CONCERT | MATTHIAS LOESCHER’S “SONGS OF LIFE”
The new program of guitarist and composer Matthias Loescher tells stories of everyday life – stories of love, fear, joy, sadness and beauty; stories that are part of our everyday existence as humans. Songs of Life marks a turning point in Loescher’s career. While he previously exploited the benefits of contemporary studio productions in his releases, this project reaches back to pure music documentation without any additional production or edits in a studio setting: Songs of Life documents real-time moments without alteration.
Both as a composer and guitarist, Matthias Loescher has a reputation of moving far beyond stylistic restrictions. Loescher’s premise is good music – genre and style are of secondary importance in that regard. Parts of Songs of Life were premiered at the Celebrate Austria – Week in Ottawa (Canada) with guest singer and Thelonious Monk Competition winner, Jazzmeia Horn. In 2016, the finished song cycle was recorded with guest singers Kennedy, Jay White and Jonathan Hoard.
ARTISTS
Matthias Loescher – guitar, composition
Jonathan Hoard – voice
Kennedy – voice
Akie Bermiss – voice
Phantom Knoet – spoken word
ABOUT MATTHIAS LOESCHER
As a native Austrian, Loescher was raised in Salzburg with classical music. Bach, Mozart and Schubert were ubiquitous throughout his childhood and left a deep imprint on his preference and affection for the “Lied”. The musical infrastructure of the “Lied” remained in the focus of Loescher’s studies during his days at the Anton Bruckner Privat Universität (Linz, Austria) and as a Fulbright Student at SUNY Purchase College (NY, USA) in which he did extensive research covering the great American Songbook, Soul and RnB Classics, and many other genres. His master’s thesis covered a detailed analysis of Thelonious Monk’s compositions. Consequently, his research led him to the old Delta Blues recordings of artists such as Robert Johnson and Skip James.
Critically acclaimed and multi- award-winning guitarist Matthias ‘Pedals’ Loescher, works as a freelancing musician and composer and currently lives in New York City. He is featured on many records and released seven albums as a leader/co-leader. His resume includes international concerts in clubs and festivals, TV and radio broadcasts, live studio recordings, and album productions. He is a co-founding member with Stephan Kondert of THE RUFF PACK, a band that combines elements of Jazz and Hip Hop. They tour extensively in Europe and the USA and have produced several successful albums. Matthias Loescher was awarded the prestigious Austrian ’Salzburger Jahresstipendium für Musik in 2011’ prize. Loescher currently tours and records with Miss Lauryn Hill and has performed and/or collaborated with artists such as Nas, Common, Seun Kuti, S.K. Invitational, Nuf Said, David Murray, China Moses, Akua Naru, Gregory Hutchinson, Lorenz Raab, Lee Hogans, Hamid Drake, Doug Wimbish, and many others.
For the artist’s website please click >>here.
(C) Donte Mash