Matthias Frey - Trails and Traces

The German pianist has spent a lot of time listening to fusionists like Return to Forever, Weather Report, Pat Metheny and the Yellowjackets (as well as Chick Corea's acoustic groups and the acoustic pianism of Keith Jarrett). It isn't that Frey and sidemen Büdi Siebert (sax, flute, clarinet), Ramesh Shotham (who plays traditional South Indian percussion instruments), Christoph Haberer (drums) and Wolfgang Tiepold (cello) inundate the listener with rock or funk rhythms. Frey doesn't hide his affection for Weather Report, Metheny or Corea's Return to Forever any more than he hides his affection for Jarrett. While it's important to know who has influenced the acoustic pianist's charming, reflective compositions, one should realize that Frey is his own person and that ultimately, he sounds like no one but himself.- by Alex Henderson, AMG

Artist: Matthias Frey
Album: Trails and Traces
Year: 1998
Label: Inakustik
Runtime: 65:45

Tracks:
1.  Heart Times 5:46
2.  Two Eagels 7:19
3.  Farewell Curraghduff 7:27
4.  Feed The Monkey 7:09
5.  Sun In The East 7:38
6.  Catch The Horses 5:36
7.  Pick Up The Trails 7:17
8.  Crossing The Bridge 5:12
9.  Rain In The Gardens Of Love 7:37
10.  Dance Under The Crimson Moon 4:38
All compositions by Matthias Frey

Personnel:
Matthias Frey (Piano, Prepared Piano and Keyboards)
Ramesh Shotham (Ghatam, Kanjira, Dholak, Morsing, Drums and Shaker)
Büdi Siebert (Saxophone, Clarinet and Flute) - 1,3,5,6,9,10
Chris Jones (Acoustic Guitar) - 1,3,4,10
Thomas Kagerman (Violin and Vocals) - 2-6,10
Cristoph Haberer (Drums and Percussions) - 1,3,5-9
Wolfgang Tiepold (Cello) - 2,4,8
Laura Ramey (Vocals) - 3,4,6,7,10
Martin O'Sullivan (Thin Whistle) - 3
Nisse Holsten (Flute) - 3,4,7,10
Ferdinand Försch (Percussion and Bass) - 4,7