MICHAEL NAURA "OCHSENZOLL" (MOOD, 1985)

Here's something quite different. Michael Naura was more famous for being the chief producer (editor) for the NDR (North German Broadcast), where he managed to produce the "most comprehensive and interesting Jazz program in Europe" (Ian Carr).
But he was also a pianist and author/critic. His writings sometimes were quite polemic and sharp, yet he had a vast knowledge and a sometimes acerbic wit.

His first recordings are clearly informed by George Shearing; he openly acknowledged the influence of Brubeck, Horace Silver or the MJQ. His main partner in music - Wolfgang Schlüter - was the one who provided the more creative improvisations.

Here are my rough translations of the titles and the sub-titles (see files for cover pictures):

Feuerwehr > fire brigade
Psychiater Blues > psychiatrist blues
Feuerfee > fire faerie (pixie)
Ochsenzoll > ox-toll (customs duty); the subtitle dedicates this tune to the "locked [patients] of station 12, psychiatry, general hospital, Hamburg-Ochsenzoll (a borough of Hamburg)"
Franz Brandnarb > franz burn scar
Endlich Ruhe > finally calmness (piece/quietness) - this track is a kind of early "ambient".

On side A all musicians are playing and on side B only the duo of Naura and Schlüter.
Is it Jazz?- yes and no - as always - hear for yourself...and Enjoy!






MICHAEL NAURA "OCHSENZOLL"


Michael Naura, piano, organ, mexican clay-flutes
Albert Mangelsdorff, trombone
Herbert Joos, trumpet, fluegelhorn, alphorn
Wolfgang Schlüter, vibraphone, percussion



A 1. Feuerwehr (Naura)  04:59
A 2. Indira (Naura, Schlüter, Mangelsdorff, Joos) 03:40
A 3. Psychiater Blues (Naura)  07:29
A 4. Feuerfee (Naura) 02:39
A 5. Ochsenzoll (Naura) 05:26

Side B:

B 1. Franz Brandnarb (Naura) 09:49
B 2. Max Ernst (Naura/Schlüter) 04:47
B 3. Endlich Ruhe (Naura/Schlüter) 09:49

Note: Dedications to Peter Rühmkorf (tr.1); Dr. Peter Hatlich (tr.3); Christina (tr.4);
 'Für die Eingeschlossenen von Station 12, Allgemeines Krankenhaus, Hamburg-Ochsenzoll' (tr.5).

Recorded during the scoring of Peter Rühmkorfs "Die Feuerfee" at the NDR, Hamburg, Germany 1985.

MOOD RECORDS MOOD 28 654

(lp rip)

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