 "The poetic tenor saxophonist Jochen Baldes ... sounds somewhat fragile and lyrical despite his virtuosity, and his ornamental-like improvisations, always searching for beauty, remind one of Charles Lloyd." (NZZ) We again have the pleasure of a Swiss band in this series, which documents the high level of the jazz scene there. This will certainly not be the last time due to the fact that the internationally renowned Bern Jazz School is located in Switzerland. Jochen Baldes also studied there (under Andy Scherrer among others), but he also developed his skills further and continually at workshops with Mark Turner and Wynton Marsalis, among others. But he is certainly not a one-dimensional person despite that. In addition to music, he is also an ambitious and successful painter and sculptor. Baldes cannot be put into a narrow stylistic mold either, and his participation in rock music projects and film music prove it. "Moholo Songs" is being released on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the band, and four other top-rate musicians are also involved: the trumpeter Michael Gassmann, known for his work with Stefano Battaglia and Claudio Fasoli; the keyboard magician Adrian Frey, who completed his studies in Zurich and Boston and also manages his own projects; bassist Christoph Sprenger, who is already so proficient following studies and workshops under Rufus Reid, among others, that he has already accompanied Diana Krall; and drummer Elmar Frey, who also studied at the Bern Jazz School and has already been the driving force for Benny Golson, Greg Osby and Dusko Gojkovic, among others. This is an exciting listening experience, which is pleasant to listen to time and again, because the band has innumerable facets, which you only discover after listening the third, fourth, fifth, etc. time.
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