Herringel Eugen

With "Bucharest 1994" a very special live event is released on CD, which has created something unique in the mediation between classical music and jazz standards

A true evaluation of Cicero's creativity requires not only an appreciation of his tremendous technique but also an ability to listen with the heart. Cicero loved music and he loved his audience. He never played for himself, but for his audiences, which he always succeeded in captivating. His careful selection of originals, prior to each performance, was a pure delight not only for the friends of classical music but also for jazz lovers. On this 1967 release Cicero interprets Liszt arranged for jazz ensemble.

Eugen Jochum, Sohn eines Lehrers, Organisten, Chorregenten und Leiters des Orchester- und Theatervereins wuchs in einem katholischen Elternhaus zusammen mit seinen Brüdern Otto und Georg Ludwig auf.

While Eugen gained fame as a piano virtuoso in the 1960s and performed with singers such as Ella Fitzgerald and Shirley Bassey, Roger made the German-speaking swing socially acceptable and delighted his fans with a mixture of pop, jazz and swing, seasoned with cheeky and amusing lyrics.

The organs that Hans Eugen Frischknecht plays on this CD are extraordinary, one-of-a-kind instruments. He wrote his compositions precisely for these instruments, turning each one's characteristic sound and capabilities into a main feature of each piece. Among these "special organs" are two quartertone organs, one is tuned in meantone temperament with split sharps and two prototypes from the INOV-ORGAN-UM research project. On these latter organs it is possible to adjust the air pressure, even after pressing the keys, to cause variations in the loudness and even pitch of the notes. Hans Eugen Frischknecht has traveled to many countries as an organist, often performing his own works. He studied with Boris Blacher and Michael Schneider, and later also with Olivier Messiaen in Paris.

Eugen Cicero (1940-1997) was a Rumania piano virtuoso with full command in both classic and jazz , recorded numerous records bewteen 1965 and 1997 based on Bach, Mozart, Chopin, Schubert,Lizst and other classic repertoire which he unites harmonically with swing and jazz improvisations. He was active mostly in Europe during his lifetime , a cult figure in Japan but is relatively unknown in US. However, his artistry should never be overlooked.
What differs Eugen Cicero from Jacques Loussier trio, Claude Bolling etc. is he employs a much wider mangitude of jazzy/funky medlodic line, voicing and rhythm plus a much wider repertoire. He is less serious about maintaing the original classic framework and more flexible about expanding the expression of his musical ideas.
Jazz fans usually find crossover not real jazz, classic fans will feel crossover material superfical. However, this album is not crossover or smooth jazz, it is music style of Eugen Cicero's his own, nobody plays like or sounds like Eugen Cicero. He plays "Twinkle, twinkle little star" with swing , blues, R&B and classic alternatively and his interperation of Bach Toccata in D-minor is way more exciting than Jacque Loussier trio. In the Riverside In Rondo, the well known spiritual is blended with Mozart- like Rondo and Boogie Woogie, music playing with humerous wisdom and excitement indeed.