GEORG BREINSCHMID: Brein’s World
Preiser Records, 2010

CAFÉ JAZZ – From Vienna, bassist Breinschmid and his rotating cast of acoustic duos, trios and quartets glide through waltzes, swing, modern jazz, comedic cabaret songs, Alpine folk tunes, chamber music, and more. They do it all with a spirit of joy and fine-tuned musicianship that makes this set appealing from start to finish, one of the most listenable albums I’ve heard in quite a while. Very nice work.

Fo’s Picks: Disc 1 – 1, 3, 4, 7, 9, 11, 13 Disc 2 – 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 10

DISC ONE

1. 3:28 – trio dances in odd meter: prancing violin, elegant piano, slap bass
2. 4:17 – Parisian style musette waltz for trio, sweet and happy
3. 3:28 – sneaky jazzy duo: bass & muted trumpet both go all out
4. 5:04 – piano & German vox: a nostalgic ode to Vienna… and to computers
5. 5:44 – funky folk trio: violin has an almost Celtic touch, bass solo dives in
6. 6:58 – romantic sway: breezy soprano sax, gentle bass [applause at end]
7. 9:22 – relaxed, romantic trio interpretation of famous classical piece
8. 3:43 – silly German vocal: about smuggling banned liquids onto airplanes
9. 4:38 – fun duet: quick bass riff plays off free-flowing flugelhorn
10. 7:00 – melancholy tune in gentle 5/4 time: aching cello, striking sax
11. 3:52 – cool arrangement of a Bach piece for violin & bass in odd meter
12. 5:39 – vocal/bass duet: weird rap in Viennese dialect, plus kazoo solo
13. 8:27 – sweet waltz with violin & accordion: very refined, but quirky
14. 3:57 – bass guitar + whistling: a spare tune, low-key and moody

DISC TWO

1. 6:40 – slow, haunting soprano sax & vibes; drifts into a pensive quartet
2. 7:42 – nice trumpet/bass duo: funky stroll takes several odd tangents
3. 6:23 – goofy Viennese rap: a man’s ex-wife chases him around the world
4. 8:08 – trio starts out reflective, violin picks up energy, serious piano
5. 5:13 – cool, funky trio jam with hang (resonant percussion, like a steelpan)
6. 3:57 – comic vocal song: he can’t stop thinking about music
7. 6:14 – gentle waltz, very pretty and elegant, swings a bit in the middle
8. 5:45 – soul-jazz shuffle for sextet; a good-natured groove, wailin’ solos
9. 4:54 – cabaret song: spending vacation in a noisy, sleazy neighborhood
10. 5:28 – another good trumpet/bass duet; this one’s a 12-bar blues in 5/4
11. 3:53 – cute little tune: “don’t make 2 CDs full of Viennese songs & jazz...”
12. 4:16 – duo whistling / trumpet & bass, a nice warm stroll
13. 3:00 – bouncy melody interrupted by a list of people who will die
14. 1:54 - strange little accordion/violin/vocal improvisation

[ Fo ] 01/08/11