Hendrik Meurkens - harmonica
Claudio Roditi - trumpet, flugelhorn
Osmar Milito - piano
Fernando Merlino - piano, keyboards
Claudio Jorge - guitar
Alçeu Maia - cavaquinho
Jacaré - bass
Pascoal Meirelles - drums
Dom Chacal - percussion
And on tracks 4,5,7,9 &10
Hendrik Meurkens - harmonica, vibes
Mack Goldsbury - soprano saxophone, flute
Lito Tabora - piano
Guilherme Castro - bass
Rolo Rodriguez - drums, timbales, percussion
Topo Gioia - congas, percussion
Recorded February and June 1992.
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REVIEWS:
"Compelling arrangements and purposeful musicianship are indeed memorable to the melodies recorded on this date. Hendrik Meurkens' CLEAR OF CLOUDS is not just another Latin/Brazilian jazz album. It is complex, hard driving, versatile and refreshingly unassuming." Archie McElrath - Jazz & Blues - January/February 1993
"Meurkens displays an uncommon sense of the intricacies of the idiom in his multiple roles of composer, arranger, and performer. CLEAR OF CLOUDS brims with the kind of delectable melodies and riveting performances that symbolize the best qualities of honest Brazilian jazz." Jazziz - February/March 1993
"Solid support from an ample line-up, including special guest Claudio Roditi, plus Meurkens' original compositions, make for overall excellence." Marcela Breton - JazzTimes - June 1993
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HENDRIK MEURKENS' PERSONAL NOTE:
This album features 2 different bands: an all-star cast of Samba Jazz greats recorded in Rio and my working band of that time recorded in Berlin.
This is my second project for Concord and the first one where somebody actually gave my a budget to produce an album. Before that I did it on my own and later sold it to a label. So this was a new experience.
My working band in Germany was truly an international team: drummer Rolo Rodriguez is from Uruguay, bassist Guilherme Castro from Brazil, pianist Lito Tabora from Hongkong, percussionist Topo Gioia from Argentina and saxophonist Mack Goldsbury from the US. This sound of this band goes beyond my usual Brazilian efforts because the musicians are so strong in
Cuban-inspired Latin Jazz. 'Mambo Inn' with my little intro for instance or the bolero-ish versions of 'Estate' and 'You go to my head'. With that band we played a lot in Europe before I moved to New York 1992. I'll take that band back anytime if they are still available. Where are they anyway?
The other half of the album was recorded a few months later in Rio. At that time I was already friends with Claudio and he helped me putting the band together. He was in Rio for some family business and I thought 'why not go down there again ('Samba Importado' was recorded in Rio also) to finish the album'. Claudio of course is one of my heros. Years ago I started following his career because he personified what I was trying to archive for myself: combining bebop-based Jazz improvisation with Brazilian feel and form. He certainly is the master of that. His trumpet playing must be considered to be one of the important trumpet styles in Jazz. You can recognize Claudio right away. Isn't that supposed to be the mark of a great Jazz player?
Pascoal Mereilles I had met in Boston 12 years earlier. Bassist Jacaré plays on 'Samba Importado' and 'Sambahia' and his swing is certainly in-the-pocket. In Samba Jazz the bass line and feel is modeled after the surdo (the bass drum) of the Escola de Samba. Jacaré sounds like the 250 surdos of Mangueira (one of the grand Escolas de Samba in Rio). He can really anchor a rhythm section.
Osmar Milito I knew from my time in Rio 1982/83. We had both played at 'Bar 21' on Monday nights. That guy knows any Brazilian tune ever written. Alçeu Maia is a young cavaquinho virtuoso who is on a lot of recordings from down there. I loooooove the cavaquinho! Played well it swings so much! And it is pleasantly small so that I don't look so lost on stage with my (smaller) harmonica.
'Clear Of Clouds' is also the name of one of my tunes that is on the album. This is another one of my tunes that over the years proved to be strong enough that I keep playing and recording it. It is interesting to watch tunes to make it or to not make it. You only really know after a few years how strong a composition is. Some have the substance and the catchiness that makes one play them all the time. Another one is 'Prague In March'. Yet another one is 'Slidin'.
We are also doing a medley of 'Chega De Saudade" and 'To Brenda With Love". The latter is by Paquito and while I was still living in Germany that was one of my favorite Sambas. Written by a Cuban. Recorded by a German/Dutchman. In Rio. World music is circling in!
Check out the artist's website:
http://www.hendrikmeurkens.comTrack List:
1. 1. Samba For Claudio
2. 2. Clear Of Clouds
3. 3. Seu Acalento
4. 4. Mambo Inn
5. 5. Estate
6. 6. Chega De Saudade/ To Brenda With Love
7. 7. Hesitation
8. 8. Beauty And The Priest
9. 9. You Go To My Head
10. Joe's Donut
11. Allan's Theme
Other Genres:
