Teis Semey Quintet
Mean Mean Machine (ZenneZ Records)(Nov 19th 2021)
Release: 19th Nov 2021
Amsterdam-based Danish guitarist Teis Semey returns this November with Mean Mean Machine, his third album in just three years.
Lauded and awarded for his experimental approach, the album is an attempt to fuse the punk and free jazz that he buried himself in during lockdown, with the Scandinavian songs of his childhood, found in a book his grandmother left to him when she passed away.
The result is 7 tracks of guitar-fuelled, nearly-danceable jazz with a finger on the pulse and a fist in the air. A flaming response to the critical state of the world and an homage to the extreme beauty that still exists.
It’s no surprise that Semey often refers to the quinet as his family: whilst hailing from 5 different countries, they have forged a close relationship together on the hotly-tipped Dutch jazz scene over the last years.
Interestingly, all five are bandleaders in their own right, bringing a deep understanding of what it takes to turn melodies and chords into a unique and happening set of music.
“My ideal is a leaderless sound. Everybody knows all the parts. That is also the way we rehearse. Anyone can start anything at any given moment. That results in a lot of unleashed creativity.”
Whilst his music has been labelled as avant-garde in the past, he is keen to unite both uncompromising musical concepts with an awareness of the audience.
“We try to deliver something that is unique. Sure it can be challenging to an audience but we absolutely want to make it a good experience for them. As for ourselves, we are putting everything that we have into it.”
Line Up
Teis Semey (DK) – guitar / compositions
Alistair Payne (SCO) trumpet
José Soares (ES) – alto saxophone
Jort Terwijn (NL) – double bass
Sun-Mi Hong (KR) – drums
Track listing
1 – Sun Song
2 – A Strange Absence of Birds
3 – Bamboo Eyes
4 – Reqiuem
5 – Monday in Turquoise
6 – Glue (or the Eternal Struggle of Beauty)
7 – Tragedie
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