Jazzthing: ... so lautet denn die Gesamtwertung exakt wie ein Titel dieses Werks: 'chillin'. Und welcher deutsche Jazzer kann das schon von sich behaupten.

Audio Aug.96: Eine urbane Mixtur aus Mainstream, Funk und Rap präsenrtiert das Septett des Saxophononisten Reiner Witzel... (Musik 4, Klang 4)

This second offering of reiner Witzel´s music brings a challenge to the jazz listener. take this opportunity not to categorize or classify, but just enjoy the musical freedom, of "passage to the ear".
Reiner was born in Mannheim, Germany, in 1967, although Düsseldorf was the stomping grounds for young Reiner to develop his musical training. he began his career in 1976 at the Düsseldorf Jugendmusikschule performing on the french horn moving later to the clarinet and finally finding his voice on the saxophone in 1982. Though jazz was to be his calling, Reiner´s early development from 1988-90 during his studies at the Musikhochschule Köln was in classical music in juxtaposition experimenting creative ideas through the rock idiom.
In 1990 Reiner set out to expand his horizons, taking him to New York, to develop his jazz "visions". Manhattan School of Music being his first stop. there he was able to tap into the music community from that period on meeting and being influenced by the likes of Dave Liebman, Bob Mintzer, Bill Evans, Defunkt, Gil Evans orchestra, Rashid Ali, John Purcell and others.
Another important meeting for Reiner now in it´s fourth year relationship is with the great trumpet virtuoso Lew Soloff who´s presence is truly felt not only on this album, but on reiner´s first cd, "infinite voyage".
Under the umbrella of a mature fine leader, Witzel was quick to give the well deserved credit to his sideman´s contributions. the brilliant skills of Lew Soloff, the supportive abilities of Christoph Adams on keyboards, the creative rhythmic development held down by felix astor on drums, and Roland Peil on percussion, the melodic beauty by Volker Heinze on bass and Duke T on rap vocals completed the formula. The results a special amalgan of jazz performers each of whom brings a luxurious dimensions into the "passage to the ear". - enjoy.
john Purcell 1995