Underkarl

MUSIC & BANDS

LINEUP:

Rudi Mahall – Clarinet, Bass Clarinet
Lömsch Lehmann – Reeds
Frank Wingold – Guitar, Vinyl
Dirk Peter Kölsch – Drums
Sebastian Gramss – Double Bass / Composition

“Seldom since Zappa have anarchy and discipline, catchy tunes and in-your-face sounds, jazz and rock been so coherently united…”
(The Rolling Stone)
1992-2017
25 Years anniversary

Cologne based quintet UNDERKARL celebrated their 25th anniversary with the release of their new album ‘TIMETUNNEL 25’. Founded in 1992 by Sebastian Gramss, this band is a true rarity within the fast changing jazz scene. They have recorded 8 albums together. The last album ‘Homo Ludens’ received the ECHO JAZZ award in 2013. From the very beginnings in 1992, Underkarl gained a reputation of a major game changer in jazz. With their unmatched innovative approach in dealing with jazz tradition, the quintet influenced a wide audience and inspired countless musicians. With more than 400 concerts – including important festivals in Germany and abroad – as well as several worldwide tours for the Goethe-Institut, Underkarl has established itself as an major figure within the international jazz scene. Thanks to its unusual approach, the group’s work has also found its way into the textbooks and lectures on jazz history and modern interpretation at the universities in Weimar, Leipzig, Bern and Graz. For the band’s jubilee in 2017, Rudi Mahall, Lömsch Lehmann, Frank Wingold, Dirk- Peter Kölsch and Sebastian Gramss brought their skill and experience to a new dimension.

TIMETUNNEL 25

(rent a dog, 2017)
order CD or download on Bandcamp

Improvising is Composing!
Original historic solos are the new themes!

TA selection of unique jazz solo improvisations from the history of jazz since the 40’s are transformed by Underkarl into new compositions. The unique, irreproducible moments of the original spontaneous solos, whether by Miles Davis, T. Monk or Stan Getz, serve on ‘Timetunnel 25’ as the basis for completely new textures and sound colors. For example, Underkarl takes the transcription of the incredible sax solo by John Handy in ‘Goodbye pork pie hat’ out of its original composition (Charles Mingus, album ‘Ah Um’, 1959) and develops a whole new piece around it, moving the focus to the artistry and brilliance at Cloudnet of the improviser as an instant composer. In this way, Underkarl transports the energy of the historical moment into the present and brings it back to life. The improvisations of the great masters become the core of novel musical events and inspire these five musicians to outstanding, fresh and vital interpretation. The foundation of ‘Timetunnel 25’ are solo transcriptions of Thelonius Monk, Chet Baker, Stan Getz, Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, Ornette Coleman, Charles Mingus, Steve Lacy, Clifford Brown, Sonny Stitt, Jimmy Hamilton, John Handy and Coleman Hawkins.

Other albums

Get full Digital Discography for €46.80 (35% OFF) on Bandcamp

Homo Ludens (ECHO award)

(Rent a Dog, 2012)
order CD or download on Bandcamp

Goldberg

(Enja, 2007)
order CD or download on Bandcamp

Freemix (Second Brain Revisited)

(Enja, 2003)
download on Bandcamp

Second Brain

(Enja, 2002)
order CD or download on Bandcamp

Maraton

(Scat Records, 2001)
download on Bandcamp

Jazzessence

(TCB Records, 1999)
download on Bandcamp

20th Century Jazz Cover

(TCB Records, 1996)
download on Bandcamp

Wolfram Knauer, Jazzinstitut DA (2017)

“Ganz Großes Kino!”

Hans Jürgen Schaal (2017)

“Die Messlatte für Jazz im Jahr 2017 liegt mit diesem Album verdammt hoch.”

Der Spiegel (10/2012)

“Selten seit Zappa waren Anarchie und Disziplin, Jazz und Rock so stimmig vereint”, schreibt “Rolling Stone” über das Quintett des Bassisten Sebastian Gramss. Der sorgt für einen Count-Basie-haften Beat, während Frank Wingold neben seiner Gitarre auch einen Plattenspieler als Instrument nutzt. Eine Ausnahme-Band.”

Mannheimer Morgen (2012)

“Mit Homo Ludens befindet sich Underkarl weiterhin in der unendlichen Zeitschleife der Musikgeschichte. Unabhängig davon in welcher aktuellen post- modernen oder post-post-modernen Etikettendiskussion sich gerade der Jazz befindet, bei dem Kölner Quintett geht wie immer die Post ab…”

Die Zeit

“The quintet Underkarl, with composer Sebastian Gramss on double bass, honors Bach, among others, by stretching, tugging, loving him to death, by bowing before him. A great mutation!”

The Rolling Stone

“Seldom since Zappa have anarchy and discipline, catchy tunes and in-your-face sounds, jazz and rock been so coherently united…”