Apfelschaun

Mellow mainstream jazz in a cross between the late-'60s model and ECM. Maybe a little too lyrical for its own good, with track 1 treading on (god forbid) new age territory. Fairly serious stuff; the mood isn't exactly heavy but it's definitely wintry.

That said, the best tracks get into serious jams with a smoky post-bop tinge, and Uwe Steinmetz on sax adds plenty of Euro creativity to the mix. Exciting stuff beneath a calm surface.

Mostly quartet pieces featuring Ben Schwendener on piano and Steinmetz on sax. The occasional trumpet from Sven Klammer adds some nice bite.

1- Tumbling but gentle, a mid/fast new age relaxer
*2- Cool stormy '60s feel, with trumpet
3- Solo soprano sax, twirly and fast
4- An intense bluesy trumpet solo, after slow start
5- Slow intro, into jaunty Euro-folk jazz
*6- Cute fast scales over simple bassline. Piano-sax duet.
7- Slow, sad
8- Pensive, with mid/fast theme
*9- Nice dark-mood theme that gets stormy and intense
10- Moody jazz/classical duet of sax & piano
*11- Bacharach-like romantic theme, into swirling near-free territory
12- Slow, with a nice trumpet solo