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Musicians: Raphael Sprenger tp, Michael Koch keyboards, Michael Bürger dr, Michael Schäfers b, Turbo B. voc, DJ Kaspar tunrtables
Recording date: 2003
Recording place: Topaz Studios, Köln
The band „Balance“ has succeeded in becoming an inside tip in the German “Nu Jazz” scene within two years with catchy drum & bass grooves, offbeat synthesizer sections and jazzy trumpet lines. They have integrated their experiences from gigs at various jazz festivals, e.g., the Leipzig Jazz Festival, at the Mojo-Club Hamburg and at a performance for German television in Cologne Municipal Park into their first CD „Elements“. The production is bursting with playful virtuosity, intelligent arrangements and the band’s sense of the „Balance“ cosmos, also called „Jungle Jazz“. Urbane ambience mixes with filigree-like solos and consequently develops an allure, which neither a confirmed jazz fan nor a young rave girl can resist. A surprising highlight on „Elements“ is the collaboration with dancefloor master „Turbo B.“ (Snap), who performs as smoothly as never before on the track „Cote d´Azur“.
The media is unanimous in its enthusiasm for the performances of the band: “Drum & Bass is the name of the sound of the group Balance. Inner peace with harmonious rhythms, well-balanced, offbeat, funky, but never jittery.”
“All things considered, this is an officially harmonious soundtrack full of ambience for night prowls through the metropolis of your choice.”
“Five musicians performed a successful mixture of jazz, modern bass grooves and gaudy drums with an initially unusual tonal mixture for 150 minutes.”
“Whoever liked it really grooving was at the right place with the group “Balance”. Gaudy break-beats from the drums, soft keyboard sounds from Fender Rhodes, a fat e-bass and a trumpet or flugelhorn voice swaying on top of the rest - “Balance” skillfully balanced between jazz and all kinds of modern sounds and rhythms, including ones to get your feet moving. This is how the jazz of modern times sounds.”
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