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Between Two Worlds

Efraim Schulz-Wackerbarth

Label: ZenneZ Records
Released: 2024
Duration: 00:54:39
Views: 219

Tracks

Between Two Worlds; One Who Brings The Light; Walk The Walk; Snake River; Flying; Shout It Out; Sandpoint Sanctuary; Transitions; Drops Of Water; The Last Rays

Personnel

Additional Personnel / Information

Mateusz Puławski: guitar; Tseroeja van den Bos: Violin; Bram Faber: Viola; Carlijn van Wijk: Cello

Album Description

Amsterdam-based drummer Efraim Schulz-Wackerbarth announces his long-awaited debut album Between Two Worlds this March, with a release inspired by the journey of becoming a father which bridges the gap between contemporary European jazz and the American tradition. Born in Australia, raised in Germany as the son of a pastor and based in one of Europe’s most liberal countries in The Netherlands with an American partner, Efraim is no stranger to being torn between different worlds; religious and secular, traditional and modern, cosmopolitan and calm. The arrival of his new child led to a whole new view on life, which evolved into the music you’re hearing today. Musically speaking, this diverse and introspective reflection is delivered through the lens of some serious jazz credentials. With more than a decade of touring under his belt, Efraim was a product of some of the world’s most prestigious conservatories, studying variously at Manhattan School of Music, Conservatory of Enschede and the Conservatory of Amsterdam. Indeed, as noted by All About Jazz, “his master's degree research on the music of the great drum innovator Tony Williams connects him to the progressive stream of American jazz." This straddling of different worlds evokes the memory of some of the great transatlantic groups built by players like Kenny Wheeler and Chick Corea, centered around drummers like Jack Dejohnette and Brian Blade and championing a style which adds the vibrant energy of American jazz to the more pensive introspection of the European canon. The core quartet on the record features an A-list of Dutch artists, with Suzan Veneman on trumpet commanding proceedings alongside Daan Herweg (piano) and Hendrik Müller (double bass). It’s testament to both the originality of the compositions and the connection between the musicians that the music flows so easily, walking the tightrope between risk-taking and accessibility. With the addition of guitar on some tracks and strings on one, the music indeed seems to dip between worlds, from sleepless nights and joyful new beginnings, to golden-hour sunsets and images of nature. Perhaps best summed up by the track “One Who Brings The Light'', named after his son Abera, the album proves both a fascinating outing of contemporary European jazz and a heart-felt tribute to the next step in Efraim’s life.