ReKenmendations #1: Berlinerjazz & Bernstein
What (and why…) is ReKenmedations?
In this vast ocean of internet musicians and overly impressive snippets of artistic works, I often find myself lost and confused. I really enjoy digging deep into things…. taking my time to get nerdy around topics, music, compositions and expression.
I move very fast when an idea pops up, and I execute as quickly as possible…. But that is just planting the seed…. Then I need to wait and nourish it before it blossoms…. Into either a beautiful orchid or a flesh eating cactus (they don’t exist). The point is that my intuition motivates the idea, but it’s my skills and knowledge that turn it into what it will become.
With the pace the internet is moving at today, I imagine it’s really difficult for artists to feel okay with taking time to reflect and refine. It is for me at least. I tried to keep up, I tried to do videos of my practise routines and my new works (I still will!), but I felt that something was lacking, some integrity and realness.
In my battle to keep up with everyone else, I forgot to do the things that makes me feel at ease, makes me feel like I achieve things and become a better artist/person…….. read books, listen to full albums, watch movies, play board games…..all those things definitely does more for my music (and life) than scrolling through SoMe-stories, listening to impressive snippets, binging Netflix and playing iPhone games…..
I’m doing this series of videos and blog posts because I want to share the things that tickle my brains, the things that make me want to practise, compose, rehearse and refine…. And I hope you will too.
ReKenmendations #1:
Berliner Jazz & Bernstein
For this edition of ReKenmendations, I would like to share with you music and reading!
First music - you should check out this new release by TAU5: “Kreise”. I know some of the guys, and they were already a big thing during my Berlin years. This TAU5 release pushes the boundaries of what I can fathom. In order to understand new music, and to adapt things that I don’t fully understand it feels good to have references and certain idioms to latch on to. TAU5 has a sonic space that I cannot yet figure out. There is a puzzle there that I need to dive into too, and yet their rhythmic world is something that I can comprehend. It is such a big help that in his book “The Joy of Music” Leonard Bernstein holds your hand as he takes you through music history…. One of the chapters explains very well how modern music and dissonans has always been received as a disturbing new element. Stravinskys “The rite of spring” - Brahms 2nd - Schönberg etc etc….
The book is easily read and there are both conversations, outtakes from the Omnibus Tv-show and much more….. Those 2 things go together hand in hand. Having Leonard Bernstein educate me about the past, and ensure me that new elements is a good thing, plus having this super team of musicians show me the future, really made my week.
TAU 5 - KREISE
Line-up:
Philipp Gropper: sax
Philip Zoubek: synths
Petter Eldh: electric bass
Moritz Baumgärtner: drums
Ludwig Wandinger - electronics
http://funinthechurch.bandcamp.com
Video by Louise Boer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MnC-TNbJCxk
Leonard Bernstein - The Joy of Music
originally published in 1959 by Simon & Schuster
https://www.saxo.com/dk/the-joy-of-music_leonard-bernstein_paperback_9781574671049
Thank you for reading!
Best, K