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SAM (SLICK ALEXIUS MENNIGMANN)

Jazz Rock/Fusion • Germany


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SAM (Slick Alexius Mennigmann) picture
SAM (Slick Alexius Mennigmann) biography
Julie SLICK, Peter ALEXIUS and Marc MENNIGMANN are a progressive rock trio called SAM. The idea for a group came to be when ALEXIUS and MENNIGMANN were impressed by SLICK's bass playing on the concert of the ADRIAN BELEW POWER TRIO. Afterwards they produced her solo album 'Terroir' and decided to bring SLICK to Germany to make a record and do some concerts. The result of one week in studio was 11 hours of improvised music they called progressive free jazz rock, on which SLICK played the bass, ALEXIUS was acommpanied by another guitarist Zaki KIOKAKIS, MENNIGMANN's main instrument was the Chapman stick, and the drummer was Sven KOSAKOWSKI. Best takes from this session were selected to make up the almost 3 hour long album 'Another Life' and EP 'Yet Another Life', recommended to those who might enjoy experimental and yet tuneful and groovy collection of improvised jazz rock.

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SAM (SLICK ALEXIUS MENNIGMANN) top albums (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

4.00 | 2 ratings
Another Life
2013

SAM (SLICK ALEXIUS MENNIGMANN) Live Albums (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

SAM (SLICK ALEXIUS MENNIGMANN) Videos (DVD, Blu-ray, VHS etc)

SAM (SLICK ALEXIUS MENNIGMANN) Boxset & Compilations (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

SAM (SLICK ALEXIUS MENNIGMANN) Official Singles, EPs, Fan Club & Promo (CD, EP/LP, MC, Digital Media Download)

3.00 | 1 ratings
Yet Another Life
2013

SAM (SLICK ALEXIUS MENNIGMANN) Reviews


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 Another Life by SAM (SLICK ALEXIUS MENNIGMANN) album cover Studio Album, 2013
4.00 | 2 ratings

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Another Life
SAM (Slick Alexius Mennigmann) Jazz Rock/Fusion

Review by snobb
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator

4 stars Originally reviewed on www.jazzmusicarchives.com

More than forty years ago, a then unknown American jazz-rock band with a pronounced horn section debuted with a double album that mixed raw instrumental jams with artsy pop tunes - and it opened up stairways to stardom. During the following decades, some artists have tried to repeat Chicago Transit Authority's brave trick, but usually without success. The German-American trio, SAM, debuted just a few weeks ago with a double album as well - or in today's world, that means a double CD with 160 minutes of music, and it is fully improvised. What is this - a naive step or risky business?

SAM is not your typical left-field DIY homegrown enthusiasts trying to introduce the world to any sound they were able to produce out of their kitchen. German Chapman Stick player Marc Mennigmann and guitarist Peter Alexius have decades of musical experience, and American bassist Julie Slick is a member of Adrian Belew's Power trio. .

"Another Life" opens with a controlled distorted bass boosting high energy vibes which may remind you of this trio's obvious influence - 80s King Crimson music. But, very soon you will find that they are far from a KC clone. In fact, this trio's compositions are perfectly organized and framed for improvised music. They use German krautrock repetitive schemes (slightly psychedelic in moments), Fripp-Belew era King Crimson angular guitar/Stick constructions and free jazz improvisational freedom transformed via complex free-rock virtuosity to produce a unique mix (progressive free-rock?). Opposite to jamming, SAM's music sounds like a well engineered art engine, generating ideas and fulfilling them at the same time with solidity and professionalism.

Don't be afraid of the huge amount of improvised music you will need to listen to - generally this album sounds like it contains composed material, sort of a free form well organised suite. You don't know where all this started, nor what is the final target, but there is not even a short moment that sounds directionless. The fantastic thing is that during the entire 160 minutes, something is always happening, you never have a chance to become bored!

I own an expensive French Cabassi audio/hi-fi system in my car, which is almost useless most of time - its rare when music sounds really great on it. Regular radio stations broadcast music with lots of middle frequencies in the mix which sounds flat and plasticky as on any cheap mp3 player. Only rare acoustic and aerial music with clear high and low ends and great instrument separation in the sound mix creates a miracle - in a car you feel like you are in a live concert. A few weeks ago, when traveling for a longer trip, by chance I listened to the radio play early Bill Evans albums - the music sounded fantastic! I tried to play "Another Life" in my car another day - and it works!

I see this album as being the ideal companion to any advanced improvisational rock or jazz rock lover on his longer autobahn trip - and I am really going to try to listen to this album in full on my nearest planned 3-hours long trip to the seaside coming up this September. Back to the music - it sounds like a perfect product of German engineering, the musical companion to a BMW sedan, well balanced, energetic, enthusiastic, full of controlled power, reliable but not dry or pedantic at all.

Thanks to historian9 for the artist addition.

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