Release September 01, 1999
EAN/UPC: 705304879023
Traumton CD: 4431
Lineup
Vinx: vocals & percussion Jeff Lockhart: guitar Ulrich Maiß: violoncello Chris Loftlin: bass Andrew ‚the boy‘ Daniels: percussion
Recorded by Hartmut Bauer
Mixed and mastered by Wolfgang Loos
at Traumton Studios, Berlin
Produced by Wolfgang Loos
Big ’n‘ Round
I spent a week in Berlin actually it was just outside in a little town named Spandau. I asked a few good musician friends to come along to see what we see. My old travel partner and rediculous percussionist, Andrew Daniels aka „The Boy“, my co-writer, and big groove bassist, Chris Loftlin aka „Octiboodius“ and one of Bostons best kept secrets, guitarist Jeff Lockhart aka „Black Ceasar“. Once we got there our producer Wolfgang Loos, hooked us up with this amazing celloist from Germany, named Ulrich „Zsa Zsaboodius“ Maiß. What a treat he was to work with. Anyway that’s how it all started. Traumton Records said just come for a week and make some magic, and that’s what we did. Stefi and Wolfgang trusted that we would figure it all out with the help of genius sound engineering by Hartmut Bauer „Moot my Man“. So this record is about, some great songs with some magical moments and some worldly collisions. We didn’t have time to over think or worry about every little detail. We flew purely by instinct. My instinct has always been to, break rules, let the song do all the work and to live life. Big and Round – Groß und Rund. And that’s what we did. Hope you enjoy this, we had a blast making it.
I would like to thank my guys…………
PVT. Andrew Daniels „GI Drew“ US Marine Corp. – Chris Loftlin „Octiboodius“ – Jeff Lockhart „Black Ceasar“. much respect to my best friend, Eric Sanzen „Nantucket Boy“ for his patience and endless pursuit. Robert Rosenblatt (I know there’s not much in it for you yet). Uli at the Quasimodo Berlin & Radio MultiKulti Berlin for giving us a home. My amazing wife Lisa (ich liebe dich). My Man Moot for letting me sit in the good chair. Stefanie Marcus whose passion for my music got us started. Wolfgang Loos you trusted me and I love you for it. Joel Schonbach „Big Johnson“ , Freddy Z., Lexicon Digital Audio, Zendrum, Mountain Rhythm Drums great sound, Joe Galaots @ Jag Drum, Pat Prescott & Bobby Jackson for keeping the faith, Steve @ Moonshine & Gaynor Publicity, „DOWN UNDER“ Patrizio & Gea (I’ll always owe you thanks), „Zsa Zsaboodius“ Maiß, Jay and Teddy the Basement Boys, thank you Mom & Dad for the gift. My fans for keeping me going. Thanks for all the great E-mails
Info / Info english
Vinx – Big ’n Round
Groß und rund, VINX, Sänger, Percussionist und Komponist mit Sportlerkarriere und klangvoller Biographie liebt es, aus dem Vollen zu schöpfen und es gelingt ihm. Die Liste derer, mit denen er seit Ende der 70er Jahre zusammengearbeitet und gespielt hat – begonnen bei Taj Mahal über Sting, Herbie Hancock, Stevie Wonder, Zucchero, Branford Marsalis, Me’shell Ndegeocello uva. – ist lang und beweist musikalische Vielseitigkeit und Aufgeschlossenheit. Zuletzt überraschte VINX mit dem Trio Jungle Funk, wo er gemeinsam mit Bassist Doug Wimbish und Schlagzeuger Will Calhoun (Living Colour) die Idee des „handmade techno“ verfolgt.
Mit „Big ‘n’ Round“ schließt VINX nun, unterstützt von Gitarrist Jeff Lockhart, Bassist Chris Loftlin und dem Percussionisten Andrew Daniels aus Boston sowie dem Berliner Cellisten Ulrich Maiß an seine Anfang der 80er Jahre entstandenen Solo Alben „Rooms in my Fatha’s House“ und „I Love My Job“ an.
Wo der Sound von „Jungle Funk“ auf Loops basierend den Geist der Maschine beschwörend, urban, improvisiert, drei explosive Individuen zu einer virtuellen Band verschmilzt, ist „Big ’n‘ Round“ organisch, vom Charakter unplugged und rein akustisch. Auf diesem Album ist jeder Groove, jeder Ton gespielt, Songs und klare Strukturen stehen im Vordergrund, klanglich dominieren Stimme und Percussion in reichhaltigen Facetten.
VINX: „I’m a songwriter first, and then secondly I would consider myself a decent balladeer, you know, a good singer. But then probably third, percussionist. And as a musician, percussionist, I sing like a drummer. I sing like a percussionist, and that’s how I hear things.“
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Vinx – Big ’n Round (english)
„Big ’n‘ Round“, VINX, vocalist, percussionist and composer with an athlete’s career loves to tap into unlimited resources. Successfully.
The list of those with whom he’s worked and played since the late seventies – from Taj Mahal to Sting, Herbie Hancock, Stevie Wonder, Zucchero, Branford Marsalis, and Me’shell Ndegeocello among others – is long, and shows musical versatility and receptiveness. His last project surprise, the trio „Jungle Funk“ with bass player Doug Winbish and drummer Will Calhoun (Living Color), takes off on the idea of „handmade techno“.
Now, with Big ’n‘ Round, supported by guitarist Jeff Lockhart, percussionist Andrew Daniels from Boston and Berlin cellist Ulrich Maiß, VINX follows up on his solo albums from the early eighties, „Rooms in my Fatha’s House“ and „I love My Job“. Where the loop-based, machine-spirit conjuring, urban, improvised sound of „Jungle Funk“ melts three explosive individuals into a virtual band, „Big ’n‘ Round“ has an organic, unplugged character – pure acoustics. Every groove, every note on this album is played. Songs and clear structures stand in the foreground, with voice and percussion dominating tonally in richly varied facets.
VINX: „I’m a songwriter first, and then secondly I would consider myself a decent balladeer, you know, a good singer. But then probably third, percussionist. And as a musician, percussionist, I sing like a drummer. I sing like a percussionist, and that’s how I hear things.“