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Heiner Stadler: Heiner Stadler: Brains on Fire

By Hrayr Attarian
April 20, 2012
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Heiner Stadler: Heiner Stadler: Brains on Fire

Heiner Stadler

Brains on Fire

Labor Records

2012

One of the most exciting reissues of the first quarter of 2012 is composer and pianist Heiner Stadler's pioneering Brains on Fire, originally released in 1973. The two-CD reissue adds three lengthy, previously unreleased tracks and informative and well-researched liner notes by critic Howard Mandel.

Interestingly, Stadler occupies the piano chair only on five of the eight pieces, recorded over a seven-year span in a variety of settings varying from vocals and bass duet to big band. His bold style and versatility as a composer, arranger and instrumentalist is showcased throughout the album regardless of whether he is actually hitting the keys or not.

The sparse "Love in the Middle of the Air" is over 20 minutes of

Dee Dee Bridgewater

vocals
b.1950

" data-original-title="" title="">Dee Dee Bridgewater vocalizing on the theme of taking a leap of love and asking to be caught, backed by

Reggie Workman

bass
b.1937

" data-original-title="" title="">Reggie Workman's haunting bass, which alternates between bowing and picking the strings. Workman creates not only an ambience but also an entire accompaniment to the vocalist, exhibiting not only his own virtuosity but also the breadth of an instrument often unjustly relegated to a supporting role. Bridgewater's highly emotive and theatrical singing is much different from her more recent, highly polished interpretation of standards, and has a certain youthful and raw, yet engaging, quality. Even though Bridgewater and Workman are the stars of the song, Stadler's unique imprint, like a director's, is all over its construction and presentation.

The other extreme, in personnel at least, is the big band version of "Bea's Flat," originally written for trumpeter

Chet Baker

trumpet and vocals
1929 - 1988

" data-original-title="" title="">Chet Baker by

Russ Freeman

piano
1926 - 2002

" data-original-title="" title="">Russ Freeman and arranged by Stadler into a kaleidoscope of tonal colors. It is the only tune not penned by him. It features a sound reminiscent of bassist

Charles Mingus

bass, acoustic
1922 - 1979

" data-original-title="" title="">Charles Mingus Jazz Workshop, especially on the group interplay and the ensemble's interaction with trombonist

Albert Mangelsdorff

trombone
1928 - 2005

" data-original-title="" title="">Albert Mangelsdorff's loops of improvisations that push the boundaries of the original music in an atonal, growling, call and response fashion. By contrast, Mangelsdorff's intrepid trombone stands alongside the contemplative and restrained cornet of

Manfred Schoof

trumpet
b.1936

" data-original-title="" title="">Manfred Schoof.

One of the great revelations of this rerelease is the rediscovery of

Tyrone Washington

woodwinds

" data-original-title="" title="">Tyrone Washington. The tenor saxophonist burst on to the jazz scene on pianist

Horace Silver

piano
1928 - 2014

" data-original-title="" title="">Horace Silver's The Jody Grind (Blue Note, 1966) and his own Blue Note date, Natural Essence (1967). By the time of this collaboration with Stadler, he was migrating more towards soul-jazz- fusion. Here, however, he affirms his avant-garde credentials with urgent honks and screeches on the intensely melodic and delightfully cacophonous "No Exercise," and his

John Coltrane

saxophone
1926 - 1967

" data-original-title="" title="">John Coltrane-esque, simultaneously bluesy and free, solo on "Three Problems." Washington's skills as a flautist are also on display as he plays a soaring storm of notes on "USC." Stadler's angular piano, with its carefully placed notes, guides Washington and other bandmates effectively through the intricacies of his compositions.

Bridgewater and Washington are not the only mainstream jazz artists coaxed into more adventurous terrains by Stadler.

Garnett Jnr Brown

trombone
b.1936

" data-original-title="" title="">Garnett Jnr Brown also plays a freer version of his soulful staccato trombone heard on discs by

Jack Wilson

piano
1936 - 2007

" data-original-title="" title="">Jack Wilson and

Booker Ervin

saxophone, tenor
1930 - 1970

" data-original-title="" title="">Booker Ervin and inside/outside trumpeter

Jimmy Owens

trumpet
b.1943

" data-original-title="" title="">Jimmy Owens features a warm, boppish but edgy, extemporization on "The Fugue No. 2."

Polish born, German raised and US based, Stadler is one of the unappreciated giants of improvised music. This reissue will go a long way in helping shed light on his talents. No amount of written description can replace the experience of actually listening to his work with an open mind and an adventurous ear.

Tracks: No Exercise; Three Problems; Heidi; Bea's Flat; Love In The Middle Of The Air; U.C.S.; All Tones; The Fugue No. 2.

Personnel: Jimmy Owens: trumpet; Tyrone Washington: tenor saxophone, flute; Garnett Brown: trombone; Heiner Stadler: piano; Reggie Workman: bass; Brian Blake: drums; Lenny White: drums; Dee Dee Bridgewater: vocals; Joe Farrell: tenor saxophone; Don Friedman: piano; Barre Phillips: bass; Joe Chambers: drums; The Big Band of the North German Radio Station conducted by Dieter Glawischnig; Manfred Schoof: cornet; Gerd Dudek: tenor saxophone; Albert Mangelsdorff: trombone; Wolfgang Dauner: piano; Lucas Lindholm: bass; Tony Inzalaco: drums.

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Track Listing

No Exercise; Three Problems; Heidi; Bea's Flat; Love In The Middle Of The Air; U.C.S.; All Tones; The Fugue No. 2.

Personnel

Heiner Stadler

piano

Jimmy Owens

trumpet

Tyrone Washington

woodwinds

Garnett Jnr Brown

trombone

Reggie Workman

bass

Tony Inzalaco

drums

Lucas Lindholm

bass

Wolfgang Dauner

piano

Albert Mangelsdorff

trombone

Gerd Dudek

saxophone, soprano

Manfred Schoof

trumpet

Joe Chambers

drums

Barre Phillips

bass

Don Friedman

piano

Joe Farrell

saxophone

Dee Dee Bridgewater

vocals

Lenny White

drums

Brian Blake

drums

Album information

Title: Brains on Fire | Year Released: 2012 | Record Label: Labor Records

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