In Mellowtonin, a coinage that serves as the title of this quartet's second CD, a articulation that Billy Hart calls 'me-lo-dy', resonate gentleness.

In Mellowtonin, a coinage of Johannes Enders's that serves as the title of this fantastic quartet's second CD, and in the drawn-out articulation with which Billy Hart pronounces 'me-lo-dy', resonate gentleness. Associations with melatonin, the hormone that controls the human circadian rhythm, also shine through. The production of the hormone depends on the alternation between light and darkness. Physicians have trouble applying it in accordance with standards and routines.Standards and routines are also alien to this music, which follows up the splendidly balladesque 'Billy Rubin' with more tempo. Moods are mixed with great variety on a broad palette of, to continue the image, day and night sides. But because this is a typical Enders CD, events do not spiral out of control when they become more exciting. Not that there is a lack of spontaneity: on the contrary. Everything is concentrated in the instant, in the point of the now, out of which it develops. Johannes Enders has individualized his tenor tone along the axis of New York-Weilheim-Graz-Leipzig.

On this CD, probably his best quartet yet, this tone comes to bear impressively, swings upwards and interlaces with a cogent band concept.Everywhere through the balanced tones shimmer diverse backgrounds and socialization. But from these Enders has distilled his very own. Trace elements of American ancestors glint through, ranging from Stan Getz to John Coltrane, and also a weakness for a perhaps not so blissful hippie period. Yet Enders does not sound like a copy of any of his models. He sounds like an original in his now classic phase. The unobtrusive gentleness, devoid of facile swagger and escapism, sounds wise and beautiful. It has about it something grave, which reposes in itself in a spiritual way. Soulfulness rather than standard and routine, passionate emotion rather than cribbed mass product.

Additional Details

Label: Enja Records

Genre: Jazz

Run Time: 50 mins

Region: 0

Release Date: 01/01/19

UPC: 767522774825