Siggi Loch

Blues, Rock‘n’Roll and all that Jazz: a musical autobiography that represents a fascinating cross-section from the glittering career and from the passionate life of producer Siggi Loch - for his 75th birthday. Right at the start of his career, he had the dream of running his own jazz label, and he has now fulfilled that dream. ACT has been voted label of the year four times in a row at the German ECHO awards, and in 2015 alone, its artists and releases garnered eight ECHOs: the label has achieved international renown. However this CD collection is a snapshot of where things are, a provisional taking of stock to mark and to celebrate Siggi Loch's 75th birthday.

Producer and ACT label boss Siggi Loch turns 75 on August 6th this year and to celebrate his birthday ACT are releasing a collection of music that Siggi had the pleasure of producing over the last 50-plus years, his own personal Best of… . 'Life in the Spirit of Jazz - Siggi Loch 75' represents a fascinating cross-section from the glittering career and from the passionate life of a man who has achieved legendary status in music. Right at the start of his career, he had the dream of running his own jazz label, and he has now fulfilled that dream. ACT has been voted label of the year four times in a row at the German ECHO awards, and in 2015 alone, its artists and releases garnered eight ECHOs: the label has achieved international renown.

In 1965 the Spencer Davis Group, including drummer Pete York, were recording for Philips Germany, a session produced by Siggi Loch. York and Loch have remained friends ever since, so perhaps it is no surprise to see the drummer, now aged 70, release an album on Loch's ACT label.

In 1965 the Spencer Davis Group, including drummer Pete York, were recording for Philips Germany, a session produced by Siggi Loch. York and Loch have remained friends ever since, so perhaps it is no surprise to see the drummer, now aged 70, release an album on Loch's ACT label.

There can be very few musicians who are capable of making silence as audibly vivid as the Norwegian Bugge Wesseltoft, in particular in his solo piano recordings.For twenty years, the most successful of these,“It’s Snowing On My Piano”, has been treasured as ahaven of wintry stillness and contemplation. It is a classic album. Listeners all over Europe have responded to it by giving it a permanent place in their lives. So nowBugge Wesseltoft and producer Siggi Loch have returnedto the original concept of “Snowing” in “EverybodyLoves Angels”. The title is a metaphor for the kind ofweightless ease which the music conveys; and this timeit's not just for winter…

Vienna, Rome, Seoul… Iiro Rantala and Ulf Wakenius are musicians who travel the world, always on tour as leaders of their own projects. So it was something of a fluke that this duo was able to come into existence at all. The idea first emerged in October 2015, when Rantala and Wakenius stopped off at the Philharmonie in Berlin. Siggi Loch, curator of the “Jazz at Berlin Philharmonic” concert series, had brought them together on stage for the “Tears for Esbjörn” concert. “We were part of a larger ensemble on that occasion”, Rantala remembers, “but it was clear to both of us straight away that we would want to form a duo.” This has to be seen as a very smart move, given the rarity of the piano-guitar duo in jazz – a fine exception being that of Brad Mehldau with Pat Metheny.

Vienna, Rome, Seoul… Iiro Rantala and Ulf Wakenius are musicians who travel the world, always on tour as leaders of their own projects. So it was something of a fluke that this duo was able to come into existence at all. The idea first emerged in October 2015, when Rantala and Wakenius stopped off at the Philharmonie in Berlin. Siggi Loch, curator of the “Jazz at Berlin Philharmonic” concert series, had brought them together on stage for the “Tears for Esbjörn” concert. “We were part of a larger ensemble on that occasion”, Rantala remembers, “but it was clear to both of us straight away that we would want to form a duo.” This has to be seen as a very smart move, given the rarity of the piano-guitar duo in jazz – a fine exception being that of Brad Mehldau with Pat Metheny.

A jazz tribute to John Lennon. With his solo piano versions of the music of John Lennon and The Beatles, the Finnish pianist Iiro Rantala succeeds in preserving the soul of these timeless, immortal songs while at the same time adding something totally new to them.

A re-connection with a musical icon or tradition – it is often the way something new, maybe even game-changing emerges. That was the idea in curator/ producer’s Siggi Loch’s mind when he suggested to Magnus Lindgren that he might look at re-tracing the footsteps of Herbie Mann. “Stockholm Underground” is a homage to the one of the greats of the jazz flute, and to his legendary 1969 album “Memphis Underground”, listed by Rolling Stone in 2013 in the “100 Best Jazz Albums” of all time.

Flutist Magnus Lindgren leads a venerable group of musicians on Stockholm Underground, an homage to Herbie Mann's 1969 release Memphis Underground. Featuring leading artists from the Stockholm jazz scene such as guitarist Henrik Janson, bassist Lars Danielsson and drummer Per Lindvall, this is a sweet, funky tribute that puts a Scandinavian spin on a collection of soul and rock classics. The special guests are Eric Bibb, Till Brönner and Ida Sand.