DIE ENTTÄUSCHUNG

In the nineties, the quartet Die Enttäuschung [The Disappointment] released their first record solely with pieces by Thelonius Monk. Die Enttäuschung managed the feat of radically remaining faithful to Monk and staying in close touch with the originals, and yet placing them on their heads. from www.intaktrec.ch Rudi Mahall: Bass Clarinet, Clarinet  Axel Dörner: Trumpet Jan Roder: Bass  Michael Griener: Drums & Christof Thewes: Trombone What’s the best jazz combo today? An elder statesman’s allstar band? Some recent hotshot conservatory grads? A mid-career hero’s touring group? For my money, none of the above. Instead, an unassuming, mildly self-abnegating foursome from Berlin is the heaviest working band in small-group jazz. Die Enttäuschung – a name that invites its own comments (and deflates any grand self-assertion like the above), translated as “the disappointment” – has been around since the end of the ‘90s … Playing intimate quartet music firmly rooted in free-bop, with an open sound, read more...