Anke Helfrich plays piano, Rhodes keyboard and harmonium on this wide ranging disc with horn icon Tim Hagans/tp-fh, Martin Wind/b and Jonas Burgwinkel/dr. The team shows a deft flow as Hagans glistens on the lithe take of Herbie Hancock’s “Chan’s Song” and Hagans gives a clarion call on “Rise and Shine.” The leader’s hand is nocturnal on “Aspettami” and impressionistic with Burgwinkel’s crisp drum work on Thelonious Monk’s “Think Of One.” More intriguing is a poem delivered by Ardie Walser on the thoughtful “Invictus” and even Martin Luther King gets a chance in the spotlight, as a speech of his is mixed into the 12 minute opus of “The Prize.” Pastoral sounds with messages.
Enja Records