Motherland Dieter Ilg
Album info
Album-Release:
2025
HRA-Release:
21.03.2025
Album including Album cover
- 1 Schwarzwaldfahrt 06:17
- 2 Anundfuersich 04:05
- 3 Glorious 04:31
- 4 Soil 05:38
- 5 Motherland 06:01
- 6 Time For a Change 07:07
- 7 Menuet 06:45
- 8 People Make The World Go Round 08:34
- 9 B 04:44
- 10 Close To You 05:25
- 11 It's Time To Change 04:09
Info for Motherland
As the cover suggests, Ilg (wearing a traditional Black Forest hat) transforms his connection to his homeland and to Mother Earth through musical expression. In collaboration with numerous musicians such as Randy Brecker, Charlie Mariano, Peter Erskine, and Vince Mendoza, Dieter Ilg has released 25 albums as leader or co-leader, as well as several recordings as a sideman.
On "Motherland," he unites his working band, which has existed for 16 years, into a new, orchestrated ensemble. Their secret is the openness to let things happen in the moment. "Motherland" is a homage to his native roots and a reflection of what the musician, who originates from Offenburg in Baden and grew up there, has heard, perceived, and experienced. The song "Schwarzwaldfahrt" is exemplary, in which Ilg transforms the originally lively melody of pianist Horst Jankowski into a completely new, nostalgic direction with an authentic second-line groove. Till Brönner delivers one of the highlights with outstanding trumpet solos.
Overall, the album unfolds an impressive variety, ranging from harmonious, relaxing sounds, delicately fragile and stormy bass solos, fabulously rubato-style piano passages and spectacular, multi-dimensional piano passages, complex drum sequences, percussive, wild beats, and sonorous grooves. In addition to his musical contribution, Til Brönner is also responsible for the photos in the artwork.
"It's the first time that we haven't merged a classical composer as a 'theme' with our style, but rather a colorful mix of my favorite songs, various original compositions, pop songs from the 60s and 70s, and personal reminiscences. Naturally, seasoned with a dose of humor, stubbornness, wildness, home, and stubborn, immeasurable affection." Thematically, "MOTHERLAND" is particularly dedicated to my origins, my heritage and traditions, the protection of Mother Earth, and feeling at home." (Dieter Ilg)
"...indelible magic...from track to track on Motherland..." Bill Milkowski
"Dieter Ilg and his trio are world class." G&B
"Dieter Ilg doesn't cross borders; he builds bridges." Rondo
"A fantastic, absolutely equal trio." Jazz thing
Dieter Ilg, double bass
Rainer Böhm, piano
Patrice Heral, drums
Dieter Ilg
Bassist Dieter Ilg is regarded today as one of a handful of European musicians who make their unmistakable musical style a valuable contribution to the projects they work on.
Whether it is as a internationally well-respected sideman or as band leader of his own ensembles: Ilg always combines the quality of the bass as a musical foundation with a graceful ease and expression that is rarely heard on a technically difficult instrument such as the double bass.
It is sometimes assumed that there are two kinds of bass players: those who “groove” and accompany (serving mainly as a rhythmic presence) or those who – freeing themselves of the serving role – strive to explore their artistic heights as a soloist (displaying their versatility as virtuoso improvisers). Unlike many Dieter Ilg combines the two ends of this spectrum.
His versatile, individual, passionate and tasteful voice has become a valuable contribution to the international jazz arena.
At the age of six Dieter Ilg – then an experienced recorder player (in kindergarten) – learned to play the violin and the viola before deciding to play the double bass at the age of thirteen.
After four years of lessons at the music school in his home town Offenburg Ilg went on searching for new teachers. He studied with Norbert Brenner ( solo double bass player of the SWR Orchestra Baden-Baden) and later on attended Jazz courses in Burghausen, Remscheid and Tübingen, working with a wide variety of instructors and professionals.
From 1981 until 1985 Ilg refined his practical skills as well as his theoretical knowledge with Prof. Wolfgang Stert at the Musikhochschule Freiburg. Winning the Fulbright scholarship then enabled him to study at the Manhattan School of Music in New York City (1986/1987).
At this time he was already skilled enough to understand the art of musical structure as it was conveyed to him by such masters as Eddie Gomez, Ron McClure, Rufus Reid, Adelhard Roidinger and Miroslav Vitous. It was also then that he made his further experiences on the stage as a member of the Joe Viera Sextett (1981 – 1984) as well as with his first trio-project, co-founded with Klaus Ignatzek. Not before long he had built up a busy schedule performing with such players as Bobby Watson or David Liebman.
It was Liebman who significantly influenced Ilg’s decision to stay on in New York for a while when he invited him to join the John Coltrane Memorial Concert in NYC in January 1987. The future began to look exciting.
Seizing the moment Ilg founded his first Trio with guitarist John Schröder and drummer Wolfgang Haffner shortly after returning from New York. He also became a member of the Randy Brecker Quintet (1987-89). Suddenly things were on a roll and he was awarded with the Baden-Württemberg Jazz Prize in 1988. The press said:
The brilliance and expression of his tone, the originality in the concept of his ensemble and his individual approach to harmony are fascinating.
Regular performances with the WDR Big Band (recordings with Bob Brookmeyer, John Abercrombie, Danny Gottlieb, Charlie Mariano, Peter Erskine, Nguyen Le, Vince Mendoza and others), frequent tours in europe (for example a tour of Spain with Bennie Wallace ) and a new line up to his own trio – this time including pianist Marc Copland – is what followed. These collaborations resulted in the production of three CD’s featuring drummers Bill Stewart, Ralph Penland and Jeff Hirshfield. ...
This album contains no booklet.