Klemens Bittmann - Trumpet/Mandolin/Violin/Vocals
Georg Gratzer - Woodwinds/Soundscapes
Christian Bakanic - Accordion/Keys/Percussion/Drums/Vocals
Christian Wendt - Electric Bass/Soundscapes
Jörg Haberl - Drums/Vocals/Guitar
Influences
"opera buffa in five microscenes"
In July of 2009, beefólk presented their latest program, “opera buffa in five
microscenes” at the Jazzsommer Graz in Austria.
Musical characteristics of the “Buffa-style” include repetition of short melodic
phrases as well as the creation of lengthy overlapping ensembles with surprisingly
contrasted endings. The main characters of the opera buffa are not nobles but rather
servants, farmers, and townsmen.
Inspired by the musical characteristics of the Italian Opera Buffa, beefólk transduces
the essence of the particular operatic sound into a uniquely orchestrated contemporary
feel.
“Zappa-Folk”, as beefólk’s musical style has been termed, can be likened to the
operatic music played for the common people in the early Italian Baroque era. Italian
opera houses at this time brimmed with lively playfulness, virtuosity, and theatrical
proficiency, using in vogue colors of sound and performance arts to entertain its
public. This opera stage would have provided the perfect place for beefólk’s chamber-
music jazz.
The “Working-Band” created five musical microscenes as main characters
themselves, living through continuous sound-worlds and groove-fields, and
alternatively expressing an earthy feel for the common people.
beefólk’s “opera buffa in five microscenes” is not an Opera but modern Austrian Jazz
in “Buffa-style”.
Sounds Like
..
Booking
Coco Concerts
Karin Schreiner
Aachener Str. 1063-1065
D- 50858 Köln
The word "project", especially in a musical context, normally denotes things like a time limit, a more or less goal-oriented way of thinking and usually a focus on a single person and their characteristics. In order to describe Beefólk you need the exact opposite of such a word.
Beefólk is a mature, six-celled organism, or more simply: a band.
Emerging from a collective apartment under the influence of Graz' two music universities, the cornerstone of this ensemble is a fascination with the New and Different and the accompanying search for individuality. To say the music blends classical traditions with elements of jazz and pop is far too little, too narrow: each of the six members brings not only his own musical roots to the band, but also his individual preferences and opinions - all equal with the rest, a sort of creative democracy.
The driving force in the process, as challenging as it is exciting, alternates between composer, soloist and arranger - but these roles are themselves in constant flux and are shared by all. This continual kaleidescoping of function and effect leaves the listener unable to distinguish composition from improvisation, two parts of a seamless whole, especially in the rush of a live concert. And that's where Beefólk sounds and feels the best: on the stage.
Individuality leaves a strong imprint on Beefólk's music, though the musical leanings of the members couldn't be more diverse, and without the proper measure of youthful audacity the (collectively found) name of the band would never have come to be. The name "folk", of course, refers to just this openness and fusion of styles: "Folk" tends to resist classification, as does Beefólk.
Beefólk should be explained primarily with robust, earthy colors. The sound spectrum of the instruments well exceeds the scope of the average "world music" ensemble. Though each of the instrumentalists is a potent, independent voice, well able to attract the attention of the listener to himself, the ruling concept is always that of the band: the soloist as accompanist, the oneness as body of music, the ensemble as orchestra.
"DIDGE & BASS" OPENING PARTY - WEIZ am Fr.30.10.2009 im Volxhaus in Weiz
Live-Acts: RhythMen & Friends (mit den Uptown Monotones), Dj eldado Visuals: OchoReSotto
Open doors: 20.30h Beginn: 21.00h Tickets: VVk spark7 EUR 7 / VVK oeticket EUR 8,- / AK EUR 9,-
(Tickets in allen Filialen der Steiermärkischen Sparkasse sowie in oeticket Verkaufsstellen, im oeticket-center Ruefa Lounge, unter 0316/71 66 66 oder unter www.oeticket.com)
the widgets of reverbnation, cool tools, with the button share one can spread the word, or hit play and hear the music right away and you can link all your accounts as well as see your stats, I like that and i am not working for them, lol, have a great day, Christos
FLAVIO_MEZZODI DRUMS & WORKS A MEDLEY OF THE UPCOMING ALBUM ELEMENTS IS NOW AVAILABLE TO LISTEN ON THE http://lnk.ms/1Kl3s OR MY PERSONALY WEBSITE http://lnk.ms/1Kl3v
