Interview : Christian Prommer’s Drumlesson

Du jazz à la techno, de la techno au Jazz, Christian Prommer a construit le pont reliant ces deux styles musicaux si éloignés et pourtant si proches. Explication…

TheClubbing.com: Could you introduce the live band?
Christian Prommer: Ok, first we have Roberto Di Gioia on Piano, he is also a big part of the whole concept. He is an fantastic musician. I do a lot of projects with him. He also played a lot on the VoomVoom Record. He played with Art Farmer, Till Brönner, Charly Watts, Passport,… and many more. Then we have Ernst Ströer on percussion, who is a drummer as well. He is an amazing rhythm performer. He played with Volker Kriegel, Passport and german legend Udo Lindenberg. Matteo Scrimalo on Drums is a fantastic addition to the band. He plays drums like a cook. He also plays with Joy Denerlane. On Bass I have Christian Diener. He is the perfect counterpart for the strong rhythm section. He played with Billy Cobham, Till Brönner,… And myself on the percussion and electronics. The student of the lesson…

TheClubbing.com: How did the Drumlesson get started ? How did you have the idea to transform some techno classics into jazz?
Christian Prommer: The idea came from the place where I am a fan of Jazz, especially from the 60’s and 70’s, and Detroit techno and house music. At some point I found for myself that these different genres are not so different. They have similar energy and even similar history. Both coming from the illegal to the starlight. I love to DJ those house and techno tunes. And I love to play drums. So that was the starting point.

TheClubbing.com: You’re a member from other famous bands like Trüby Trio, Voom Voom or Fauna Flash. Have you got other projects? What about the other members? I think they play in solo for some.
Christian Prommer: I have no other projects at the moment. But I am involved in a lot of music right now. I just finished working on nine songs of the new DJ Hell record called Teufelswerk. I wrote and produced an album with multi instrumentalist and comedian Wigald Boning. I do may remixes for labels like Compost, Sonar Kollektiv, NRK, Buzzin’ Fly, Raw Fusion, etc. And I am very busy with my Drumlesson Project. We tour a lot and we will be recording some new material soon. As for the other members, they do their own things. There is no future planned at the moment.

TheClubbing.com: What was the producers’ reaction like Derrick May, Jaydee, Isolée, Larry Heard, Josh Wink,… when they heard your sound? How do you proceed, do you ask us before composing?
Christian Prommer: No I do not have to ask. But I send them the versions and they liked it. I got very positive reactions from Derrick May, Louie Vega, Patrick Pulsinger, Josh Wink and even Kraftwerk.

TheClubbing.com: Some tracks are difficult to turn into a jazz thing, like the acid bassline of higher state of consciousness, or the gimmick in Around the world! How do you choose the tracks?
Christian Prommer: My personal favorites. They mean something to me. I was not worried about transforming them. These are beautiful pieces of music.

TheClubbing.com: Do you think it is easier to turn jazz into techno than techno into jazz?
Christian Prommer: I think it depends. What is jazz anyway. And Techno? For me it’s a state of mind. It is an expression of no boundaries and no limitations. So, I think both are the same. Hard and easy at the same time 🙂

TheClubbing.com: I read that recording this album only took one day! How is it possible?
Christian Prommer: Yeah, it was a great experience. All the players where at their best. The music was magic. I prepared the tunes and the guys played it like they know the music inside out.

TheClubbing.com: I guess it has been recorded as a live thing. What is the difference between the album and your gigs?
Christian Prommer: At the gigs there is also a lot of room for free playing. We never know where we end up. Very spiritual.

TheClubbing.com: The album calls Drumlesson ONE. Which tracks did you choose for the next one? How much drumlessons do you project to teach?
Christian Prommer: I don’t know what I will do next. I will start recording soon. We started to write our own tunes. So it will be a mix of classics and originals. I try to keep it fresh. Not do the same thing too many times.