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New JAZZ KANGAROOS album awarded in Paris / International reviews

"Relaxed, timeless, entertaining, classy, swinging"

Awarded the *COULEURS JAZZ HIT* in Paris!

as well as
5 Stars*****: Action Jazz
5 Stars*****: InMusic
4 Stars****: Jazz Journal International
4 Stars**** Music & Sound: Fono Forum
4 Stars**** Music & Sound: Stereo

 


The new album CHRIS HOPKINS meets the JAZZ KANGAROOS LIVE! Vol. 1
was recently awarded the *COULEURS JAZZ HIT* in Paris.

>A team whose homogeneity makes a significant contribution to the success of a project, which values a tradition that is far from evoking a sterile reconstruction of the past and at the same time fits our time in the most authentic way.<
 

First quotes from the international press:

 
5 Stars**** out of 5
>'Can’t we be friends' begins the album, a question to which we immediately answer yes! To have such friends offering you their talent would be a chance. The American pianist and leader Chris Hopkins, living for a long time in Germany, is a master of the genre. Pure Swing, always alert. Very good classical jazz, for all audiences<
ACTION JAZZ (France)
 
5 Stars**** out of 5
>Ein virtuoser und begeisternder Vocal-Swing Jazz, wie man ihn so furios selten live zu hören bekommt.<
INMUSIC
 
4 Stars****
>All in all, highly enjoyable small-group jazz of top quality, with more volumes presumably to follow.<
JAZZ JOURNAL INTERNATIONAL

4 Stars**** for Music & Sound
"Entspannte Leichtigkeit. Erfrischend unprätentiös"
FONO FORUM (Germany)

4 Stars**** for Music & Sound
>Ein mächtig swingendes Live-Stelldichein.<
STEREO (Germany)

>A fun CD which should appeal to a wide audience, especially those who love melody and swing.<
THE SYNCOPATED TIMES (USA)

>The kangaroos are distinguished by a wide variety of styles and influences. We also know pianist Chris Hopkins as the alto player of his chamber jazz combo Echoes of Swing. While his alto usually sounds full, round and lyrical, his piano playing is playful and adventurous. George Washingmachine also sings, when was the last time you heard a vocal version of Russian lullaby? When he dims the lights - 'When Lights Are Low' - Tony Bennett appears to be grinning broadly in the shadows.<
DOCTOR JAZZ MAGAZINE (The Netherlands)

>The synthesis is particularly successful on 'Russian Lullaby' where Hopkins and Washingmachine compete in verve and swing while, even in the evocation of Django, Blenkhorn's playing remains very steeped in blues. George Washingmachine is also a singer, who does not lack character, and this undoubtedly contributes to his success.<
JAZZ HOT (France)

>Empathic and great swing music anno at any time. When it is performed by four front-end musicians who obviously love this music, it is easy to have fun and find this as a travel companion for dark and sour autumn evenings. Otherwise in the year also by the way.<
NYHETER (Norway)

>An excellent opportunity for good swing fun, in which both cheerful songs, jazz standards and the mood of jazz introduce the joy of making music together.<
JAZZ.PL (Poland)

>Great sound, dynamics and swing, and it seems, the musicians themselves received no less pleasure from the performance than the audience. Judging by the fact that Vol.1 is mentioned in the title, allows us to hope for the release of new albums of this project in the future.<
JAZZ QUAD (Belarus)

>A relaxed and decorous jazz celebration with an unusual lineup. Highly recommended.<
CD HOT LIST (USA)

>A jazz combo of top soloists present a very inspiring record of swinging, intelligent and melodic improvisations with the soul of jazz. You just can't keep your feet still during the irresistible drive of this quartet - a rousing interpretation, which immediately captivates. Fresh, timeless jazz, without the slightest hint of nostalgia.<
AUSTRALIAN JAZZ MUSEUM (Australia)
 
> These cats are having a ball playing this music! Chris Hopkins, American-born but a long-time resident of Germany, is also an accomplished alto saxophonist, but sticks to the piano for this concert. Washingmachine is a swinging violinist in the Grappelli tradition, and he vocalizes with the kind of jazz sensibility that so many musicians who play this music possess. Elton provides strong rhythmic support and shines particularly on the Oscar Pettiford jazz classic, “Blues in the Closet.” Blenkhorn is an eclectic player, a straight-ahead swinger who lets you know that he has absorbed plenty of Django Reinhardt. Put them together and these cats are having a ball playing this music. You will be similarly pleased when you listen to it.<
JERSEY JAZZ (USA)
 
>A very musical, very invigorating, very swinging record.
The good and real jazz is still alive. Thanks to Chris Hopkins and three dynamic kangaroos!<
SWING FM (France)

>Ein Sound mit Gute-Laune-Garantie, der eingängig, entspannt, packend und zeitlos ist.<
CRESCENDO (Germany)

>Die unbändige Freude, mit der sich das Quartett durch das American Songbook und Eigenkompositionen spielt, dabei die unterschiedlichsten Stile auskostet, überträgt sich magisch auf den Hörer.<
WAZ KULTUR (Germany)

>Großartig!<
GÖTZ ALSMANN, Entertainer/Jazz-Connaisseur, WDR/DLF (Germany)

>Locker und relaxt in einer so mitreißenden Interpretation, die sofort gefangen nimmt und belegt, dass es Jazz gibt, der ganz eindeutig klassische Musik ist, ohne den geringsten Anflug von Nostalgie: Dieses Quartett von Pianist Chris Hopkins (USA/D) mit drei Solisten aus Australien (daher „Jazz Kangaroos“) begeistert mit Musik, denen kein passenderes Prädikat vergeben werden kann, als mit der der Bezeichnung: frischer, zeitloser Jazz. Es ist eine Platte mit swingend-intelligenten und melodischen Improvisationen, welche die Seele des Jazz offen legt und daher begeistert. Dass, wie es eine kleine Karikatur des französischen Trompeters Michel „Boss“ Quéraud im Cover illustriert, jeder der Vier beim herrlichen Miteinander musikalisch immer noch ein weiteres „As im Ärmel hat“, zeigt sich nicht nur im Titel 'Russian Lullaby'. Eine Jazzcombo mit Top-Solisten, die keinerlei Vergleich zu scheuen braucht.<
SWINGING HAMBURG JOURNAL (Germany)
 
>Witzig-spritziger und lässig-origineller Gypsy Swing<
OBERALLGÄUER KULTUR (Germany)

>Jazz auf die lässige Art<
RHEINISCHE POST (Germany)

>Es macht einfach Freude, wie variationsreich Hopkins mit seinem Quartett unterschiedliche Stilistiken und Grooves des 'traditionellen Jazz’ bedient… und dies auf eine sympathisch-gewitzte Art („sophisticated“) in einer frischen und erfrischenden Neuinterpretation.<
NRW JAZZ (Germany)

>Inspirierte Improvisationen in ungewöhnlicher Besetzung. Die vier harmonieren perfekt.<
WESTFÄLISCHER ANZEIGER (Germany)

>Höchst vergnüglich, wunder- und stimmungsvoll, swingend, temperamentvoll. Ein mitreißenden Programm arrangiert, in das man sich genußvoll fallen lassen kann, ein knappes Stündchen, das einfach nur Freude macht – und fraglos unser Prädikat verdient, den Musenkuß. Mit Ungeduld warten wir auf Vol. 2!<
MUSENBLÄTTER (Germany)
 
>A very musical, very invigorating, very swinging record.
The good and real jazz is still alive. Thanks to Chris Hopkins and three dynamic kangaroos!<
SWING FM (France)
 
>We are swept away by this 'Live!' recording. This is exactly what it takes to remind us if need be that life may be difficult for us, but it is always happy. All of this is very well done and it's one of those little pleasures that we love to hear again.<
NOTES DE JAZZ (France)
 
>Relaxed, timeless playing<
JAZZRYTMIT (Finland)
 
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First CHRIS HOPKINS piano solo album reissued!

 

After being out of print for many years Chris Hopkins' first piano solo album "DAYBREAK" - recorded in 2000 - has been reissued again. A true collectors item - not only because of the youthful cover picture (foto: Sascha Kletzsch).

More details:
CD-SHOP



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