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The Nano Brothers: Ascend Flowers

By Glenn Astarita
December 8, 2024
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The Nano Brothers' Ascend Flowers is a bold journey into free improvisation. The duo behind this daring experiment—pianist

Jürgen Friedrich

piano

" data-original-title="" title="">J��rgen Friedrich and saxophonist-educator

" data-original-title="" title="">Johannes Ludwig—defy expectations with their spontaneous yet meticulously crafted compositions.

As the press release notes, "Everything is improvised even if it doesn't sound like it." The Nano Brothers, unburdened by preconceived notions or stylistic constraints, navigate their sonic landscape with telepathic understanding. Their music is not merely improvised but composed—a testament to their deep musical symbiosis.

On "With People Gone," the duo performs musical alchemy—transforming simple motifs into intricate sonic tapestries. Friedrich's keyboard becomes a laboratory of sound, his climbing progressions and poignant block chords engaging in a delicate pas de deux with Ludwig's saxophone. The track whispers of absence while paradoxically filling every sonic space with vibrant conversation.

"Auf Blumen Klettern" bursts forth like a rebellious jazz manifesto. Here, the musicians channel the restless spirit of

Thelonious Monk

piano
1917 - 1982

" data-original-title="" title="">Thelonious Monk, creating a soundscape that is equal parts cerebral and visceral. Ludwig's saxophone weaves yearning lines that curl and drift like smoke, while Friedrich provides a harmonically adventurous backdrop that challenges and seduces the listener's expectations. However, "Being Sus" reveals the duo's more meditative side, with Ludwig sprinkling musical stardust over Friedrich's rich harmonic terrain. The pianist's thick chordal developments and strategic pedal work create a delicate and profound landscape—think of a Zen Garden reimagined through the lens of avant-garde jazz.

"Active Reflective" becomes a musical meditation, a sonic space where silence is as crucial as sound. The track breathes, pauses, and invites the listener to fill the gaps with their imagination, a collaborative act of musical creation that extends beyond the musicians' immediate performance.

In Ascend Flowers, the Nano Brothers remarkably balance the spontaneous and the structured. Their music is a testament to human creativity and a reminder that true innovation often arises from the unexpected. This album is a must-listen for anyone seeking a fresh inspiring out-of-the-box musical experience.

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Track Listing

Spring Lines; Derived From Good Sources; Wild Trust; Hommage Supreme; With People Gone; Auf Blumen Klettern; Do Disturb; Copy Nature; Mind Positivity; Being Sus; We Go As We Please; Active Reflective

Personnel

J��rgen Friedrich

piano

Johannes Ludwig

saxophone

Album information

Title: Ascend Flowers | Year Released: 2024 | Record Label: Klaeng Records

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