BIOGRAPHY
Defining the new - rediscovering the familiar.
German-American jazz pianist Benny Lackner lived in the US almost 20 years, and about half of that in NYC. In the States he studied at the California Institute of the Arts under the direction of Charlie Haden and his mentor Brad Mehldau. He played many major jazz-clubs and festivals and formed his own trio that got a name for its personal way of interpreting standards as well as covers of songs of the current generation. His Trio's approach to both its original material and compositions ranging from Monk to Prince fuses intensity with unintrusive virtuosity. These reharmonizations of the familiar give the traditional form of piano trio a new identity and purpose in our own time.
Lackner's fourth Album, CACHUMA is a "...snapshot of the moment where everything is in harmony with itself...". "CACHUMA tells about the joy of listening, trying not to overstate while remaining open to surprises. It's about developing patience in one's work without losing the passion, and about the discipline of focusing on the step-by-step process without forcing the result. It's about knowing when to obsess about detail, when to control your thoughts and when to let go.. ". CACHUMA is about the quest for balance between clarity and deliberate vagueness, deep meaning and a playful lightness of being." CACHUMA is about that feeling of living in exile - trying to feel at home everywhere while craving a real home.
Benny Lackner manages to incorporate this theme of being in two places at once into his pieces. In Brooklyn / Berlin, two world cities fight each other aggressively until they melt and harmonize together into a one heartbeat. Lola's Dance is about the cat that was left behind in Brooklyn - an expression of love that manages to stay clear of the corny while going into depths that are indeed very touching. Find your Place and I can do whatever I Want, tell about a limitless freedom and a fear of being caged in by ones own need for creativity. Lackner departs from and returns to the new old place where he is from: defining new territory while rediscovering the familiar. Danger, chance, fortune and insanity all in one present moment. Lackner's album is constantly moving, like the ocean between the two continents that he inhabits. CACHUMA tells stories that never get old: with each new listen the songs unfold anew, like the intercontinental currents swirling surface between his two countries.
Developing CACHUMA with a new rhythm section of European musicians further deepens the bi-continental theme. "...This album marks a new beginning for me.." says Lackner, "...All the compositions where inspired by the particular group of ind viduals in this new trio. " The drummer, Matthieu Chazarenc, breathes life into the melodies with a new fire, drive and dynamic contrast that matches the songs perfectly. For each tune he has composed drum parts that are fully composed yet leave room for improvisation. Chazarenc studied at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique in Paris with Daniel Humair and took private lessons with John Riley and Kenny Washington in New York. He has worked with musicians such as Mark Turner, Sheila Jordan, Robert Glasper, und Magic Malik. The bassist, Jérôme Regard, studied at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique Paris. He is constantly on the road playing festivals with the likes of Jan Garbarek, Manu Katché and Michel Legrand. Benny Lackner says: "Jérômes mighty bass sound, clear and deep, leaves no room for doubt and allows me to float over the groove or to dance with it in harmony....
The making of CACHUMA is life changing for me - through working with my French colleagues it is slowly becoming clear that I could live in Europe full time - a very pleasing thought that will help me find peace in my quest for a new home. "
Born in Berlin, Benny Lackner, moved to California at the age of 13. He received his BFA from the California Institute of the Arts under the direction of Charlie Haden and David Roitstein. From 1997 - 1998 he studied privately with his mentor, pianist Brad Mehldau. He has performed at numerous jazz festivals including the North Sea Jazz Festival, Montreux and Monterey. He has worked with artists such as the late Billy Higgins, Marc Ribot, Brad Shepik, Pheeroan akLaff and is now residing in NYC and Berlin where is working with his internationally touring trio and as a sideman and Composer.
Jerôme Regard (bass) studied at the Conservatoire National Lyon as well as at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique Paris with Jean-François Jenny Clark. He has performed at numerous Jazz-Festivals worldwide. Musicians he has worked with include Jan Garbarek, Flavio Boltro, Rosario Guilliani, Louis Winsberg, Michel Perez, André Ceccarelli, Sylvain Beuf, Sylvain Luc, Manu Codjia, Daniel Mille, Eric Legnini, Médéric Collignon, Alfio Origlio, Alex Tassel, Sylvain Gontard, Laurent Robin, Emil Spanyi, Nicolas Folmer, Pierre Drevet, Eric Prost, Marcia Maria, Stéphane Huchard, Jean Pierre Como, Eric Echampard, Rick Margitza, Le Micromégas, David Patrois, Eric Seva, Thierry Heliez, Zool Flecher, Laurent Cugny, Pierre Alain Goualch, Benjamin Henocq, Stéphane Chausse, Laurent De Wilde, Michel Legrand, Denis Leloup, Manuel Rocheman, Olivier Ker Ourio…Jerome lives and teaches in Lyon, France.
Matthieu Chazarenc (drums) was born in 1977 in the south-west part of France. Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris practising drums under the direction of Daniel Humair. He has also studied privately with Jeff Ballard, Ari Hoenig, Kenny Washington and John Riley. During his career, Matthieu played with David Linx, Laika Fatien, Marcia Maria, Sheila Jordan, Youn Sun Nah, Sarah Lazarus, Paolo Fresu, Flavio Boltro, Nicolas Folmer, Eric Lelann, Manuel Rocheman, Robert Glasper, Giovanni Mirabassi, Antonio Farao, Pierre de Bethman, Harmen Fraanje, Bernard Maury, Frank Woeste, Jeff Gardner, Alain Jean Marie, Pierre-Alain Goualch, Benjamin Moussay, Mark Turner, Rosario Giuliani, Pierrick Pedron, Olivier Thémime, François Theberge, Stéphane Guillaume, Riccardo del Fra, Dominique Di Piazza, Frédéric Monino, Hein Van de Geyn, Daniel Yvinek, Michel Benita, Nelson Veras, Louis Winsberg, Jean Marie Ecay, Jérome Barde, Manu Codjia, Frédéric Favarel, Misha Fitzgerald, Glenn Ferris, Denis Leloup, Olivier Ker Ourio, Magic Malik...Matthieu lives in Paris, France.
