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The Styrian hornplayer-project SMART METAL HORNETS was founded in 1990 by the
Styrian brassplayer/composer Christoph Wundrak in Graz. The challenging basic
idea was to replace the rhythm section of a traditional Jazz-quintett (2 horns,
piano/bass/drums) by just one basshornplayer. Until now this group has survived
all ups and downs of the Austrian and International culturescene.
On their 4th CD this remarkable trio (2 woodwindplayers, 1 brassplayer) is engaged
with Styrian folkmusic, Klezmer and some other influences in it’s approved
humorous and original way. The trio operates out of a bluesy/rocky/funky/jazzy
base, where groovy, joyfull and humorous playing, openness for experiments and
fanciful compositions/arrangements are characteristic for. The title-song
‚Archduke-Shuffle’ is ,symptomatic’ for this engagement and relates itself to the
wordfamous ‚Erzherzog-Johann-Jodler’(Archduke-John-Yodeler, styrian folksong)
On 7 tunes (11 altogether) the trio gets superb support by the international wellknown
drummer/percussionist WOLFRAM DIX from Leipzig/Germany. He has
worked with musicians like Nigel Kennedy, Nina Hagen, Joe Zawinul, Charlie
Mariano…..and has worked with SMH since 2001. He has travelled Austria,
Germany and China with this group.
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Because of the many instruments (besides drumset, bongos and kanjira 7
woodwind- and 4 brassinstruments are used) and these humorous-wilfull
compositions/arrangements a varied and unusual soundsituation arises, which
shows an amazing multiplicity in sound and styles.
Despite or even because of this amusing unusuality this CD is entertaining in a
special way.
Often you have the impression of a ‚mini-bigband’, which gets it’s energetic
motivation from examples representing the bluesrock-genre like Johnny Winter or
Rory Gallagher, but without losing sight of it’s alpin origin. At the same time you
can feel a respectful engagement with jazztradition. Especially the four triorecordings
have a strong touch of chamber music.
Among 9 original compositions by Christoph Wundrak there is a traditional
Klezmer-piece as well as the old CCR-song ‚Suzie Q’ on the record.