i wouldn’t wait no longer - flamingo star

While working as a professional keyboarder and trumpeter in various bands, 37-year old Matthias Becker was able to gather inspirations and ideas for songs, to try his hand at various ideas, to discard, re-compose and thus allow his solo project FLAMINGO STAR to mature. It paid off. Thanks to his versatility and his affinity to the most diverse genres (see headline) - from House and Funk, via Dub and Lounge to (Nu) Jazz and Blues - he is clearly on the right track. How does an experienced musician who has placed his creativity for many years into the service of other bands, call his first solo outing? Perhaps an old stager with several decades of live music under his belt might have slapped him on the back and recommended: I wouldn´t wait no longer.
Nevertheless, Becker hardly pressed for time while developing his musical vision. Quite the contrary: not by accident did he receive his first credits with well placed tracks on famous compilation-series. “Porque”, for example, can be heard on Brazilectro 6, while a previous incarnation of “Baboo G” graced the first Asia Lounge compilation. Naturally, you don’t just knock out something of that kind on your laptop all by yourself. Far from it: together with many soulmates and distinguished guests and collaborators, FLAMINGO STAR - most recent peacelounge signing - has created 17 wonderful pieces of music to extend your summer all the way until Christmas.
Matthias has been playing the trumpet and piano since his childhood. The man from Hannover earned his first credits as a professional musician in jazz, funk and soulbands like His Masters Voice, Shockadelica or Tom Oz & The Wet. Once upon a time, while recording with His Masters Voice, Becker had an experience that other musicians probably dream of all their lives: For one track, his horn section was reinforced by funk legends Fred Wesley and Pee Wee Ellis - long-term companions of Mr. James Brown. Apparantly, word of his talent got around among among the Godfather’s entourage. At any rate, Maceo Parker hired Shockadelica as support band for a tour in Germany. Nowadays, Matthias often performs with soul-latin sextet Sugarhat, as an extremely capaple pianist with a distinct preference for his Fender Rhodes.
Many years of musical experience between clubs, cocktail lounges and live shows have effortlessly flown into the “one-man-project with a built-in band” that is Flamingo Star. Becker is supported by many skilled musicians such as bass player Bernd “Margot” Gontarski (Spice, Mousse T.), guitarist Chico Wedig (Electric Universe, Vison) and jazz drummer Lars `Soulsurfer´ Heindorf. Vocal support was provided by De:Phazz singer Pat Appleton, Ex- Be singer Gregor Blumenthal and two Sugerhat colleagues, Marko Hauburg and Britta Erchinger. Even mastermind Matthias himself can be heard on one track, namely on the pre-release single “Since I met you”…
With the help of an elegant Bossa-guitar and sharp horn sections, the opener “Smoothpipe” provides a swinging introduction to the album. With “Since I met you”, Flamingo Star create an easy-going Disco House-Boogie, a chunky piece of ear candy that will make your arms and legs jiggle with delight. One of the most remarkable characteristics of Flamingo Star’s music is its openness for influences from all parts of the world. Thus it happpens that bandoneon-sounds from Argentina meet Drum & Basslines à la Roni Size/Reprazent in “Tango Malaguena” and cater for a bustling grooving mixture. “Django’s Dub” returns to Tango, but this time it is slowed down to Dub-speed. Care for some Caribbean Flavours? The salsa inspired “No puedo ver” proves that Matthias Becker is a trumpeter to be reckoned with. In “Baboo G”, Indian retro-Flair meets a tight bass and a funky Clavinet. The same energy is transmitted by the album’s title track “I wouldn´t wait no longer”, a driving uptempo number with more a touch of Brown craziness. Don’t be pooped by the title “Unhappy”, because this Blues-tinged groove is anything but sad. If you consider yourself open-minded, here’s a test: listen to the dis-oriental smokey Slow-Funk of “40 Thieves” at full throttle, certainly one of the more bizarre, yet tasteful tracks of the album. But FLAMINGO STAR also understand the more subtle forms of the genre. With tracks like “Timeless”, “Piano” and “Sputnik”, Becker creates some extremely stylish chilled-out tunes, islands of calmness in this multicoloured Beat Boutique.

Label: peacelounge recordings

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Dieser Eintrag wurde am 9.10.2007 um 20:59 verfasst und befindet sich in Review. Sie können alle Antworten zu diesem Eintrag über den Feed RSS 2.0 mitverfolgen. Hinterlassen Sie eine Antwort oder einen Trackback-Link zu Ihrer eigenen Homepage.