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Julian and Roman Wasserfuhr: Gravity
ByThe brothers' maturity shines out, manifested in the controlled command of their instruments and the absence of over-long solos or technique for its own sake. The rhythm sectionbassist Lars Danielsson and drummer/producer Wolfgang Haffnerbring years of experience to the quartet and give the brothers a rock-solid and totally reliable musical foundation.
The Wasserfuhrs' debut was a tribute to Chet Baker, an early musical influence on Julian. Till Bronner is another of the younger brother's influences, and it's his sound that shows itself most noticeably in Julian's playing. The music is spare: there's almost a sense of silence as the fifth instrument, especially on "Gravity" and Danielsson's sadly reflective "If The Rain Comes." "Branca" and "Midnight Walk" move along happily, thanks to the gently funky shuffle provided by Haffner. The only tune that really finds the band upping tempo and urgency is "Ramos Us," and even here Julian stays cool for the most part, leaving Roman, Danielsson and Haffner to drive ahead with a rolling beat.
Sting's "Englishman in New York" is well-mannered and smoothperhaps a bit too smooth. The elegant and stylish subject of the song, Quentin Crisp, was impeccably well-mannered himself, but he always wanted to make an impact and this version is a little too respectable to do that.
Gravity is beautifully produced by Haffner, giving each instrument the clarity it deserves. The quartet is a graceful ensemble, the sound is gentle and engaging, the tunes melodic and warm. The Wasserfuhrs' talent and style belie their relative youth and bode extremely well for their future.
Track Listing
Twinkle Eyes; Englishman in New York; Interlude; L.O.V.E; Ramos us; Fool's Paradise; Branca; Gravity; Midnight Walk; If The Rain Comes; Blue Desert; Some Other Time; Theo.
Personnel
Julian Wasserfuhr: trumpet, flugelhorn; Roman Wasserfuhr: piano, celeste, synthesizer; Lars Danielsson: bass, cello, guitar; Wolfgang Haffner: drums.
Album information
Title: Gravity | Year Released: 2011 | Record Label: ACT Music
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