Andy Hermann has one again proved himself to be an incredible pianist, composer, and arranger. This CD is simply beautiful with emotional, lyrical and interactive playing from everyone involved. A veritable '“Tour de Force“ from all perspectives.
(Randy Brecker)
I was unaware of Andy Herrmann’s name or reputation until the CD „Looking Back“ crossed my desk. This is an intelligently conceived CD filled with great playing and arresting compositions in a modern European Modern Mainstream mode. Mr. Herrmann has assembled a fine band consisting of veteran rhythm-mate Henning Sieverts on bass and the peripatetic and very excellent, Tom Rainey manning the drums. He is also joined to good effect on three cuts by the smokey-toned tenor saxophonist, Paul Heller. This is fine trio music indeed but despite the generally democratic bent of the music, Herrmann shines brightly. His tunes are engaging as the sprightly opener, “Valse” quickly proves. “Fair Play” and “Indecision” also are quite ear- catching. Herrmanns’ playing is exemplary as well, featuring cleanly executed and cliché-free lines, accessible harmonic complexity and an enviable confidence that keeps the listener’s interest throughout the entire set. Between the great players, the excellent solos and the fine writing, there’s nothing here not to like at all. Recommended.
(Cadence Magazin / New York)
For me, this CD represents a crowning moment in a very special experience, lasting many years, with Andy Hermann and his piano playing. During my 17-year stint as an “official expert” during final examinations at the Jazz Department of Lucerne’s College of Music, Andy instantly stood out as an excellent pianist (with enormous ears), who reacted to every creative idea of the final-year students with great musicality. The management didn’t simply cobble together any old rhythm section for the final qualifying examinations at “Faculty 3”, which must rate as one of the world’s best jazz colleges. Far from it: in order to ensure that graduates were offered the best possible examination conditions, all students were provided with an experienced, highly professional, rhythm section. And despite all the qualities of the ever-changing accompanying trio, the days when Andy Hermann was available to play the piano were always my favourite examination days. The level of jazz piano musicality, above average in Europe, on this new CD “LOOKING BACK” reminds me of the constant pleasure of those days again! Andy’s eight compositions here firmly reflect a fantastic awareness of shape combined with the prerequisites of the ideal piano sound: in technical terms demanding perfect ease of playing and a light touch. Moreover, Andy has brought another of my favourites into the studio for these recordings, drummer Tom Rainey, who also shares some experiences of particularly demanding projects under my own leadership. Rainey instinctively knows how to make strongly felt music from complex templates. His unique drumstick technique is noticeable as a constant means to implement melody – where other drummers concentrate on the rhythm, merely acting as “time machines”. With so much artistic far-sightedness, it comes as no surprise that Andy also invited other ideal partners to the studio. Bassist Henning Sieverts not only grooves well with Rainey through all tempos, but also handles Andy’s technically demanding bass lines particularly well, with melodies sometimes combined with Andy in unison. That Andy’s excellent left-hand technique is again and again exploited seems almost incidental: the piano is and always was a 10-finger instrument – something that does not always seem so self-evident for today’s jazz pianists. (Is there a trace of Andy’s special sympathy for the earlier bass-oriented music? See/hear his approach to Palestrina on this CD???). And on top of all the joyous, high-quality grooving, Paul Heller also guests on tenor saxophone on three tracks. His Andy Herrmann Trio / Stimmen zur aktuellen CD „Looking Back“ sound, getting under one’s skin, brilliantly contributes to this happy CD, that offers an allround, highly musical, pleasurable experience.
(George Gruntz)
Um sich heutzutage als Pianist einen Namen zu machen, muss man schon ganz besondere Qualitäten haben – eine erstklassige Technik, ein brillianter Anschlag, Witz und einen nie enden wollenden Ideenreichtum, Improvisationskunst auf höchstem Niveau, und vor allem eine ganz eigene Handschrift. Die Töne perlen nur so auf der aktuellen CD von Andy Herrmann, seine Kompositionen entführen den Hörer in eine andere Dimension. Bei solcher pianistischer und kompositorischer Meisterschaft kann man gemäß des CD-Titels zufrieden zurück schauen und gleichzeitig mit Spannung in die Zukunft blicken. „Looking Back“, eine wunderbare Momentaufnahme der Kreativität und Freude an der Musik, weist den Weg in eine vielversprechende Zukunft und man darf gespannt sein, welche weiteren Preziosen des vorzüglich eingespielten Andy Herrmann Trios noch folgen werden.
(Barbara Dennerlein)
For over a week I had been just eating and sleeping trying to recover from a long and heavy work schedule. And then, like a messenger the postman brought this compact disc to my door. I went to the computer and began answering Andy Herrmann´s enclosed letter that exhaustion prevented me from writing sufficient liner notes; but then thought to myself, I should at least play the CD first. By the time I listened through the second tract I had to write the liner-notes. His playing had immediately rejuvenated the spirituality of my soul. How interesting music can stimulate and lift one completely out of a depressed state never ceases to amaze me. Nevertheless, I don´t intend to write a descriptive analysis of each these original compositions because the sound of this music flows like a rainbow from the first to last tones of the entire performance; all beautifully supported by bassist, Henning Sieverts and drummer, Tom Rainey. Paul Heller´s solos are truly aesthetics in the abstract. I must add that he possessed these qualities when I first met him at the young age of sixteen and it is so heart warming to hear that his development continues today on this remarkable CD; his is a divine talent. This is music for mind readers and not the musically non-thinkers who prefer mood music to help pass the boring hours. This music is for understanding the mental workings of musicians; and Andy is a pianist/composer who I am genuinely impressed with.
(Walter Norris)
Looking back is an exellent titel for this project, because i hear firm roots in the tradition. Frech interesting compositions, played with pefect skill. It seems like the players were born on time. It makes me proud of the young generation.
(Ack van Rooyen)
