Becker / Stegmann / Zeumer: Becker / Stegmann / Zeumer Vinyl 12″ Becker / Stegmann / Zeumer

More avant leftfield goodness from Music From Memory. Once again, MFM digs deeper than your average for that unheard magic. For their final release of 2016, MFM brings Wuppertal experimental jazz trio Becker / Stegmann / Zeumer to the surface. The group’s unique late 80’s take on avant-garde jazz combines elements of new wave funk, ambient, and spoken word to create a distinct and seemingly singular sound. Dig into the sound samples and check the fascinating background of the band courtesy of the experts at the label: “Very much an integral part of the Wuppertal jazz scene in the 1980’s, trumpetist Heinz Becker and Pianist Karl-Heinz Stegmann met the actress Isabel Zeumer when performing at the opening of an event organized by Wuppertal’s cultural department. Following this the three of them were asked put together a programme on Else Lasker-Schüler. A unique figure in her time Jewish poet Lasker-Schüler embraced a bohemian lifestyle and became a leading exponent of Germany’s expressionism and avant-garde poetry movement before fleeing the country in 1937. Becker, Stegmann and Zeumer’s programme would combine readings of Lasker-Schüler’s works with experimental music and imagery. These performances were met with great enthusiasm at the time in Wuppertal and were even televised. Following on from the strong response to the music and performances, the trio were invited to release the material on local label ITM Records. Embracing Lasker’s avant-garde sentiments within their own musical compositions, Becker, Zeumer and Stegmann’s album ‘Ich Träume So Leise Von Dir’ LP blends jazz and electronics to create a wholly unique sound. Embracing and experimenting with elements of Ambient and even New Wave; the four tracks selected here, in particular, seem to take music and spoken word into an entirely unique musical realm.”

• music label: Music From Memory 2016

reviewed by Baggy Tapir 12/2016