Koch / Schütz / Studer & El Nil Troop - Heavy Cairo Traffic
CD - Sheet Music

SKU: M7.INT-31752

Composed by Fredy Studer, Hans Koch, and Martin Schutz. CD. Duration 63'. Intuition #INT 31752. Published by Intuition (M7.INT-31752).

UPC: 750447317529.

It took seven long years, now a milestone of the Ethno-Jazz-Crossover has been rereleased again. "Heavy Cairo Traffic" is the multilayered audio documentation of a collaboration of highly acclaimed European jazz improvisers with Egyptian folk-musicians. In 1191, Hans Koch (clarinet, saxophone), Martin Schütz (cello) and Fredy Studer (drums), three of the internationally most important Swiss musicians of improvised music, have given some public concerts with the El Nil Troop, a kind of pool of outstanding representatives of traditional Egyptian music. 1995 the three Swiss musicians traveled again to Cairo for a recording with the El Nil Troop. The Egyptian-Swiss encounter was realized with mutual artistic respect. The result isn't another questionable and cheap fusion in the trendy 'World Music' category. Both sides could articulate their own peculiarity and leave themselves enough freedom. The recording in a Cairo studio was followed by a second phase, in which Koch-Schütz-Studer creatively tackled the material from the Cairo recording sessions. New elements were added and subtly mixed with the earlier ones, always bearing in mind that the Egyptian music should not be repressed or misused. The end result is a versatile, exciting music, an enigmatic music full of surprises. The Egyptian music, vocal or instrumental, rhythmically free or bound is in phases definitely at the forefront. The trio Koch-Schütz-Studer never stops to amaze with a wealth of musical ideas. "Heavy Cairo Traffic": a fascinating reverence to the Egyptian folk music. And at the same time a reflection by the trio Koch-Schütz-Studer of musical and non musical impressions of Cairo. ''This music sounds excitingly strange'' (Die Zeit, 05/97).