Jonny Teupen - Harpadelic (2014) [Hi-Res]

Jonny Teupen was one of the strangest and most wonderful artists to record for the MPS label during their glory days – and his big instrument was a jazz harp, which he often electrified to great result! Sure, Dorothy Ashby had been making jazz inroads on the instrument in the US at about the same time – but Teupen had a cool sound that was a bit sitar, a bit guitar, and a bit 'inside the piano' at his wildest moments. This record is maybe his greatest moment ever – and mixes Jonny's harp with vibes from Dave Pike guitar from Volker Kriegel, trumpet from Shake Keane, and drums from Charly Antolini – all solid MPS players who really help ground the sound!

“Swinging harps are the the black swans of the jazz and pop instrumental world. They are as rare as water in the desert.” So state the liner notes for the LP “Harpadelic”. Jonny Teupen (1923 – 1991) was one of the few who could make this 5000 year old instrument swing. Teupen was not one of those romantically “effusive virtuosos who, with their excessive glissandos and tremolos, regurgitate their emotional Pablum.” The Berliner was a classically trained harpist and composer who could play in an orchestra as well as any jazz band.

Top musicians from both jazz and rock back up Teupen on his 1969 recording. Two members of the Kurt Edelhagen Orchestra, trumpeter Shake Kean and trombonist Jiggs Whigham take care of the “big band” riffs; vibraphonist/percussionist Dave Pike, guitarist Volker Kriegel, bassist J. A. Rettenbacher, and drummer Charly Antolini create a pulsing groove.

The Günter Kallmann Choir, at the time internationally renowned, takes care of the nostalgic mood on Teupen’s “easy listening” compositions. Music to relax by. What’s more, the nine piece vocal group could come up with a swinging scat chorus. Jonny Teupen’s love for modern jazz is shown on the title piece “Harp Revolution”; every member improvises over the theme and even dares venture into the realm of free jazz.

Jonny Teupen, harp
Volker Kriegel, guitar
Jiggs Whigham, trombone
Shake Keane, trumpet
Dave Pike, vibraphone, percussion
J. A. Rettenbacher, bass, electric piano
Charly Antolini, drums
Günter Kallmann Chor

Digitally remastered