Blairstown, NJ (Top40 Charts/ Powderfinger Promotions) Johannes Mössinger's "The New Jersey Session" is, above all else, an album of depth. It ranges from traditional bebop improvisation to impressionist-influenced solo piano pieces with a startling knack for dissonances and an even more startling ability to transform those dissonances into a splendid, Debussy-inspired sound. Although Johannes Mössinger's (piano) virtuosic ability plays a vital role in every arrangement on this album, his guests Seamus
Blake (tenor sax),
Boris Kozlov (bass), and Karl Latham (drums) exemplify just as much talent and ability in each of their respective instruments. Together, these world-class jazz musicians create a record of unparalleled expressive depth.
"Splanshy Squeeze," the album's first track, uses Mössinger's circulating blues melodies and Latham's colorful percussive timbres to help define the organic sound used in the rest of the record. This track's use of familiar scales in unconventional ways gives light to Mössinger's conventional but original compositional style. The album's first solo piano track, "Newton," is a beautiful arrangement clearly walking in the footsteps of composers such as
Claude Debussy and Erik Satie, but Mössinger adds his own individual style, mixing jazz dissonances with the sparkling melodies of impressionist-era music. "It's Time To Be a Greenhorn" instantly grabs the listener's attention with its demanding rhythm, but just as quickly rewards you with the melodic counterpoint between Blake's saxophone and Mössinger's piano. This track eventually turns into a battle between those two timbres, making for a very exciting listen overall.
The New Jersey Session was recorded during Mössinger's travels to the states in 2008. It was produced by Johannes Mössinger and Frank Kleinschmidt, mixed and mastered at Klangstudio in Leyh, Germany.
Johannes Moessinger - Friday May 11, 2012
Historic Blairstown Theatre - 30 Main Street, Blairstown, NJ
(908) 362-1399 · thehbt.com
Showtime: 8:30pm / Doors: 7:30 with Karl Latham and Calvin Jones
Tickets: https://thehbt.com/tickets/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=82
You can learn more about Johannes Mössinger and see his latest show dates on his website at https://www.johannesmoessinger.com.
