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Peter Lenz: Breathe

By Angelo Leonardi
September 10, 2025
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Dopo aver espresso ottime doti di strumentista e leader col quintetto Silent Flow e col quartetto Lithium, il batterista austriaco debutta con successo nel campo dell'orchestrazione, scegliendo di operare con tre differenti organici: una big band di 17 elementi (nei brani "Enclouded" ed "Eleanor"), una big band ampliata a un quartetto d'archi (in "Between Lines" e "Von Inneren Grenzen") ed un ensemble da camera comprendente quartetto d'archi, tre fiati, contrabbasso e batteria (in "Breathe")

Volendo dirigere personalmente gli organici,

Peter Lenz

composer / conductor

" data-original-title="" title="">Peter Lenz ha scritturato il batterista

Jim Black

drums

" data-original-title="" title="">Jim Black. Scelta assolutamente riuscita per l'elevato apporto di questi in ogni momento. Altri musicisti dal contributo centrale (anche come solisti) sono il sassofonista e clarinettista

Chris Speed

saxophone

" data-original-title="" title="">Chris Speed (partner di Lenz nel Lithium), il trombonista

Jacob Garchik

trombone

" data-original-title="" title="">Jacob Garchik, il chitarrista

Keisuke Matsuno

guitar, electric

" data-original-title="" title="">Keisuke Matsuno, il trombettista

Kenny Warren

trumpet

" data-original-title="" title="">Kenny Warren, il sassofonista contralto

Brian Krock

saxophone

" data-original-title="" title="">Brian Krock.

Nell'estetica di fondo confluiscono il modern mainstream orchestrale e certe sue punte avanzate (

Vienna Art Orchestra

band / ensemble / orchestra

" data-original-title="" title="">Vienna Art Orchestra,

Darcy James Argue

composer / conductor
b.1975

" data-original-title="" title="">Darcy James Argue), riferimenti cameristici e classici (Olivier Messiaen) accostamenti eccentrici che includono il grunge. La scrittura di Lenz �� affascinante e coerente nei tre organici, anche se i riferimenti stilistici hanno gradazioni diverse: jazzisticamente elegante e timbricamente sofisticata in "Enclouded," fantasiosamente articolata in "Eleanor" (ispirato al tema dei Beatles), esplosiva nell'uso delle sezioni e della ritmica ("Between Lines"), ricca di accadimenti in "Breathe." Lungo 15 minuti, quest'ultimo brano �� il pi�� articolato e d'ampio respiro: spiccano il quadro cameristico centrale con l'innesto di Garchik, gli interventi di Speed al clarinetto e di Brian Krock al sax contralto, il solenne finale.

Qualche perplessit�� desta il sovrabbondante "Von Inneren Grenzen" ma il quadro centrale con Garchik e Black protagonisti spicca per equilibrio e inventiva.

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Track Listing

Between Lines, Breathe, Von Inneren Grenzen, Enclouded, Eleanor.

Personnel

Peter Lenz

composer / conductor

David Neves

trumpet

Jake Henry

trumpet

John Lake

trumpet

Kenny Warren

trumpet

Brian Drye

trombone

Jacob Garchik

trombone

James Borowski

trombone, bass

Matt McDonald

trombone

David Leon

saxophone, alto

Brian Krock

saxophone

Chris Speed

saxophone

Sam Sadigursky

clarinet

Jay Rattman

saxophone

Luke Marantz

piano

Keisuke Matsuno

guitar, electric

Ludovica Burtone

violin

Meg Okura

violin

Susan Mandel

cello

Benni von Gutzeit

viola

Additional Instrumentation

John Lake (11), Kenny Warren: flugelhorn; David Leon: flute; Brian Krock: saxophone (alto), flute, English horn; Chris Speed, Sam Sadigursky: tenor saxophone, clarinet; Jay Rattman: saxophone (baritone), clarinet (bass); Marty Kenney: bass; Jim Black: drums; Efrat Alony: vocals.

Album information

Title: Breathe | Year Released: 2024 | Record Label: ART

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