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Lenart Krečič, saksofon / saxophone
Igor Bezget, kitara, ud / guitar, oud
Yayoi Ikawa, klavir / piano
Reggie Workman, kontrabas / double bass
Gerry Hemingway, bobni / drums
Čeprav slovenski jazzerji redno sodelujejo s priznanimi tujimi glasbeniki tako na priložnostnih nastopih kakor tudi v stalnejših zasedbah in na albumih, se ne zgodi ravno pogosto, da naši jazzisti posnamejo album z Reggiejem Workmanom, med drugim članom kvarteta Johna Coltrana in »živo legendo«, kakor so ga leta 1995 poimenovali pri afroameriškem zgodovinskem in kulturnem muzeju v Filadelfiji. In prav to je uspelo Igorju Bezgetu in Lenartu Krečiču v projektu Statements, pri katerem poleg Workmana igrata še prav tako veteranski bobnar Gerry Hemingway in, sicer manj znana, a nič manj izvrstna japonska pianistka Yayoi Ikawa. Album, ki nosi ime projekta, je bil posnet v ZDA že leta 2004, pa je zaradi spleta (kreativnim glasbenikom nenaklonjenih) okoliščin izšel šele lani pri Bezgetovi založbi Sensor Records.
»Naša dva jazzerja, Bezget in Krečič, sta se imenitno ujela z izkušenimi starimi mački in odlično zapopadla kompleksno glasbo, ki prikliče tako duha prevratniških svobodnjaških 60-ih let, kakor tudi modernih freejazevskih snovanj.« (Radio Študent)
Reggie Workman, ki je dejaven več kot štirideset let, je bil svojevrsten mentor tako Krečiču kot pianistki Yayoi Ikawa; Krečič je na newyorško New School University prišel prav na pobudo Workmana, ki je Yayoi Ikawa, ko je bil njen profesor, spodbujal k odkrivanju avantgardne jazzovske glasbe. Bezget, ki je študiral v avstrijskem Linzu, je dejaven v jazzovskih ter tudi rockovskih in etno projektih (npr. zasedba Sagar); v zadnjih igra na arabsko lutnjo, ki jo je slišati tudi pri Statements. Workman je poleg igranja na ključnem albumu A Love Supreme Johna Coltrana sodeloval z mnogimi jazzovskimi imenitneži, kot so Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers, Eric Dolphy, Max Roach, Archie Shepp, Andrew Hill, Mal Waldron in Thelonious Monk. Tudi Hemingway je večkrat sodeloval z mojstri jazza; omenimo le, da je bil član slovitega kvarteta Anthonyja Braxtona.
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Although Slovenian jazzmen regularly join forces with acknowledged foreign musicians, be it at odd gigs, on albums, or in more permanent line-ups, it is not so common for them to make a record with Reggie Workman, among others member of the John Coltrane Quartet and a “living legend”, a title in 1995 conferred on the artist by the African-American Historical and Cultural Museum in Philadelphia. In the Statements, Slovenians Igor Bezget and Lenart Krečič have succeeded in accomplishing just that. Aside from Workman, the setup also features veteran drummer Gerry Hemingway and less prominent but nevertheless outstanding Japanese pianist Yayoi Ikawa. The project’s eponymous album was recorded in the USA already in 2004, but adverse circumstances (unfavourable to creative musicians) prolonged its release to last year under Bezget’s Sensor Records label.
“Our two jazzmen, Bezget and Krečič, remarkably hit it off with experienced old hands and excellently grasped the complex music that evokes the spirit of the subversive and liberal 1960s, as well as modern free jazz creations.” (Radio Študent)
Active for over 40 decades, Reggie Workman served as a certain mentor to Krečič as well as pianist Yayoi Ikawa; Krečič was admitted to the New School University in New York City on Workman’s initiative. Ikawa’s professor, he encouraged her to delve deeper into avant-garde jazz music. Bezget, who studied at Linz, Austria, is dedicated to jazz, as well as rock and ethno projects (e.g. Sagar ensemble); in this setting he plays the oud, which is also featured in Statements. Apart from contributing bass to John Coltrane’s key recording, A Love Supreme, Workman has worked with a number of jazz luminaries, including Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers, Eric Dolphy, Max Roach, Archie Shepp, Andrew Hill, Mal Waldron and Thelonious Monk. Hemingway’s career has also been shaped by various collaborations with jazz notables; among others, he participated in the celebrated Anthony Braxton Quartet.