Record Reviews

MARK LOTZ TRIO ~ TURN ON, TUNE IN, DROP OUT! ZENNEZ 2013/019 (Barcode: 9789083321400) ~ GERMANY ~ Jazz Recorded: 2022 Released: 2023 This is an album by German (resident in Netherlands) flautist / composer Mark Alban LotzFind albums by this artist with Canadian (also resident in Netherlands) bassist Zack LoberFind albums by this artist and Dutch drummer Jamie PeetFind albums by this artist. The album presents ten tracks, all composed by Lotz. The album’s title more than hints towards Dr. Timothy LearyFind albums by this artist, the American psychologist famous for his advocacy of LSD and author of the book “The Eight-Circuit Model Of Consciousness”, which influenced everybody (well not really but we liked to think so at the time), who lived in the 1960s, like yours truly, and influenced Lotz to name eight of the tunes on this album by the names of those eight circuits. Is the music psychedelic Jazz? Not really but it is definitely great Jazz music. The intimate setting of a trio, with the flute in the center, is already a winner before I even heard the music, but upon hearing it I was completely and easily won over instantly. The trio’s sound, the wonderful compositions and the virtuosic performances by all three musicians are simply magical and irresistible. Peet is the great surprise, as his drumming on this album is nothing short of sensational and I’d advise every drummer I know to listen to what he is able to do herein, being both perfectly melodic and polyrhythmic at the same time. Lober provides the harmonic basis upon which the melody and the improvisations played by the flute can flow freely. Together the trio sounds like a perfect, self-sufficient ensemble, which is able to achieve exactly what it aims for. Overall, this album is a breath of fresh air, a great fun to listen to and a mind expanding (without chemical aid) musical experience, which I can wholeheartedly recommend to all Jazz listeners, regardless of their sub-genre preference. It is so sad to see the flute almost completely absent from the Jazz scene these days and a big thank you to Mark for refreshing our memories and make us realize what we’ve been missing!

Updated: 12/08/2023Posted: 12/08/2023

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