Conny Bauer (trombone), Johannes Bauer (trombone), Matthias Bauer (bass), Louis Rastig (piano) Recorded at Studio des Filmorchesters Babelsberg, Berlin, May 21 & 22, 2007 When this music hits you, it comes across so effortless and convincing that you might think it"s all composed. Well, it"s not, and that"s exactly what makes it special. Bauer 4 is not only a thrilling band with an unlikely drumless line-up, but also a "family affair" with roots in the German Democratic Republic. The quartet is made up by brothers Conny Bauer (b. 1943 in Halle/Saale), Johannes Bauer (b. 1954 in Halle/Saale), and Matthias Bauer (b. 1959 in Thüringen), plus Konrad"s son Louis Rastig (b. 1987). As a group, they conquer the realms of improvised music when they meet and complement one another in free play. That"s how these 16 tracks came about: born from the moment, without preparation, yet by no means "just like that". These four guys speak their own musical language, a language they have developed during a lengthy process, to pass it on to each other and fashion it each in their very own way. Trombonists Conny and Johannes foster different playing styles that perfectly enhance each other. For Bauer 4 they have created a new rendition of what they played as a trombone duet or with their band Doppelmoppel, a quartet completed by German guitarists Uwe Kropinski and Helmut "Jo" Sachse. Passing their ideas back and forth, Conny is a master of melodic improvisation and harmonies, while Johannes tends to venture into freetonal spheres as well. Bass player Matthias Bauer feels at home in both contemporary New Music and free improvisation, yet he"ll never succumb to drab jazz bass stereotypes. Surprisingly, the group can do without a drummer to create dynamic tension and a typical jazz drive. The Bauer brothers grew up in a vicarage where church music was a familiar companion. Even when they use odd intervals and strange rhythm patterns, the beautiful hymnal drama of ecclesiastical music will shine through in effortless "intermelodies" that create a magic aura. Bert Noglik