Description
Second Encounter is a collection of songs I wrote during the pandemic. Rather a collage of musical styles I like listening to, it’s anything but a concept album. Each song came from a different place, whatever musical territory I was exploring at that time. It very much resembles a playlist of music, so to speak. From jazz influences to blues, folk, Americana and world music: I could never submit myself to one genre only. What’s more, I started writing vocal songs with lyrics, which I recorded and sang as demos and then decided to incorporate them on the album. Luckily I know some of the finest singers who helped make these songs sound even better than I could imagine.
The recording process then was split into several recording sessions, starting out with a few instrumental sessions in a trio/quartet formation, mostly recorded at Hansahaus Studios, Bonn (with mastermind Klaus Genuit). At that time masks and corona test results determined our get-togethers. I then edited the tracks and recorded other parts as overdubs in various studios. Many of those songs were written with feature guests in my mind and to my surprise they all agreed and joined in. Apart from many talented musicians from Cologne, Germany, I was thrilled to have a few American artists as special guests: thank you Nir Felder, Dannielle De Andrea and Alana Alexander – your musical gift is very special!
released March 17, 2023
personnel:
Christian Frentzen – piano, keyboards, composition (except „Piece For Esbjoern Svensson“, composed by Norbert Scholly)
Thomas Stieger – bass (2,4,7,8,10)
Stefan Rey – bass (1,3,6,9)
Moritz Müller – drums (1,2,3)
Silvio Morger – drums (4,5,6)
Felix Lehrmann – drums (7,8,9)
guests:
Dannielle DeAndrea (vocals 3)
Nir Felder (guitar 1,7)
Alana Alexander (vocals 10)
Norbert Scholly (guitar 4,6)
Bruno Müller (guitar 10)
Menzel Mutzke (trumpet 9)
Roland Peil (percussion 2,6,7,8,10)
Paul Heller (tenor sax 2,8)
Andy Haderer (trumpet 2,8)
Til Schneider (trombone 4)
Niels Klein (bass clarinet 4)
Moslem Rahal (Ney 4)
Christoph Broll (violin 4)
Dino Soldo (soprano saxophone 4)
string quartet (3,6,7):
Sophie Moser – violin
Zuzana Leharová – violin
Erin Kirby – viola
Ella Rohwer – cello
vocalists on „Freedom Song“
Eduardo Duquesne (Cuba)
Melane Nkounkolo (Kongo)
Tamara Lukasheva (Ukraine)
Mehmet Akbaş (Kurdistan)
Maryam Akhondy (Iran)
Mirta Junco Wambrug (Cuba)
photography: Lena Semmelroggen
artwork: Knut Schoetteldreier
All music written and arranged by Christian Frentzen (except „Piece For Esbjoern Svensson“ composed by Norbert Scholly)
Lyrics „Find Another You“ & „Spirit Lead The Way“ written by Ian Alexander Griffiths & Christian Frentzen
Freedom Song lyrics are a collaboration by Melane, Mirta, Mehmet, Maryam, Tamara, Eduardo, Christian Frentzen, Ian Alexander Griffiths
Produced + Mixed by Christian Frentzen
Mastering by Alex Kloss
Recorded at:
Hansahaus Studios Bonn by Klaus Genuit
Loft Koeln by Lukas Lohner, Georg Bongartz
Topaz Studios by Reinhard Kobialka
Dannielle De Andrea’s tracks recorded at Bird Sound LA by Erik Kertes
additional recording at Hoppegarden Studios, Cologne
