Mahler's Breakdown Jazzrausch Bigband

• 1 5. Sinfonie in Cis-Moll: I. Trauermarsch. In Gemessenem Schritt. Streng. Wie Ein Kondukt 08:41
• 2 5. Sinfonie in Cis-Moll: II. Stürmisch Bewegt. Mit Größter Vehemenz 07:58
• 3 5. Sinfonie in Cis-Moll: III. Scherzo. Kräftig, Nicht Zu Schnell 08:47
• 4 5. Sinfonie in Cis-Moll: IV. Adagietto. Sehr Langsam 03:30
• 5 5. Sinfonie in Cis-Moll: V. Rondo-Finale. Allegro - Allegro Giocoso 08:54
• 6 3. Sinfonie in D-Moll: I. Kräftig. Entschieden 04:44
• Total Runtime 42:34

Info for Mahler's Breakdown

"Mahler's Breakdown" turns the master's 5th symphony on its head: in a 50-minute techno version of the "Sinfonia Maledetta," the Jazzrausch Bigband unleashes its versatility and sheer force. In an arrangement by Jazzrausch chief composer Leonhard Kuhn, interspersed with energetic improvisations, the 15 band members transport Mahler's work into the here and now. A rave to listen to, a symphony to dance to.

The poor Gustave Mahler must be turning in his grave with such a hyper-commercial arrangement that completely distorts his work. We can understand that record companies will do anything to sell, but in this case, it will only appeal to the German techno scene, which is very broad and will probably find some interest in it.

Certainly, the Big Band is filled with wonderful musicians who play perfectly, but not everything can be done with anything. Many other artists on the AC label have tackled classical music to create jazz works with real talent and without distorting the original pieces. Here, with these disco sausage fair-style rhythms to please the probably sensation-seeking thirty-somethings, it’s just repugnant and degrading, a real shame. The massacre continues until the last track. I imagine that after hearing what other jazz labels have done in terms of modernism, they felt like spreading their wings, but it’s just making fun of the world, and primarily Gustave Mahler, who unfortunately isn’t here to defend himself. If the ACT label thought that taking this magnificent Big Band to make this concoction was a good idea, it’s just a lamentable failure.

An album that I wouldn’t even rate. I would recommend it for electro music enthusiasts, but for others, just move along. As for me, I’m going to cleanse my ears with some Joe Zawinul, to get back to real music and real creativity, far away from this ultra-commercial bling-bling. (Thierry De Clemensat, paris-move.com)

Jazzrausch Bigband

The Jazzrausch Bigband
is the world's first resident big band of a world-renowned techno club. Founded 2014 in Munich, this big band has been quietly revolutionizing the German club scene with endlessly inventive performances. Their schedule includes more than 100 annual concerts and has already taken them to the Lincoln Center NYC, the JZ Festival in Shanghai, the Munich Philharmonic Hall and the Festival Da Jazz in St. Moritz. At their live big band techno shows, it comes to a musical meltdown, where the creativity and sound diversity of a jazz big band meets the impressive clarity of a techno club – always surprising, always danceable! Composer and arranger of the music is Leonhard Kuhn. Bandleader and manager of the Jazzrausch Bigband is Roman Sladek. With German fans already won over, the band has now begun to attract an international audience.

„They validated their reputation as one of the world’s most distinctive and adrenalizing dance outfits. What was shocking, and gloriously refreshing right from the first hammerhead beats of the kickdrum, was that this band swings. Which completely sets them apart from the machines and the would-be cyborgs who man them. If this is the future of EDM, it’s this band’s ODM that’s going to replace it – that’s a big O for Organic.“ – The New York Music Daily about US debut of the Jazzrausch Bigband at the Lincoln Center in NYC.

Booklet for Mahler's Breakdown