Inspired by the long-time work with saxophonist Charlie Mariano, Mike Herting has been involved in different music cultures for decades. As director and composer of the famous German ensemble WDR Big Band Cologne, he has been developing projects with other colleagues, such as “Sketches of Bangalore” (2000) with the soloists Charlie Mariano, R.A. Ramamani, T.A.S. Mani and other musicians. After that came other big orchestra projects with the Sai Symphony (2015), as well as concerts with the Bujazzo in India (2011-2016), Senegal and Guinea-Bissau (2013). He has carried out music studies and immersions regularly in West-Africa and this has facilitated further musical exchanges, in other words it has helped “maintain a reciprocal penetration of creativity and spirituality, and eventually, vitality in the performing process.”
The origins of the upcoming album are drawn from the connection between two simple elements: breathing and music. According to the musician, the exposition to different cultures and music genres and the work with musicians from all around the globe throughout the years has made him embrace every music genre and make it part of his creative process.
To be more precise, he doesn’t feel like those music genres (jazz, classical music, modern music or African music, which he has studied for some time now) are a “foreign language” or “unknown entities” for him anymore. On the contrary, they are, as he puts it, part of his inner-self and, when it comes to composition, he does no longer make any difference between African, Indian or any other musical influence, there is no border because “everything flows together”. For Mike Herting the constant flow and convergence of music styles is comparable to something as basic and humane as breathing; hence the name of the album.
Once he stumbled upon this realisation he knew that he was ready to let all the compositions become something tangible. Recorded at Riverside Studios in June 2020, it is a 10-track album full of great compositions and improvisations, in which Mike Herting lets go of his passion for music and creative spaces that he fills with inspiring melodies.
The result is a compelling mix of original compositions that, as the composer said, displays a wide range of styles and rhythms, all of it brilliantly assembled. A more analytical view will show traces of classical background, but after taking a closer look at the material, you can taste other influences, especially when going through tracks like “Fatou Yo”, an adaptation of a traditional Senegalese composition. Another track that evidences the influences on this album is “Casamance”, a track dedicated to Mike’s friends living in this region located in the south of Senegal, where unfortunately various controversies have been taking place. But there is room for other topics in the album, such as peacefulness, meditation and even the appreciation of “True Home”. It is certainly an exquisite combination of elements that cross musical boundaries and that reflect the skills of a musician trying to convey a powerful sound.
The album “Breathing In Breathing Out” will be available on November 6 on all music platforms!
More information on Mike Herting: http://www.mikeherting.de/
Mike Herting’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MyGlobalMusicOrchestra/
You can listen to Mike Herting’s music here:https://mikeherting.lnk.to/ProfileID