Uli Beckerhoff Quintet - 1994 (CD)

Includes Digital Download Order HERE As is the case with most European modern jazz musicians, Uli Beckerhoff has practically no name recognition among American listeners, despite the fact that his career stretches back over half a century and includes concert and festival appearances all over his native continent. He has worked with a virtual who’s-who of European jazzers, and a good many noted Americans (Charlie Mariano, John Scofield, Adam Nussbaum, eg), and it’s easy to see–or more accurately, hear–why. Start with Beckerhoff’s sound; he maintains the same clear, gorgeous tone effortlessly and evenly in all registers, and his articulation is so clean that his lines often flow like a reed player’s. Couple this with his sure-footed and very dramatic use of space and you have the perfect tools for a master storyteller. The fact that he also has a lot to say with these tools is what elevates Beckerhoff’s playing, which is often very effective, especially on the slower tunes.  For his fro