Manfred Schoof – Jazz Meets India (1967/2016) [Qobuz FLAC 24bit/88,2kHz]

Even from the globalized world’s point of view in the year 2017: whenever you listen to recordings J.E.Berendt initiated in the ’60s you are completely amazed about his visionary character. This is THE landmark album which showcases his explorations. Mani Neumeier, the incomparable drum wizard of Guru Guru fame, convinced Berendt to get the Jazz meets India idea into shape by engaging the Irène Schweizer Trio (which also featured bassist Uli Trepte) and calling in an Indian trio, with sitar player Dewan Motihar, responsible for arousing the Beatles’ interest in India. In-between: German trumpet player Manfred Schoof and French saxophonist Barney Wilen. Jazz meets India is a stunning set in which it is a natural course of action that every musician respects and listens to each other – and we dare to say a more sincere approach to Indian music than many of the half-hearted world music blendings of nowadays.

This 1967 release, another exploratory J.E. Berendt production, combines a classical Indian trio of sitar, tambura, and tabla with jazz piano trio and two horns striding in between. Sitar player Dewan Motihar leads the Indian trio. A star on All-India Radio, Motihar journeyed to London where he worked on the sound tracks to the Beatle’s “Help”, and with Herbie Hancock on Antonioni’s iconic film “Blow Up”. The Swiss pianist Irene Schweizer has been one of the top European players for years. The two groups remain true to their respective ethos playing off what they have in common rather than attempting some sort of ethno mish-mash. The three pieces are originals, all based on ragas, classical Indian scales each of which are based on a particular mood, occasion, time of day, year, etc. Sun Love is based on a raga similar to a Western C minor scale. In a combination of modal and free playing, trumpeter Manfred Schoof plays beautifully off the raga. Yaad is a North Indian word signifying lovers forever separated. One can sense the sadness as the soprano sax blends with Motihar’s vocals. On Brigach and Ganges, Schoof employs the Bhimplani raga, one of the oldest in classical Indian music, going back some 1000 years. Schoof’s and Motihar’s cohesion on this modal beauty is impressive. Critic K. H. Ruppel had it right: “…improvisational inspiration…a chamber symposium of ancient Eastern and modern Western music.”

Tracklist:
01 – Sun Love
02 – Yaad
03 – Brigach and Ganges

Produced by Hans Georg Brunner-Schwer. Engineered by Rolf Donner.
Recorded on October 23, 1967 at Saba Tonstudio, Villingen, Schwarzwald, Germany.
Digitally Remastered in 2014.

Musicians:
Manfred Schoof – cornet, trumpet
Irene Schweizer – piano
Barney Wilen – tenor & soprano saxophone
Dewan Motihar – sitar, vocals
Keshay Sathe – tabla
Kusum Thakur – tambura
Uli Trepte – bass
Mani Neumeier – drums

Download:

mqs.link_ManfredSchfJazzMeetsIndia19672016Qbuz24882.rar

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