Thomas Schmidt Trio:
For Good Reasons
Thomas Schmidt (g)
Andreas Henze (b)
Heinrich Köbberling (dr)
Recorded at Audio Cue
Tonlabor, Berlin-Mitte,
October 12./13.1998 by Rainer Robben
| The
trio line-up guitar- bass - drums has a rather short but
inviting history. After masters
like Grant Green, Jim Hall and Kenny Burrell in the sixties
and seventies there
followed, from 1980 on, the well-known trios of John
Abercrombie, Pat Metheny,
John Scofield and others, who, no doubt, deeply influenced all
jazz guitar
player up to now.
The trio of the Berlin guitarist
Thomas Schmidt developes a sound between traditional
and modern. With little use of special effects, the musicians
create an
amazing fresh sound, above all caused by playing lust and
spontaneity.
Founded in 1998, the trio with
Andreas Henze (b) and Heinrich Köbberling (dr) plays
exclusively compositions of its own. The musicians are
acquainted for a
long time, and play in different bands and styles, traditional
as well as modern jazz.
The band has a wide musical range:
From balladic and lyrical songs, from Swing and
Bebop to funky grooves and more free, onomatopoeic
improvisation. Its individual
sound results from the musicians` openness and distinct
interaction. They
give priority to playing together, not to solo show-pieces.
The CD "For Good Reasons",
recorded in October 1998, is a cross-section of the
trio`s work.
It met with a very good response: "Your
new CD is smooth, lyrical and very musical. Hope you have good
reviews and
continue to write and play more." (Billy Bauer from New
York)
" The sound is relaxed and there
is is a lot of communication between all of you.
The soloing
has a real spontaneous feel to it and your writing. I wish you
all success
with it." (Woody Mann from New York)
The musicians:
Thomas Schmidt - lives in
Berlin. First he studied flamenco guitar in Granada/Spain,
then classical guitar during his studies in Kassel. Jazz
classes in New York
with Billy Bauer, Jim Hall, Barry Harris, Ron Jackson and
Woody Mann.
Concerts and studio productions since
1987. Playing and writing for various film and theatre music
productions since 1990.
Andreas Henze - lives in
Berlin/Hamburg. He studied classical double-bass in
Kassel. He
played, among others, with Gary Thomas, Allan Praskin, Rachel
Gould and Jack Walrath. He is often on tour in Europe and
America, participates in Hamburg
musical productions, plays in studios and works as composer.
Heinrich Köbberling - lives
in Hamburg/Berlin. He studied drums at the Hamburger
Musikhochschule and the New School in New School in New York.
He has been in great demand for
years, had concerts and tours with Herb Geller,
Gunter Hampel, Clark Terry and Richie Beirach. In 1998 he
himself recorded
the CD "Pisces" with bassist Marc Johnson and others. |
. |
