The path of the spirit is the detour. (Georg WF Hegel) Often, things in life turn out differently than expected. This wisdom, which has almost become a calendar proverb, applies not only to those seeking meaning, but also to virtually every creative artist. For a long time, Denis Schmitz moved far away from the paths his classical training at the Cologne University of Music and Dance once led him to. But in times of pandemic-induced Biedermeier, after the last series had also turned sour, the plan matured in him to link up with these very cherished, supposedly "old times" with a new release. Times in which, musically, the question was less about what, but rather about how. Following his release Nuances, which received widespread attention in the specialist press, guitarist Denis Schmitz returns to his roots in classical guitar music with his album Detour, which will be released in December 2024.
At the core of the release are two works that only at first glance appear to be incompatible. Cinco Piezas para Guitarra remains the only work by the Argentinian tango icon Astor Piazzolla that he composed for the concert guitar (solo). In them, Piazzolla is able to handle the sonic language of this intimate instrument in a very unique way and deliberately avoids the irascible temperament of his other Tango Nuevo compositions. The five pieces are a gem of timbres, of contemplative pauses, but also of that longing for the freedom of the tango that still makes it a projection screen for music lovers around the world. Four Paths of Light, written by the American jazz guitarist Pat Metheny, is, in contrast, a lesser-known work. To date, there has only been one complete recording by the dedicatory Grammy Award winner Jason Vieaux.
This makes it all the more important for Schmitz to bring this highly demanding work, unique in its sonic language, to the wider public in his concerts, as well as to the listeners of Detour. Metheny rather spartanly titled the individual movements I, II, III, and IV. In them, Denis Schmitz takes the listener on an adventurous journey through virtuoso arpeggio passages, rapid acceleration, and bold modulations that could truly only come from Metheny. But especially in the quieter, more withdrawn passages, Schmitz is able to put his extraordinary sensitivity to sound at the service of the enchanting melodies and harmonies, transforming notes into sensations.
01 Buenos Aires Hora Zero
02-06 Cinco Piezas para guitarra
07-10 Four Paths of Light
