Jazzthetik 05-2024
JazzthetikTranslation:
Born in Würzburg, Susanne Alt studied in the Netherlands and established herself there as a saxophonist and DJ. She feels at home in soul, funk, dance, and jazz, and one of her biggest idols was trumpeter Roy Hargrove, who passed away in 2018. When the Covid-19 pandemic halted her live performances, she conceived the idea for this special album, which serves as a homage to Hargrove.
In early 2022, Susanne Alt, James Hurt, Gerald Cannon, and Willie Jones III went into the studio in New York. All had previously played with Hargrove, making them highly competent collaborators. Most of the seven tracks on the album are in a commercially appealing funk-jazz style, but there are a few original ideas, including acoustic bass and partially acoustic piano. "Bel Air Bop" features a swinging rhythm, and "The Nearness of You," reportedly one of Hargrove's favorite songs, is played as a slow jazz ballad. Alt's virtuosic alto saxophone is very pleasant to hear.
on 18/05/2024
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Jazzflits 450 (the last edition)English:In 2022, Susanne Alt recorded an album entitled Royality For Real, an album guided by the musical legacy of trumpeter Roy Hargrove. During this inspiring session with Roy's original rhythm section, much music was left unfinished. There was simply too much for one CD, and the pieces not selected turned out to be stunningly beautiful. Therefore, the CD Dark Horse is now being released, and it coincides with a CD launch on January 16th at the Bimhuis (Amsterdam). A selection has been made for the album with many funky, danceable tracks. It's the idiom that fits Susanne like a glove. It's not without reason that she is a star at dance festivals as a DJ and saxophonist, guaranteeing exuberant funky tunes. Her American backing trio has strong roots in acoustic jazz. James Hurt is a versatile keyboardist and has an impressive track record. Bassist Gerald Cannon and drummer Willie Jones III were long members of Roy Hargrove's band. And you can hear that band's ability to blow the roof off in the tight interplay of this tandem. Susanne Alt has a winning combination with these musicians. The short studio conversations that follow the songs on the CD are enjoyable. Alt's wealth of musical ideas is evident from the fact that all the pieces are hers. All, no, one, is by Charlie Parker. Because pianist James Hurt was late for one of the sessions, Susanne played Parker's piece Au privave with Gerald and Willie as a trio. And they performed so beautifully that it earned a place of honor on this CD, Dark Horse. - JazzthetikTranslation:Born in Würzburg, Susanne Alt studied in the Netherlands and established herself there as a saxophonist and DJ. She feels at home in soul, funk, dance, and jazz, and one of her biggest idols was trumpeter Roy Hargrove, who passed away in 2018. When the Covid-19 pandemic halted her live performances, she conceived the idea for this special album, which serves as a homage to Hargrove.In early 2022, Susanne Alt, James Hurt, Gerald Cannon, and Willie Jones III went into the studio in New York. All had previously played with Hargrove, making them highly competent collaborators. Most of the seven tracks on the album are in a commercially appealing funk-jazz style, but there are a few original ideas, including acoustic bass and partially acoustic piano. Bel Air Bop features a swinging rhythm, and The Nearness of You, reportedly one of Hargrove's favorite songs, is played as a slow jazz ballad. Alt's virtuosic alto saxophone is very pleasant to hear.
