Katamaran - 1980 - Footprints

Katamaran

1980

Footprints

01. Rio Trio Con Brio 13:56
02. Disco Tango 10:09
03. 100° Elvin 14:47
04. Peace 7:56

Accordion, Guest – Josef Schwermann
Bass, Percussion – Dago Dombrowski
Drums, Percussion – Kurt Billker
Guitar – Franz Holtmann
Piano, Electric Piano [Rhodes], Synthesizer – Heiner Kleinjohann
Saxophone, Flute – Wolf Burbat

Their 3rd and final album branched into more hardcore jazz (acoustic piano, sax solos, loose structures), while still maintaining a preferable fusion edge. Final track is a somber flute, acoustic bass, piano and drums piece.

Katamaran - 1978 - Cafe Florian

Katamaran

1978 

Cafe Florian

01. Café Florian
02. Plaza de la Trinitad
03. Das Stück der Quated
04. Chromadur
05. Kurt

Bass, Percussion – Dago Dombrowski
Drums, Percussion – Rudi Marhold
Guitar – Franz Holtmann
Percussion – Waldemar Karpenkiel
Saxophone [Tenor, Soprano] – Roland Schmitt

Katamaran's second album was named after the famous ''Cafe Florian'' in Venice (1978, Pläne) and featured a slightly different line-up to the debut album.Former Kollektiv Waldo Karpenkiel joined them on percussion, Roland Schmitt grabed the saxes and Rudi Marhold was the new drummer.The album was an abstract mix of Jazz, Return to Forever-styled Lounge Fusion and Passport's discreet spacey aesthetics on Jazz Fusion, containinig also a nice amount of funky grooves.Rather poor in true dynamics, but very rich in changing moods, solos and atmospheres.Extremely professional plays, which sometimes get on the very loose side of Jazz, still having this atmospheric German vibe all the way through.Great jazzy drumming, pretty heavy on the flute work, with some very good synth and electric piano lines and touches of Latin Fusion in specific pieces.These guys apparently could perform every Jazz-generated style with comfort.This work just falls on the more improvised style of Fusion, but contains more than enough interesting instrumental parts.

Katamaran - 1977 - Katamaran

Katamaran

1977

Katamaran

01. Poseidon 3:34
02. Gehe Zurück Nach Der Badstraße 6:58
03. Fender Spiel 8:41
04. 16.9.76 5:44
05. Gerd Und Die Welt 15:59

Bass – Dagobert Dombrowski
Synthesizer, Flute – Wolf Burbat
Drums, Percussion – Heinz-Günter Hemkendreis
Guitar – Franz Holtmann
Percussion – Hermann Mensing
Piano, Electric Piano – Heiner Kleinjohann
Tenor Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone – Calle Bisping

By the late 70s, fusionitis had spread rapidly to just about any group of musicians with a few chops. German jazz-rock outfit Katamaran were one group from the era, influenced strongly by Return to Forever, Weather Report and the like. Based on a typical riffing drum and bass rhythm section, the group lays down grooves for a number of winds, guitars and keys, including flutes, soprano sax, electric piano and more. With so many European fusion albums, it's difficult to give Katamaran the kudos it might deserve, but what could be said for it is that it's not a shred fest, with plenty of room for ensemble work to break up the monotony of solo after solo. The band Perigeo is a decent comparison as far as this goes, one that should hint to the tastefulness going on here. However, as well played and classy as Katamaran are, I can't help but think that there are at least a dozen albums in the style I'd rather be listening to. A solid album, while not necessarily being a standout.

The endless German jazz fusion era of the late 70s and early 80s strikes once again with Katamaran. The debut is more in line with the then current scene (Moira, Kraan, etc..) with hot playing, memorable melodies and tight unison runs.