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Brand: Intuition
(2)-
Media Type: 2 LPsBrand: Intuition
Publishing Year: 2026Product number: CIA 40101Short Description: The German duo NIGHTHAWKS caused a minor sensation with their debut album “Citizen Wayne”: Rarely has a newcoming act (especially from here in Germany) been so successful in the field of groove jazz, and rarely have the media and the public been in such agreement about the exceptional quality of a new release. Of course, two old hands make up the nocturnal band: Producer and bassist Dal Martino and trumpeter Reiner Winterschladen are both in demand as musicians on the European jazz and pop scene. As NIGHTHAWKS, they are confirmed as the leading specialists of cool grooves and atmospheric samples, over which a clear voice and a sole trumpet sing stories from the big city – sometime cuttingly articulate, sometimes touched with longing. Those who give the duo’s music but a moment of their time are able to see why Martino and Winterschladen chose the programmatic description for their first joint duo project at the time – inspired by the famous painting with the same name by Edward Hopper from 1941. (You know, the painting with three people at the bar behind a large illuminated window, on the corner of an otherwise completely dark street.) The term "Nighthawks" describes the kind of people who spread their wings instead of withdrawing at night. But unlike the proverbial night owls, the typical nighthawk doesn’t just sit around with wide eyes. He is driven by hunger. Nighthawks hunt for prey, for experiences or acquaintances on the other side of the sunset, making their nights better than some other people’s days. Just like Martino and Winterschladen: Most of the recordings for "Citizen Wayne" actually did have to be made at night – due to the musicians’ numerous other engagements. For Dal Martino has not only been a wanted bassist for the stage and the studio (including work with Wolf Maahn, Culture Cross, Jaki Liebezeit and many others). He was and is also in demand as a producer for film and advertising music. Working constantly in his studio left him just as little free time as Reiner Winterschladen, who was also active as a professional musician. He was a permanent member of the NDR Big Band and had previously played with several other renowned jazz formations such as the European Jazz Ensemble, the Manfred Schoof Big Band, and others, but also for popular bands such as Blue Box, Me & The Heat, Unknown Cases, Rausch, and many more. The idea of recording in a duo came to them both at a jointly performed production for a film project, which all participants experienced as highly satisfying. The decision to capitalise on the potential together was quickly taken, so that immediately, Martino and Winterschladen used every spare moment to advance the new affaire à deux. Again, mostly after dark. So as the opportunity arose, Dal Martino produced tracks in his home studio and presented them to Reiner Winterschladen, who laid his melodies on top and/or improvised. They listened, reworked, made changes, rearranged, sought and found. Everything was more or less created in free fall. This tried-and-tested method was then used again for the second album, “Metro Bar.” Just as "Citizen Wayne" was a calculated collection of ironic references to the spaghetti western genre [and its musical maestro Ennio Morricone ("Once Upon A Time In The West” and many others)], as well as nocturnal city impressions, "Metro Bar" is a more purely urban soundtrack. Urban, in the sense of (mainly) "cool"; though definitely not "cold". Some of the tracks still go “straight to the heart” today: On tracks like "Joker Sleeps", when Winterschladen plays his trumpet to the tough theme of the piece, more sensitive people might find themselves overwhelmed by emotion – and even shed a tear or two. It’s true, there still are some melodies that can do so. But “Metro Bar” has much to offer aside from subjecting listeners to emotional turmoil. If nightlife is a film in which you play the leading role, here is some fresh music for further appearances. Tracks like "Tomorrow Evening" [5] or "Think Positive" [1] are the perfect accompaniment for the journey to the next 'Club Night' , whilst "Direction Downtown" evokes the atmosphere of a well-filled establishment at Blue Hour. "Nightflight" transports you directly into the midst of the heady atmosphere of a Quentin Tarrantino movie. Images from the inner screen, concentrated and processed for a performance in the listener’s head. Cinema for your ears. No question: NIGHTHAWKS have set off for new heights with their new album, soaring high above the neon lights of the night skyline. Released on the Intuition Master series, this classic from the now extensive catalog of Nighthawks albums is available as a double LP in a 180-gram pressing.£37.50Not in stock, but can be ordered -
Composer: Abdullah IbrahimInterpreter: Abdullah IbrahimMedia Type: LPBrand: Intuition
Publishing Year: 2015Product number: INT 34421Short Description: We can celebrate several anniversaries at the same time with this recording. First, there is the 80th birthday of one of the most significant musicians in this world. We are also reminded of the time 40 years ago when he composed "Mannenberg", which soon became the hymn of the slums and townships of South Africa. Finally, there is also the end of apartheid 20 years ago. He was born as Adolphe Johannes Brand in this country of unequal rights and already called himself Dollar Brand as an adolescent. He started playing piano when he was seven and already became a "professional musician" at 15. He emigrated to Europe–still as Dollar Brand–in 1962, where Duke Ellington discovered him shortly afterward. He then moved to the USA. That marked the beginning of his international career, which has lasted until today. He has converted to Islam in the meantime and returned to Europe long ago. Then he changed his name again and has been known as Abdullah Ibrahim worldwide for decades. His style is difficult to describe, even when you repeatedly come up against clichés of African melodies and harmonies. In addition, you can't miss the influence of great co-musicians such as Thelonious Monk. He said in an interview with the magazine "Zeit" in 2013: "I have always sought for a specific sound my whole life. At the end of the 60s—I lived in New York in the meantime—this search became worse and worse. I walked the streets day and night, a restless African in America, who did not understand what was driving him. It wasn't the sound, but the silence, the silent moments in music." Perhaps it is that which fascinates millions of people: Abdullah Ibrahim's treatment of time, space and silence. Three dimensions of music, which he—and probably only he—celebrates like a prayer put to music. It is not without reason that he writes on the CD cover: "Improvisation is mediation in motion". Ibrahim said in the same interview: "There are people who can only play if they have sheet music. But we others improvise without knowing where we are headed. This makes us free. We don't fear situations that we don't know. We have a song, rhythm, harmony and pitch, and then we start to play with that, turn everything upside down … We jazz musicians are not afraid of letting things take their course." However, the term "jazz musician" is a corset, which is much too constricted for this great personage, who has not lost any of this radiance. His music is "world" music in the good sense of the word. It not only links sounds of different genres and musical traditions, but also music with poetry, sound with feelings, melodies with stories – and people with people. Abdullah Ibrahim visited Italy in the summer of 2014, played on the legendary "Fazioli" grand piano and visited the workshop where these pianos are crafted. There is a concert hall there with fantastic instruments, which sound as if they were created especially for Ibrahim. Abdullah Ibrahim recorded this LP there in free improvisation for the most part.£27.40Not in stock, but can be ordered - usually despatched (or ready for collection) within 7 days
