RARITY # 9: almost the Holy Grail!

DAS MICHAEL NAURA QUINTETT - DOWN TO EARTH
 (Telefunken EP, Germany, 1958)

"Putain, quelle formidable musique!" wrote Paul D. in the mail he sent me with the  rip of this  rare German EP from 1958.  Rare?  Rare as hen's teeth would be a most justified expression in this case.


If you're familiar with the "Now's The Time - Deep German Grooves 1956-65" album you already know the track "Minority" and have an idea what to expect .

Pianist Michael Naura (born 1939 in Lithuania) and his quintet were considered the best German Modern Jazz Band in the late 50‘s. All five musicians originally studied classical music in East Berlin, before they discovered their passion for jazz performance and due to a lack of engagements moved to the city’s west side. Their version of "Minority" in a fast East Coast pace can be found on a Telefunken EPs, entitled " Down to Earth , released 1958 in small editions.

Credits

Piano – Michael Naura (leader)

Saxophone [Alto] – Klaus Marmulla

Vibraphone - Wolfgang Schluter 

Bass – Hajo Lang (or Lange)

Drums – Heinz Von Moisy

Tracklist

A1       Swingin' The Blues     Written By Basie      3:15

A2       Blues For Werner        Written By  Naura     3:45

B1       Angel Eyes      Written By  Dennis-Breat      3:45

B2       Minority          Written By Gryce     2:15

There are only scarce information on these musicians on the Web and almost all of it in German.
Vibist Wolfgang Schulter played a.o. with Voler Kriegel (House Boat, MPS), saxist Klaus Marmulla can be heard on Oliver Nelson's Berlin Dream Band (LP Black, Brown and Beautiful on Flying Dutchman) which also featured bass-player Hajo Lang .

They were both members of the RIAS Big Band in Berlin.
Heinz von Moisy studied percussions at Berklee College in Boston.  In 1977 he released the LP Last Plantas, a Jazz Funk / Latin Jazz monster.
Google his name for videos on YouTube.

The four tracks were reissued in 1976 on the Telefunken LP "Kühl Und Modern - Jazz In Deutschland 1957 & 58" which is also a bit of a collectors'item.