The notes, by reedman Ernst-Ludwig Petrowsky, describes bassist/leader Günter Lenz with awe, as a musician, composer and a band leader. What is clear is that the elemental force that is Lenz both demands and gets total allegiance of the band because, through playing his music, they become alive.
On this live recording from 2004, the first from the Springtime band in fifteen years, only the pianist and drummer have changed from that time. Comparisons are not that useful because of the length of time between recordings.
What is the same is the sheer vitality of the music as it reaches out grabs you by the throat. However, there will be no listener resistance since Lenz's music has enormous intelligence and drive while being tonally and structurally accessible. Driven by his powerful bass lines and dramatic architecture, the audience is first flattened, the lifted up and embraced -- they applaud thankfully. This music puts to shame the vapid stuff that today is called mainstream.
As for Ullmann, Petrowsky say it best: “My saxophone brother Gebhard Ullmann is capable of unfolding elemental forces and breakneck virtuosity in a universe of tenor saxophone, bass clarinet and soprano saxophone without ever losing control of his multifarious facets.” |