Trio Oliver Mewes, Olaf Polziehn, Jos Machtel

• 1 I Never Knew 02:56
• 2 Charlie Brown Theme 05:51
• 3 Why Did I Choose You 05:49
• 4 A Time for Love 06:10
• 5 Wouldn't It Be Loverly 04:49
• 6 Peppermint Patty 02:30
• 7 Blues for Seagull 04:45
• 8 All the Things You Are 05:55
• 9 Willow Weep for Me 05:00
• 10 One Last Pitch 04:25
• 11 Caminhos Cruzados 06:13
• 12 Il Postino 05:06
• Total Runtime 59:29

Info for Trio

For 30 years, drummer Oliver Mewes has been one of the most sought-after specialists for authentic jazz of the thirties and forties. He is known as the rhythm motor of Engelbert Wrobel's Swing Society or the International Hot Jazz Quartet. He is probably best known as a member of the Echoes of Swing, the unique early jazz quartet that paved the way for him to work with numerous US stars. But after more than 20 years, it was time for new challenges. And high time for the first album of his own under the simple title: "Trio".

Of course, Mewes remains true to his love of classical jazz, but the approach this time is completely different: "With Echoes of Swing, our programs and albums were always very conceptual, elaborate and arranged. Here I just wanted to make music," explains Mewes, "a relaxed snapshot of this trio, completely unconcerned, without reading notes, very melodic and with a lot of space for the music. That's why almost nothing is arranged, most of it came out of playing." For this to work, you need the right accompanists, and Oliver Mewes has definitely found them here. On the one hand, he has one of his oldest companions at his side, the pianist Olaf Polziehn, and on the other hand, the Dutch bassist Jos Machtel, whom Oliver Mewes did not want to do without after several collaborations in recent times. The perfect line-up for the repertoire with which Mewes fulfilled a few long-cherished dreams.

How perfectly Mewes, Polziehn and Machtel harmonize is proven here by every single piece: tasteful and creative down to the last detail, yet respectful and on the ultimate technical level, "sophisticated" that is, as the Americans say, classical jazz is celebrated here. A long overdue debut.

Oliver Mewes, drums
Olaf Polziehn, piano
Jos Machtel, bass

Oliver Mewes
wurde 1967 in Köln geboren. Er studierte an der Kölner Musikhochschule Schlagzeug und nahm nebenbei Privatunterricht bei John Riley und Victor Lewis. Er machte sich schnell einen Namen als sensibler Begleiter, ist aber auch ein virtuoser und dabei immer geschmackvoller Solist. Seine stilistisch ungeheuer breite Palette an Klangfarben macht ihn zu einem begehrten Partner für Musiker der unterschiedlichsten Richtungen. Er arbeitete bereits für Größen wie Bob Barnard, Hazy Osterwald, Lillian Boutté, Don Menza, Bobby Shew, Leroy Jones, Bill Dobbins, Bucky Pizarelli, Harry Allen und Dan Barrett. In Deutschland ist sein Spiel auch durch sein Mitwirken in der beliebten Kölner Formation "Engelbert Wrobel's Swing Society" ein Begriff.

In den letzten Jahren hat Oliver seine Vorliebe für die Swingmusik der 30er und 40er Jahre entdeckt und läßt sich seitdem verstärkt von Meistern wie "Papa" Jo Jones, "Big Sid" Catlett, Buddy Rich und Gene Krupa inspirieren. Dank seiner bemerkenswerten Musikalität und seines phänomenalen Gehörs war er in der Lage die kleinsten Nuancen all dieser so unterschiedlichen Stile zu absorbieren, um sie zu einer sehr persönlichen musikalischen Sprache zu verarbeiten. Trotz seiner enormen technischen Möglichkeiten stellt Oliver sein Spiel stets in den Dienst des zu begleitenden Solisten und sorgt mit seinem präzisen Timing für unerhörten Drive.

This album contains no booklet.