Tian et al: LOST & FOUND

Christian "Tian" Korthals - tenor & soprano saxophone; Achim Fink - trombone; Christoph Siegenthaler - piano; Angel Rubio - Spanish guitar; Benjamin Tai Trawinski - double bass; Tobias Möller - drums

Sought, Found

The album title "Lost & Found" couldn't be more fitting for the debut album of Christian "Tian" Korthals' band Tian et al. The tracks were created during his one-year journey around the world as a street musician, reflecting the countless facets of this wandering life in the most remote places and diverse life situations.

It's not surprising that elements of world music like Latin and Flamenco have influenced the sound. "No fear of the unknown" is the motto of this production, and Tian doesn't see himself alone in this sentiment:

"In my generation, I observe that many of us, instead of striving for security, prefer to taste the world - perhaps finally to help shape it."

Songs like "Chocolate con Churros," "Beer for Breakfast," and "Flor Mixteca" are not only companions for globetrotters but also have an enormous catchy quality.

Since his music studies in Arnheim (NL), Tian has mainly worked as a composer and arranger. He collaborated with various jazz orchestras such as GCO Cologne and COB Berlin.

With Achim Fink, known from the "Talking Horns," and Angel Rubio from Madrid (among others "Jazzhondo," "Madera," "Bigband del Foro"), Tian has been playing in fixed projects for several years.

For more information, visit www.christian-korthals.de

Press:

"Longing, yearning, melancholy were in the air. During the solos, the audience did not spare applause. (...) The mixture of styles and countries was somewhat unusual at times but also wonderfully captivating."

Kreiszeitung Syke 09/13 (Angelika Kratz)

"The enthusiastic audience responded to the performance with so much applause and cheers of enthusiasm that Tian et al Quintet gave an encore."

Syker Kurier 09/13 (Dorit Schlemermeyer)

"The music completely dispenses with electronic additions, the completely acoustic set with the velvety saxophone sounds sometimes nibbles polyglot on hard bop (...)."

WAZ 05/13 (Klaus Hübner)

"All in all, a varied collection at a high musical level with beautiful melodies and surprising ideas."

SONIC 11/12 (Uwe Ladwig)

"Christian Korthals is an extremely imaginative and skilled saxophonist and composer who convincingly moves in many jazz idioms."

Jazz Podium 11/12 (Thorsten Hingst)

"(...) Flamenco, Tango, Salsa, Bossa Nova, Arabic soundscapes, Balkan dances (...) a musical menu with all these ingredients. Some developments surprise, others seem entirely convincing. In any case, the nine pieces are far from the usual world music mixtures."

stereoplay 11/12 - SOUND TIP (Werner Stiefele)

"A cheerful mix with good compositional material, very clean and well-played."

Jazzdimensions.de 10/12 (Carina Prange)

"All in all, 'Lost & Found' is an album that immediately captivates with its multifaceted sounds and its original band sound."

Jazz thing 09/12 (Rolf Thomas)

"Memories, experiences, musical traditions, and current sound impressions merge into idiosyncratic compositions that sometimes seem intrusive, sometimes reserved, sometimes seem to be self-sufficient and sometimes almost penetrate the listener's consciousness."

Ostthüringische Zeitung 08/12 (Tatjana Mehner)

"(...) varied variety: whether reminiscent of New Orleans trombone sounds or flamenco-like guitar solos by the Spanish participant Angel Rubio - there is much to discover on this disc. (...) The carefree, always combined with a touch of humor, playing of the participating musicians immediately ensures a good mood."

Jazz'n'More 07/12 (Silvano Luca Gerosa)

"In the following, Flamenco references, excursions into South American bar jazz, hinted German beer moods, and expressive freestyle pick up familiar threads again and give the respective protagonists enough room for improvisation. This happens at a solid level, which should satisfy many jazz heads."

sound & image 09/12 (Klaus Halama)

"The synergy that transposes itself onto the recorded medium is simply fantastic. Shifting meter on the fly while working without what would seem to be a harmonic net is captivating. The syncopated pop articulated with the lyrical sense of purpose is something most ensembles can strive for and never reach in a career. Tian Et Al has lyrical flow and texture down cold. An exact science but with an open-ended warmth and accessibility."

Criticaljazz.com 07/12 (Brent Black)

"Great playfulness, strong compositions, sophisticated interplay"
WAZ

"Excellent on saxophone, melodic, often very gentle pieces"
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