh Martin, Ralph Blane) Sabine Kühlich, Laia Genc, Matthias Strucken, Markus Braun, André Spajic
05.
The Happiest Christmas Tree
02:32
(Cathy Lynn, Lee Cathy, David Cavanaugh) Laia Genc, Markus Braun, Klaus Osterloh, André Spajic
06.
Santa Baby
03:18
(Joan Javits, Philip Springer) Sabine Kühlich, Bernd Lechtenfeld
07.
Schneeflöckchen, Weißröckchen
05:02
(Hedwig Haberkorn) Sabine Kühlich, Matthias Strucken, Laia Genc, Markus Braun, André Spajic, Martin Scholz
08.
Rudolph, The Red-Nosed Reindeer
04:46
(Johnny Marks) Sabine Kühlich, Laia Genc, Klaus Osterloh, Markus Braun, Heiner Viberney, André Spajic, Bernd Lechtenfeld, Martin Scholz
09.
Hallelujah
05:00
(Leonard Cohen) Laia Genc, Martin Scholz, Markus Braun, André Spajic, Martin Scholz
10.
Mary´s Boy Child
04:18
(Jester Joseph Hairston) Sabine Kühlich, Laia Genc, Ryan Carniaux, Markus Braun, André Spajic
11.
White Christmas
05:17
(Irving Berlin) Sabine Kühlich, Paul Heller, Markus Braun, Klaus Osterloh, André Spajic
12.
Good Morning Blues
03:41
(Count Basie, Eddie Durham, Jimmy Rushing) Laia Genc, Markus Braun, André Spajic, Martin Scholz
13.
Silent Night
05:39
(Traditional) Sabine Kühlich, Laia Genc, Markus Braun, André Spajic, Bernd Lechtenfeld, Martin Scholz, Heiner Viberny
14.
Petit Papa Noël
03:25
(Raymond Vinci, Henry Martinen) Sabine Kühlich, Laia Genc, Martin Scholz
15.
Maailman tie
01:28
(Traditional) Sabine Kühlich, Laia Genc, Ryan Carniaux, Markus Braun, André Spajic, Martin Scholz
16.
Tanssivat porot
03:06
(Eero Koivistoinen, Juice Leskinen) Sabine Kühlich, Laia Genc, Ryan Carniaux, Markus Braun, André Spajic
17.
We Wish You A Merry Christmas
00:19
(Traditional) Sabine Kühlich, Laia Genc, Bernd Lechtenfeld, Martin Scholz
show all tracks

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