24 November 2023

Four to Three

It was another two nights somewhat unexpected in Frankfurt and it's like home these days. Jazzkellar is the biggie in town and they had a visiting NYC quartet but pricey and sold out anyway and like many well known dives, they can be populated with the non-jazz scene despite some worthy offerings. Mampf had a trio and I enjoyed my last visit and local can be worthy. Not least, they had somewhat a story of heartache for this gig: their drummer who died suddenly weeks earlier fo a heart attack. No secret but obviously affecting the group and the quartet decided to proceed as a trio in tribute. And a worthy tribute. This was post-bop, nicely done, quick and easy walks and twisty heads and little inserted passages and endless, playful, lyrically rich solos and harmonically suggestive accompaniment. And a tenor with a sweet, soft tone and slithery, sinuous phrasing that could drop into fast lines but never in your face. Lovely. Piano was the one pro amongst them and he wrote most of the music, but then pianists do. They can. So another successful night at Mampf, jokingly my sister to our Smiths Alternative.

Vitaliy Baran Quartett performed at Mampf, Frankfurt, as a trio comprising Christian Müntz (tenor), Vitaliy Baran (piano) and Paul Schmandt (bass). Their fourth member, Markus Eschmann (drums) had died suddenly just weeks before.

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