CD Review: Hendrik Meurkens - Live at Bird's Eye

Recorded live at Bird's Eye Jazz Club in Basel, Switzerland, the new release by German vibraphone and harmonica player Hendrik Meurkens is without a doubt one of the best albums of 2011. Crisp music, full of intensity and emotions, Meurkens and his group, russian pianist Misha Tsiganov, bassist Gustavo Amarante and drummer Adriano Santos, takes on Joao Donato "Amazonas", "Minha Saudade", Jobim "Dindi" "Voce vai ver" and "Body and Soul" brings fresh angles and sounds to these Brazilian and Jazz classics.

Meurkens alternates throughout the album playing vibraphone on "Amazonas", "Noa Noa", "Body and Soul" and "Voce vai ver" and the harmonica on "Estate", "Dindi", and "Minha Saudade".

The albums also includes two outstanding compositions by Meurkens, the samba "Sambatropolis", and the choro "Lingua de Mosquito". On "Lingua de Mosquito" the band cleverly end quoting Jobim "Aguas de Marco".

Amazonas, Estate, Sambatropolis, Dindi, Lingua di mosquito, Noa Noa, Body and Soul, Minha Saudade, Voce Vai Ver

Hendrik Meurkens - harmonica, vibraphone, Misha Tsiganov - piano, Gustavo Amarante - bass, Adrano Santos - drums, pandeiro