Frank Woeste

Pocket Rhapsody
ACT 9587-2

German release date: 29.01.2016

“There are times,” says pianist Frank Woeste, “when I His experience as an exchange school student in the US
think how useful it would be to have a third hand.” That solidified his interest in jazz. Before he had completed
thought seems to encapsulate an important trait in Woeste's secondary school, he had enrolled as a junior student at the
playing, namely his natural urge to arrange and to orchestrate at University of the Arts Bremen. He played in bands on the local
the piano, something which is evident right from the start of his scene, had a stint with the regional youth jazz orchestra in Lower
album “Pocket Rhapsody.” Woeste is not just an exceptionally fine Saxony, and was also pianist with the German National Youth Jazz
pianist and a gifted exponent of the Fender Rhodes, he also has a Orchestra (BuJazzO) until 1999. However, two years before that,
thorough understanding of his own creative process. If all art is in 1997, he was accepted as a student at the Conservatoire
about leaving an impression, then Woeste's mission is to etch a National Supérieur in Paris (CNSM). Paris is where he has found
deep mark both as a player and as a composer. His debut as an both musical and personal fulfilment, and where he stayed to live.
artist on ACT, then, not only reveals a musician brimming with
ideas, but also a fully-fledged composer and an extremely adept Woeste's style probably owes its individuality to his
arranger. His trio with guitarist Ben Monder and drummer Justin experience of more than one culture. Notably, Arab and
Brown creates a sound which is orchestral in its scale and its Asian influences have stayed with him, following trips under the
impact. The intimacy of chamber music goes hand in hand here aegis of both Cultures France and of the Goethe Institute. In his
with the forward propulsion of a jazz trio, and with the power of a music are to be found the ideas of French “folklore imaginaire,”
big band. In other words, the title “Pocket Rhapsody” gets it right. with structures from classical composition, drum'n'bass, funky
syncopation, American improvised jazz from its heyday, and avant-
People who know the French jazz scene well have been garde electronica. Combined together, they make “Pocket
aware of Woeste's exceptional qualities for a long time. Rhapsody” into a masterpiece.
He is one of the few German jazz musicians to have become a
recognized name in France. The pianist, now 39, has received On this album a kaleidoscope of different tonal colours, a
praise from critics and wowed audiences as a member of the mighty chorus of sounds is progressively revealed. These
bands of French trumpet heroes Ibrahim Maalouf and Médéric are organized and integrated by someone with a precise
Collignon, or alongside Stéphane Belmondo, Michel Portal, knowledge of how to use and to combine both acoustic and
Sylvain Luc or Flavio Boltro. He even had an early spell as the electronic instruments. The listener will hear this to good effect in
pianist in the very first band of singer Youn Sun Nah. It was the directive energy of “Buzz Addict,” informed with prog-rock
through the connection with Nah that Siggi Loch eventually attitude, or in “Interlude,” a quiet piece in which Ben Monder's
became aware of him, which has led to him being welcomed in as electric guitar has the dominant role. Further evidence is to be
a member of the ACT label family. found in “Melancholia,” a classical ballad with strings added, and
perhaps above all in the title track, which contains all of these
Woeste's name has until recently been a closely guarded different strands, which culminates in a savage crescendo, and
secret among insiders - the broadcaster WDR recognized him then falls back into silence.
not long ago as “one of the best German jazz pianists.” Woeste
was born in 1976 in Hanover, into a highly musical family. Woeste is not short of eminent companions for this
“Everyone played an instrument, and we made all kinds of music voyage. Youn Sun Nah sings “The Star Gazer” with the kind of
together as a family, from chamber music to jazz standards,” he captivating emotional intensity that might be expected of her.
remembers. “I tried out all kinds of instruments, drums, clarinet, Ibrahim Maalouf contributes his incomparably expressive, oriental-
flute and accordion. I ended up with the piano…and stuck at it.” tinged trumpet lyricism to the glistening “Moving Light” and to
“Nouakchott,” a magical and richly evocative whirring of warm air
over the desert sand. The time has come for Frank Woeste to be
re-discovered in Germany as a prodigal son, and to be recognized
more widely as a prodigious talent.
Frank Woeste

Pocket Rhapsody
ACT 9587-2
Photo by Morgan Roudaut

01 Terlingua 6:16 Frank Woeste/ piano, Fender Rhodes, organ & bass synth
02 Moving Light 6:00 Ben Monder / guitar
03 The Star Gazer 6:36 Justin Brown/ drums
04 Buzz Addict 6:51
05 Interlude 2:00 Guests:
06 Pocket Rhapsody 8:13 Ibrahim Maalouf / trumpet (02 & 08)
07 Intro Nouakchott 1:39 Youn Sun Nah / vocals (03)
08 Nouakchott 7:50 Sarah Nemtanu / violin
09 Mirage 5:39 Gregoire Korniluk / cello
10 Melancholia 3:43

Composed, arranged & produced by Frank Woeste

Lyrics on 03 by Youn Sun Nah
Distributor:
Recorded by Frank Woeste at Studio Libretto, January 2014
Allegro-Nail Distribution (US)
Additional Recording by Peter Karl at Peter Karl Studio, A&N Music (GR)
New York, March 2014 Andante Music (RO)
Apostrophe (RU)
Editing and Mixing by Julien Carton C&L Records (KR)
and Frank Woeste at Sweetspot Studio Divyd (SK)
Dukyan Meloman (BG)
Mastering by Raphael Jonin and Maël Vallin New Arts Int. (Benelux)
DC Comp (UA)
edelkultur (DE & AT)
Cover art by Terry Winters, „Clocks and Clouds“ (7), Egea (I)
2012 / ACT Art Collection Equinox Music (TR)
GIGI Distribution (PL)
Gramofon (BA)
Harmonia Mundi (FR)
Harmonia Mundi (UK)
Intek (SI+HR)
Jassics (ZA)
Jazz World (HK)
Rūdninkų Knygynas (LT)
Karonte (ES & PT)
Musikkoperatorene (NO)
Musikvertrieb (CH)
Naxos (SE/FI)
Outside Distribution (CA)
One-Hifi (RS)
Planet MGM Distribution (AU)
Southbound Records (NZ)
Auenstraße 47, 80469 München, Germany Sundance (DK)
Phone +49 89 72 94 92 0, Fax +49 89 72 94 92 11 Shun Cheong (HK)
e-mail: [email protected] King International Inc. (JP)
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