Gimme the Boots Mo' Blow
- 1 Call Me Milroy 06:06
- 2 When Bunny Went Bonkers 04:03
- 3 Gimme the Boots 04:38
- 4 Ray 05:39
- 5 Papa's Pancakes 04:34
- 6 Slingshot 04:51
- 7 Sunsqueezed 05:07
- 8 'Til They Cut the Power 04:41
- 9 Rocket Swing 04:27
- 10 Winter Came Early 04:07
- 11 The Wendland Revolt 03:57
- 12 Headbutt 04:16
Info for Gimme the Boots
More and more young German musicians, primarily from jazz backgrounds, are discovering the appeal of heavy grooves, earthy sounds and driving rhythms in funk and soul. Swede Nils Landgren has been the European calling card for funk for 20 years with his Funk Unit, and we can now count representatives of the ACT series 'Young German Jazz' among the pioneers of the next generation: The Berlin quartet Mo’ Blow astonished the scene two years ago with their snappy ACT debut 'For Those About To Funk'. The Süddeutsche Zeitung newspaper wrote, 'Party, not with run-of-the-mill grooves, but with quality,', whilst others praised the timelessness and complexity of the album. In addition to good critiques, Mo’ Blow also won the 'Future Sounds' competition at the Leverkusen Jazz Days, there being no doubt in the jury's mind: 'Mo' Blow light up a sparkling funk firework on the stage'.
And now, 'Gimme The Boots' proves all the more that Mo’ Blow really is the successful hybrid of sounds of the seventies with the contemporary. With its own high energy, the very first track 'Call Me Milroy' grabs you by the ears and legs, from the slap sounds, cool phrases and reverberating sax played by Mo’ Blow founder Felix Falk to the perfect round-off with a percussive solo by Matti Klein on the Fender Rhodes. The distinctive theme of 'Winter Came Early' glides past lightly and easily, while the shouts of 'Papa's Pancakes' are nervous and driven. Sonorous soul dominates on 'Ray', minimalistic but all the more engendering 'good vibrations'. Pure funk with the slapped bass of Tobias Fleischer and rapid, sharp syncopations by the entire band bring 'Slingshot' to the boil.
The four have decided to go with pure Mo’ Blow on this album and, though there was no shortage of offers, this time they chose not to call on guest stars. The whole record originated from the band's own machine, including the compositions for all twelve tracks, and the distinctive sound that has developed over the ten years of their playing together really comes into its own. A musical energy is captured here that the group has earned itself over the years, in hundreds of concerts both in Germany and abroad. The solos are no less emphatic, and it’s no wonder when one considers the huge musical spectrum that each of the four band members contributes. More than anything it is the many surprising details that define the character of the Mo’ Blow sound: the atmospheric percussion introduction on 'Sunsqueezed', the didgeridoo on 'Gimme The Boots' and the wild, whirling lead-in by André Seidel on 'Headbutt'.
The mixture is the key. “Master of Funk” Nils Landgren couldn't resist: he produced this second album just as he did the ACT debut. Together it all makes up a dynamic, thrilling, feel-good album. The young German guns – causing an ever-growing international furore.
'Party, not with run-of-the-mill grooves, but with quality' (Süddeutsche Zeitung)
Felix F. Falk, saxophones, didgeridoo, percussion
Matti Klein, piano (Fender Rhodes)
Tobias Fleischer, bass
André Seidel, drums
Recorded by Arne Schumann at Hansa Studios Berlin, edited by Jonas Zadow
Mixed and mastered by Arne Schumann at Schumann & Bach, Berlin
Produced by Nils Landgren
André Seidel - Drummer
has the longest Berlin experience of the Mo' Blower's. He was born there in 1981, learned the drums and while he went to school he already worked with various Big Bands. Amoung these there where the JayJayBeCe Orchestra and the Berlin Youth Jazz Orchestra. In the summer of 2003 he started his studies at the University of Arts in Berlin. After a while he started to come up with interesting and fairly unique drum styles. In between he is an expert in everything groovy, funky, fusion like, electric or dancy. That made him become the drummer of Mr. M, Berlin-Bahia, RatzeFatz, Mundoloco or Das gezeichnete Ich.
Some important steps in his so far career where a 2month lasting tour as a support for the Ostrock legend PANKOW, a support for Ronan Keating, the work with Robert Owens and different recordings with JayJayBeCe and the Berlin Youth Jazz Orchestra.
Felix F. Falk - Saxophones
Soon after receiving his A-levels, as well as a degree in alto saxophone, Felix F. Falk left his home town Neubrandenburg and moved to Berlin to pursue his University studies.
In his many different projects Falk uses a whole palette of instrumental combinations and colours moving effortlessly in a number of musical styles between Soprano, Alto and Baritone Sax. During a very stimulating stay in South America in 2001 Felix Falk began playing a number of indigenous percussion instruments which he incorporates more and more in his music.
His main project is the jazz funk band "Mo' Blow". He founded this group in 2002 in Liverpool (GB). The compositions he wrote for the first CD of this band he let himself inspire by the impressions of his time in England. He also wrote the songs for the second CD 'Funkatristic' and produced the album. Felix F. Falk also worked as sideman for artists like Das gezeichnete Ich or Herbert Grönemeyer.
Matti Klein - Pianist
is one of the two real Berlin Mo' Blowers. Well at least he was born there in 1984. As a little boy he already made the piano chair his place in one of the nicest areas of Germany: Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. Along to his classical training he started interesting for first Jazz projects.
Matti studied at the "Jazz Institut Berlin" and worked with different ensembles like the quintett "Das MrK", the Afro-Beat Sensation „KabuKabu“ or in projects with the actress and singer Bettina Schubert. He made important experiences on Tours and Workshops with the "Berlin Youth Jazz Orchestra" under the leadership of Nils Landgren or James Newton. Some Results are published on the CD "Berlin - Los Angeles 2005".
Musically the pianist is always aware of the heritage in his music but also he likes the newest representatives of Jazz like Esbjörn Svensson, Brad Mehldau or Keith Jarret.
Tobias Fleischer - Bassist
Born in Munich, Bavaria, Tobias Fleischer studied electric bass at the Bass School Munich (BSM) before he moved to England's Northwest to earn a Bachelor's Degree at Paul McCartney's Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts (LIPA). During his time in England, he played and recorded with a great variety of artists like Sweetmonk, El Nombre Flamenco and Revolucion Latina.
In 2003 he moved to Berlin to bring the groove back to the continent. On both electric and upright bass, Tobias feels at home in a variety of styles, spanning from Singer/Songwriters to New Orleans flavoured beats with The Booty Jive to world music with Klezmeyers and Zimbalada . He recorded for a variety of artists like Manfred Maurenbrecher, Ilja Schierbaum, George Nussbaumer or Vladiswar Nadishana.
Booklet for Gimme the Boots