hydrangea, by jo jena

hydrangea

by jo jena

supported by

BM24 A memorable and highly accessible album. Nearly perfect from start to finish 💮

	/

Streaming + Download

Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.

Purchasable with gift card

$9 USD or more
Full Digital Discography

21

releases

Get all 21 jo jena/imm records releases available on Bandcamp and save 20%.

Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality downloads of saturn VI, trial 721, jo jena & burtis knight, selected free solos II, hydrangea, selected free solos, solo improvisations IV, krautfunk, and 13 more. , and , .

Purchasable with gift card

$63.60 USD or more (20% OFF)

1.	suite part I: norwegian odd 02:12	buy track
2.	suite part II: el arpa de la guerrera 05:17	buy track
3.	suite part III: hydrangea 03:24	buy track
4.	teru (wayne shorter) 04:10
5.	ma belle hélène (kenny wheeler) 06:09
6.	zarabeth (allan holdsworth) 05:43
7.	ilkley moor 09:02	buy track

about

this album focuses on composition, arrangement and improvisation, in that order.

the suite "el arpa de la guerrera" was originally freely improvised in four parts (see free solo #38). i turned it into a through-composed work for extended range nylon guitar, influenced by latin american guitar literature and pop music.

it is followed by three arrangements of modal pieces by jazz composers who are known for a specific harmonic vocabulary (presumably closer to the language of neoclassical composer paul hindemith than black american music legends like duke ellington). i allow myself some liberties in the improvisation of the musical material, which in this form and spontaneity are certainly only possible when playing solo. having explored the pieces in three successive takes, i recommend listening to them as a suite as well. you might then agree with me that there is a clear family resemblance (wittgenstein: "familienähnlichkeit").

the album closes with one of my free solo ambient pieces - improvised on the spot. nevertheless, i place a great deal of emphasis on thematic work here. hence, the term spontaneous composition is probably more precise.

downloads include 20 page score for 3 part suite "el arpa de la guerrera" and postscore of „ilkley moor“.

---------------------------------------------------------------

"our next artist may be the most prolific guitarist you never heard of."

scott millsop, minor7th podcast

"german guitarist jo jena makes his recording debut with his nylon string fanned fret 7-string stoll guitar on hydrangea. the acoustic portion of the album is split between original compositions and arrangements of challenging jazz and fusion music. "suite part I: norwegian odd" earns its title with a kind of paraphrase of the beatles tune "norwegian wood." played fingerstyle with liberal use of the instrument's lower register, it strongly suggests its inspiration without ever actually quoting it directly. "suite part II: el arpa de la guerrera" takes its title from a piece by cuban composer/guitarist leo brouwer, and alternates lyrical passages with propulsive odd-metered moto perpetuo. "suite part III: hydrangea" gives the album its title with a gentle, almost folk-like melody. wayne shorter's "teru" (from his 1967 album adam's apple) is a beautiful ballad. kenny wheeler's "ma belle hélène" (from his 1990 album the widow in the window, featuring guitarist john abercrombie) is played freely, an interpretation suggesting the way ralph towner might approach it. the final cover is allan holdsworth's "zarabeth" (from his 1992 album wardenclyffe tower), largely bypassing holdsworth's solo pyrotechnics and stripping the tune back to its lyrical compositional basics. the album closes with the extended "ilkley moor," one of jena's free solo ambient improvisations employing electric guitar, electronics, and looping. A slowly evolving soundscape, it provides a contrast to the acoustic pieces as well as a lovely final chapter."

mark sullivan, minor7th review, spring issue

credits

released November 19, 2022

jo jena - stoll custom 7 string nylon guitar, boden 7 string-guitar, guitar synths, fx & loops

track 1-6 recorded by stefan deistler on november 10th 2022 at loft cologne.

track 7 played & recorded at studio "raumstation", frankfurt am main on august 6th, 2022

mixed & mastered by jo jena

thanks to stefan deistler and dr. urs-benedikt müller, christian stoll & company, strandberg guitars, jeremey poparad, mitka bartlomiej, marc petri, trees hohagen and especially E. for enduring support.

copyrights:

teru by wayne shorter
copyright kobalt music pub america inc. o/b/o miyako music

ma béllè helene by kenny wheeler
copyright sin pays publishing o/b/o e-c-m-records verlag edition zeitgenoessische and mechanical copyright protection society ltd

zarabeth by allan holdsworth
copyright fred bloggs publishing

all other pieces by jo jena
copyright instauratio minima musicarum/GEMA protected

license

about

jo jena/imm records Frankfurt, Germany

imm (instauratio minima musicarum) records started in 2003 with the possibility of distributing music on the internet. currently, bandcamp is the best possible platform to pursue this vision. the focus is on solo works by guitarist and composer jo jena, which are informed by modal jazz, ambient and avantgarde. likeminded collaborations with burtis knight and other artists complement the catalogue. ... more

Recommendations

contact / help

Contact jo jena/imm records

Streaming and
Download help

Shipping and returns

Redeem code

Report this album or account

jo jena/imm records recommends:

Now
by Gary Husband and Alex Machacek

Master Chick Corea already said everything in the liner notes. There is nothing to add. Maybe the great quality of the recording though. jo jena/imm records
go to album

If you like hydrangea, you may also like:

Illustris
by Álvaro Domene

supported by 4 fans who also own “hydrangea”
go to album
Wagtail
by Julius Schwing

Tasmanian guitarist Julius Schwing embraces the visceral sounds of finger playing, incorporating them into his experimental guitar work. Bandcamp New & Notable Mar 8, 2022
go to album
Exit Rumination
by C. Diab

C. Diab describes “Exit Rumination” as “a sonic exorcism,” and its dark, swelling songs are equal parts catharsis and tension. Bandcamp New & Notable Mar 26, 2018
go to album
The Cleansing
by Annabel (lee)

featured on Bandcamp Radio Aug 29, 2017
go to album
Too Small to be a Plain
by Lia Kohl

The debut LP from the Chicago multidisciplinary artist strikes a bold balance between meticulous structure and improvisation. Bandcamp Album of the Day Mar 10, 2022
go to album