Max Frankl has a nifty new album out. Fernweh sees him switching between acoustic, electric and classical guitars with a seamless fluidity, to where the variations provide the album depth without causing any risk to cohesion. His last album, Stories (with his Francis Drake trio), displayed a nice lyricism, especially in the moodier colors of the spectrum. His newest has him raising the temperature with more abandon. The result is a wider range of expressionism, with the byproduct of greater definition to the moodier pieces by way of contrast.
The dreamy melody of “Zurich” keeps the song drifting peacefully along, but a switch to electric guitar on “Aufbrechen” not only increases the tempo, but transitions the sound from a Nordic serenity to a contemporary sheen. It’s an interesting scene change that works far better than one might assume beforehand. However, that Frankl’s quartet, mid-song, shifts back to a Nordic serenity (and an associated shift back to acoustic guitar), it brings the album into an entirely new focus… a sense that the unpredictable is to expected and that any outbound flight is likely to come with a return home.
Some tracks, like “Copy/Paste,” scoot right along, juxtaposing motions of short intervals with solos that surge ahead with longer strokes. Other tracks, like “80’s,” are constructed like a jigsaw puzzle, where the precise mathematical construction yields seriously vivid imagery. “Schweben” hints at a groove while letting the soloists go wandering, whereas “Second Thoughts” brings some heat and structure in a blue-rock-jazz hybrid.
Plenty here to like. Definitely a nice option for the jazz guitar fan who likes their guitarist to hit some unexplored horizons.
Your album personnel: Max Frankl (acoustic, electric & classical guitars), Reto Suhner (soprano & alto saxes, alto clarinet), Dominique Girod (bass) and Claudio Strüby (drums).
And definitely check out Frankl’s 2011 recording, Stories, recorded by his Francis Drake trio. It was one of the better albums to come out in 2011. I recapped it briefly back then, which you can read here (LINK).
Guitarist Max Frankl has been a favorite of this site since first discovering his 2011 release Stories, with his trio Francis Drake. His 2015 release Fernweh also received some warm words on Bird is the Worm. Now, kicking off 2017, he's releasing the three-track EP, Live In Munich. The…
This is a good week for those of you who prefer your music to wander out to the fringes and take an unconventional path getting there. Many of the albums recommended from this week's batch of new jazz releases will satisfy that particular craving. That said, there's a couple…
Today's featured videos come courtesy of guitarist Max Frankl from a performing at Jazzclub Unterfahrt München. His new album Live In Munich was yesterday's daily recommendation (go read it). Here's Frankl with the song "Mantra." Your video personnel: Max Frankl (guitar), Nils Wogram (trombone), Domenic Landolf (tenor sax), Pablo…
Mar 25 2015
Recommended: Max Frankl – “Fernweh”
The dreamy melody of “Zurich” keeps the song drifting peacefully along, but a switch to electric guitar on “Aufbrechen” not only increases the tempo, but transitions the sound from a Nordic serenity to a contemporary sheen. It’s an interesting scene change that works far better than one might assume beforehand. However, that Frankl’s quartet, mid-song, shifts back to a Nordic serenity (and an associated shift back to acoustic guitar), it brings the album into an entirely new focus… a sense that the unpredictable is to expected and that any outbound flight is likely to come with a return home.
Some tracks, like “Copy/Paste,” scoot right along, juxtaposing motions of short intervals with solos that surge ahead with longer strokes. Other tracks, like “80’s,” are constructed like a jigsaw puzzle, where the precise mathematical construction yields seriously vivid imagery. “Schweben” hints at a groove while letting the soloists go wandering, whereas “Second Thoughts” brings some heat and structure in a blue-rock-jazz hybrid.
Plenty here to like. Definitely a nice option for the jazz guitar fan who likes their guitarist to hit some unexplored horizons.
Your album personnel: Max Frankl (acoustic, electric & classical guitars), Reto Suhner (soprano & alto saxes, alto clarinet), Dominique Girod (bass) and Claudio Strüby (drums).
Released on Unit Records.
Jazz from the Zurich, Switzerland scene.
Available at: eMusic | Bandcamp | Amazon
*****
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Guitarist Max Frankl has been a favorite of this site since first discovering his 2011 release Stories, with his trio Francis Drake. His 2015 release Fernweh also received some warm words on Bird is the Worm. Now, kicking off 2017, he's releasing the three-track EP, Live In Munich. The…
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These are videos that I like: Max Frankl live at Jazzclub Unterfahrt Munchen
Today's featured videos come courtesy of guitarist Max Frankl from a performing at Jazzclub Unterfahrt München. His new album Live In Munich was yesterday's daily recommendation (go read it). Here's Frankl with the song "Mantra." Your video personnel: Max Frankl (guitar), Nils Wogram (trombone), Domenic Landolf (tenor sax), Pablo…
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By davesumner • Jazz Recommendations, Jazz Recommendations - 2015 Releases • 0