ECHOES OF SWING – “Message From Mars”:
4 stars in
and other reviews in US-magazines
The ECHOES OF SWING album "Message from Mars" received a 4 star review in the current September issue of thelegendary magazine DOWNBEAT. See the full text and excerpts of other recent US reviews below.
Meanwhile a new two piano album, "Chris Hopkins & Bernd Lhotzky: Partners in Crime", is about to appear on "Echoes of Swing Productions" - see cover at the end of this message.
ECHOES OF SWING: Message From Mars
Colin T. Dawson - trumpet, vocals
Chris Hopkins - alto saxBernd Lhotzky - piano
Oliver Mewes - drums
Chris Hopkins - alto saxBernd Lhotzky - piano
Oliver Mewes - drums
>This admirable international quartet mines the neglected pre-bop swing of the 52nd Street vintage small bands. The spread-chord harmonies, trumpet and alto apportionment, and precision ensemble work can fool the ear that this band is a larger unit. Resourcefulness isn’t limited to the fine playing and the arrangements, they have a nose for good, neglected material. Red Norvo and Teddy Wilson’s “Bughouse,” Sammy Price’s “Goon Drag,” Arthur Schutt’s “Delirium,” and Juan Tizol’s “Moonlight Fiesta” indicates a deep-catalog approach to repertory. Analogous originals--Dawson’s “Ghost of Marsden Grotto,” Lhotzky’s “His Honour and The Vermin,” and Hopkins’ “Twilightnin’ Hopkins”--make this group artistic kin to the best of the Arbors swing scholar/players, like Howard Alden and Dan Barrett. Instrumental synchronicity and flawless uniformity in dynamics immediately bring to mind the John Kirby Sextet. “Shake It and Break It” has such smooth ensemble cohesion that the band seems to be one multi-faceted voice. Impeccable up-tempo execution on Sid Phillips’ title track channels the conveyor belt modernism of Raymond Scott. Like the Kirbyites, Echoes swings the classics beautifully: “Butterfly Chase” is Lhotzky’s dazzling chart on a Chopin’s etude, Fritz Kreisler and Shostakovich also receive canny jazz recastings. Tizol’s rhumba “Moonlight Fiesta,” and Lhotzky’s solo piano rendition of Ernesto Nazareth’s Brazilian tango “Odeon” provide a Latinate strain.Dawson’s trumpet touches on Charlie Shavers and Roy Eldridge with Bix’s tone. Hopkins can summon Hodgesesque sensuality or cool sleekness. Lhotzky’s classical and boogie roots get full airing on Shostakovich’s “Gavotte.” Mewes’ drums propel without bashing, paying special attention to the tones on the kit, somewhere Big Sid Catlett is smiling<
****
Kirk Silsbee, DOWNBEAT (USA)
>This record has recently won the top awards a jazz record can win in France and Germany and tell you what, it’s so cool I almost can’t handle it. Anyone who ever dug Raymond Scott will get this set immediately. It sounds like some old timey recording until you start to pay real attention and hear that it has a today hipness that just didn’t exist 70 years ago. Then comes the gotcha. Even the originals sound like they could have leapt off Scott’s scratch pad. By defying all convention, these jazzbos present the crème that rises to the top. You don’t have to be hipster Eurotrash to dig this, you just have to get off on killer players pushing the envelope in unexpected ways. An absolutely welcome tonic from start to finish.<
Chris Spector, MIDWEST RECORD (USA)
>…the group plays with absolutely impeccable time and a sense of swing that is simultaneously dead serious and lightly, elegantly fun. On 'Message from Mars' they adapt classical melodies by the likes of Chopin and Shostakovich(!), and take on respected standards like 'Don’t Explain' and 'Spring Is Here' with new arrangements that are as respectful as they are innovative. There are even a few originals slyly thrown in, among them a very fine blues composition by saxophonist Chris Hopkins playfully titled 'Twilightnin’ Hopkins'. This album is a delight from beginning to end.<
Grade: A!
Rick Anderson, MUSIC MEDIA MONTHLY (USA)
>There was a joke (I hope that’s what it was) about a young tenor player who, when asked if he listened to the past masters of the instrument, replied, 'Sure, man, I go all the way back to Coltrane'. Regrettably, such historical innocence is not rare, so it is gratifying to listen to the fifth recording by the German-based quartet Echoes of Swing, who are quite familiar with the music’s history and do it honour in recreating some of its styles…It should be emphasized that the playing on this CD is far from dry, sterile museum fare. It is full of vitality, actually transporting the listener’s imagination back to the Swing Era. But lest one think these folks live exclusively in pre-Modern times, Dawson’s two vocals sound a lot like 1950s Chet Baker and at one point Hopkins quotes from Charlie Parker’s Bebop anthem 'Ornithology'.<
David Franklin, CADENCE MAGAZINE (USA)
>If this is the kind of music that's played on Mars, then book me on the next rocket launch to the red planet. Put simply, the Echoes of Swing get it on big time, with a distinct nod to the sound produced by the John Kirby Sextet even though there are two fewer musicians. However, it would be unfair to label the foursome a Kirby Quartet Clone. Not when the quartet echoes an Ellington small group sound in essaying 'Twilightnin' Hopkins' and turns to the classics for a boogiebeat version of Shostakovich's 'Gavotte'... The band's program is a hoot, beginning with the oldDixie dandy, 'Shake It And Break It,' given a sleek treatment by Hopkins, and ending with the previously mentioned 'Gavotte'. Between the salad and dessert, the musical smorgasbord offers one delectable delight after another...<
GRADE: A+
Cam Miller, THE AMERICAN RAG (USA)
>No, the aliens haven’t landed. And this isn’t a detour into NASA’s territory or a nostalgic trip back to the Mickey Mouse Club (although I haven’t been able to get one ancient 'The Martians come to New York' joke out of my head*). MESSAGE FROM MARS is the name of a splendid new disc by Echoes of Swing, a world-class band that lives up to its name and more. While retaining its essential identity - flexible and convincing - this quartet can sound like a much larger unit, and the disc is characterized by a delightful variety in mood, tempo, and approach. The players are superb chameleons who remain true to themselves... The music produced here is both profound and hilariously flightly, skittering from surprise to surprise... MESSAGE FROM MARS offers a deliciously subtle and witty tasting menu of music - a disc you could listen to all the way through without the slightest hint of monotony, at the same time, you could savor each of the sixteen miniatures for its own surprises without ever getting tired.<
Michael Steinman, JAZZ LIVES (USA)
W. Royal Stokes' BEST AND NOTABLE RELEASES of the past year:
Bob Brookmeyer and the New Art Orchestra, Standards (ArtistShare)
Chick Corea/Stefano Bollani, Orvieto: Recorded Live at Umbria Jazz Winter 2010 (ECM)
Eddie Daniels/Roger Kellaway, Live at the Library of Congress (IPO)
Echoes of Swing, Message from Mars (EOSP)
Sir Roland Hanna, Colors from a Giant’s Kit (IPO)
Julia Hülsmann Trio, Imprint (ECM)
Brad Mehldau, Live in Marciac (Nonesuch)
Pat Metheny, What’s It All About (Nonesuch)
Phil Woods & Bill Mays, Phil & Bill (Palmetto)
a.o.
ECHOES OF SWING & Friends - the next concerts:
10.10.12 (19:30) / ECHOES OF SWING
D-70619 Stuttgart / Augustinum Stuttgart-Sillenbuch / Tickets: D-0711/4702-8010
11.10.12 (19:00) / ECHOES OF SWING
D-91154 Roth / Augustinum Roth / Tickets: D-09171/805-0
12.10.12 (20:00) / ECHOES OF SWING
D-97688 Bad Kissingen / Bismarck-Museum / Tickets: D-0971/807-1203
13.10.12 (20:00) / ECHOES OF SWING
D-65835 Liederbach am Taunus / Kulturscheune / Tickets: D-069/306020
14.10.12 (17:00) / ECHOES OF SWING
D-69126 Heidelberg / Augustinum Heidelberg / Tickets: D-06221/388-1
24.10.12 (19:30) / ECHOES OF SWING
D-40627 Düsseldorf / Aula der Georg Schulhoff Realschule / Tickets: D-0211/279481
25.10.12 (19:30) / ECHOES OF SWING
D-42859 Remscheid / Hausbrauerei Richard Becker / Tickets: D-02191/349833
26.10.12 (20:00) / ECHOES OF SWING
D-47669 Wachtendonk / Bürgerhaus Altes Kloster / Tickets: D-02836/915565
27.10.12 (19:00) / ECHOES OF SWING
D-34131 Kassel / Augustinum Kassel / Tickets: D-0561/9364-0
28.10.12 (17:00) / ECHOES OF SWING
D-23879 Mölln / Augustinum Mölln / Tickets: D-04542/7090
29.10.12 (19:30) / ECHOES OF SWING
D-38118 Braunschweig / Augustinum Braunschweig / Tickets: D-0531/808-0
30.10.12 (19:00) / ECHOES OF SWING
D-14532 Kleinmachnow / Augustinum Kleinmachnow / Tickets: D-033203/56-0
04.11.12 (17:00) / ECHOES OF SWING
D-01097 Dresden / Societätstheater / Tickets: D-0351/4540304
05.11.12 (19:00) / Engelbert Wrobel's Swing Society
D-51379 Leverkusen / Scala / Tickets: D-02171/767959
11.11.12 (18:00) / ECHOES OF SWING
D-56626 Andernach / Burg Namedy / Tickets: D-02632/48625
15.11.12 (18:30) / ECHOES OF SWING
L-1499 Luxembourg / Philharmonie Luxembourg / Tickets: L-026/322632
16.11.12 (20:00) / ECHOES OF SWING
CH-5200 Brugg / Salzhaus / Tickets: CH-056/4627111
17.11.12 (20:00) / ECHOES OF SWING
D-79111 Freiburg im Breisgau / Augustinum Freiburg / Tickets: D-0761/4785-0
19.11.12 - 24.11.12 / International Classic Jazz Workshop
CH-6612 Ascona, Lago Maggiore / Hotel Ascona / Info: CH-091/7851515
01.12.12 (20:00) / ECHOES OF SWING
D-84489 Burghausen / Mautnerschloss / Tickets: D-08677/916463-0
02.12.12 (11:00) / ECHOES OF SWING
D-81667 München / Gasteig / Tickets: D-0180/54818181 (14ct/Min)
05.12.12 (20:00) / ECHOES OF SWING
D-58313 Herdecke / Werner-Richard-Saal / Tickets: D-02330/10615
06.12.12 (20:00) / ECHOES OF SWING
D-47051 Duisburg / Theater 'Die Säule' / Tickets: D-0203/20125
07.12.12 (20:30) / ECHOES OF SWING
D-64285 Darmstadt / Jazzinstitut Darmstadt / Tickets: D-06151/963700
11.12.12 (20:00) / Bernd Lhotzky & Chris Hopkins (piano duets)
D-82041 Oberhaching / Bürgersaal beim Forstner / Tickets: D-089/61377-217
13.12.12 (20:15) / Bernd Lhotzky & Chris Hopkins (piano duets)
CH-8180 Bülach / Flügelsaal Musik Hug / Tickets: CH-079/6048524
25.12.12 (17:00) / Chris Hopkins' SWINGING CHRISTMAS
D-44787 Bochum / Christuskirche Bochum (Am Rathaus) / Tickets: D-01805/040300 (14ct/Min)
31.12.12 (22:00) / ECHOES OF SWING
D-82493 Elmau / Schloss Elmau / Tickets: D-08823/18-0
18.01.13 (20:00) / ECHOES OF SWING
D-65307 Bad Schwalbach / Konzerteria / Tickets: Keine Reservierungen
19.01.13 (20:00) / ECHOES OF SWING
D-60314 Frankfurt am Main / Internationales Theater / Tickets: D-069/4990980
20.01.13 (11:00) / ECHOES OF SWING
D-63225 Langen (Hessen) / Neue Stadthalle Langen / Tickets: D-0180/5040300 (14ct/Min)
23.02.13 (20:00) / Engelbert Wrobel's Swing Society
NL-2171 BA Sassenheim / Theaterzaal / Tickets: NL-0252/220802
24.02.13 (11:30) / Engelbert Wrobel's Swing Society
NL-4201 JD Gorinchem / Schouwburg De Nieuwe Doelen / Tickets: NL-0183/624848
07.03.13 (20:00) / The THREE TENORS OF SWING feat. Sarpila/Roberscheuten/Wrobel
D-26810 Westoverledingen / Rathaus-Saal Ihrhove / Tickets: D-04955/933-225
08.03.13 (20:00) / The THREE TENORS OF SWING feat. Sarpila/Roberscheuten/Wrobel
D-49716 Meppen / Theater im Windthorst-Gymnasium / Tickets: D-05931/153378
09.03.13 (19:30) / Westoverledingen Festival All Stars
D-26810 Westoverledingen / Rathaus-Saal Ihrhove / Tickets: D-04955/933-225
10.03.13 (11:00) / Westoverledingen Festival All Stars
D-26810 Westoverledingen / Rathaus-Saal Ihrhove / Tickets: D-04955/933-225
21.03.13 (20:00) / Chris Hopkins, Nicki Parrott & David Blenkhorn
D-60314 Frankfurt am Main / Internationales Theater / Tickets: D-069/4990980
22.03.13 (21:30) / Chris Hopkins, Nicki Parrott & David Blenkhorn
F-67390 Marckolsheim / Salles des Fêtes / Tickets: F-03/88927899
23.03.13 (20:00) / Chris Hopkins, Nicki Parrott & David Blenkhorn
D-89584 Ehingen (Donau) / Franziskanerkloster / Tickets: D-07391/708253
24.03.13 (19:00) / Chris Hopkins, Nicki Parrott & David Blenkhorn
D-87527 Sonthofen / Sonthofer Kultur-Werkstatt / Tickets: D-08321/2492
25.03.13 / Chris Hopkins, Nicki Parrott & David Blenkhorn
F-75001 Paris / Ducs de Lombards / Tickets: F-01/42332288
26.03.13 / Chris Hopkins, Nicki Parrott & David Blenkhorn
F-75001 Paris / Ducs de Lombards / Tickets: F-01/42332288
04.04.13 (20:00) / ECHOES OF SWING
D-59439 Holzwickede / Wasserburg Haus Opherdicke / Tickets: D-02303/27-2541
05.04.13 (20:00) / ECHOES OF SWING
D-42781 Haan / Aula des Haaner Gymnasiums / Tickets: D-02129/911421
06.04.13 / Frank Roberscheuten Hiptett feat. S.Hildabrand, C.Dawson, C.Hopkins u.a.
NL-6433 PB Hoensbroek / Kasteel Hoensbroek / Tickets: NL-045/5713102
06.04.13 (20:00) / Bernd Lhotzky (piano solo)
D-45239 Essen / Bürgermeisterhaus Werden / Tickets: D-0201/493286
07.04.13 (19:00) / ECHOES OF SWING
D-59399 Olfen / Stadthalle Olfen / Tickets: D-02595/5360
12.04.13 (20:00) / The THREE TENORS OF SWING feat. Sarpila/Roberscheuten/Wrobel
D-65835 Liederbach am Taunus / Kulturscheune / Tickets: D-069/306020
13.04.13 (20:15) / The THREE TENORS OF SWING feat. Sarpila/Roberscheuten/Wrobel
CH-8180 Bülach / JazzInn Bülach (im Grampen) / Tickets: CH-043/4113736
14.04.13 (18:00) / The THREE TENORS OF SWING feat. Sarpila/Roberscheuten/Wrobel
D-56626 Andernach / Burg Namedy / Tickets: D-02632/48625
01.05.13 (20:00) / ECHOES OF SWING
D-32312 Lübbecke / Jazzclub Lübbecke / Tickets: D-05741/337800
02.05.13 (20:30) / ECHOES OF SWING
D-49074 Osnabrück / 'Blue Note' im Cinema-Arthouse / Tickets: D-05403/726626
03.05.13 (20:00) / ECHOES OF SWING
D-26871 Aschendorf / Heimathaus Aschendorf / Tickets: D-04962/5742
04.05.13 (18:00) / ECHOES OF SWING
D-58730 Fröndenberg/Ruhr / Historischer Stiftssaal / Tickets: D-02373/72563
05.05.13 (11:30) / ECHOES OF SWING
D-40764 Langenfeld (Rheinland) / Stadthalle Langenfeld / Tickets: D-02173/7944602
10.05.13 (20:15) / ECHOES OF SWING
CH-8733 Eschenbach / Mehrzweckgebäude Dorftreff / Tickets: CH-055/2861333
11.05.13 (20:00) / ECHOES OF SWING
CH-8200 Schaffhausen / Altes Schützenhaus / Tickets: CH-052/6253272
12.05.13 (17:00) / ECHOES OF SWING
CH-3700 Spiez / Schlosskirche Spiez / Tickets: CH-033/6548400
28.05.13 (20:00) / ECHOES OF SWING
D-76829 Landau in der Pfalz / Kesselhaus Landau / Tickets: D-06341/87688
29.05.13 (19:30) / ECHOES OF SWING
D-74321 Bietigheim-Bissingen / Jazz im OLYMP / Tickets: D-07142/592-0
01.06.13 (20:30) / The THREE TENORS OF SWING feat. Sarpila/Roberscheuten/Wrobel
D-49186 Bad Iburg / Schloss Bad Iburg / Tickets: D-05403/796780
05.06.13 (20:00) / ECHOES OF SWING
CH-8404 Oberwinterthur / jazz i dä fabrik
07.06.13 (19:30) / ECHOES OF SWING
D-82110 Germering / Stadthalle Germering / Tickets: D-089/89418-0
28.06.13 - 29.06.13 / The THREE TENORS OF SWING feat. Sarpila/Roberscheuten/Wrobel
DK-8600 Silkeborg / Jazz Festival / Tickets: DK-08680/1617
01.07.13 - 06.07.13/ Jazzin' July Workshop
NL-5595 XB Leende / Golden Tulip Jagershorst Eindhoven / Tickets:+32-(0)11-515326
23.08.13 (20:00) / ECHOES OF SWING
D-65929 Frankfurt am Main / Kultur Unterm Dach
29.08.13 (20:15) / ECHOES OF SWING
CH-7000 Chur / Veranstaltungssaal des Hotel Drei Könige / Tickets: CH-081/2523266
30.08.13 (20:00) / ECHOES OF SWING
CH-4310 Rheinfelden / Kulturkeller des Hotel Schützen
