Young & Foolish

Young and foolish is the title Café Zimmermann has chosen for this programme, which features music from the 1770s and 1780s by Mozart and Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach, starting with Mozart’s famous and sparkling Divertimento KV 138. For this fascinating W.A.-C.P.E. face-off, Café Zimmermann has invited an exceptional musician: the fortepianist Alexander Melnikov. They perform the Concerto no.17 in G major KV 453, of which Mozart said in a letter to his father that (like his concertos KV 450 and KV 451) ‘they make you sweat’! Melnikov is joined by harpsichordist Céline Frisch, co-founder of the ensemble, in Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach’s Concerto for fortepiano, harpsichord and orchestra, the only one of its kind ever composed, a work full of energy and mischief.

Young and foolish is the title Café Zimmermann has chosen for this programme, which features music from the 1770s and 1780s by Mozart and Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach, starting with Mozart’s famous and sparkling Divertimento KV 138. For this fascinating W.A.-C.P.E. face-off, Café Zimmermann has invited an exceptional musician: the fortepianist Alexander Melnikov. They perform the Concerto no.17 in G major KV 453, of which Mozart said in a letter to his father that (like his concertos KV 450 and KV 451) ‘they make you sweat’! Melnikov is joined by harpsichordist Céline Frisch, co-founder of the ensemble, in Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach’s Concerto for fortepiano, harpsichord and orchestra, the only one of its kind ever composed, a work full of energy and mischief.

Young and foolish is the title Café Zimmermann has chosen for this programme, which features music from the 1770s and 1780s by Mozart and Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach, starting with Mozart’s famous and sparkling Divertimento KV 138. For this fascinating W.A.-C.P.E. face-off, Café Zimmermann has invited an exceptional musician: the fortepianist Alexander Melnikov. They perform the Concerto no.17 in G major KV 453, of which Mozart said in a letter to his father that (like his concertos KV 450 and KV 451) ‘they make you sweat’! Melnikov is joined by harpsichordist Céline Frisch, co-founder of the ensemble, in Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach’s Concerto for fortepiano, harpsichord and orchestra, the only one of its kind ever composed, a work full of energy and mischief.

A tenor sax legend, known as Pres, whose melodic, smooth-flowing lines made him the most influential and inventive player of the pre-bop era. Lester Young was one of the true jazz giants, a tenor saxophonist who came up with a completely different conception in which to play his horn, floating over bar lines with a light tone rather than adopting Coleman Hawkins' then-dominant forceful approach. A non-conformist, Young (nicknamed "Pres" by Billie Holiday) had the ironic experience in the 1950s of hearing many young tenors try to sound exactly like him.

A tenor sax legend, known as Pres, whose melodic, smooth-flowing lines made him the most influential and inventive player of the pre-bop era. Lester Young was one of the true jazz giants, a tenor saxophonist who came up with a completely different conception in which to play his horn, floating over bar lines with a light tone rather than adopting Coleman Hawkins' then-dominant forceful approach. A non-conformist, Young (nicknamed "Pres" by Billie Holiday) had the ironic experience in the 1950s of hearing many young tenors try to sound exactly like him.

One of the great originals in the jazz hierarchy, Lester Young was without doubt the most influential tenor saxophonist after Coleman Hawkins. A highly sensitive, graceful player, and an enigmatic personality, Young had a winning sense of time and space and a most engaging gift for improvising on songs rather than chord sequences. He played with great feeling for the lyric of a song with a very special, bittersweet brand of melancholy. There are some jazz exponents whose recorded work is worth preservation and close attention. Lester is one such jazz exponent. 2xHD are proud to bring present this historic recording to the digital high resolution world.

After critically-lauded projects with trumpeter Paolo Fresu (Chiaroscuro) and with fellow guitarists Wolfgang Muthspiel and Slava Grigoryan (Travel Guide), Ralph Towner returns to solo guitar for My Foolish Heart. Whether on classical guitar or 12-string guitar Towner's touch is immediately identifiable. Solo music is an important thread through his rich discography and this new album - recorded at Lugano's Auditorio Stelio Molo RSI in February 2016 and produced by Manfred Eicher - follows in the great tradition of Diary, Solo Concert, Ana, Anthem, and Time Line.

Lester Willis Young (August 27, 1909 – March 15, 1959), nicknamed "Pres" or "Prez", was an American jazz tenor saxophonist and occasional clarinetist.

Lester Willis Young (August 27, 1909 – March 15, 1959), nicknamed "Pres" or "Prez", was an American jazz tenor saxophonist and occasional clarinetist.

Lester Young was unique, just as original and fascinating a musician as he was a human being. He introduced a new way of playing which led to the modern jazz. He was the inspiration for Charlie Parker and countless musicians on all instruments who grew up becoming jazz musicians during the fourties and fifties. The cool jazz of the 1950’s was directly based on Young’s light and relaxed style.