“Drum Lesson Vol. 1″ – Christian Prommer’s Drumlesson (Sonar Kollektiv) [ALBUM] November 13, 2007

TITLE: Drum Lesson Vol. 1 / ARTIST: Christian Prommer’s Drumlesson / LABEL: Sonar Kollektiv / RELEASE DATE: 28th January / CAT NO: SK162CD

Drum Lesson Vol. 1 began with the idea of recording an acoustic version of the Derrick May classic “Strings of Life” for jazz quartet. Christian Prommer had recorded the basic idea some time ago in his new studio in the Munich countryside. Considered as a “one-off” track for a bit of fun, it sat on the shelf for a long time until Alex Barck of the Jazzanova crew, came by and heard the track. Alex and the rest of the crew got so excited about it – playing it in their DJ sets all over the world – that they soon decided to release a 12″ with the track. Released in May 2007 it was a fast spreading phenomenon. DJs and music lovers from all sides of the musical spectrum found something to love in it, including Derrick May who also gave Christian Prommer the thumbs up.

Christian Prommer decided to stick with his idea of covering dance classics in a jazz style while preparing his debut album for Sonar Kollektiv. Feeling most at home in the world between jazz and Detroit techno, he decided to do an album project in two parts. Volume 1 would reinterpret the dance classics in a jazz fashion, using a band to perform them. Meanwhile, Volume 2 – to be released in 2008 – will be an album that takes the lesson to the next level and delivers original compositions in a wider range, featuring collaborations with vocalists, the Drumlesson players, string ensembles, and with Christian Prommer playing many of the instruments himself.

Prommer used specific microphones and preamps, taking care to use vintage drums from the fifties and sixties and combine them with the musicians’ instruments to get the exact sounds he needed for the session. After the music had been recorded, Christian went to Vienna to mix the album with long time collaborator and friend Peter Kruder in his studio. All analogue and vintage technology was used to create the sound of the album.

From the deep interpretation of DJ Gregory’s “Elle” to the Rachmaninoff-like excursions on Nuyorican Soul’s “Nervous Track”; from the polyrhythmic melody of “Rej” to the beautiful intro of Mr. Fingers‘ “Can You Feel It”; from the amazing playing in the Latin firework of “Trans Europa Express” and “Beau Mot Plage” to the deep, moody moments in “Higher State of Consciousness”; from Patrick Pulsinger’s “Claire” to the 3/4 rhythm of “Plastic Dreams”; each dance track – once a quantized lattice of synthesised sounds – has been beautifully and originally worked over with a tremendous amount of care and respect, bringing the two oft-considered disparate worlds of jazz and dance together in a harmonious union.

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