Niels Engel - Creation/Evolution (2017) [Official Digital Download 24/96]

Luxembourg has no longer been a tax haven for the nouveau rich or a dwarf state for quite some time. The President of the European Commission is currently from the Grand Duchy with its only 115, 000 citizens and also has one of the most vital jazz scenes in Europe. The multi-instrumentalist Pol Belardi plays a major role in this and also attracts international attention to the amazingly creative biotope that has developed there in the triangle between Germany, France and Belgium over the past 15 years. Belardi is representative of his fellow countrymen without any musical blinkers and his curious interest in all styles and influences, with which he was more or less predestined to see beyond his own horizon. The fact that the 27 year-old e-bass player, who can also play piano, vibraphone and drums, also applies this attitude to jazz helps this genre to develop a fresh, modern, international and future-oriented perspective, especially in times of increasing self-confinement and withdrawing into a shell.

Actually Pol Belardi, David Fettman (alto saxophone), Jérôme Klein (piano) and Niels Engel (drums) should in no way produce a jazz album in the classic sense given their seemingly diametric interests. The four advance with such wide-open ears through the world that you could expect all sorts of things. Their listening interest starts at the most with classic jazz, but extends to classical music and has at least elements of pop, rock, hip hop and electronic music on an equal basis. However, the fact that »Creation / Evolution«(the third album by Force) is so close to experimental, modern jazz is still surprising. The pieces are charged in a concentrated manner, supposedly quiet and not at all extroverted on a subliminal, tingling level that breathes the great spirit of jazz through every note with its improvisational daring.

The typical Luxembourg cosmopolitanism outlook characterizes the ten characteristic original pieces, which Belardi naturally also adapts to his complex arrangements. Scents of the great composers of classical music shine through as well as the lyrical touch of a singer-songwriter, the groove of funk, the infectious virus of catchy pop hits and the experimental breadth of experimental avant-garde and create a delightful contrast in every respect. As guests, the guitarist Riaz Khabirpour and the Kaiser Quartet juggling with elegant virtuosity between late romanticism and contemporary music refine the colorful range of sounds. And the best thing is: a whole range of presentation options exist live for the new program, either with the Kaiser string players, the guitarist Khabirpour or just pure Force.

For Pol Belardi, who comes from the small Luxembourg village of Tétange, studied in Brussels and Amsterdam and completed his Master's degree »summa cum laude« on bass guitar in 2014, a long-cherished dream has come true with »Creation / Evolution«. »I always wanted to bring together my many interests, my versatility and my creativity under one roof.« What previously inevitably developed on several projects and targeted instrument priorities in his eleven-member ensemble Urban Voyage, in the electric groove trio DillenDub, with compatriot Pascal Schumacher, the German band MetroMara, the Dutch Combo Little Known Facts and Nelson Ogliastri's Birth and Death of a Star finds a prism here. Finally!

Tracklist:

01. Prayer
02. Evolver
03. Plankton
04. The Secret Lives of Deep Sea Creatures
05. Snow
06. A Cold Night During a Warm Summer
07. Toothgrinder
08. Convergence A.K.A. Tri (E) Ste
09. Circles
10. Natural Selection

Personnel:

David Fettmann - saxophone
Jerome Klein - piano
Niels Engel - drums
Pol Belardi - bass - vibes
Riaz Khabirpour - guitar
Kaiser Quartett



All thanks go to the original releaser