The album could have been called just like the third song on it: “Witches Brew”. Not only because that would have been a funny Miles Davis reference (“Bitches Brew” is one of his most famous albums), but because this orchestral brew of the Monika Roscher Big Band really bewitches the listener.
The fact that Roscher also dealt a lot with the topic of witchcraft and was inspired by it is also expressed in the actual title: “Witchy Activities And The Maple Death”. It is the third album by their big band, which was founded in 2011 and was heavily hyped between 2012 and 2016 and has received all sorts of awards – and the first in seven years.
“It takes me longer to write plays,” explains Roscher, “I get into topics that interest me for several weeks or months, think a lot about each piece and try out all the ways that emerge. I discard a lot, but I do keep working on it until it’s completely finished.” An effort that was initially directed at the subject of witches on the new album: “In the beginning there was a collection of peculiar coincidences – while picking mushrooms, on a hike. Clearly too much witchy in a short time. I started to read everything about witches, what I got my hands on. Good and bad witches, sorcery, ghost stories, seers, healers – but also the idea of freedom that entwines everything. From psychedelic plants I came to feminism. I wanted to explore all possible facets of witchcraft and into my piece to bring all the witches back to life at the end!”
A six-part suite in the center of the album revealed that. After that, of course, there are also princesses, firebirds, the revenge of the queen of spades or a – comparatively happy and optimistic sounding – foretaste of the AI apocalypse. “Creatures Of The Dawn” is “my failed attempt at writing a James Bond song. I took a wrong turn somewhere.” And with the finale, inspired by sailors such as Boris Herrmann, Tracy Edwards or Donald Crowhurst, the very first Roscher song with German lyrics can be heard.
“I want the greatest possible freedom.”
The description of these themes alone stimulates the imagination, and their implementation once again results in music that has never been heard from a big band. Highly complex arrangements alternate with minimalist structures, fragile impressions with symphonic power, the beauty of brass and strings with the brittleness of electric guitar and electronics. There are trumpet, wild trombone and didgeridoo solos chased by guitar effect pedals, on “Starlight Nightcrash” the broken sound of an old Yamaha keboard is the musical key of the piece. Many ingredients, many new. It is not without reason that one believes that, in addition to Roscher’s well-known preferences for indie pop (especially when it comes to singing) and hard rock (especially when it comes to the guitar), even more of the TMT xplosiv-Trio with the big band leader colleagues Tom Jahn and Tilman Herpichböhm to hear pre-exercised prog rock parts.
Constantly evolving, learning, trying things out, Roscher also practices this on the other side of production: “Witchy Activities And The Maple Death” is not released by Enja like the two predecessors, but by her newly founded, own label zenna: “For me, it’s about the greatest possible freedom. Having your own label just makes sense. I’m also interested in the whole business background, I want to understand the connections. How it works is very exciting and adventurous. I learn a lot in the process.”
At the presentation of the album on the day of release, May 5th, in the amp Of course, Roscher first has to slip back into her most important role, even before the composer, inventor and Ich-AG manager: that of the bandleader and performer. In jazz, album and concert are often two pairs of boots, but it is rarely as complementary as with the Monika Roscher Big Band. Because on the record you only get an idea of Roscher’s dazzling performances between conducting, dance, guitar playing and singing, often accompanied by masks and costumes, through the extravagant artwork by the Fürth artist Sascha Banck (including witchcraft by Tobias Koark-Haberl). You will also experience LED suits and live visuals at the Ampere. Another bonus to music that is already a total work of art.
Monika Roscher Big Band: “Witchy Activities And The Maple Death”, Zenna Records; live on Fri., May 5, 8 p.m., Ampere, Zellstrasse 4, www.muffatwerk.de