|
Homepage
Composer and producer Michael Schmidt (aka MSM Schmidt), based in Bremen, Germany works in his day job at a large insurance firm, in his leisure time he fulfills his musical dreams in the jazz fusion and contemporary jazz genre. A long time he played in bands as drummer before he decided to concentrate on composing.
Through the German drummer Wolfgang Haffner he came in contact
to many supreme artists of contemporary jazz. So he finally started
to record the music he loves with the who-is-who of the
scene. After his debut album
Arrival (2003), he released Transit (2007),
Destination (2009), Evolution (2012) and
this year Utopia. Mitchel Forman performs on all
albums, has moreover elaborated the arrangements and
polished the pieces to perfection.
On the new album perform Charlie Bisharat (violin), Rick
Braun (trumpet, valve trombone),Till Brönner and
Paranormal Activity is the starting point of the
album. The dynamic melody is pushed by saxophonist Eric
Marienthal and Bob Mintzer while the synth crew by Randy
Hoexter, Scott Kinsey and Michael Schmidt deliver the
atmospheric environment. Vinnie Colaiuta and Jimmy Haslip
serve the rhythm section. Stylistically, the music
is settled
in the direction of Weather Report.
Qin Shi - The Face On The Wal offers an exotic mix
of jazz and rock with solo parts of pianist Alan Pasqua,
violinist Charlie Bisharat, trumpet player Rick Braun and
guitarist Oz Noy. If comparisons is allowed, Bisharat's
interpretation is similar to jazz-rock fusion violinist
Jean-Luc Ponty or jazz violinist Stéphane Grappelli. In
between there are also melodious sections in contrast to the
more edgier rock intrusions.
Orbit is the formation of explosive atmosphere and
source for solo ignitions of Brandon Fields on soprano sax,
Oz Noy on guitar and Mitch Forman on piano. Lv-223
(Virtual Donati) is strong stuff for all players. A
heavy loader for solos beyond the usual harmonies.
Experience has shown that
something to relax occurs
after such a storm of solos. Not with MSM Schmidt. He
mixes on The 5th Element essentials of harmonies
with those of jazz rock dissonants.
On Hymn Of The Seventh Dwarf he concedes Bisharat
great space for his violin. The theme walks to Mitch on
piano, further through brass by Gayton, Francescini and
Danielian, meanders in Schmidt's synth, falls into Oz's
guitar and pass that way the complete band. Heavy monster
jazz rock. The Cosmic Swing Theory features the
complete band Metro. If you consider that the band
has recorded nothing new
since their album Express in 2007, this is a
remarkable event.
Si Kitu (Mistress Of Entropy) is an homage to the
"Perry Rhodan" science-fiction series. Michael describes the
tune as three-part musical suite consisting of a jazzy
intro, a grooving midsection and a heavy-rocking finale. The
musical style can be illustrated with Pat Metheny meets King
Crimson. From these jazz rock fields we arrive to
Lorber's Groove. This Latin rhythm driven piece of jazz
fusion is extremely compact compared to the previous tracks
and presents the musical exclamation mark of this grandiose
album.
Michael Schmidt is the guardian and sustainer of jazz rock.
His challenging compositions drive the musicians involved in
sweat and enthusiasm. The work and passion of a music lover,
who can indulge away from the music business to the fullest
his art.
Buy the album
Album Information
Title: Utopia
Artist: MSM Schmidt
Year: 2015
Length: 1:13:01
Genre: General Jazz
Label: Laika Records
Tracks:
01 Paranormal Activity [6:25]
02 Qin Shi - The Face On The Wall [9:37]
03 Orbit [7:35]
04 Lv-223 (Virtual Donati) [9:21]
05 The 5th Element [7:41]
06 Hymn Of The Seventh Dwarf [10:26]
07 The Cosmic Swing Theory Featuring Metro [7:58]
08 Si Kitu (Mistress Of Entropy) [9:28]
09 Lorber's Groove [4:30]