 An extraordinary duo production by two excellent musicians, one already an international star and the other on a sure path to becoming one. Wolfgang Lackerschmid is one of the most innovative and versatile European vibraphonists and at least equal to his American colleagues Milt Jackson, David Friedman, Mike Mainieri and Dave Samuels. The list of his CD productions as a leader and as a sideman is so large that it is hard to get an overview of it; few are far between are the jazz musicians who are anybody who refrain from making use of his brilliant musical talents. And then there is the young pianist from Freiburg, Johannes Mössinger, whose star has risen a little higher in jazz heaven with each production over the past four years. Both are characterized by natural versatility, an enormous talent for composition and unbelievable virtuosity on their instruments. Two music personalities meet in “Joana’s Dance” whose musical roots are both in improvised and composed music. Various styles blend in their pieces to a new, unique and intimate music with a thick, polyphonic and pulsating sound. Johannes Mössinger, born in Lahr, Germany in 1964, is considered the most promising German pianist. In additional to numerous activities in various European ensembles and projects, a first sparkle of his skill received a lot of attention with the INSTANT SOUNDTRACKING PROJECT (ISP) - the live setting to music of silent movies using modern means (instruments, modern compositions, etc.) - in 1996. Appearances followed in the same year in Washington, in the legendary Knitting Factory and in the world famous Birdland in New York. Then his first artistic trademark followed two years later with his first solo CD “Spring In Versailles” (DOUBLE MOON 1004-2), which was excellently received in Germany and especially in Japan. His year was 1999, the year he finally made it: in addition to numerous concerts worldwide, he produced the triple CD “Nimue,” which received top reviews, and recorded a second solo CD with “Space Of Time.” He toured Syria and Lebanon for the Goethe Institute in this spring of this year. There are eleven pearls on “Joana’s Dance” - five each from Wolfgang Lackerschmid and Johannes Mössinger and one adaptation (Thelonious Monk’s “Ugly Beauty”) - linked to form a colorful and imaginative chain. The opener “Again and Again” presents swinging medium jazz with alternating beats. The far-reaching ballad “Memories” diffuses a relaxed ambience with a lot of feeling, and the driving “Shoe It Yourself” enchants us with its strong Latin-American rhythm and virtuoso solos. “Aleppo” goes in a totally different direction, the first movement of a three-part suite composed by Johannes Mössinger’s: Arabic rhythms and melodies create pictures of oriental bazaars and cities. “Desert View” floats in a heavenly atmosphere with absurd piano sounds (and a vibraphone played with a bow), and the title piece “Joana’s Dance, Epilog” finishes off the suite with an earthy drive and hymn-like melodies. “Stundenwalzer” lives from the unsurpassable interplay of the two musicians with sensitive sounds, and “Canadian Domino” gives free rein to the influence of blues. The upbeat number “Nimm Zwei” is the funky result of this productive collaboration, and “Volta Trais” is the crowning conclusion with a lot of harmony and samba-oriented feeling. “Joana’s Dance” is valuable album with the brilliant interplay and exciting interaction of two great musicians. Vibraphone and piano blend into a natural unity of sound and rhythm thanks to the balanced modes of playing of Wolfgang Lackerschmid and Johannes Mössinger. A feeling of well-being is guaranteed - playful, relaxed and hip!
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