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Sebastian Schunke: Existential Intensities

By Mark Sullivan
December 30, 2023
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Sebastian Schunke: Existential Intensities

German composer and pianist

Sebastian Schunke

piano

" data-original-title="" title="">Sebastian Schunke has long taken inspiration from Latin music. But, when his album Elusive Beauty (Connector Records, 2018) won one of Latin America's most important music awards—the Premio Internacional presented during the Cubadisco Festival—he had a rare opportunity to engage directly with Cuban musicians. This album is a kaleidoscopic blend of two Cuban ensembles, Schunke's Berlin band and a Berlin-based chamber ensemble.

"Abaku�� [versi��n de ritual folcl��rico Abaku��]" opens the set with

Los Muñequitos de Matanzas

band / ensemble / orchestra

" data-original-title="" title="">Los Mu?equitos de Matanzas, the Cuban rumba ensemble featuring Bat�� drums which joins Schunke on three tracks. Like all of the Cuban collaborations, the music is traditional, so the focus is on Schunke the pianist finding his way into the vocals and percussion of the ensemble. On this track, he mainly provides a dissonant backing figure which creates a contrasting harmony to the vocal chant. For "El tahonero [Jes��s Alfonso]" he plays a gentle unaccompanied introduction as well as a brief solo and montuno accompaniment to the vocals. Grupo Ojundegara is an all-female ensemble with vocals and a lighter percussion accompaniment. On "Colocolo midi�� [folclor afrocubano]" Schunke accompanies and plays a brief solo coda.

Schunke's band Berlin Brew plays three tracks, giving him full exposure as composer, pianist and bandleader (they account for nearly a third of the album's running time). "Her Dance" begins with rubato textures before latching on to a rhythm. The rest of the tune alternates between rhythm and rubato, with Schunke leading from the piano, and saxophonist

Philipp Gropper

saxophone, tenor

" data-original-title="" title="">Philipp Gropper providing both melodies and connective playing. Their other tunes are similar; they combine Latin rhythms with an almost free jazz approach. In some ways, it is reminiscent of

Keith Jarrett

piano
b.1945

" data-original-title="" title="">Keith Jarrett's "American Quartet" with

Dewey Redman

saxophone, tenor
b.1931

" data-original-title="" title="">Dewey Redman, or sometimes

Ornette Coleman

saxophone, alto
1930 - 2015

" data-original-title="" title="">Ornette Coleman. The other creative thread is found in the three brief chamber jazz pieces, performed with the Berlin-based Trio Femmes (viola, flute and cello). They represent a much more European sound, with the Latin elements present in an abstract way.

Existential Intensities is a diverse collection. It represents Schunke's creative journey, from Cuban roots to creative Latin jazz, along with a bit of chamber jazz. A good place to start for listeners who are unfamiliar with his work.

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Track Listing

1: Abaku�� [versi��n de ritual folcl��rico Abaku��]; 2: Her Dance; 3: Colocolo midi�� [folclor afrocubano]; 4: Epilog II; 5: Fighting the Evil; 6: Epilog I; 7: Cantos a Ferekete [folclor afrocubano]; 8: Yemaya [version de ritual folcl��rico]; 9: El tahonero [Jes��s Alfonso]; 10: Der tanzende Klang; 11: Epilog III.

Personnel

Sebastian Schunke

piano

Nick Dunstan

bass, acoustic

Moritz Baumg?rtner

drums

Robby Geerken

percussion

Philipp Gropper

saxophone, tenor

Additional Instrumentation

Sebastian Schunke: piano; compositions [2, 4 �C 6, 10, 11; Los Mu?equitos de Matanzas �C Diosdado Enier Ramos ��Figurin��: lead vocal, choir and cat�� [1, 8, 9]; Juan Ra��l Mart��nez: lead vocal, choir [1, 8, 9]; Yuniscleyis Ramos: lead vocal, choir, campana and clave [1, 8, 9]; Rafael Navarro ��El Ni?o��: lead vocal and choir [1]; Denis Fern��ndez: lead vocal, choir and sh��kere [1, 8, 9]; Reyniel L��pez: lead vocal and choir [1, 8, 9]; Ana P��rez: choir [1, 8, 9]; Freddy Jes��s Alfonso: tumbadora, abaku�� drum and caj��n [1, 8, 9]; Eddy Espinoza: tumbadora and abaku�� drum [1, 8, 9]; Agust��n D��az: tumbadora and abaku�� drum [1, 8, 9]; Luis Davis O. Ramos: bat��, clave, and sh��kere [1, 8, 9]; Jaime O. Ramos: bat��, abaku�� drum and sh��kere [1, 8, 9]; Dayan Ramos: bat��, campana and cat�� [1, 8, 9]; Barbaro Ramos: baila [1, 8, 9]; Grupo Ojundegara �C Teresa Mederos [Tere Arar��]: lead vocal, choir and clapping [3, 7]; Esperanza Mederos G��mez: choir and clapping [3, 7]; Suilen Mercedes Torres Mederos: dance choir and clapping [3, 7]; Pedro Torriente [Nanacho]: oggan and clapping [3, 7]; Luis Berriel: junguede [3, 7]; Orestes de Aramas: juncito [3, 7]; Evangelio Izquierdo Baro [Anda]: junga [3, 7]; Berlin Brew �C Nick Dunstan: contrabass [2, 5, 10]; Moritz Baumg?rtner: drums [2, 5, 10]; Robby Geerken: tumbadora, small percussion and voice [2, 5, 10]; Philip Gropper: saxophones [2, 5, 10]; Trois Femmes �C Yodfat Miron: viola [4, 6, 11]; Laura Maurat: flute [4, 6, 11]; Isabelle Klemt: cello [4, 6, 11].

Album information

Title: Existential Intensities | Year Released: 2023 | Record Label: Connector Records

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