 | | Track list | | Track | Title | | | | | 1 | Awakening | | | 2 | Blossom | | | 3 | Bottrop | | | 4 | Down The Vortex | | | 5 | Ginseng | | | 6 | Streetlights In Paris | | | 7 | Rear Up | | | 8 | Haboob | | | 9 | Red Sky | | | 10 | Shimmering Surface | | | 11 | Spring | | | 12 | Steigerlied | |
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| | LENNART ALLKEMPER | Awakening | | | Lennart Allkemper releases his debut album ‘Awakening’, which comprises twelve pieces composed by himself and demonstrates his versatility as a saxophonist and composer. The album offers a varied mixture of jazz and pop, but remains homogeneous and focussed throughout. He is supported by a rhythm section with roots in western Germany, including bassist Stefan Rey and drummer Niklas Walter. The recorder, often considered innocent and harmless, was for many the first instrument in their musical education, but not always a joyful experience. Nevertheless, contact with this instrument does not have to be traumatic. One example is Lennart Allkemper, who started recorder lessons at the age of six, but soon discovered the saxophone, which had a decisive influence on his musical career. Born in Gladbeck in 1992, his talent for improvisation became apparent early on. At the age of twelve, he won first prize as an alto saxophonist at ‘Jugend jazzt NRW’, followed by further awards. At sixteen, he began studying at the Folkwang University in Essen and played in the NRW Youth Jazz Orchestra. He recorded the album ‘Way Up’ with this orchestra, which was honoured with the WDR Jazz Prize in 2013. He later became a member of the Bundesjazzorchester and recorded the album ‘At the Jazz Band Ball’. Lennart continued his studies at the Hochschule in Cologne and the Conservatory in Amsterdam. He now lives in Cologne and has been organising jazz concerts in Bottrop under the title ‘BTTRP JZZ’ since 2019. The rhythm section of his quartet also has roots in western Germany: bassist Stefan Rey comes from Wuppertal and Hückeswagen, drummer Niklas Walter from Hamm. Both have already played with Lennart in the NRW Youth Jazz Orchestra. Pianist Billy Test, an American, has been a member of the WDR Big Band in Cologne since 2018. Lennart"s debut album ‘Awakening’ comprises twelve pieces, all of which he composed himself. The album shows his versatility and love of experimentation without losing the common thread. Lennart moves confidently between jazz and pop without losing the essence of his music. His debut album whets the appetite for more and impressively demonstrates his musical versatility. | |
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