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Musicians: Christof May sax, b-cl, Florian Zenker g, Bob Wijnen keys, Gulli Gudmundsson b, eric Hoeke dr
Recording date: June 2005, April 2006
Recording place: Wisseloord Studios, Hilversum Netherlands
The „Jazz thing Next Generation“-series, on which Esther Kaiser, Anette von Eichel, Ignaz Dinné, Benjamin Schäfer, Martin Auer, Oktoposse, Cyminology, Christian Krischkowsky, Nadia Maria Fischer, Gary Fuhrmann, Tré, Coustics, Tobi Hofmann, Frederik Köster, HDV-Trio, Jochen Baldes Subnoder, Subtone and Adrian Reiter Quartet have debuted on Double Moon Records, is now being continued, already with Volume 20.
Christof May represents a small anniversary in an outstanding way, because the 20th work of the successful series is being released under his name. Born in Ravensburg, Germany in 1970, he took a lot of time until his debut as a leader - and he used this time well too. First he studied at the „Royal Conservatory“ in Den Haag and graduated with excellent qualifications. Then he had numerous remarkable performances as a member of Metropol Orkestret, the band Nimbus and on the outstanding albums by Susanne Abbuehl released on ECM. He went on tours throughout Europe, Africa and North America. Because he is also highly regarded as a classical musician, he often plays guest performances in symphony orchestra.
The name of his project is not only a pun on his last name, but also his agenda. The inspiration for the contents of the music comes from the record „Dark Magus“ by Miles Davis released in 1974. The interaction of (free) improvisation while dealing with rhythmic and melodic structures at the same time is the identifying characteristic of this music. High demands on musical communication and technical skills are combined with the relaxed feel of grooving textures, which open the hearts of listeners.
May was right on target in selecting the musicians for his project. They all belong to a circle of young musicians, who have already proved that they can do justice to the highest demands in many other bands and their own projects. Above all, they fit into the concept of Christof May, who did not plan a sequence of songs complete in themselves with his compositions and arrangements for this recording, but instead almost created a suite as a „total art work“. Superb!