Trio Elf

Three young Berklee students founded a different trio a couple of years ago: MINSARAH. The multinationality of the three virtuosi who had met at Berklee College is reflected in their music: minsarah (hebr.prism) bundles the light in a multicoloured spectrum – Weber / Denson / Ravitz switch the process around and send bebop, swing, Bartók, Bach, Africa, bitonality, free playing exactly into the opposite direction creating a new, brilliant style. For instance, the old standard Alone Together they present in 11/16th, swings real hard but differently. Minsarah is a band of equals who all compose for the trio, each of them could be the leader. Pianist Florian Weber (Cologne) has been awarded numerous prizes and works regularly with other outstanding musicians as well – Markus Stockhausen, Eric Vloemans, Angelika Niescier to name a few. He did solo concerts at the Cologne Philharmonic, classical repertoire like Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue (in Romania). Bassist Jeff Denson (San Diego) garnered the Berklee Outstanding Performer Award 2002. Ziv Ravitz (New York) was Tel Aviv’s house drummer at the Camelot Club and received the Zildjian Scholarship Award in 2003. He has become one of the most sought after drummers on the NY scene and is permanently appearing worldwide. Minsarah’s first album Minsarah was awarded the German-Jazz-Critics-Prize. Intense cooperation in the US and Europe with one of the living jazz legends followed – Lee Konitz which resulted in two recordings, Deep Lee (ENJ-9517) and the worldwide highly acclaimed Live at the Village Vanguard (ENJ-9542). The old discussion: will jazz, classical music and pop go together at all? In a way, sometimes, maybe, really? A hearty yesno, a decidedly strong shrug, a euphoric don’t know. The answer is not to be found in any old/new slots but in the personalities. They don’t care about such questions. Minsarah is an alliance of compatible contrasts. Here we have finally again a group that easily and comfortably juggles notes, sounds, styles, atmospheres and experiences. In reviewing Live at the Village Vanguard most recently Down Beat said: ”Florian Weber is a terrific pianist.”