MATEJ BENKO QUINTET - TIME AGAINST US / M.Hloucal, R.Zapadlo, M.Benko, T.Liška, P.Zbořil

1. Enrico's Storytelling (dedicated to Enrico Pieranunzi) 6:40

2. Time Against Us 6:02

3. Birina (for Luša) 8:22

4. Little Explorer (for Alfréd) 8:08

5. Spacecraft 6:33

6. Early Heat 7:28

7. Periodic Excuses 7:58

8. If You Never Come To Me 7:24

9. Late To Say Sorry 7:39

10. Over The Rainbow 4:14

Total time 70:36

Miroslav Hloucal: trumpet, flugelhorn

Radek Zapadlo: tenor saxophone

Matej Benko: piano

Tomáš Liška: double-bass, bassguitar

Pavel Zbořil: drums

Miriam Bayle: vocal guest (3, 8)

The compositions on this CD were written in various circumstances from 2006 to 2008. I composed some of the themes before I founded the quintet, and I now play them with the trio as well. Among the oldest is Early Heat and Enrico's Storytelling. I left the original form alone, and just arranged them for a quintet. Both were written in the same period and stand in contrast to each other in terms of the structure of the melodic phrases. Enrico's Storytelling presents regular motifs, whereas Early Heat gives more space to the melodies. The composition Spacecraft is, compared to the trio version, completely redone; the whole thing flows in 5/4 time. Periodic Excuses and Late To Say Sorry were also written for the trio but the original intention was to use only the first part of both. The new themes and also the expanded form were written for wind instruments. Of my earlier arrangements I have also included the intimate Over the Rainbow, which presents the altered theme of that gorgeous ballad. I love its direct transparency and simplicity, which stand out even more in the absence of improvised solos. Another standard, If You Never Come to Me, I arranged for the Miriam Bayle Band, but it took has taken hold in the quintet too. Since Miriam is guest artist on the CD, I have taken the opportunity to use her beautiful voice also in the composition Birina. I dedicate it to my daughter, who gave that name to a large white gorilla that she regularly dreams about. Another composition is dedicated to my one-year-old son - Little Explorer is written on his T-shirt and it perfectly expresses what he does all day long. I wrote this one with a smile on my lips and played the basic motif over and over again. Later I found out from my wife that it really got on her nerves. She eventually, thank goodness, came to like the final result. The title song, Time against Us, is, I hope, despite its name, bright and cheerful. I hope your enjoy what you hear! Matej Benko