Heart of the Matter

The title of Wolfgang Haffner's latest album, Heart of the Matter, is definitely more than just a play on words: As Germany's most highly decorated drummer, including the 2010 Echo Jazz award, his profession has been "a matter of the heart" ever since the tender age of 18 when he played in Albert Mangelsdorff's band. Since then he has gone on to play with countless international stars and recorded on over 400 albums but only since he started recording his own albums as an ACT artist has he felt close to the heart of the matter. As Haffner puts it, "I don't see myself as just a drummer anymore, but as a universal musician. I compose, arrange, seek out and enter worlds of sound. That is my thing." Heart of the Matter is a logical continuation of the path that Haffner took with his previous albums Shapes, Acoustic Shapes and Round Silence. Once again it is about organic, calm music with a strong groove and substantial melodies full of colour and space.

1. Nacho - 06:08 (Haffner, Wolfgang)
2. Bing - 07:07 (Haffner, Wolfgang)
3. Luna - 05:56 (Haffner, Wolfgang / Lovell, Andrew)
4. Dom - 06:30 (Haffner, Wolfgang )
5. Between A Smile And A Tear - 05:06 (Haffner, Wolfgang)
6. Leo - 07:09 (Haffner, Wolfgang )
7. Hello - 04:17 (Richie, Lionel )
8. Melodia del viento - 04:12 (Haffner, Wolfgang )
9. Here's to Life - 05:52 (Butler, Artie)
10. Island Life - 04:59 (Haffner, Wolfgang)