Just checking the bio of Joo Kraus and I am amazed to find the man in the baseball cap with seemingly boundless energy onstage is undertaking his 60th Anniversary tour this year. A perfect time to reflect on those 60 years and also a perfect subject for the very first ‘Jazzportrait’ presentation by Christian Ottens (aka Yassmo).
Not so long ago there was a popular show from Cologne’s Altes Pfandhaus. ‘Talkin’ Blues’ introduced by Bonn’s own Richard Bargel and journalist Vincent Abbatte featuring a mix of music and interview with visiting musicians. It’s an interesting mix that I’m glad to see re-introduced, this time with a Jazz theme and in Bonn at the Dottendorfer Kulturzentrum.
Joo Kraus is one of those musicians who doesn’t fit easily into a genre box. He can play straight jazz trumpet wonderfully, slips into scat singing with ease, rapping with the best of them, before finishing off with a funk tempo, all often in the same piece of music. Someone (foolishly I suspect) tried to define the sound as ‘Hip-Jazz’ but even Kraus isn’t sure what that’s supposed to mean: “I can’t really explain. hip-hop maybe in the style of Miles Davis”. But that’s a great thing about Jazz he says. Classical training taught him that playing Classical Music is much more ordered. It’s all about not making a mistake, he points out, whereas Jazz gives you freedom of expression – to make mistakes and even build on them to become more creative.
The conversation shifts to early career highs and in particular visiting Havanna in the early 2000’s. Making music with musicians who were playing worn out instruments that would be thrown away here in Germany, but in the hands of the players in Cuba made great music. The result was a CD ‘Sueno’ and an early recording of Kraus in Bonn playing the album at Altes Wasserwerk in 2010 (HERE). He spoke too of early days touring with German Jazzrock giants Kraan. What is planned in this Anniversary year? Seemingly a lot! Tours and a number of possible CD releases are on the itinerary he says with a bright enthusiasm that makes it clear, Joo Kraus is 60 years YOUNG!
As much as the talking part of this evening’s show was entertaining it was also clear that, like any great musician, they are most eloquent when playing music. The line-up of Kraus together with Christian/Yassmo on keys and Richard Munchhoff on drums really was inspired. A punchy, modern, almost rock sound that was a joy to hear. From the gentle opener ‘Leaves’, through a funky ‘Chaka Boom’, then a nod to one of Kraus’s favourite bands with the Stylistics ‘People make the World go round’ and last, but by no means least, a lively encore of Herb Alpert’s ‘Rise’. Highlight of the evening though was a totally improvised jam that showed the quality of the musical trio onstage and emphasised why Kraus was so right in his observation that Jazz music gives you a freedom of expression rarely offered in other styles – It might have been the moment to make one of those ‘mistakes’ that going off on your own can create. But if any of them did, I didn’t spot it. A great evening and a great start to ‘Jazzportrait’ from Dottendorf.
The second ‘Jazzportrait’ is already scheduled, guest is Claus Fischer on 2 May.
Joo Kraus will be back with a full set of music at the DottendorferJazznacht on 2 October.
TICKETS HERE Get there early!
