Matti Klein - Soul Trio Live On Tape (LP)

Known for the soulful jazz-grooves of their self-titled 2020 debut album, Matti Klein�s Soul Trio actually began as an idea rather than a group. However, in early 2018 three master musicians met in Berlin's Lovelite Studio with producer/engineer Jochen Str�h (Tony Allen, Ebo Taylor, Pat Thomas, Jimi Tenor) and recorded a set of well-planned and even better executed live sessions, each finding their desired space live and direct, locking into the immediacy of the groove.�Soul Trio Live On Tape� contains these very first sessions of the Matti Klein Soul Trio and comprises new arrangements of songs that had primarily been composed for Klein�s band Mo' Blow; favourites already back then, timeless classics now thanks to these exciting �deep-fried contemporary soul jazz� versions. Their leader, known for his work as musical director for the Brazilian superstar Ed Motta as well as Mo �Blow, can be heard on Wurlitzer and Rhodes Bass; Lars Zander (The Ruffcats, El Cartel, Lucasonic, STEREOFYSH) not only proves he is the most soulful tenor saxophonist in Berlin, but also why he has earned kudos for a bass clarinet sound that is enhanced with analog tape delays, Wah-Wah and Harmonizer-sweetenings; and drummer Andr� Seidel also shows his chops, incorporating elements of rock, hip-hop, odd meter fusion and the sound of New Orleans into his own unique groove jazz style.As for the music, �Rocket Swing� is a tenor sax feature in which a hip-hop vibe meets a jazzy fifth fall, while �Ray� (dedicated to Mr. Charles) is a Meters-inspired shuffle in 7/8 time. �No Particular Way� showcases the funky side of the band, with singer Pat Appleton in top form over a wonderfully creaky Rhodes bass. �Sunsqueezed� is created in a wide compositional arc, evoking a ray of sunshine peeking through the clouds during a long and grey 10-month Berlin winter, giving hope for the next two months. �Eleven Feels Like Heaven� is a joyful, uproarious gospel blues with a brilliant odd meter drum solo. �Grandpa�s Fairytale� is a hitherto unreleased piece that is dedicated to the bandleader's grandfather, a former school headmaster who loved to read him stories and is a Wurlitzer-warmth meets bass clarinet groove in an atypical dynamic arc. Summarising their efforts, Klein states somewhat cryptically that �the band rolls in a warm, soft couch whenever there is a risk of having to sit between the chairs.� Initially available as a limited fan item only at live shows, this document is now being released officially with the addition of �Grandpa�s Fairytale�. It is a journey through time, absolutely contemporary and yet wonderfully back to the future.