David Helbock´s Random/Control feat. Fola Dada
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David Helbock's Random/Control feat. Fola Dada: A musical moment at the Little Big Beat Studio
David Helbock has fulfilled a lifelong musical dream by performing a live session in the legendary Big Beat Studio. So, what defines this live album? And what role does poetry play?
Considered one of the most innovative jazz pianists in Europe, Helbock has caused a furore on countless stages worldwide with his band Random/Control over the past 16 years. The band consists of Johannes Bär on tuba, drums and alphorn, and Andreas Broger on saxophones. For this special project, they are joined by the charismatic singer Fola Dada, whose warm, expressive voice adds a new dimension to Helbock's compositions.
The recording was made live in an intimate studio setting without subsequent corrections, capturing the spontaneous musicality and perfect harmony between the four artists.Poetry meets music
A central feature of this album is the fusion of music and poetry. For this recording, Helbock set poems by renowned poets such as Emily Dickinson, Erich Fried and William Blake to music. One particularly impressive example is the piece 'Freiheit', based on a poem by Erich Fried, characterised by its deep emotional power. 'Infant Joy' by William Blake and 'Song of a Dream' by Sarojini Naidu also demonstrate how Helbock fuses literary art with musical innovation.
In addition to these poetic compositions, the album features new interpretations of well-known songs, such as Madonna's 'Like a Prayer' and Prince's '1999', lending the work an exciting versatility. The combination of literary settings and innovative cover versions makes for an extraordinary listening experience.A team of sound aesthetes
The production was handled by none other than Little Konzett, who recorded, mixed and mastered the album at the Little Big Beat Studio in Liechtenstein. The result is an audiophile masterpiece, boasting crystal-clear sound and great attention to detail. Great care was also taken with the visual aspect of the project, with Julian Konrad as photographer, Steve Peri as graphic designer, and Kurt Gehring as video director.
The limited transparent edition is available at all David Helbock concerts.Herbert Höpfl, Concerto This article was published in the April/May 2025 edition of Concerto Magazine. More information and subscription details: concerto.at