30 Jahre P&B – Michael Mantler & The New Songs Ensemble (A/USA/DK/GB)
Michael Mantler: trumpet, composition
John Greaves, Annie Barbazza: vocals
Gareth Davis: bass clarinet
Bjarne Roupé: guitar
David Helbock: piano
radio string quartet
Bernie Mallinger: violin
Igmar Jenner: violin
Cynthia Liao: viola
Sophie Abraham: cello
Dieses Konzert wird von Ö1 aufgezeichnet und am 16. Oktober 2023 um 19.30h in der Sendung "on stage" ausgestrahlt.
We start the live stream approx. 1/2 hour before the concert begins (real time, no longer available after the end of the concert). By clicking on "Go to livestream" a window will open where you can watch the concert free of charge and without any registration. However, we kindly ask you to support this project via "Pay as you wish". Thank you & welcome to the real & virtual club!
Having done my SONGS project last year with a large vocal and brass group (in the Czech Republic and at Porgy, no less …), I continued to be intrigued with re-working these as well as various other songs from my career. Wanting to reduce the orchestra to something more basic and more manageable, as well as freer in spirit and execution, I once again come back to draw from my "talent pool" of old friends:
John Greaves -- we had met way back in 1976 when I was working with him on recording his iconic "Kew Rhone" album at my Grog Kill studio in the USA, then met again in 1987 for my LIVE project (with Jack Bruce, Nick Mason, Don Preston, Rick Fenn), and he also participated in my sort-of-an-opera SCHOOL OF UNDERSTANDING in 1996. We had always stayed in touch over the years and he was also instrumental suggesting Himiko Paganotti for my COMMENT C'EST album, and now, for this new project he is bringing his musical partner Annie Barbazza to my new ensemble (a particularly good choice since a substantial part of the program consists of songs with texts in Italian by Giuseppe Ungaretti).
Bjarne Roupé has been my choice of guitarist ever since I had returned to Europe, starting with performances and recording of my CERCO UN PAESE INNOCENTE in 1994, then as a member of my Chamber Music and Songs ensemble for my first performance, a portrait concert, at Porgy in 2006, and then participating on practically all my continuing projects/albums: SCHOOL OF UNDERSTANDING, SONGS AND ONE SYMPHONY, HIDE AND SEEK, CONCERTOS, FOR TWO, THE JAZZ COMPOSER'S ORCHESTRA UPDATE and, finally, my last album CODA.
David Helbock, another of my favorite contributors with an exceptional understanding of my music, has been involved in all my projects since THE JAZZ COMPOSER'S ORCHESTRA UPDATE, which also featured the radio.string.quartet (who had already participated as well in 2006 as part of my Chamber Music and Songs ensemble.
Last, but not least bass clarinet soloist Gareth Davis, who alone was responsible for initiating the original SONGS project and tirelessly continues attempting to present this music.
The music for this new program (in fact something of an 80th birthday review) will include songs with texts by Samuel Beckett, Ernst Meister, Giuseppe Ungaretti, Paul Auster, Harold Pinter and Michael Mantler.