 Cello in jazz - a rare instrument, although virtuoso instrumentalists have time and again probed into this field. One of the most imaginative proponents of this instrument is Brooklyn-born Muneer B. Fennell who has found a highly original approach of bringing his instrument (and his voice) across to his audience - always in a close context with jazz, but also with New Music and the genre of World Music. For his new album “An Encounter With Higher Forces“ he managed to enlist session members which fit the bill exactly: There is John Blake’s and his violin, the jazz violinist of today. There is probably no other instrumentalist who can rightly boast to master both the Avant-garde and the Mainstream. Trumpet player Dwight Adams is also moving along many tracks, playing both with James Carter and Wynton Marsalis, but also in Stevie Wonder’s band. Drummer John Betsch, pupil of old masters such as Max Roach and Archie Shepp, has for a long time been one of the most sought-after drummers in experimental jazz. The Japanese flutist Toru Kenda has been internationally acclaimed, also for his work with Mal Waldron. And lastly, probably the best known comrade-in-arms on “An Encounter With Higher Forces“: guitarist Jean-Paul Bourelly, who lends the whole album that very special note with his unmistakable style between rock, funk and jazzy improvisations. The opener “Anti Ego Groove“ already presents the first highlight, with a baseline funky rhythm gradually building up. Drums, cello and Muneer’s focused and monotonous vocals take the actual theme of flute, violin and trumpet to a climax, just to veer toward an abrupt and unexpected ending. “Big Inside“ is a modern jazz composition, a successful blend of beat and improvisation. A background reminiscent of mainstream accompanies the numerous solo excursions of Toru Tenda, Jean-Paul Bourelly and Muneer Fennell’s cello. This pattern threads itself through all the tracks on “An Encounter With Higher Forces“. With a long solo, “Papalangi“ presents a John Blake in top form on the violin, improvising along an exciting drum rhythm by John Betsch. “It Don’t Mean A Thing If It Ain’t Got That Swing“ is virtually the only bit of the standard repertoire on this album - a highly original but nevertheless successful interpretation of Duke Ellington’s jazz oldie, with a minimalist instrumentation and a superb swing throughout. Very bluesy, on the other hand, the track “Running For This & That“. The whole crew enchants with its infectious swinging mood. Dwight Adams and Jean-Paul Bourelly set the deeply moving solo highlights. A blend of chamber jazz, New Music and Avant-Garde with blues undertones is found in “Gently Rocking the Boat“, while the up-tempo number “On Mediterranean Waves“ offers a stormy passage with a percussion opening, “And Other“ featuring top-class hardbop, “Inscenes“ and “Bourelly Broad Stroke“ demonstrating the possibilities in Funk Avant-garde, and the successful finish with “Mysteries Unfolding“ once more presenting a band working in excellent harmony and impressively showing the blind understanding and the virtuoso capabilities of the individual band members. The sound, recorded live (without audience) at the Freiburg “Vorderhaus“ club by Live Arts Mobile Studio (www.live-arts,de), is highly unusual, stunning and extraordinarily fitting for Muneer Fennell’s compositions. The recording of the drums with a single microphone, in particular, creates a riveting and exciting atmosphere. With the album “An Encounter with Higher Forces“, Muneer B. Fennell and his Rhythm String Band have created a unique intellectual and highly sophisticated work of art which stands out from the mass of jazz publications with its originality. It includes elements of the AACM initiative of the sixties, but is absolutely up to date with its blend of modern-day styles. An album without equal and which is - fortunately - very difficult to typecast. As Muneer says: “The Music on this CD is dedicated to the best in all of us everywhere“!
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