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Hendrik Meurkens -harmonica Eric Alexander - tenor Dado Moroni - piano Chris Berger - bass Jimmy Cobb - drums Recorded December 1999 in New York City. -------------------------------------------------------------- REVIEWS: "New York Nights finds Meurkens with pianist Dado Moroni (who also does a terrific job of guesting on two tunes on Encontros), bassist Chris Berger and drummer Jimmy Cobb. Tenorman Eric Alexander lends his musical muscle on four of the CD's 10 tunes-all straightahead goods-four of which are Meurkens originals. The guy's not only a sensational harp player-on the difficult-to-master chromatic-but an intriguing composer as well. His bebop chops come into play on Bird's "Scrapple from the Apple" on which Moroni shines as well. Nice work by all hands!" JazzTimes- May 2001 "The harmonica is common enough that many can immediately identify with Hendrik Meurkens' unusual agility on the instrument. This straightforward set of ten standards is distinguished for including Eric Alexander on tenor sax on several of the tunes, along with a first rate rhythm section with the venerable Jimmy Cobb on drums. Meurkins mixes the bop-infused selections well, reaching back to Bird's "Scrapple from the Apple," throwing in standards such as "My Foolish Heart" and "You Stepped Out of a Dream," and touching them off with a few very fine originals. Meurkens blows his harmonica as though it were a trumpet or saxophone, and his pure tone and natural swing pleasurably create generally upbeat, often exciting solos. While few surprises are in store, and the harmonica-ist never grandstands, his strong command of the instrument is a thrill to hear, and his modest meat-and-potatoes approach hits the mark. Alexander comes from the same mold as Meurkens, and the saxophonist's finely crafted improvisations add immeasurable to this enjoyable recording." All Music Guide-Steven Loewy "Surrounded by an outstanding rhythm section, the leader seems to feed of their enthusiasm. "Scrapple from the Apple" brings four particularly impressive sets of chops to the platform. Performed at a blazing tempo, the Charlie Park nod summarizes the recommended album thoughtfully and reminds us that virtuoso jazz artists don't just appear out of nowhere. These guy have paid their dues, and Meurkens has earned the right to carry the jazz harmonica torch." Jim Santella - All About Jazz, March, 2001 "Purposeful, well-executed ideas just tumble out of him, anchored to an engaging small-group format in the durable mainstream style that blends the bebop and classic-pop legacies. His originals are relaxed and witty, from the lilting 'Second Waltz' to the bouncy Slidin' whose theme Meurkens underlines in unison with guest saxophonist Eric Alexander. Meurkens' virtuosity gets a smashing final display in Charlie Parker's 'Scrapple from the Apple.'" Jay Harvey - Indianapolis Star, December, 2000 "...New York Nights is something else all together...if you like things on the bop side and/or dig the call of the pipes, this one one won't let you down." Chris Hovan - All About Jazz ----------------------------------------------------------------- Hendrik Meurkens, a virtuoso on both the chromatic harmonica and the vibraphone, is the most important jazz harmonica player since Toots Thielemans. German-born but now based in New York, Meurkens' recordings and performances garner worldwide acclaim because the transcendent beauty of his music has universal appeal. A two-mallet player in the tradition of Milt Jackson and Bobby Hutcherson, Hendrik Meurkens was en-route to being an instantly recognizable vibraphonist when he heard Toots Thielemans. Inspired by the sound of Thielemans' harmonica, he taught himself the difficult-to-master instrument. Hendrik Meurkens' other life-changing musical experience was his introduction to samba and bossa nova. He was so moved by Brazilian music that after perfecting his unique musical voice at Berklee, as a vibraphone major, he moved to Rio in the early 80s to totally immerse himself in music and culture of Brazil. A regular Monday night gig at the popular Rio club, Bar 21, soon demonstrated his acceptance by Brazilian musicians. Meurkens' poignant, emotionally affecting harmonica proved to be a sound that Brazilians strongly embraced, and during his Rio days, he met many musicians who later became collaborators in both Europe and New York. Back in Germany by '83, he became a respected studio musician, recording with European Radio Orchestras and leading his own groups, as well as accompanying visiting legends like Harry 'Sweets' Edison and Buddy Tate. Within ten years, he had established himself as the "new jazz harmonica voice," and moved to New York, thanks to an exclusive contract with the prestigious label, Concord Records. He has since recorded fifteen albums, and continues to perform as both a guest artist, and with his own groups, both in festivals and clubs globally. Hendrik Meurkens' profound involvement in both jazz and Brazilian music resulted in a very personal and instantly recognizable version of Samba jazz. This music, a cross-cultural amalgam guaranteed to touch the heart, features his harmonica and vibes along with piano, bass and drums, playing his stirring originals and arrangements. The 'Hendrik Meurkens Sound' has been documented on a number of CDs, most notably the classic "October Colors." As a featured artist, he has recorded with Charlie Byrd, Jimmy Cobb, Ivan Lins, Monty Alexander, Claudio Roditi ,Manfredo Fest, Dori Caymmi and Mundell Lowe, as well as backing such leading artists as Astrid Gilberto and Olivia Newton John and touring with the Ray Brown Trio, Paquito D'Rivera, Oscar Castro Neves, Herb Ellis, Herbie Mann, Charlie Byrd, and James Moody among many others. Also a successful composer (his compositions have been recorded by other artists and featured in the Hollywood movie, "Dolores Claiborne,") Hendrik Meurkens remains equally at home playing jazz or Brazilian music. "My mission is simple," he explains. "I want to create music of great beauty. Check out the artist's website: http://www.hendrikmeurkens.com Track List: 1. I Didn't Know What Time It Was 2. It Could Happen To You 3. New York Nights 4. You Stepped Out Of A Dream 5. Slidin' 6. Bittersweet 7. My Foolish Heart 8. The Cottage 9. Second Waltz 10. Scrapple From The Apple Other Genres:
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