Rudi Mahall, Axel Dörner, Jan Roder, Uli Jennessen / DIE ENTTÄUSCHUNG

In the nineties, the quartet Die Enttäuschung [The Disappointment] released their first record solely with pieces by Thelonius Monk. Die Enttäuschung managed the feat of radically remaining faithful to Monk and staying in close touch with the originals, and yet placing them on their heads. The four from Berlin celebrated a great success several years later with the recordings of the entire works of Monk on the 3-CD Intakt box with the pist Alexander von Schlippenbach. The media has reacted euphorically to “Monk’s Casino” (Intakt 100).
Now Rudi Mahall, Axel Dörner, Jan Roder and Uli Jennessen have released a CD with 17 of their own compositions. “This band knows no borders between yesterday and tomorrow” writes the German magazine Jazzzeitung about the quartet. “Die Enttäuschung is more Berlin than Berlin itself and, moreover, unparalleled in nearly every respect. Collective improvisations beyond convention will drive up your blood pressure and fantastic solos take away your breath.” Or it is, as the music journalist Felix Klopotek (Spex) sees the music from Die Enttäuschung, “concentrated intensity. Exactly that what one wants to hear from jazz today.”