Cargo Records

Sketches And Ballads

The piece was originally composed for the SWR to be played at the NOWJazz sessions of the Donaueschinger music days in 2010. The title’s true meaning becomes apparent when Michael Wertmüller himself talks about his work. As it turns out the term „sketch“ is actually a reference to Miles Davis’ „Sketches of Spain“. Especially because Wertmüller is very impressed by the density of Gil Evans’ compostion for Davis. Still, there is a deeper level as well. Although the score of „sketches and ballads“ is written out in detail, it only fully unfolds its beauty and real meaning when the single particles are connected by free improvisation. This is one of the reasons why „sketches and ballads“ clearly is a jazz piece. The other reason being that the composed parts are really vibrating with a jazzy groove due to the free work of the musicians with the material and their jazz-like phrasing. The piece was performed by a sextet in October 2010 in Donaueschingen for the first time. The musicians were fronted by the trio „Full Blast“ – a critically acclaimed group consisting of Peter Brötzmann (saxophone), Marino Pliakas (e-bass) and Michael Wertmüller himself on drums. For the realization of „sketches and ballads“ some friends joined the threesome for the performance. American saxophonist Ken Vandermark has often been linked to „Full Blast“ recently and adds some special timbre to the baritone saxophone and the clarinet. German trumpeter Thomas Heberer is one of the most creative and versatile musicians in New York’s Downtown scene; percussionist Dirk Rothbrust plays a wonderfully headstrong timbal.