Modern Music Dan
Transferring Klossek’s trademark nimble lines and harmonic landscapes to a larger ensemble embracing brass, this is a deft expansion with Tough Town showing the band at its punchiest and Reason 27 at its most lyrical. A great listen.
Favorite track: Tough Town.
kenny308
Brilliant! Klasse Ergänzung mit den Bläsern! Welches der Stücke mein Favorit des ALbums wird steht noch nicht fest- die sind eben alle gut! Sehr zu empfehlen das neue Album von MK & Co.
Josh Donald
This is why I love this band. Decided to put some horns into the whole deal. This record is a monster. Always changing it up in a good way. And this whole record swings!! The groove is wonderful!!!
Favorite track: Reason 27.
Tom Landon
This not only a REAL jazz album, it's also a REALLY GOOD jazz album. With the addition of a brass section well served by some excellent compositions & arrangements, tightly written but leaving space for some fine solos from all concerned, Marcus Klossek has produced his best album yet, sprinkling it all with his mellifluous Telecaster. Bravo!
Favorite track: Tamouré (Five Eight).
"Blink 6 is a rich and sophisticated masterpiece,
providing a spectrum of experiences from well-crafted
compositions to impromptu improvisations!"
SKJazz
"Orchestral sounds with beautiful solos and a clear guitar lead."
Jazz-Fun
"Playful modern jazz firmly rooted in the present moment."
Jazzthing Magazine
"Exciting and often extremely swinging music!"
Guitar&Bass Magazine
"Right up to this extensive and multifaceted narrative work,
of which it can be said: the risk was worth it."
Verhoovensjazz
"An album that rewards its value in multiples with every listen, perfect."
Rootstime
Guitarist Marcus Klossek – a master on the Fender Telecaster, which Bill Frisell and Jakob Bro also enjoy playing – has caused a stir over the last ten years, especially with his Electric Trio, which includes Carsten Hein on bass and Derek Scherzer on drums.
For his new band Blink 6, Klossek reinforced this trio with three wind players from the Berlin scene, namely trombonist Anke Lucks (Insomnia Brass Band), trumpeter Nikolaus Neuser (Potsa Lotsa) and tenor saxophonist Ignaz Dinné.
"I started to compose for a sextet line-up without knowing who was going to play in it," the guitarist said. “After I had composed eight pieces during six months, I needed musicians who could read notes well, who could improvise over changes and who could improvise freely.
He quickly found the right tenor saxophonist in Ignaz Dinné.
"Ignaz plays a great free solo in 'Reason 27'," Klossek stated happily. He noticed trumpeter Nikolaus Neuser in the band Potsa Lotsa. Klossek knew Anke Lucks from the Insomnia Brass Band, but he was mostly attracted by a YouTube video that he had discovered on the Internet. “She can also play well over changes,” the guitarist said.
After a short rehearsal phase and a few concerts with the sextet, they went to the Berlin Zentrifuge Studio where Tito Knapp recorded the music . Klossek then mixed the music together with Knapp; the mastering was done by Johannes Kellig in the renowned Bauer Studios in Ludwigsburg. "Blink 6" was produced by Klossek and Volker Dueck.
“When I was composing, I just let it go without constantly judging what was produced,” Klossek recalled. “That helped a lot to shape the material. Afterward, of course, I went over it again and was then very happy with the result."
The eight songs live from many influences and move between contemporary jazz, experimental rock and new music. The multidimensional unity, to which Blink 6 developed quite quickly as a band, filters Klossek's music through the different perspectives of the musicians involved. The songs not only sound different every time at concerts, but Blink 6 has additionally succeeded in making their exploration of melody, harmony and rhythm sound exciting and fresh at all times.
As a guitarist, Marcus Klossek deliberately restrained himself on "Blink 6", his tenth album as a band leader, because of course he knew that he was no longer the focus of the music on this project. The focus is on the music itself, and the interplay of the three wind instruments with Klossek's Electric Trio has not only grown beyond the originally composed material, but it also provides the listener with a sound experience between innovative power and an energetic vibe.
Released by Double Moon / Challenge Records International
Recorded by Tito Knapp at Zentrifuge Studio Berlin in December 2022
Mixed by Tito Knapp and Marcus Klossek in January 2023
Mastered by Johannes Kellig at Bauer Studios Ludwigsburg in February 2023
Product coordination by Boudewijn Hagemans
Design by Juan Carlos Villarroel
Special thanks to:
Nikolaus Neuser, Ignaz Dinné, Anke Lucks, Carsten Hein, Derek Scherzer, Tito Knapp, Johannes Kellig, Volker Dueck, Tina Lindemann, Boudewijn Hagemans, David Beecroft and Renate Klossek.
Extra special thanks to YOU, for supporting the arts and for helping us keep making music.
Additional thanks to everyone at Neustart Kultur for making this album possible.
Guitarist Marcus Klossek – a master on the Fender Telecaster- has caused a stir over the last ten years, especially with his
Electric Trio. For his new band Blink 6, he reinforced this trio with three of his favorite wind players from the Berlin Jazz-Scene, making this unique sextet his largest project to date.
"Storyteller" Jazzthing
"Killer Stuff!" Midwest Record...more
Brilliant sampler from Swamp Records, with an unbelievable breadth of styles and artists. Grab a free code on the page while you can, you won't regret it! janeellen
Have only listened to the first three tracks so far. Somehow the indie/grunge/funereal/doom elements meld together well. Well worth a listen! 😁
Update - couldn't stop listening. No weak tracks. Music that won't stand still, but holds up well throughout. My favourite non-electronic release for some time. Thanks so much for the code! 😎 Rinchen Choesang
Jazz bassist Nim Sadot pays homage to the life of his his late grandfather, a Polish artist who escaped a Soviet labor camp. Bandcamp New & Notable Sep 1, 2022