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Heinz Sauer: The Journey
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The warm-toned Sauer defies easy categorization. He brings visceral energy to that most cherished of chestnuts, Thelonious Monk's "Round About Midnight" (heard here in a 1978 duet with longtime pianist Bob Degen), and even greater extremes to the modal workout, "Now Jazz Ramwong," as a member of the late Mangelsdorff's 1964 quintet. The free-bop of Sauer's "Nachtwort," a 1970 Mangelsdorff quartet track, may only last two minutes, but Sauer's in tandem solo with the trombonist provides more meat than on tunes far greater in length
Sauer is, however, capable of deeper lyricism and, for an artist in his seventies at the time of his duet recording of Prince's enduring "Nothing Compares 2 U" with pianist Michael Wollny; it's a refreshing rarity to hear his interest in more contemporary pop material. This track from the sublime Certain Beauty (ACT, 2006)which includes an unbound cross-section of material from Billy Strayhorn to Esbjörn Svensson Trio (est), Gershwin and Björksimply attests to the fact that, for the broad-minded musician, good music is good music, no matter what the source. And while Sauer's playing on the previously unreleased closer, "Variations on Redford," another duet with Wollny, is even more spare and melodic, there's always an adventurous, avant-tinged undercurrent that distances him from the mainstream.
Sauer contributes over half the material; more than just an expressive and imaginative player, he's a fine writer too, with the dark-hued "Küsse die Hand, Madame" and centrist "The Narrator," from his trio disc Exchange (ffm, 1996), providing two fine examples.
The Journey's fifteen tracksfrom the 1964 Mangelsdorff track and Sauer's hard-swinging "Sagma," from a 1980 NDR Bigband date, to an elegant quartet take on Strayhorn's classic "Lush Life" from the same year and the brief, Weather Report-ish "Winterballade," with Sauer also playing synthesizerprovide an eye and ear-opening window into the music of an artist who, thankfully, is still with us to enjoy the accolades that will hopefully come his way from this release. With seven live and unreleased tracks, it's a treasure trove for Sauer fans and a terrific introduction for those new to this outstanding saxophonist's large body of work.
Track Listing
Now Jazz; Nachwort; Blues Booth; Round About Midnight; Sagma; Lush Life; Blues, Eternal Turn On; Darauf der Schnee danach; Chelsea Bridge; Winterballade; K
Personnel
Heinz Sauer
saxophoneHeinz Sauer: tenor saxophone, soprano saxophone (1), synthesizer (10) ; Albert Mangelsdorff: trombone (1-3, 7, 10); G
Album information
Title: The Journey | Year Released: 2008 | Record Label: ACT Music
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