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The End Of Melancholism

Christian Krischkowsky Quartet

The End Of Melancholism

Price: € 14.95
Format: CD
Label: Double Moon Records
UPC: 0608917139228
Catnr: DMCHR 71392
Release date: 24 September 2021
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Label
Double Moon Records
UPC
0608917139228
Catalogue number
DMCHR 71392
Release date
24 September 2021

"... real music to enjoy ... the whole album is a musical experience, all credits to Krischkowsky and his fellow musicians!  "

Rootstime, 25-10-2021
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Artist(s)
Composer(s)
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About the album

Bands that are led by drummers are not as seldom as they once were, but still a somewhat rare affair. The quartet of drummer Christian Krischkowsky is already presenting its second album “The End of Melancholism” and illustrates the advantages of such an approach in nine pieces, seven of which are from Krischkowsky's pen. Pieces like “Would You Dance With Me?” or “Football Evolution” sound rhythmically challenging, without deliberately placing the drums in the foreground.

“I wanted to incorporate the rhythmic ideas that I developed on drums even more into my compositions,” Krischkowsky said. “When composing, however, I always had my co-musicians with whom I recorded the CD in mind.”

And they are really something else! Peter Ehwald is a saxophonist who always goes his own way, but at the same time has outstanding qualities in interaction. “Peter is very freedom-loving,” the band leader stated. "He repeatedly makes suggestions to modify fixed structures, which may sound too beautiful, and improvise to make them more his own. This makes the pieces more spirited, more unpredictable and freer. This also reflects his personality."

Marc Schmolling is a pianist with whom Christian Krischkowsky has almost blind understanding. “I've known Marc the longest, and he's actually responsible for the band members coming together,” he confessed. "I appreciate his humor and admire how deeply he is rooted in tradition. At the same time, he also has something unwieldy and unpredictable in his play. Sometimes it sounds a bit cumbersome, but that is also exactly what constitutes his own style.”

Roland Fidezius on bass is responsible for the maneuverability of the quartet. He is closely intertwined with Krischkowsky's playing, but also keeps making surprising twists. “Roland is a great team player and you just love having someone like him in the band,” the band leader stated happily. “Of course, he is also a great bass player who contributes a lot of ideas.”

The opener has to serve as the title of the album and should stand for a positive approach at the same time, which might seem unusual in corona times. “Basically, I am in a phase of life in which I would like to get rid of old patterns of behavior,” Krischkowsky said explaining why he chose this album title. “I am a positive person by nature, but I also have a tendency to be melancholic. That's why I would often like to react differently and focus my attention on positive things. If you really want to see it from the viewpoint of society, it would generally be good for us to take a different perspective. This is the only way to go on new paths unburdened. That was not the real reason for the title, but it really makes sense to me in retrospect.”

Krischkowsky can also express all his energy in short pieces such as the three-minute “The Unheard”. "Writing ‘The Unheard’ cost me a lot of energy,” the drummer confessed. "The piece is actually structured simply, although the five-piece structure sounds unusual to most people.”

The meaning of “Gshdunga hodama” – is it perhaps Asian wisdom? – is not to be explained here. “'Gshdunga hodama‘ was created in a workshop with my students,” Krischkowsky recalled. “I tried to create rhythmic illusions; you get the impression that things are slowing down or moving faster, but that doesn't actually happen.”

Two cover versions made it onto the CD. There is the rustic version of Thelonious Monk's "I Mean You" - Monk's “Evidence” was already played on the predecessor album “Digital Immigrant” - but also the Beatles classic “Strawberry Fields Forever”, which sounds extremely willful in the version of the Christian Krischkowsky Quartet.

“I'm not the total Beatles connoisseur, but the piece grabbed my attention,” Krischkowsky confesses. "Of course, this is due to the melody, but also to the great psychedelic production. That started to get my mind churning, and that's when this version came into being.”

Bands, die von Schlagzeugern geleitet werden, sind nicht mehr so selten, wie sie einmal waren, aber immer noch eine halbwegs rare Angelegenheit. Das Quartett des Schlagzeugers Christian Krischkowsky legt mit „The End of Melancholism“ bereits das zweite Album vor und verdeutlicht in neun Stücken, von denen sieben aus Krischkowskys Feder stammen, die Vorteile einer solchen Herangehensweise. Stücke wie „Would You Dance With Me?“ oder „Football Evolution“ klingen rhythmisch herausfordernd, ohne gewollt das Schlagzeug in den Vordergrund zu stellen.

„Ich wollte die rhythmischen Ideen, die ich am Schlagzeug entwickelt habe, noch stärker in meine Kompositionen einbauen“, erzählt Krischkowsky. „Beim Schreiben habe ich aber auch immer meine Kollegen, mit denen ich die Platte eingespielt habe, im Kopf gehabt.“

Und die haben es in sich. Peter Ehwald ist ein Saxofonist, der zwar stets seinen eigenen Weg geht, aber gleichzeitig auch überragende Qualitäten in der Interaktion hat. „Peter ist sehr freiheitsliebend“, findet der Bandleader. „Er macht immer wieder Vorschläge, um zu festgelegte Strukturen, die vielleicht auch zu schön klingen, improvisatorisch eigener zu gestalten. Dadurch werden die Stücke kerniger, unberechenbarer und freier. Das spiegelt auch seine Persönlichkeit.“

Marc Schmolling ist ein Pianist, mit dem Christian Krischkowsky sich nahezu blind versteht. „Marc kenne ich am längsten und er ist eigentlich dafür verantwortlich, dass die Band zusammen gekommen ist“, bekennt er. „Ich schätze seinen Humor und bewundere, wie stark er in der Tradition verwurzelt ist. Gleichzeitig hat er in seinem Spiel aber auch etwas Kantiges und Unberechenbares. Manchmal klingt er etwas sperrig, aber das macht gerade auch seinen eigenen Stil aus.“

Am Bass sorgt Roland Fidezius für die Wendigkeit des Quartetts. Er ist eng mit Krischkowskys Spiel verzahnt, sorgt aber auch immer wieder für überraschende Wendungen. „Roland ist ein super Teamplayer und jemanden wie ihn hat man einfach gern in der Band“, freut sich der Bandleader. „Natürlich ist er auch ein super Bassist, der viele Ideen einbringt.“

Der Opener muss gleichzeitig für den Titel des Albums herhalten und soll - das mag in Corona-Zeiten vielleicht ungewöhnlich erscheinen - für eine positive Herangehensweise stehen. „Grundsätzlich bin ich in einer Lebensphase, in der ich mich gerne von alten Verhaltensmustern lösen würde“, begründet Krischkowsky, warum er sich für diesen Albumtitel entschieden hat. „An sich bin ich ein positiver Mensch, habe aber auch einen Hang zur Schwermut. Deshalb würde ich oft gerne anders reagieren und meinen Blick lieber auf positive Dinge richten. Wenn man es unbedingt gesellschaftlich sehen will, würde es uns generell gut tun, eine andere Perspektive einzunehmen. Nur so kann man unbelastet neue Wege gehen. Das war nicht der eigentliche Grund für den Titel, aber im Nachhinein leuchtet er mir sehr ein.“

All seine Energie kann Krischkowsky auch in kurzen Stücken wie dem dreiminütigen „The Unheard“ ausdrücken. „‚The Unheard‘ zu schreiben hat mich sehr viel Energie gekostet“, bekennt der Schlagzeuger. „Dabei ist das Stück eigentlich einfach strukturiert, wobei die Fünferstruktur für die meisten Ohren schon ungewöhnlich klingt.“

Die Bedeutung von „Gshdunga hodama“ - ist es vielleicht eine asiatische Weisheit? - soll hier gar nicht erklärt werden. „‚Gshdunga hodama‘ ist im Workshop mit meinen Schülern entstanden“, erinnert Krischkowsky sich. „Dabei habe ich versucht, rhythmische Illusionen zu kreieren - man hat den Eindruck, es wird langsamer oder schneller, dabei passiert das eigentlich nicht.“

Zwei Cover haben es auf die CD geschafft: Da ist die rustikale Version von Thelonious Monks „I Mean You“ - schon auf dem Vorgänger-Album „Digital Immigrant“ wurde Monks „Evidence“ gespielt -, aber auch der Beatles-Klassiker „Strawberry Fields Forever“, der in der Fassung des Christian Krischkowsky Quartet äußerst eigensinnig klingt.

„Ich bin nicht der totale Beatles-Kenner, aber das Stück hat mich angesprungen“, bekennt Krischkowsky. „Das liegt natürlich an der Melodie, aber auch an der tollen psychedelischen Produktion. Das hat angefangen, in mir zu arbeiten, und dabei ist diese Version entstanden.“

Artist(s)

Christian Krischkowsky (drums)

After several years and two albums with his Quintett (1. „TS BREMEN“-Jazzthing Next Generation Vol.8/Doublemoon…. 2. „55 DAYS“ feat. Kristiina Tuomi/ Mons) Ulm- based drummer and composer Christian Krischkowsky is leading a new band, the Christian Krischkowsky Quartet. With this brand new acoustic jazz project Krischkowsky and his fellow Berlin musicians explore new territories. Expressionistic sounding melodies and improvisations fly above pulsating and sometimes unusual futuristic rhythm structures. Krischkowsky´s compositions and arrangements create a new and highly personal sound, combining musical zeitgeist with influences of Bill Evans, Thelonious Monk or songwriter Cat Stevens. Besides Marc Schmolling ( piano ), Krischkowsky´s longtime companion, there are two other exceptional musical team players acting on the side of the drummer: Peter Ehwald ( tenor/soprano saxophone...
more
After several years and two albums with his Quintett (1. „TS BREMEN“-Jazzthing Next Generation Vol.8/Doublemoon…. 2. „55 DAYS“ feat. Kristiina Tuomi/ Mons) Ulm- based drummer and composer Christian Krischkowsky is leading a new band, the Christian Krischkowsky Quartet.
With this brand new acoustic jazz project Krischkowsky and his fellow Berlin musicians explore new territories. Expressionistic sounding melodies and improvisations fly above pulsating and sometimes unusual futuristic rhythm structures. Krischkowsky´s compositions and arrangements create a new and highly personal sound, combining musical zeitgeist with influences of Bill Evans, Thelonious Monk or songwriter Cat Stevens.
Besides Marc Schmolling ( piano ), Krischkowsky´s longtime companion, there are two other exceptional musical team players acting on the side of the drummer: Peter Ehwald ( tenor/soprano saxophone ) and Roland Fidezius ( bass ). With its music, this quartet tells imaginative, often miraculous stories in its own way and invites the listener into wide musical worlds – sometimes exciting and wild, sometimes gentle and tender.

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Peter Ehwald (saxophone)

Roland Fidezius (double bass)

Composer(s)

Christian Krischkowsky (drums)

After several years and two albums with his Quintett (1. „TS BREMEN“-Jazzthing Next Generation Vol.8/Doublemoon…. 2. „55 DAYS“ feat. Kristiina Tuomi/ Mons) Ulm- based drummer and composer Christian Krischkowsky is leading a new band, the Christian Krischkowsky Quartet. With this brand new acoustic jazz project Krischkowsky and his fellow Berlin musicians explore new territories. Expressionistic sounding melodies and improvisations fly above pulsating and sometimes unusual futuristic rhythm structures. Krischkowsky´s compositions and arrangements create a new and highly personal sound, combining musical zeitgeist with influences of Bill Evans, Thelonious Monk or songwriter Cat Stevens. Besides Marc Schmolling ( piano ), Krischkowsky´s longtime companion, there are two other exceptional musical team players acting on the side of the drummer: Peter Ehwald ( tenor/soprano saxophone...
more
After several years and two albums with his Quintett (1. „TS BREMEN“-Jazzthing Next Generation Vol.8/Doublemoon…. 2. „55 DAYS“ feat. Kristiina Tuomi/ Mons) Ulm- based drummer and composer Christian Krischkowsky is leading a new band, the Christian Krischkowsky Quartet.
With this brand new acoustic jazz project Krischkowsky and his fellow Berlin musicians explore new territories. Expressionistic sounding melodies and improvisations fly above pulsating and sometimes unusual futuristic rhythm structures. Krischkowsky´s compositions and arrangements create a new and highly personal sound, combining musical zeitgeist with influences of Bill Evans, Thelonious Monk or songwriter Cat Stevens.
Besides Marc Schmolling ( piano ), Krischkowsky´s longtime companion, there are two other exceptional musical team players acting on the side of the drummer: Peter Ehwald ( tenor/soprano saxophone ) and Roland Fidezius ( bass ). With its music, this quartet tells imaginative, often miraculous stories in its own way and invites the listener into wide musical worlds – sometimes exciting and wild, sometimes gentle and tender.

less

Press

... real music to enjoy ... the whole album is a musical experience, all credits to Krischkowsky and his fellow musicians!  
Rootstime, 25-10-2021

... Contemporary jazz with sax, piano, bass and drums, oscillating between through-composed interplay and free passages...
NaDann

...the whole album is a musical experience, praise to Krischkowsky and his fellow musicians!
Rootstime, 01-10-2021

... a shimmering conglomerate of unwieldy compositions like "Gshdunga Hodama" (Bavarian for "Hat mich geärgert") or bumpy beats borrowed from hip-hop like "Football Evolution" and - in homage to forefather Thelonious Monk - "l Mean You"...
Jazzthing 09 10 2021, 25-8-2021

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