Helmut Kagerer Solo - About Birds And Bees

“Helmut is the ‘dean’ of German jazz guitar,” said Larry Coryell. And convincing proof of the pudding is Kagerer’s current solo recording.

The album presents 90 years of jazz history, from Fats Waller’s “Ain’t Misbehaving” in a George van Eps plectrum style, to John Coltrane’s “Giant Steps” in an up-tempo with racing lines of single notes. Pat Martino’s “Country Road” appears, through-composed and played only with down strokes, as do lyrical pieces like “Smile” by Charlie Chaplin, decorated with artificial flageolets. Attila Zoller’s hit tune “About Birds And Bees” rounds off the album in a grooving Latin style.

Altogether, it’s an exciting panoply of musical moods that swings as if an entire rhythm section were playing along.