Nighthawks - Metro Bar

The German duo NIGHTHAWKS caused a minor sensation with their debut album “Citizen Wayne”: Rarely has a newcoming act (especially from here in Germany) been so successful in the field of groove jazz, and rarely have the media and the public been in such agreement about the exceptional quality of a new release.

Of course, two old hands make up the nocturnal band: Producer and bassist Dal Martino and trumpeter Reiner Winterschladen are both in demand as musicians on the European jazz and pop scene.

As NIGHTHAWKS, they are confirmed as the leading specialists of cool grooves and atmospheric samples, over which a clear voice and a sole trumpet sing stories from the big city – sometime cuttingly articulate, sometimes touched with longing. Those who give the duo’s music but a moment of their time are able to see why Martino and Winterschladen chose the programmatic description for their first joint duo project at the time – inspired by the famous painting with the same name by Edward Hopper from 1941. (You know, the painting with three people at the bar behind a large illuminated window, on the corner of an otherwise completely dark street.)

The term "Nighthawks" describes the kind of people who spread their wings instead of withdrawing at night. But unlike the proverbial night owls, the typical nighthawk doesn’t just sit around with wide eyes. He is driven by hunger. Nighthawks hunt for prey, for experiences or acquaintances on the other side of the sunset, making their nights better than some other people’s days.

Just like Martino and Winterschladen:

Most of the recordings for "Citizen Wayne" actually did have to be made at night – due to the musicians’ numerous other engagements. For Dal Martino has not only been a wanted bassist for the stage and the studio (including work with Wolf Maahn, Culture Cross, Jaki Liebezeit and many others). He was and is also in demand as a producer for film and advertising music. Working constantly in his studio left him just as little free time as Reiner Winterschladen, who was also active as a professional musician. He was a permanent member of the NDR Big Band and had previously played with several other renowned jazz formations such as the European Jazz Ensemble, the Manfred Schoof Big Band, and others, but also for popular bands such as Blue Box, Me & The Heat, Unknown Cases, Rausch, and many more.

The idea of recording in a duo came to them both at a jointly performed production for a film project, which all participants experienced as highly satisfying. The decision to capitalise on the potential together was quickly taken, so that immediately, Martino and Winterschladen used every spare moment to advance the new affaire à deux. Again, mostly after dark. So as the opportunity arose, Dal Martino produced tracks in his home studio and presented them to Reiner Winterschladen, who laid his melodies on top and/or improvised. They listened, reworked, made changes, rearranged, sought and found. Everything was more or less created in free fall.

This tried-and-tested method was then used again for the second album, “Metro Bar.” Just as "Citizen Wayne" was a calculated collection of ironic references to the spaghetti western genre [and its musical maestro Ennio Morricone ("Once Upon A Time In The West” and many others)], as well as nocturnal city impressions, "Metro Bar" is a more purely urban soundtrack. Urban, in the sense of (mainly) "cool"; though definitely not "cold".

Some of the tracks still go “straight to the heart” today:  On tracks like "Joker Sleeps", when Winterschladen plays his trumpet to the tough theme of the piece, more sensitive people might find themselves overwhelmed by emotion – and even shed a tear or two. It’s true, there still are some melodies that can do so.

But “Metro Bar” has much to offer aside from subjecting listeners to emotional turmoil. If nightlife is a film in which you play the leading role, here is some fresh music for further appearances. Tracks like "Tomorrow Evening" [5] or "Think Positive" [1] are the perfect accompaniment for the journey to the next 'Club Night' , whilst "Direction Downtown" evokes the atmosphere of a well-filled establishment at Blue Hour. "Nightflight" transports you directly into the midst of the heady atmosphere of a Quentin Tarrantino movie.

Images from the inner screen, concentrated and processed for a performance in the listener’s head. Cinema for your ears. No question: NIGHTHAWKS have set off for new heights with their new album, soaring high above the neon lights of the night skyline.

Released on the Intuition Master series, this classic from the now extensive catalog of Nighthawks albums is available as a double LP in a 180-gram pressing.