When I composed the music for this recording in early 2018 , I wrote it with Magnus, Stefan, Max and Peter´s playing in my ear. I am a big fan of them and is was a plan of mine for years to make a record together. We recorded the album in August 2018 after playing a couple of concerts with my new compositions. The way in which these four incredible musicians brought my music to life was everything I hoped for and even more. They encountered my music with respect while taking extreme liberties in their interpretations at the same time. I think that´s all you can hope for as a composer. As a guitarist it is just a lot of fun to play with this band, so I called the record Fun Flowers.
Stefan Karl Schmid - Tenor & Soprano Saxophone
Magnus Schriefl - Trumpet & Flugelhorn
Sebastian Böhlen - Guitar
Max Leiß - Bass
Peter Gall - Drums
All compositions by Sebastian Böhlen
Recorded by Christian Bader at Blackbird Studio, Berlin.
Mixed and Mastered by Christian Bader at Studio P4, Berlin.
Laika Records, 2019
In January 2015 I was asked to write a Jazz-cantata for a festival in Basel, Switzerland. On this festival two new compositions were premiered, which both set the same text to tone. In the first half the audience listened to a new composition for a baroque ensemble, in the second half we played my composition for a jazz band. For the vocal part I asked Efrat Alony, who I admire since I got to know her music. Her singing is completely unique and as a composer you can write things for her which only a handful of singer are able to sing. Directly after the concert I decided to record this composition, so we went into the studio in the summer of 2016. Thanks again so much to Efrat, Andreas, Bernhard & Peter for their outstanding playing and singing. The title is an excerpt of the text and can be translated as "Born under this soft wind"
Efrat Alony - Voice
Andreas Böhlen - Alto Saxophone
Sebastian Böhlen - Guitar
Bernhard Meyer - Bass
Peter Gall - Drums
All compositions by Sebastian Böhlen
Lyrics by Tina Hartmann
Record, mixed and mastered by Christian Bader at Studio P4, Berlin
Laika Records, 2017
This is my first record for Laika Records. I am very grateful to Peter Cronemeyer from Laika Records for having so much confidence in my music. I moved to Berlin in 2013 and I loved the city from the very first day. So it did not take long that I started to write music with the inspirations I was getting from this city. During the two days in Spring 2014, in which we recorded the album, Stefan, Jakob and Peter played beautiful as always. A month after the recording I went back to the studio and recorded Oscar Levant and Edwards Heyman´s Blame it on my youth with my baritone guitar.
Stefan Karl Schmid - Tenor & Soprano Saxophone
Sebastian Böhlen - Guitar & Baritone Guitar
Jakob Dreyer - Bass
Peter Gall - Drums & Typewriter
All compositions except Blame it on my youth by Sebastian Böhlen
Recorded and mixed by Jürgen Heckel at Aurec Studios, Berlin.
Mastered by Wolfgang Schiefermair
Laika Records, 2014
Since my childhood I am a big fan of art songs. While I was still doing my bachelor degree in Mannheim in 2008, I set a few poems by Rainer Maria Rilke, Langston Hughes, Robert Frost and Edgar Allen Poe to tone. I asked Stephie if she would like to try them out and I could not be happier that she agreed to do it. Her way of singing enriched the music in an extend I never imagined. For the album we added to my compositions the standard I'll be seeing you written by Sammy Fain and Irving Kahal. The recording took place in Mannheim in 2011 and was released by Rodenstein Records. The CD is named after a poem by Robert Frost.
Stephanie Neigel - Voice
Sebastian Böhlen - Guitar
All compositions except I'll be seeing you by Sebastian Böhlen.
Recorded and mixed by Mathias Grosch at Groschton Studio, 2011
Masters by Tom Krüger at No Se´ Studio, 2011
Rodenstein Records, 2013
I was living in New York City from 2010 - 2012 and composed all of the music for this record there. The opportunity to be in this city and be allowed to focus only on music was life changing for me. In the summer of 2011 I recorded these tunes together with Matthias, Stefan, Volker, Jakob and Peter and I am proud and grateful that these incredible musicians played my music. It was the first record on which I was composer, guitarist and producer at the same time. In 2012 we played a nice release tour through Germany. You can find videos of this group in the video section.
Stefan Karl Schmid - Tenor & Soprano Saxophone, Clarinet and Bass Clarinet
Matthias Bergmann - Trumpet & Flugelhorn
Sebastian Böhlen - Guitar
Volker Engelberth - Piano & Melodica
Jakob Dreyer - Bass
Peter Gall - Drums
Recorded by Nico Raschke at Hansahausstudio, 2011
Mixed by Klaus Genuit at Hansahausstudio, 2011
Mastered by Florian Ross, 2011
Mons Records, 2012
Manhattan School of Music Jazz Philharmonic Orchestra, Justin Dicioccio - Artistry in Rhythm, Jazzheads, 2012
Manhattan School of Music Jazz Philharmonic Orchestra, Justin Dicioccio – Meditations Suite, Jazzheads, 2011
Bundesjazzorchester–BuJazzO Vol. 7, Deutscher Musikrat, 2009
Bundesjugendorchester, Michael Boder – Johannes Brahms, Hans-Jürgen von Bose, Deutscher Musikrat, 2008
Landesjugendjazzorchester Niedersachen – Have You Heart, Landesmusikrat Niedersachen, 2007
Kicks ´n Sticks - Das Was Bleibt, Neuklang Records, 2017
Live at Birds Eye Volume 16 – Spiegelungen, Birds Eye, 2016
Bundesbegegnung Jugend Jazzt 2005 – Young & Foolish, Deutscher Musikrat, 2005