Johannes Mossinger Spring In Versailles - Dmcd1004 - Jazz - by Double Moon

Inspiration, musical skills and variety – these are the marks of young German pianist Johannes Mössinger who appears with his debut on DOUBLE MOON “Spring In Versailles” on the difficult terrain of jazz solo piano. This project belongs to the hardest challenges of his eventful musical life. Johannes Mössinger presents with 14 numbers (ten originals and four covers) a complete concert program on more than 70 minutes. He masters the difficulties of this genre with variety, excitement, different sound colors and moods, and unusual arrangements. “Spring In Versailles” is a real work of art of a composer who gives his tunes an own character who creates the atmosphere of a whoile orchestra. Beside the pieces in classical jazz style – which gives the improvisations of chord schemata special emphasis – the composer’s preference of the “big” improvisation of whole numbers comes to the fore. This means that a basic theme will develop a real new number: new parts come to it, sequences will grow further and the whole number is in movement. The opener “Warrior” is a powerful, gripping and grooving number, which presents different romantic sound paintings and which marks the first highlight of the album. Next piece is an excellent arrangement of Thelonious Monk’s classic standard “Monk’s Mood” with a calm and powerful charisma. “Feuertanz (Fire Dance)” is not only the name of another great number on this album but also motto for this passionate up-tempo number. Breathtaking virtuosity and a hot energy engulf everything. Billy Strayhorn’s “Lush Life” is to hear in a very lyrical way as well as Kenny Barron’s “Little Niles” which could be cut out of a French ‘film noire’. The main highlight on “Spring In Versailles” is one of the rare solo piano versions of John Coltrane’s “Giant Steps”, brilliant in his variety, humor and quip. This arrangement is very impressive! The title track, shared in two parts, is predestined for a real European jazz piece. The main theme consists of raving unisono tunes and flamenco influenced rhythmical figures, performed with an unbelievable drive. From that arise a polyphonic improvisation, which plays with the theme and leads it to an enormous climax. Part two is full of dreams and longing for far away countries and unknown regions. Ballads with the right feeling, an own sound language and character (“Traumbilder”), modern sounds (“Wandlungen”), dreamy playings, silence, dreams and memories (”Memories”)