With “Kind of Cool” Wolfgang Haffner moves between tradition and contemporary jazz, injecting new life into some oft he „coolest“ jazz standards. In the style of the legendary Modern Jazz Quartet and with the spirit of Cool Jazz these old jazz classics sound young at heart in timeless elegance - relaxed, sophisticated, trusting in themselves, finally one of a kind, thanks to the personality of the musicians involved. Three compositions by Haffner himself complement the album. It really needs an all-star band to play music such as this, and on “Kind of Cool” it’s no different. All the band members are international jazz stars, having proved themselves on the scene they are perfectly placed to relax and just let their passion, technique and sense of fun show the songs for what they are: Some of the most beautiful compositions ever produced in the 20th century.
James Dean and Marlon Brando were the glamorous heroes of the silver screen in the 50s. Character actors, sex symbols, blasé eccentrics with a penchant for extravagance. Role models for the rebellious youth: the embodiment of cool. A new attitude towards life was spreading around the USA. "The Birth of the Cool" also happened at the same time in the field of jazz, leading it to become the soundtrack of a generation. Miles Davis, John Lewis and the Modern Jazz Quartet, Dave Brubeck and Chet Baker (the "James Dean of jazz") gave jazz a whole new direction: the search for a special "cool" atmosphere based on tone and space in jazz, on substantial melodies with a laid-back approach designed for the collective. But this music was never cold-cool, it was merely played and conceived with what one might call a coo...
BesetzungWolfgang Haffner / drums
Christopher Dell / vibraphone
Jan Lundgren / piano
Dan Berglund / bass
Dusko Goykovich / trumpet
Jukka Perko / alto saxophone
Guests:
Max Mutzke / vocals
Frank Chastenier / piano
Christian von Kaphengst / bass
Nils Landgren / trombone
Recorded by Arne Schumann on August 14 & 15, 2014 at Hansa Studio, Berlin. Recording Assistant: Jonas Zadow
“Piano Man“ recorded by Philip Krause on July 15, 2014 at Emil-Berliner-Studio, Berlin
Mixed by Arne Schumann@Schumann&Bach
Mastered by Peter Heider at Purecuts
Cover art (detail) by Gert & Uwe Tobias, by permission of the artists
