REVIEWS OF ULI LENZ
What Critics Say About Rainmaker's Dance:
- ***1/2 "Pianist Uli Lenz, who learned jazz over the radio as a child in Frankfurt, Germany, proves to be an unusual player on this largely trio outing. Lenz's classical chops, honed at the Frankfurt Conservatory in the mid-1970s, are startling, but so are his feel for soul jazz on the title track and his overall sizzling spirit.
The trio of bassist Ira Coleman and drummer Horacio "El Negro" Hernandez goes all over the map in terms of styles. Some colorless modernist playing is evident. But Lenz conveys energy in his lines and never leaves his listeners behind. His take of "My Foolish Heart," the session's only standard, is gorgeous in the extreme."
--Karl Stark, Philadelphia Enquirer, September 2nd, 2001
- “Strong emotions are here, along with many surprises…Always evolving and never predictable, Uli's style will grab your attention, as it did mine.”
--John Barrett, Jazz USA, June 2001
- “Lenz is capable of dizzying solo flights but is also adept at the use of space… as in "Subway to Vanilla City" and the beautiful ballad "A Perfect Couple." On "Orange Coalition" and the finale, "Little Ostrich," he presents contrasting studies in the use of 5/4 time. In his mid-forties at the time of this pivotal recording, Uli Lenz arrives on the American scene in plenty of time
to become a colorful and respected presence.”
--David R. Adler, All Music Guide, June 2001
- “Rainmaker's Dance at least is full of passion and vibrant ideas. It is the [latest] in the series of outstanding albums which the Berlin pianist recorded in his long career.”
--Robert Heinrich, www.jazzradio.de
- “…with a drive and a soulful, near-religious zeal as he creates lovely, logical musical moments, one after another…He has an enormous proficiency from his classical training that
combines with his wide-eyed musical zest to make magic, to make lovely, complex, fascinating compositions on this "Rainmaker's Dance."
--Dan McClenaghan ,The American Reporter, June 27, 2001
ARKADIA JAZZ