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GROTESK

Jazz Rock/Fusion • Germany


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Grotesk biography
GROTESK was one more side project conceived by the members of AERA, namely Muck GROH and Wolfgang TESKE. In this fusion project only saxophonist Ulrich LASK (from the more experimental jazz band LASK) and clarinet player Theo JORGENSMANN were not members of AERA.

::historian9::

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GROTESK discography


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3.07 | 8 ratings
Grotesk
1980
3.94 | 13 ratings
Grotesk 2
1980

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GROTESK Reviews


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 Grotesk 2 by GROTESK album cover Studio Album, 1980
3.94 | 13 ratings

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Grotesk 2
Grotesk Jazz Rock/Fusion

Review by Mellotron Storm
Prog Reviewer

4 stars This is a good album with lots of variety which usually means it's going to be "hit and miss" for me and it is. GROTESK are from Germany and they came up with the band's name by combining Muck Groh and Wolfgang Teske's last names. Three of the guys were either present or past members of AERA and I have to mention AERA's "Hand Und Fuss" album from 1977 as one of my favourite Jazz related albums, so good! So bass, drums, guitar and keyboards are from the AERA musicians and they added a sax and a clarinet player making this a five piece band. They released two studio albums and this is the second one.

My two favourite songs are first "Salome" with that Indian horn and style which adds some fire and energy. Almost 8 minutes long and we get plenty of atmosphere contrasted with that Indian mode. Also despite it's title "The Tramp" is the most memorable song on here. A warm and melodic piece with a bass/ drum foundation. The opener has an Electronic vibe with those synths early on before turning into Jazz territory. It ends like it began. "Dream Dancin" has this WIGWAM flavour so it's kind of cool.

Not big on "Yeah" with that horn over top with synths as bass and drums support. Electric piano leads for a while as the horn steps aside then we get dual horns as the piano steps aside. "Voice Of The Lyricon" is 15 1/2 minutes long and it starts off experimental for around 3 1/2 minutes before kicking into a catchy groove. Bass leads 5 minutes in. More experimental stuff then a drum solo around 8 1/2 minutes in that lasts almost 3 minutes. Then it turns jazzy with walking bass and the whole bit. Horns and organ to the spotlight a couple of minutes later. The closer is short and bright. It's okay.

Despite there being a couple of "misses" on here I'm really impressed with this album. The horns are inventive at times dissonant and while the synths don't always do a lot for me I feel this is a 4 star record. Easy to tell that these guys are ultra talented.

 Grotesk by GROTESK album cover Studio Album, 1980
3.07 | 8 ratings

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Grotesk
Grotesk Jazz Rock/Fusion

Review by apps79
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator

3 stars Grotesk evolved in 1980 out of the collaboration of ex-Aera's Muck Groh and Wolfgang Teske, also a former member of Aera and also of Prosper, in the first's album ''Mucke[%*!#]''.The name of the band, where Groh played bass and guitar and Teske handled both drums and guitars, came from the surnames of the two musicians: Gro(h)tesk.They were joined by Theo Joergensmann on clarinet, an early member of Contact Trio, and Ulrich Lask on tenor and alto saxophone.Their self-produced debut was pressed in about 500 copies.

Grotesk similarities with AERA are undoubtful, but their music evokes more to early KRAAN, filled with psychedelic, jazzy jams and plenty of ethnic references, led by the loose rhythmic lines, the somewhat funky guitars of Groh and Teske and the dual executions on saxes and clarinet.They came up with an inventive atmosphere, which sometimes combined pleasant tunes over dark-sounding sax and clarinet soloing, while there are also some very interesting acoustic crescendos to be found among the electric moves.It's not of course all about neverending solos, the duo of Joergensmann and Lask will often explore more melodic aspects of their instruments and they sure are the leading forces of the album.Despite the presence of both Groh and Teske on guitars, these are often left in the background, second side contains a more pronounced guitar flavor and definitely a more balanced sound with interesting, jazzy solos.Overall the atmosphere is pleasant and the music alternates between psychedelic abnormalities and smooth Jazz with comfort.

Produced in 1980, but sounding like an early-70's album.KRAAN-influenced Kraut/Jazz Rock with emphasis on sax and clarinet, having a discreet Funk edge in some of its parts.Interesting and recommended.

Thanks to evolver for the artist addition.

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