With their third album 'Wildernis', the Brussels jazz quintet Otto Kintet delivers a sharp observation of (human) nature.
The new album reflects the journey that the band members have taken together and individually, as well as the metamorphosis of
their home base, also named ‘Wildernis Strmbk.’
All compositions are by bandleader and double bassist Otto Kint. He drew inspiration from Wildernis Strmbk, an abandoned sports
complex that he transformed into an incubator for artists from various disciplines. Kint lived there for five years and watched as
nature gradually reclaimed the tidy, man-made site. Kint translated this evolution into diverse compositions with room for
improvisation and unrestrained interplay, an approach he carried into the studio. The entire album was recorded with all musicians
in one room, without headphones or overdubs. “We relied more than ever on our instincts and senses instead of our rational
minds,” Kint explains. The goal was to color the compositions, play in the moment, and make music together.
The band has been playing in the same lineup for eight years, and you can hear that on the album. The diverse styles and tones of
the five musicians blend exceptionally well. For instance, Martin Salemi (keys) primarily plays acoustic piano, giving Lukas Somers
(guitar) more room to experiment with effects. Jeroen Capens (saxophone) expanded his instrumentation with the clarinet, playing
both his signature powerful sax solos and more subdued parts. Daniel Jonkers (drums) as always, finds the perfect tandem with Otto
Kint’s double bass.
With the intimate 'Fontanel,' the band members welcome their children and embrace the influence of minimal and classical music.
This tranquility and clarity characterize the album at various moments. Additionally, Otto Kintet remains a groove-based band that
can deliver powerful performances. “Polyphonic motifs that move towards each other and then fit together like tectonic plates are
somewhat our trademark. Hence a track like ‘Aardplaat’ (Tectonic Plate),” explains Otto. 'Piedade,' on the other hand, has a Latin-
Caribbean vibe and is structurally deeply rooted in the tradition of jazz standards. “The track was inspired by a painting that
reminded me of a woman from Uruguay. She was both very free-spirited and exuberant, yet still respectful of traditions. That
contrast is reflected in ‘Piedade.’” 'Wan.de.len,' the album's first single, is also based on a painting that emerged from a social-artistic
project with people with mental disabilities. The track is like an imperfect circle.
It’s evident that graphic aspects are important to Kint, as seen in the album's cover. Graphic artist Maya Strobbe created a design
composed of thin lines for the album's front cover. The image represents our living environment, which at times is so meticulously
organized that nature seems distant. On the back cover, you’ll find the lush drawing by artist Levi Stoops, on which Strobbe based
her design. Stoops created a drawing of an ancient forest with an element that doesn’t quite belong: a buffalo. A dual image that
portrays nature in its most intense forms, creating a slightly disorienting sensation, much like the world today.
1Train of Dots05:37
Music: Otto KintISRC: BEW81-24-00001
2Wan.de.len07:15
Music: Otto KintISRC: BEW81-24-00002
3Fontanel06:09
Music: Otto KintISRC: BEW81-24-00003
4Glinstergloed04:07
Music: Otto KintISRC: BEW81-24-00004
5Piedade08:16
Music: Otto KintISRC: BEW81-24-00005
6Aardplaat04:01
Music: Otto KintISRC: BEW81-24-00006
7Science Friction07:40
Music: Otto KintISRC: BEW81-24-00007
8Glinstergloed 203:03
Music: Otto KintISRC: BEW81-24-00008
9Fontanel 206:03
Music: Otto KintISRC: BEW81-24-00009
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