Composer
Bands of Dirk Strakhof
Kite Duo
Franz Bauer, vibes, marimba, perc
Dirk Strakhof, double bass
Kite live: EuroJazz Festival in Mexico City 03.02.08
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BATORU
feat. Stoyan Yankoulov, perc
Peter Ralchev, acc (Bulgaria)
W o r l d s o f J a z z
In Batoru's music different cultures come together and engage in musical conversation.
The driving sound of the Bulgarian Tupan drum played by one of the masters of this instrument, Stoyan Yankoulov, and the virtuosic playing by accordionist Peter Ralchev are just two of the five penetrating voices of this group.
Yankoulov's playing is orchestral-so much so, that at times one might suppose there to be several percussionists playing at once instead of just one.
"In the rapidity of his playing, marked by incredible precision, the Tupan becomes the global drum."
(Bert Noglik)
At times melancholic, at others joyfully virtuosic, Peter Ralchev's playing leads Batoru through an exploration of the Bulgarian soul
The third voice belongs to Michael Schiefel, the most imaginative and multi-faceted vocalist on the German scene. Through the aid of electronic manipulation his voice sometimes sounds as though coming from another world.
Vibraphone and marimbaphone, played by Franz Bauer, lend the music a full and soft sound. His virtuosic interaction with the Tupan leads the group onto a higher plane.
Dirk Strakhof's warm singing double bass provides as fifth voice the foundation for the ensemble. His melodious and rhythmical playing often produces experimental sounds rarely heard from a bassist.
The imaginative electronic manipulation of voice and bass, together with the unusual instrumentation, is an important part of the fascinating sound texture.
The in-part folkloristic themes appear through communicative performances in an unusual light, shifting constantly between jazz and world music. Exceptional, sparing grooves and virtuosic solos promise an interesting programme.
| Michael Schiefel voc. |
Jazz Studies, Hochschule der Künste Berlin under Catherine Gayer, voc Kirk Nurock and David Friedman CDs with his own band "Jazz Indeed" (Traumton Records) Solo CD "Invisible Loop" (Traumton Records) 1998 Syria tour 2000 Solo CD "I don't belong" (Traumton Records) |
| Peter Ralchev acc. |
Prize winner with the Bulgarian folk quintet "Trakiisti". Various CD accordion recordings. Tours and workshops in Bulgaria, USA, Canada, Germany, France, Hungary, Russia and Norway. Co-founder of a new style of improvisation deriving from Bulgarian folk music. |
| Franz Bauer mär, vibes |
Classical music studies in Munich. Jazz studies, Hochschule der Künste under David Friedman. Winner of the Studio Competition held by the Berlin Senate. CD recordings with the own quintet, feat. Jim Black Jazzhaus Musik) and Batoru - "Elegy for Africa" Member of the New Music Ensemble "Ensemble United Berlin". |
| Dirk Strakhof bass |
Classical guitar studies; Jazz Studies, Hochschule der Künste Berlin bass under Sigi Busch. 1992 winner of the Leipzig Jazz Newcomers Competition, with "Out of Print". Africa tour, Romania tour 2 CD recordings with "Batoru" 1999 prizewinner of the Studio Competition held by the Berlin Senate with "Out of Print". 1999 Berlin Festival "Jazz across the Border" with "Batoru" 2000 Germany Tour with "Batoru" 2000 Colombia tour with "Out of Print" |
| Stoyan Yankoulov tupan, perc. |
Bulgarian jazz musician of the younger generation, at age of 12 years of tupan, perc., taught himself to play the Tupan. National prize for young jazz musicians with the ensemble "Jazzbreakers" CDs "with Zone C" and "Fairy Tale Trio" Festival appearances, e.g. "Jazz Across the Border", Berlin, Leipzig Jazz Festival, German Jazz Festival in Frankfurt |
Out of Print
What a mood spectrum indeed: from the depths of misery to highest jubilation. From impressionist sound-shifting through to expressive intensification. From reminiscences of the sensitive innovators of the jazz tradition and reflections of a multi-cultural urban environment through to flights into remote ethnic regions. Out of Print doesn't just borrow randomly from any influence. They've heard and experienced it all through their in-depth study of the music, through their travelling and above all through the process of playing.
Integration, that magic word in ensemble playing in general, and in particular within the context of jazz trios, is to be naturally taken for granted here. The commanding interplay on this album is the natural result of many years of intensive collaboration. Often one gleans the impression that all three musicians are playing as soloists while at the same time reacting to one another. All musical combinations are possible in this sensitive network: the bass may weave in melodies, the piano brings in percussion rhythms and the percussionist has a say not only in the rhythmical blueprint but also in the sound textures.
Out of Print, formed in 1990 in cooperation with Céline Rudolph, have been successful in moulding their own sound. This has only come about through each individual member contributing something unique to the music while the performance remains that of one unit.
After travelling through Africa and Latin-America as well as calling in on the New York jazz clubs they have finally congregated at the A-Trane jazz club in their native Berlin in order to express all their experiences in a common musical language.
A mood spectrum indeed...and what a trio!
Bert Noglik
Das Trio Out of Print entfaltet in seiner neuen CD "Fishland Canyon" einen reichen Schatz an sorgfältig ausmusizierten Stimmungen.
...der minimalistische Rückzug aufs Essentielle.
...halten sich an die grundlegenden Formen der Jazzimprovisation...die Kottenhahn durch seine versonnen wiederholten Motivschleifen mit der Klangwelt der Minimal Music verknüpft. Keiner der drei Musiker sucht sich durch musikalische Muskelspielereien hervorzudrängen, die Tempi...reichen bis ins extreme Lento. Genau hier zeigt sich jedoch die unschlagbare Stärke dieses Trios: um ein Stück wie den urgemächlichen "Waitz for Snoopy" über fünf Minuten lang am Grooven zu halten, dass die Bude wackelt, dazu braucht es eine gehörige Portion musikalischer Meisterschaft. Diese verbinden die Spieler von Out of Print mit einer nahezu telepathischen Kommunikation untereinander und lassen so einen außergewöhnlich homogenen aber detailreichen Gruppensound entstehen.
Die verträumten Harmonien Kottenhahns, die sanglichen Basslinien Strakhofs, die feine Beckenarbeit und die spritzige Besentechnik Bockholts fügen sich zu einem Klangbild, das mit Talent allein bei weitem nicht mehr zu erreichen wäre.
Marcus Gammel
The music of "Out of Print" is lyrical, charming, humorous and wild
| 1990 | "Out of Print" is established in collaboration with vocalist Céline Rudolph |
| 1992 | 1st prize at the national Competition for Jazz Newcomers in Leipzig |
| 1994 | CD "Paintings" with Céline Rudolph & Out of Print" Nabel Music 4661 |
| 1996 | CD "Book of Travels" Céline Rudolph & Out of Print" Nabel Music 4672 |
| 1999 | CD "Fishland Canyon" Nabel Music 4680 |
| 2004 | as Trio "Out of Print" - Anthem for a private country (Konnex) |
| 2007 | with Dave Liebman - Schmidt & Liebman & friends |
Festivals:
Hamburg (Fabrik), Leipzig, Stuttgart, Brandenburg, Berlin (Jazz across the Border), Bucharest, Antananarivo, Bogota, Medellin, Bucaramanga, Manizales
Radio and television broadcasts: WDR, NDR, MDR, ORB, Romanien TV
Tours: Romania 1994 and1996, South Africa 1995, Tansania, Kenya, Madagascar 1995, Colombia 2000 and 2007
Volker Kottenhahn piano composition
| 1994 | Diploma in Jazz Studies, Hochschule der Künste Berlin under David Friedman, Jerry Granelli, Aki Takase and Walter Norris |
| 1994 | prizewinner of the Berlin Senate's Studio Competition with "Welcome to the Maze" |
| 1995 | CD "Welcome to the Maze", Nabel Records, various concerts and radio broadcast on ORB (Eastern German Radio Brandenburg) with this group |
| 1997 | New York scholarship from the Berlin Senate - study programme with Richie Beirach, Kenny Werner and Ron McClure |
| 1998 | own band featuring among others Britta-Ann Flechsenhar, Jerry Granelli and Carlos Bica |
Dirk Strakhof bass composition
| 1993 | Diploma in Jazz Studies, Hochschule der Künste Berlin under Sigi Busch, David Friedman, Jerry Granelli |
| 1994 | CD "Reise nach Dschabarsa" (Journey to Dschabarsa), "die Chromatischen Phantasten" (the Chromatic Visionaries), Wonderland Records |
| 1993 | 2-month study programme through a New York scholarship granted by the Berlin Senate; coaching from Richie Beirach, Rufus Reid, Dave Holland and other renowned musicians |
| 1995 | Study tour to Gambia |
| 1996 | Concerts and radio broadcasts with own compositions for the Batoru project, feat. Nils petter Molvaer and Denney Goodhew |
| 1998 | CD "Elegy for Africa"with Batoru, Nabel Records |
| 1999 | Festival "Jazz across the Border" with Batoru |
| 2000 | CD "Tree of sounds", feat. Stoyan Yankoulov and Peter Ralchev |
Johannes Bockholt percussion composition
| 1994 | Diploma in Jazz Studies, Hochschule der Künste under Sigi Busch, David Friedman, Jerry Granelli |
| 1992 | prizewinner of the Berlin Senate's Studio Competition with the group Linear Ensemble |
| 1994 | Improviser's Pool project with Alex von Schlippenbach and Manfred Schoof: radio broadcast (RIAS, ORB, WDR) |
| 1995 | CD "Background for Improvisers", with Improviser's Pool feat. Sam Rivers and Alex von Schlippenbach, FMP, CD 75 as drummer and producer |
| 1995 | South East Asia tour with Linear Ensemble |
| 1996 | Tour through Central America with Linear Ensemble |
| 1996 | Centralamerika Tournee mit "Linear Ensemble" |
| 1997 | Radio broadcast (WDR, ORB) with "The Globe Band" feat. Jane Ira Bloom and Jerry Granelli Professor at Java/Javeria University. Regular concerts in Colombia with the local musicians and with "Out of Print" |
| 2000 | Berlin Festival "Jazz Across the Border" with Nicolas Simion |