BIGBAND BODYCHECK PLAYS RUDY KRONFUSS

Rudy Kronfuss born in Austria, decided in 1974 while touring with his band "Nostradamus" to study music in the Netherlands. In 1984 he got his degree for "Performing Artist Jazzguitar" and finished in 1994 under the guidance of Bob Brookmeyer his studies "Composing and Arranging". The combination of his interest in Fusion, Jazzrock, Jimi Hendrix and his writing expierience for big band received through Frans Elsen and Brookmeyer make Kronfuss an extraordinary composer. Big band Bodycheck is an unique orchestra in Holland. Its members are former students of the conservatory of Zwolle. Under the guidance of Henk Heijink the band focused the last ten years mainly on the fusion/jazz-rock- genre and the cooperation with Kronfuss is not a coincident at all. The compositions with very interesting musical forms are performed in a high quality manner.This CD was recorded in the Wisseloord studios and is published by the composer. Translated (dutch) from "Bigband" by Albert Beltman

 

BIGBAND BODYCHECK PLAYS THE MUSIC OF RUDY KRONFUSS / INSIDE OF TIME

Have you ever heard of the Viennese composer Rudy Kronfuss? No? No surprise, the 51 year old lives since 1974 in Amsterdam from the time on when he was touring the Netherlands with his rock group Nostradamus. Kronfuss is guitarist, Hendrix follower but also in touch with all kinds of Jazz. Since years he is reaching for higher goals, which is demonstrated with this recording of his compositions by the Dutch big band Bodycheck directed by Henk Heiijnk. As a jazz composer/ arranger Kronfuss learned his skills from one of the best - Bob Brookmeyer- then in Rotterdam, and one can hear that: Kontrapunctual woven structures, powerful elements with almost symphonic grace combined with funk and rock textured grooves dominate this landscape of sound. In the titeltrack "Inside of Time" for instance the orchestral composition develops with such an amazing musical compactness that the solos almost seem to become unnessecary. Kronfuss proves a strong profile and gives the improvisators not to much freedom and their contrbutions are always serving the context of the composition performed. Tenor saxophonist Ton Nieuwkamp and Miklos Furst are strong solist of the band, while the choice of the keyboard sounds is not at all times the right one it seems. In pieces like "Rays of my Radix" one can hear that the band sometimes has reached its border of beeing able to keep up with the complexity of the scores. Besides that, one should remember the name Rudy Kronfuss and you never know that maybe someday the call of his birthground will reach him.Translated (german) from "Concerto" by Andreas Felber

 

Thanks for sending "Inside of Time." It's one great CD. Really top drawer performance jazz. You should be composing for film & TV. I suggest you contact my friend Bill Elliott who has an orchestra and writes for Hollywood. Send Bill your CD and see if he can put you onto some contacts. Bo Lewis

 

I like the CD very much, thank you for sending it. Listen out. Regards Keith Loxam (BBC3)

 

INSIDE OF TIME BIGBAND BODY CHECK PLAYS THE MUSIC OF RUDY KRONFUSS - SIRION 777

This is the second CD featuring this interesting Dutch big band. This time the group is devoted to the music of Rudy Kronfuss. His site is worth a visit to hear samples off the CD. Kronfuss teaches at the Central School Of Music Hilversum/Holland. His curriculam vitae includes achieving his degree in composition and arrangement under the guidance of Bob Brookmeyer. This is obvious from his oblique approach to writing. he is fortunate to have a big band of the standard of Bodycheck to do justice to very complex writing. Having mentioned Brookmeyer one has to say that, while he remains the master for this ruminative style of expression, Kronfuss approximates the approach of the great man and probably introduces more fusion elements than his mentor would. For me not an easy album to listen to, but I am certain that those who live 'close to the edge' will find great merit in this CD. I doubt it will be found in any stores so I suggest that you contact the arranger directly .ÊJohn Killoch

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