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Läuterung

Tryon

Läuterung

Price: € 14.95
Format: CD
Label: Double Moon Records
UPC: 0608917140927
Catnr: DMCHR 71409
Release date: 26 August 2022
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Label
Double Moon Records
UPC
0608917140927
Catalogue number
DMCHR 71409
Release date
26 August 2022

"... For this brilliant album he chose a large formation whose members more than do justice to the cross-genre inclination of the leader (who also created all the compositions)..."

Jazzpodium 12 01 2023, 01-12-2022
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About the album

"Läuterung” (trans: “Purification") is an unusual term for an album title, especially when you know that Kellen Tryon Mills, the person behind this music, is American.

"Our guitarist explained to me what 'Läuterung’ means, and I liked the term as an album title," Mills stated laconically, shrugging his shoulders. "I wrote the music at the beginning of the Corona pandemic and although everything came to a standstill, I thought it was important to continue to be creative."

Mills comes from Seattle, plays bass and synthesizer, composes and produces and has become known with the prog-rock band Alex's Hand, which has released four albums and two EPs in its ten-year career. “After Alex’s Hand broke up, I began composing this music in 2020,” Mills explained. "For this, I recruited musicians that I already knew from other projects, but also new people that I didn't know yet. For me, it was all about who could best implement the music, which is why there are so many musicians."

Mills named the project after his middle name Tryon, and what happens on "Läuterung" is difficult to put into words. Pop, rock, jazz, avant-garde - everything seems to be happening at the same time and many of the songs work with complex rhythm changes and outlandish lyrics, which are interpreted by three singers. Most of them are sung by Erik Leuthhäuser and Ganna Gryvia, and the almost pop-style "Wooden Chair" is sung by Lela Frite. "I had worked with Erik before and therefore also composed songs with his voice in mind," Mills explained his choice. "He then recommended Ganna to me, because I needed a female voice for the other side of the album."

The wild mixture, played with sleepwalking ease by the sixteen musicians involved, encompasses a whole universe of musical influences.

"I really listen to almost everything, but I'm above all very interested in contemporary classical music: Stravinsky, Ligeti, Bartok, Schönberg", Mills first clarified first, and then continued: “However, I grew up with the music of Frank Zappa, which is why I'm also interested in rock and jazz. My music eventually became a mixture of all these elements, including improvised parts. But I also like to listen to pop music like Kanye West, Sia or David Bowie."

Jacopo Bazzarri, among others, provides for the truly zappaesque moments on marimba and vibraphone, but there are also a lot of skilled wind instrument players such as the saxophonists Toms Rudzinski and Omri Abramov and the trombonist Scott Flynn. "Of course, there is a reason why so many jazz musicians play on the album," Mills said, "because they not only can play excellently from sheet music, but also improvise."

Guitarist Ruben Bernges has a hell of a job, because his guitar is omnipresent on "Läuterung"; he dominates an entire sound universe from aggressive metal riffs to excessive solos and all the way to delicate acoustic passages. "I've known and appreciated Ruben for a long time, which is why he absolutely had to be part of this," Mills stated enthusiastically. "He plays in prog rock and metal bands, but has also studied jazz. He can also understand the most complicated music and that makes him so valuable."

Tryon has succeeded with "Läuterung" in creating an album that could only be produced in Berlin. "I came to Berlin nine years ago with Alex's Hand and found it very interesting here," Mills said as an understatement. "The improvisation scene in particular made me curious, so I stayed. There is a good mix of rock and jazz musicians here, as you rarely find them in the USA. The musicians are willing to deal with very complicated music and that's a mentality that fits with my approach."

„Läuterung“ ist ein ungewöhnlicher Begriff für einen Albumtitel - vor allem, wenn man weiß, dass Kellen Tryon Mills, der Mensch, der hinter dieser Musik steckt, Amerikaner ist.

„Unser Gitarrist hat mir erklärt, was ‚Läuterung‘ bedeutet und mir gefiel der Begriff als Albumtitel“, sagt Mills lakonisch und zuckt mit den Schultern. „Die Musik schrieb ich am Anfang von Corona und obwohl alles zum Stillstand kam, hielt ich es für wichtig, weiter kreativ zu sein.“

Mills stammt aus Seattle, spielt Bass und Synthesizer, komponiert und produziert und ist mit der Prog-Rock-Band Alex’s Hand, die in ihrer knapp zehnjährigen Karriere vier Alben und zwei EPs veröffentlicht hat, bekannt geworden. „Nachdem Alex’s Hand sich aufgelöst hatte, begann ich 2020, diese Musik zu schreiben“, erklärt Mills die Entstehung von „Läuterung“. „Dafür rekrutierte ich zum Teil Musiker, die ich von anderen Projekten bereits kannte, aber auch neue Leute, die ich noch nicht kannte. Mir ging es vor allem darum, wer die Musik am besten umsetzen konnte, deshalb sind es so viele Musiker.“

Das Projekt benannte Mills schließlich nach seinem zweiten Vornamen Tryon und was auf „Läuterung“ geschieht, ist schwer in Worte zu fassen. Pop, Rock, Jazz, Avantgarde - alles scheint zur gleichen Zeit zu passieren und viele der Songs arbeiten mit komplexen Rhythmuswechseln und versponnenen Texten, die gleich von drei Sängerinnen und Sängern interpretiert werden. Meistens sind das Erik Leuthäuser und Ganna Gryvia, das fast schon poppige „Wooden Chair“ wird von Lela Frite gesungen. „Mit Erik hatte ich vorher schon zusammengearbeitet und habe deshalb auch Songs geschrieben mit seiner Stimme im Kopf“, erläutert Mills seine Wahl. „Er hat mir dann Ganna empfohlen, denn für die andere Seite des Albums brauchte ich eine weibliche Stimme.“

Die wilde Mischung, die von den beteiligten sechzehn Musikern mit schlafwandlerischer Leichtigkeit gespielt wird, umfasst ein ganzes Universum an musikalischen Einflüssen.

„Ich höre mir wirklich fast alles an, bin aber vor allem sehr an zeitgenössischer Klassik interessiert: Strawinsky, Ligeti, Bartok, Schönberg“, stellt Mills zunächst einmal klar, um dann fortzufahren: „Aufgewachsen bin ich allerdings mit der Musik von Frank Zappa, deshalb bin ich auch an Rock und Jazz interessiert. Meine Musik wurde schließlich eine Mixtur all dieser Elemente inklusive improvisierter Anteile. Ich höre aber auch gerne Popmusik wie Kanye West, Sia oder David Bowie.“

Für die in der Tat zappaesken Momente sorgt unter anderem Jacopo Bazzarri an Marimba und Vibraphon, es sind aber auch eine Menge versierte Bläser wie die Saxofonisten Toms Rudzinski und Omri Abramov und der Posaunist Scott Flynn dabei. „Natürlich gibt es einen Grund dafür, dass so viele Jazzmusiker auf dem Album spielen“, sagt Mills, „denn die können nicht nur exzellent vom Blatt spielen, sondern eben auch improvisieren.“

Einen Höllenjob hat vor allem Gitarrist Ruben Bernges, denn dessen Gitarre ist auf „Läuterung“ allgegenwärtig, von aggressiven Metal-Riffs über exzessive Soli bis zu filigranen akustischen Passagen beherrscht er ein ganzes Klang-Universum. „Ruben kenne und schätze ich schon lange, deshalb musste er auch hier unbedingt dabei sein“, schwärmt Mills. „Er spielt in Prog-Rock- und Metal-Bands, hat aber auch Jazz studiert. Er kann sich auch in die komplizierteste Musik hineindenken und das macht ihn so wertvoll.“

Mit „Läuterung“ ist Tryon ein Album gelungen, das so wohl tatsächlich nur in Berlin entstehen konnte. „Ich kam vor neun Jahren mit Alex’s Hand nach Berlin und fand es hier sehr interessant“, sagt Mills mit viel Understatement. „Vor allem die Improvisations-Szene hat mich neugierig gemacht, also bin ich geblieben. Es gibt hier eine gute Mischung aus Rock- und Jazzmusikern, wie man sie in den USA selten findet. Die Musiker sind bereit, sich auch mit sehr komplizierter Musik auseinander zu setzen und das ist eine Mentalität, die mir gefällt.“

Artist(s)

Kellen Mills (double bass)

Kellen Tryon Mills is a composer, bassist, and multi-instrumentalist hailing from Seattle, WA, USA. In 2020 TRYON was founded as a solo project involving written orchestrated compositions for large ensemble. Combining elements of pop, avant garde, contemporary classical composition and free jazz/improvisation. Currently his band ranges from improvisors in the ‘Echtezeit’ musik scene, to well known jazz plazyers. TRYON recorded their upcoming debut album with a cast of 16 musicians, entitled “Läuterung”. TRYON has received funding grants from Musikfonds Berlin and DMR. Generally TRYON performs as a large band ensemble (8-9 musicians) , but also performs as a small ensemble version.
more
Kellen Tryon Mills is a composer, bassist, and multi-instrumentalist hailing from Seattle, WA, USA. In 2020 TRYON was founded as a solo project involving written orchestrated compositions for large ensemble. Combining elements of pop, avant garde, contemporary classical composition and free jazz/improvisation. Currently his band ranges from improvisors in the ‘Echtezeit’ musik scene, to well known jazz plazyers. TRYON recorded their upcoming debut album with a cast of 16 musicians, entitled “Läuterung”. TRYON has received funding grants from Musikfonds Berlin and DMR. Generally TRYON performs as a large band ensemble (8-9 musicians) , but also performs as a small ensemble version.

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Ganna Gryniva (vocals)

GANNA is an active part of the jazz scene in Germany and Europe. They had the opportunity to present their music to national and international audiences at the A-Trane Jazz Club in Berlin, BMC Opus Jazz Club in Budapest , Preveza Jazz Festival in Greece, Urban Music Hall in Odessa (Ukraine), Jazz Club 32 in Kyiv (Ukraine). Upcoming concerts will take place in the Konzerthaus Berlin, Jazz Cellar 11 in Vilnius (Lithuania), Philly Joe´s Jazz Club in Tallinn (Estland) and others. The ensemble has been awarded the Berlin Senat grant for three times to support GANNA´s tours throughout Germany. In October 2018, GANNA received the Thuringia Jazz Mile Award:  'Newcomer of the Year'.
more

GANNA is an active part of the jazz scene in Germany and Europe. They had the opportunity to present their music to national and international audiences at the A-Trane Jazz Club in Berlin, BMC Opus Jazz Club in Budapest , Preveza Jazz Festival in Greece, Urban Music Hall in Odessa (Ukraine), Jazz Club 32 in Kyiv (Ukraine). Upcoming concerts will take place in the Konzerthaus Berlin, Jazz Cellar 11 in Vilnius (Lithuania), Philly Joe´s Jazz Club in Tallinn (Estland) and others.

The ensemble has been awarded the Berlin Senat grant for three times to support GANNA´s tours throughout Germany. In October 2018, GANNA received the Thuringia Jazz Mile Award: "Newcomer of the Year".


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Lela Frite (vocals)

Toms Rudzinksi (alto saxophone)

Giovanni Chirico (bariton saxophone)

Omri Abramov (tenor saxophone)

Dante Uccello (synthesizer)

Ruben Bernges (guitar)

Rieko Okuda (piano)

Jacopo Bazzarri (vibraphone)

Kerem Eseman (flute)

Dearbhla Nolan (trumpet)

Scott Flynn (trombone)

Composer(s)

Kellen Mills (bass)

Kellen Tryon Mills is a composer, bassist, and multi-instrumentalist hailing from Seattle, WA, USA. In 2020 TRYON was founded as a solo project involving written orchestrated compositions for large ensemble. Combining elements of pop, avant garde, contemporary classical composition and free jazz/improvisation. Currently his band ranges from improvisors in the ‘Echtezeit’ musik scene, to well known jazz plazyers. TRYON recorded their upcoming debut album with a cast of 16 musicians, entitled “Läuterung”. TRYON has received funding grants from Musikfonds Berlin and DMR. Generally TRYON performs as a large band ensemble (8-9 musicians) , but also performs as a small ensemble version.
more
Kellen Tryon Mills is a composer, bassist, and multi-instrumentalist hailing from Seattle, WA, USA. In 2020 TRYON was founded as a solo project involving written orchestrated compositions for large ensemble. Combining elements of pop, avant garde, contemporary classical composition and free jazz/improvisation. Currently his band ranges from improvisors in the ‘Echtezeit’ musik scene, to well known jazz plazyers. TRYON recorded their upcoming debut album with a cast of 16 musicians, entitled “Läuterung”. TRYON has received funding grants from Musikfonds Berlin and DMR. Generally TRYON performs as a large band ensemble (8-9 musicians) , but also performs as a small ensemble version.

less

Press

... For this brilliant album he chose a large formation whose members more than do justice to the cross-genre inclination of the leader (who also created all the compositions)...
Jazzpodium 12 01 2023, 01-12-2022

... No light fare, but it's worth exploring TRYON's sound cosmos - exciting, challenging, beautiful!
er em mag, 14-8-2022

American bassist Kellen Tryon Mills, who may be familiar to some from the prog rock band Alex's Hand, was so taken with the German term "Läuterung" that he named the debut album of his new project after it...
Jazzthing, 26-10-2022

... Besides the Zappaesque moments and jazz parts, there is also a lot on this CD that reminds of the work of British art and prog rock bands such as Henry Cow, Gentle Giant or National Health. It is also successful how this album - despite constant changes of perspective and movement - achieves a homogeneous overall sound.  
Badische Zeitung, 18-10-2022

... Nevertheless, this wild mixture remains the "child" of the protagonist, because he has understood to create from different influences to create a quite independent mix...
musikansich, 23-9-2022

... In the tightly composed 10 tracks on "Läuterung" there's always room for soloistic excursions. ...
NaDann, 14-9-2022

... There are no rules here. There is a wonderful, seemingly spontaneous game ...
jazzfun, 01-9-2022

... This collective unleashes a highly disciplined art-rock storm the likes of which have not been heard since the best days of Mr. Bungle....
Fidelity 06 2022

Play album Play album
01.
Popcity
05:56
(Kellen Mills) Jacopo Bazzarri , Erik Leuthäuser, Kellen Mills , Kerem Eseman, Dearbhla Nolan, Scott Flynn, Agustin Pardo, Lela Frite, Toms Rudzinksi, Giovanni Chirico, Omri Abramov, Dante Uccello, Ruben Bernges, Rieko Okuda, Henry Hahnfeldt , Diego Caetanno Guerrra, Ganna Gryniva
02.
Solitude by Numbers
04:11
(Kellen Mills) Kellen Mills , Erik Leuthäuser, Jacopo Bazzarri , Kerem Eseman, Dearbhla Nolan, Scott Flynn, Agustin Pardo, Lela Frite, Toms Rudzinksi, Giovanni Chirico, Omri Abramov, Dante Uccello, Ruben Bernges, Rieko Okuda, Henry Hahnfeldt , Diego Caetanno Guerrra, Ganna Gryniva
03.
Wooden Chair
03:53
(Kellen Mills) Kellen Mills , Erik Leuthäuser, Jacopo Bazzarri , Kerem Eseman, Dearbhla Nolan, Scott Flynn, Agustin Pardo, Lela Frite, Toms Rudzinksi, Giovanni Chirico, Omri Abramov, Dante Uccello, Ruben Bernges, Rieko Okuda, Henry Hahnfeldt , Diego Caetanno Guerrra, Ganna Gryniva
04.
Saving Till the End
03:57
(Kellen Mills) Kellen Mills , Erik Leuthäuser, Jacopo Bazzarri , Kerem Eseman, Dearbhla Nolan, Scott Flynn, Agustin Pardo, Lela Frite, Toms Rudzinksi, Giovanni Chirico, Omri Abramov, Dante Uccello, Ruben Bernges, Rieko Okuda, Henry Hahnfeldt , Diego Caetanno Guerrra, Ganna Gryniva
05.
Shifts
09:24
(Kellen Mills) Kellen Mills , Erik Leuthäuser, Jacopo Bazzarri , Kerem Eseman, Dearbhla Nolan, Scott Flynn, Agustin Pardo, Lela Frite, Toms Rudzinksi, Giovanni Chirico, Omri Abramov, Dante Uccello, Ruben Bernges, Rieko Okuda, Henry Hahnfeldt , Diego Caetanno Guerrra, Ganna Gryniva
06.
Floyd
03:47
(Kellen Mills) Kellen Mills , Erik Leuthäuser, Jacopo Bazzarri , Kerem Eseman, Dearbhla Nolan, Scott Flynn, Agustin Pardo, Lela Frite, Toms Rudzinksi, Giovanni Chirico, Omri Abramov, Dante Uccello, Ruben Bernges, Rieko Okuda, Henry Hahnfeldt , Diego Caetanno Guerrra, Ganna Gryniva
07.
Tumultuous Roads Diverge (TRD)
07:01
(Kellen Mills) Kellen Mills , Erik Leuthäuser, Jacopo Bazzarri , Kerem Eseman, Dearbhla Nolan, Scott Flynn, Agustin Pardo, Lela Frite, Toms Rudzinksi, Giovanni Chirico, Omri Abramov, Dante Uccello, Ruben Bernges, Rieko Okuda, Henry Hahnfeldt , Diego Caetanno Guerrra, Ganna Gryniva
08.
Wasted Time
02:59
(Kellen Mills) Kellen Mills , Erik Leuthäuser, Jacopo Bazzarri , Kerem Eseman, Dearbhla Nolan, Scott Flynn, Agustin Pardo, Lela Frite, Toms Rudzinksi, Giovanni Chirico, Omri Abramov, Dante Uccello, Ruben Bernges, Rieko Okuda, Henry Hahnfeldt , Diego Caetanno Guerrra, Ganna Gryniva
09.
Virall
05:44
(Kellen Mills) Kellen Mills , Erik Leuthäuser, Jacopo Bazzarri , Kerem Eseman, Dearbhla Nolan, Scott Flynn, Agustin Pardo, Lela Frite, Toms Rudzinksi, Giovanni Chirico, Omri Abramov, Dante Uccello, Ruben Bernges, Rieko Okuda, Henry Hahnfeldt , Diego Caetanno Guerrra, Ganna Gryniva
10.
You're Lost Now
07:28
(Kellen Mills) Kellen Mills , Erik Leuthäuser, Jacopo Bazzarri , Kerem Eseman, Dearbhla Nolan, Scott Flynn, Agustin Pardo, Lela Frite, Toms Rudzinksi, Giovanni Chirico, Omri Abramov, Dante Uccello, Ruben Bernges, Rieko Okuda, Henry Hahnfeldt , Diego Caetanno Guerrra, Ganna Gryniva

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