NEW RELEASE - NICOLAS MEIER 'yuz' CD
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HERE to buy from our e-store
Dear Naim Enthusiast,
The long awaited follow up to 'Orient', is available now from our e-store and all major retailers. The Swiss guitarist marks the evolution of his celebrated world-jazz sound with a host of talented musicians from across the globe. Meier was the winner of 'Grand Prize of the Jury' and '1st Prize Jazz Guitar' at the French Jazz a Juan Revelations Awards 2006.
Please visit
www.meiergroup.com for live dates.
Please
info@thenaimlabel.com for more details!
Posted on: 19 March 2007 by Simon Drake
Nicolas Meier, Yuz****(Naim) John Fordham
Friday March 16, 2007
The Guardian
The GuardianIn 2005 Nicolas Meier - a UK-resident Swiss guitarist of Metheny affiliations but strongly contrasting Turkish and Romanian family and musical connections - made a fine world-music debut with Orient, a mix of Turkish dance-themes, Methenyish lyricism and the inspirational Gilad Atzmon on saxes and clarinet.
Orient had three saxophones, but for this, Meier has stripped the band down to a quartet, with Atzmon; he has also tightened the repertoire and edited the spacey fusion effects, and substantially improved the quality of the composing. Asaf Sirkis's military-taut snare patterns and Atzmon's whooping soprano swap with languid guitar counter-melodies on the headlong Homeland. And Meier's lovely acoustic sound, effortless fast fills and unerringly timed embellishments erupt through the development of the mixed-tempo Why? The rumbling, prancing Face makes you want to look for a dancing partner, and Atzmon's balefully solemn use of the Turkish clarinet on Pledge is like a gaze you can't turn away from. It fulfils all Orient's promise and more.
Posted on: 16 May 2007 by Paul Stephenson
John Fordham
Jazz UK
Nicolas Meier (g, saz), Gilad Atzmon (cl, ss), Tom Mason (b) and Asaf Sirkis (d), Rec. 2006
Nicolas Meier, the Swiss guitarist living in Britain, made an impressive debut in 2005 with “Orient”, a world-music set with horn section including Gilad Atzmon, and influences embracing Turkish and Roumanian folk-music, and the fusions sounds of Pat Metheny. “Yuz” tightens the band to a quartet fronting Meier and Atzmon. The effect has been to focus the original concept all the better, with Atzmon in imperious form on both saxes and Turkish clarinet, drummer Asad Sirkis balancing power and restrained embellishment, and Meier’s shapely lines (particularly on acoustic guitar) less cluttered by electronics of the first CD. Great tunes and inspiring playing form a very welcome newcomer on the UK scene.
