Matti Klein Soul Trio [ Soul Jazz]

“They deserve to be HUGE everywhere. (…) make sure you catch ‘em.” – JAZZWISE Live-Review

“A smokin’ hot series of sessions featuring Klein and his superb band. Lars Zander on tenor is just sensational, and his forays on bass clarinet add even more grit to the hard-swinging proceedings.” – JAZZWISE

The Matti Klein Soul Trio brings together three like-minded soul mates in the name of groove, who forge an independent trail beyond the much-travelled paths of Hammond organ trios. The warm Wurlitzer sounds of band leader Matti Klein, who has already graced the most important jazz clubs in New York, Tokyo, London, and Paris with the funk-jazz formation Mo’ Blow and the Brazilian yacht-pop heavyweight Ed Motta, are at the centre of the sound.

In the low frequency range of his soul trio, the sound of a modified 1973 Fender Rhodes piano bass provides a comforting tingling sensation in your belly. This rarely encountered instrument is a unique feature of the group, as is Lars Zander’s love of experimentation on tenor saxophone and bass clarinet. In addition to his expressive solos in the wake of Stanley Turrentine, Bennie Maupin or Maceo Parker, he almost becomes an additional synth player and bassist with the tasteful use of sound effects. The soul trio is also characterised by an unabashed passion for odd metres, which, thanks to drummer André Seidel’s bouncy playing, literally doesn’t feel so odd at all. Not many drummers beyond New Orleans are likely to have such an elastic funk groove ability.

The Berlin-based trio have now played well over 200 concerts all over the world, including performances at the Port-au-Prince International Jazz Festival in Haiti, Pori Jazz in Finland and on a UK tour. Matti Klein’s compositions enable the trio’s capability to captivate and delight an audience almost instantly. On the one hand, the songs give space for the band’s improvisations full of passion and humour. On the other hand, they are based on highly personal experiences that are transformed into detailed musical narratives – vibrant soul jazz and instrumental funk of The Meters or The Crusaders sit organically alongside hip-hop elements or spacy post-rock. Every note emphasizes how much Klein is passionate about creating a soulful connection with his audience.

It is therefore no surprise that soul gourmets such as BBC radio legend Robert Elms and German pop star Max Mutzke are raving about the trio. And the media response to the band’s live shows and two albums so far also speaks for itself. “It grooves tremendously”, was the verdict of the national radio channel Deutschlandfunk and the British magazine Jazzwise clearly stated: “A new, smoking’ hot twist on the much-loved organ trio format. They deserve to be huge everywhere!”.

This performance is a part of the “Bouncin’ In Bubbleverse” release tour.

Line up
Matti Klein – wurlitzer, fender rhodes bass piano
Lars Zander – bass clarinet, tenor saxophone
André Seidel – drums