| Jazz |
At times, I find myself holding an album in reserve, feeling it hasn’t yet found its ideal moment to shine. With the year’s end fast approaching, however, I’ve discovered a record that makes a perfect gift for any jazz enthusiast: Storybook by Markus Rutz. Rutz, whose previous albums Blueprints Figure One and Blueprints Figure Two enjoyed wide international radio acclaim, was honored as the “Chicago Music Ambassador” in 2020, a year dedicated to celebrating the city’s musical heritage. Such accolades hint at his profound connection with listeners, yet to grasp the true essence of his creative spirit, one must delve into Storybook.
And so, I did. I opened Storybook, read it, re-read it, and attempted to encompass its scope. Yet, with each listening, I relished the sense that something elusive lingered just beyond my grasp. While the album feels immediately accessible, it demands attentive, immersive listening—an imperative dictated by its masterful arrangements and compelling themes. The record unfolds with a prologue before dividing into three distinct chapters, tracing a journey through time: beginning in the present, winding back to moments of reflection, and ultimately returning to the now. Anchored in the ideas of universality and unity, Storybook celebrates the intertwined nature of our collective narratives. In exploring Rutz’s musical journey, it pays homage to his towering influences, including Miles Davis, Kenny Dorham, Ellis Marsalis, Mal Waldron, and Lil Hardin.
These influences are undeniably present—woven so deftly into the compositions that the listener feels instantly at home, as though treading familiar ground. There are certain albums where genre matters little; it is the emotions they evoke and the imagery they conjure that unlock the door to an artist’s universe. Rutz is undoubtedly such an artist.
The opening track, Something’s Blowing In, conjures the westward winds of 1949, blowing from New York and carrying the seismic influence of giants like Miles Davis and Charlie Parker to Chicago—and to Rutz himself. Reflecting on this, Rutz shares:
“At 14, Miles Davis became a co-author of my life. One afternoon, I discovered Kind of Blue. From the first notes of Bill Evans’ piano, Paul Chambers’ bass line, and Miles’ trumpet, my life’s path was transformed. With this album, Miles entered my world and introduced me to other musicians who shaped my development and musical experience.”
Indeed, Kind of Blue is a touchstone for musicians and creatives alike, its endless inspirations spilling into countless realms. As Rutz elaborates: “Storybook is a personal postcard, a soundscape intended to bring happiness, pleasure, and peace to its listeners.” His philosophy resonates deeply with me: “Even without knowing or meeting someone, we receive influences that become part of our own story.”
Rare in both form and feeling, this album bridges past and present with a poignancy that mirrors the essence of Bayou Blue Radio: preserving only the finest of the past and the present. It’s why artists like Miles, Evans, Baron, Shorter, and so many others endure in our repertoire. Without question, Storybook earns its place among our “Essentials.”
Thierry De Clemensat
USA correspondent – Paris-Move and ABS magazine
Editor in chief Bayou Blue Radio, Bayou Blue News
PARIS-MOVE, November 26th 2024
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