UNKL

Bio

"Stimulating soundscapes created out of a rhythmic structure lead the musicians and audience into a place of musical possibilities" UNKL is an experimental modern jazz quartet based in Berlin, Germany. Their origional music began in Cleveland, Ohio in 1997 with the collaboration of Josh Yellon and Gary Hoopengardner and has since become a working rhythmic group. Describing their music as 'modernjazzbeats', UNKL combines Jazz, Rock and Indian rhythmic elements into progressive compositions focusing on odd meters and spontaneous interplay. This rhythmic base gives them a structure to overlay different tonal harmonic improvisations and work together to create a fresh sound. Performing music within the shifting parameters of quartet, trio, duo and solo, the band strives to challenge their own compositions and offer the listener new experiences. They have shared the stage with such artists as Charlie Hunter, Ken Vandermark and the Sun Ra Arkestra. The quartet's version of John Coltrane's Naima so impressed the jazz master's wife, Alice Coltrane, that she gave the band her blessing for the track to be included on their first CD. Their music can be listened to on radio stations in North America, Germany, Italy, Japan, Ukraine and Greece.

Latest Blog Entries

touring

posted on Apr 18 at 11:26 am | 1 comment

Kalle is having another baby which we're all excited about but which will also continue to damper our touring efforts. We will continue to play in Berlin and around Germany but another US tour or Japan for that matter is looking grim at best. But what we are going to do is release some live shows (internet only, burn em yourself) and we're cooking up some out shit for a studio session in the fall. In order to facilitate our new approach I'm tearing down the old www.UNKL.de and...

Comments

TheCapitalClinic said:

posted on Apr 19 at 9:14 am

RKJ kindly allowed me to reprint the following discussion on UNKL for Fuzz Fans [also we should check out Everblue] TCC

RKL: Sure. Go ahead and paste my reply. And please do keep on sending along recommendations. Oh, I have one of my own. Have you heard Everblue? They have the perfect sound.

------- Original message (Apr 18, 5:33 pm) -------

TCC: I'm glad you like them. I was just site surfing at Fuzz and noted the group registering from Germany which piqued my curiousity. When I then learned their genre was mainly jazz, I just checked the one song, haddad, that was uploaded. I liked it so much that I contacted UNKL and encouraged them to upload some more. To my delight, ghoop, one of the co-founders, complied and now Fuzz users get to enjoy more of their stuff. Why don't you comment publically, to help them out? [Or, only with your permission, I can "copy and paste" our exchange.]

------- Original message (Apr 18, 4:52 pm) -------

RKJ: Thnx for suggesting UNKL. Their sound is different from my usual favs. But I like them. Especially the last piece, Quiet Now.

How did you find out about them?

------- Original message (Apr 18, 1:26 pm) -------

Hey ruthkjohnston,

TheCapitalClinic wants you to check out UNKL.

TheCapitalClinic said:

posted on Apr 18 at 1:15 pm

Thanks for the uploads. These five pieces [haddad - 5:50 min; south goes - 7:04 min; Frank n' Frei - 4:42 min; Mourning - 5:36 min; and Quiet Now - 4:24 min] are nothing but modern, mellow, punctuated, and cool. All are structured, tight, and yet full of surprises, each piece yielding to dominance and support by sax, bass, guitar, and drums. Quite a combination. For now, my favs are haddad and Quiet Now, but I could change my mind depending on mood. I will get my Friends onto this. Keep playing and contributing. Stay cool.

TheCapitalClinic said:

posted on Apr 18 at 12:30 pm

Apr 18, 12:24 pm TheCapitalClinic said [at your "touring" blog]:

Good to here about your determination to DIY. You should use your site in conjuntion with the Fuzz Dashboard for Artists.

Ask mike@fuzz.com for an online demonstration of its capabilities in data analysis and management to support DIY activities of artists [if it is not self-evident from your just playing around with the site yourself]. Knowledgeable indie labels have said that the Artist support capabilities at the Fuzz site are better than anything out there, and the price is right [free].

Also, I trust that you have internalized the message of my blogs at TheCapitalClinic that your future as an Artist is essentially in your own hands [when you are not cooking up a storm]. You might also check out Maureen's blogs at Fuzz, which I think you will find instructive from the viewpoint of a great musician who has already been there, done that.