When piano player and arranger Uwe Schenk was asked by drummer Michael Kersting to record together, an album of ballads seemed most in order.

Besides, Uwe Schenk wanted to do one. Asked why, he said, "Variety". Meaning a change of pace.

And perhaps he wanted to show those who have forgotten how beautiful and lyrical jazz can be.

Donald Byrd once said, "After all these years of playing, I've come to the conclusion that one of the most difficult things to do is play a melody straight and play it well, with good tone and feeling".

That is what Uwe Schenk and his fellow musicians do in this album: extraordinary reed player Jochen Feucht, versatile, restrained, but highly emotional; and a smart bass player, Florian Dohrmann, who has the right sound and locks in with the excellent drummer.

Up-tempo playing presents one set of difficulties; ballads present another. An unrecovered error is more conspicuous in a ballad than in a stream of high-speed notes.

Uwe Schenk didn't want to play jazz standards in this record, other musicians before him did that quite well.

He looked for other sources: adventurous pop with a certain kind of depth. "You know me, I'm a lover, not a fighter" says the musician, smiling, and true it is.

This is music to ease your pain, to make things right, to contemplate. Music that touches your soul, if you are willing to listen.

Andreas Vogel, DJ Musicians: Jochen Feucht: cl, sax, fl Uwe Schenk: p Florian Dohrmann: b Michael Kersting: dr All arrangements by Uwe Schenk, except Share a Little Love in Your Heart by Uwe Schenk & Florian Dohrmann Recorded, mixed and mastered by Uwe Schenk, 2022 / 2023 Coverpainting by Diemut Hoschar Artwork by Gert Albrecht Produced by Uwe Schenk & Andreas Vogel