Hazard

The Senior Allstars

LP - 2009

For a lot of people, The Senior Allstars bring to mind the successful times of Dr. Ring-Ding & The Senior Allstars, when the internationally renowned act played all over Europe and released countless records.

But for ten years now, the five musicians from Münster have devoted themselves to their favoured kind of music – purely instrumental, Jamaican-influenced sounds. Rolling Stone awarded their previous release, “Come Around” (2008), 4 1/2 stars, calling for an “obligation to listen closely”, and their new album deserves no less: “Hazard” is based on familiar Senior Allstars ingredients — instrumental reggae, dub elements and ska. Even more than its predecessors, “Hazard” succeeds in creating an amazingly dense, atmospheric sound. The twelve songs — all of them original compositions by the group’s musical mastermind and composer, Markus Dassmann — evolve on the basis of haunting riddims and gritty musical themes. In addition, the Senior Allstars invited three comrades-in-arms from days gone by who have enhanced the tracks with wind section parts and additional solos.

Musicans
Markus Dassmann
Guitar, Melodica, Clavinet, Rhodes, Organ, Percussion

Oliver Wienand
Tenor Sax, Live Dub

Arne Piri
Organ, Wurlitzer Piano

Gudze
Bass

Thomas Hoppe
Drums

Guest musicians
Gregor Stennecken
Alto sax

Richie Alexander (Dr. Ring Ding)
Trombone

Bernd M. Westhoff
Trumpet