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Concert Mezzo Forte (charging 2010)

Club Scala / Charging (Germany) - 6 november 2010

On november 6 2010 I at Club Scala in Charge (near Leverkusen in Germany) the concert of the Icelandic jazz-fusion band Mezzoforte attended. Mezzo Forte has recently due to the release of their new album "Volcanic" a tour organized by a number of European countries including Spain, Norway, Netherlands, Germany, Czech Republic, Slovakië and Russia.
For this occasion, the band is also composed of the core founders of the band, namely Jóhann Asmundsson (bass), Gulli Briem (drums) and Eytor Gunnarson (keyboards).
Also play as guest musicians Oskar Gudjonsson (saxophone), Sebastian Studnitzky (trumpet, keyboards) and Bruno Mueller (guitar).
During the concert, to my great disappointment I found that the fourth co-founder of the band, guitarist Fridrik Karlsson not playing. Partly because of the catchy game Karlsson, who I consider to be more or less the Icelandic Steve Lukather, I'm such a huge fan of Mezzo Forte. Luckily, the guitar playing of his replacement, the German Bruno Mueller, the evening more than good.
Mezzo Forte is now over 30 years and has a very recognizable style with older songs like "Garden Party", "Icebreaker" and the very recognizable tune of "Playing for Time".
With their subsequent albums such as Daybreak, Monkey fields, Forward Motion and their latest album "Volcanic" let them hear them, but maybe for the fans of the popular songs is less identifiable, excellent fusion can play.
Especially the album "Daybreak" (from 1993) I then unconditional fan of their music.


Jóhann Asmundson on bass and Gulli Briem on drums.

Club Scala is a fairly old building in the center of Charge (near Leverkusen) with a reasonable area (slightly smaller in area than the Paradiso in Amsterdam) and with excellent acoustics. Although the hall was sold out was I free front of the stage and it was certainly not crowded.
Mezzo Forte played two sessions, one of over an hour and after a short pause a second and a half hour session. During the two sessions, the audience was treated to some songs from the new CD "Volcanic" in early November and was released a few songs from their entire repertoire.
During the concert blast enthusiasm but the skill of the musicians off. I stood a few meters away from bassist Jóhann Asmundsson sometimes amazed at the apparent ease how he stood with his bass slap and pluck. Of course I listen to his playing for years on the Mezzo Forte albums and his solo CD "So low" but up close it remains a joy to the technique of such an experienced topbassist to look and listen.

For me, the drummer Gulli Briem, the big surprise of the evening. Firstly because of the youthful appearance and his striking resemblance to American actor Kevin Bacon, but of course mainly because of his insane drumming. At the end of the first session Gulli plays a fantastic drum solo by about twenty minutes that I will remember for a long time.
The other band members a little bit and play a song after another with unprecedented perfectionism and especially fun. The guitarist Bruno Mueller has a style which displayed clear similarity with Larry Carlton, but also for the tough jobs he turns his hand to. Oskar Gudjonsson, who in recent years meetourt and previously starred in Monkey Fields (1996) and Live in Reykjavik (2007), plays his saxophone and clarinet sometimes very lively manner extremely knowledgeable recognizable songs with Mezzo Forte.


Guitarist Bruno Mueller lives well off during the concert. In the background is Sebastian Studnitzky (trumpet, keyboards).

After the show there is opportunity to buy the new CD and to sign by all band members. And they also take plenty of time for, as for conversations with the fans. While the room is already almost empty and I was just sitting at the bar after enjoying all the band members are still talking with some fans. And while the next night again in the Czech Republic to stand where we had the fans an unforgettable evening. Just like they did with me tonight!


The new album of Mezzo Forte called "Volcanic" and was released on november 5 2010. My copy is signed by all members of the band.

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Links to the band and the band members:
Mezzoforte
Bruno Mueller 
Sebastian Studnitzky

© AudioReview.nl, 13 november 2010