Harri Stojka - Stones Free
LIVE - Lineup:
Harri Stojka: Guitar
Peter Dürr: Vocals
Arthur Darnhofer-Demar: Bass
Sigi Meier: Drums
"Blame it on the Stones" was already sung by Kris Kristofferson on his first album released in 1970. At a time when it was not yet foreseeable that the Rolling Stones, so famously sung about, would be firmly anchored in the world's consciousness as true titans of global pop and rock culture over 50 years later, with many of their songs holding identity-forming significance for multiple generations and their latest world tour in 2022 being a memorable event for many.
1970 can also be considered the year in which Harri Stojka, born in Vienna in 1956 and still living and working here today as an exceptional guitarist, began his musical career profoundly young, performing as Jano and Harri Stojka in the historically significant Arena. Stojka followed his musicality and muse through numerous stages in the years and decades that followed, allowing his joy of playing with "time" to find new forms. This was evident both as a solo artist and with various bands, whether it be Gipsy Love or his own Harri Stojka Express, not to mention his membership in Novaks Kapelle, on whose notorious 78rpm album "Naked" he could be heard. Despite the fact that the string artist Harri Stojka is internationally esteemed and praised for his virtuosity and musical sensitivity between jazz, (Gipsy) swing, and various forms of so-called "world music", it is important to highlight his contributions to rock and psychedelia with his guitar, demonstrating that he indeed had and continues to have much profound "to say".
This was evidenced by his "Salut To Jimi Hendrix", released on CD in 2020! Particularly the somewhat louder concerts with Stojka's congenial partners in sound, bassist Peter Strutzenberger, and drummer Sigi Meier in the year of Hendrix's 80th birthday 2022, left many ears joyfully ringing and hearts beating faster in excitement.
Now, as this well-rehearsed dream team takes on the Stones, with a setlist that interprets many of the great classics by the gentlemen Jagger, Richards & Co in their own unique way, from the timeless "Satisfaction" to "Start Me Up", perhaps the band's last truly super concise riff and song, the planned album already instills great unrestrained anticipation for the concerts (it should also be noted in passing that Hari Stojka dedicated an album to the eternal antagonists of the Stones, the Beatles, back in 2016). Even more so, as this soulful musical appropriation of the powerful Stones successfully answers the crucial question of the frontman with vocalist Peter Dürr. Dürr himself is a seasoned rock veteran, never lacking in essential passion and dedication.
It is simply a great pleasure to listen to Stojka, Dürr, Strutzenberger, and Meier as they make songs, which were never played by fewer than five Stones, their own as a quartet. Hearing Harri Stojka follow in the footsteps of four iconic guitarists and musicians – Keith Richards, Brian Jones, Mick Taylor, and Ron Wood – on his own path, with his unmistakable tone and style, whether in the magnificent "Miss You", or other colossal songs like "Sympathy For The Devil", "Midnight Rambler", or "Gimme Shelter", transcends the idea of merely "playing back" or a tribute strictly adhering to the originals. Instead, it is a lively dialogue with a music that is once again very much alive, where the word "Free" in the album title Stones Free carries significant meaning. The lips shine bright red, and the tongue clicks in delight – not forgetting to mention the perhaps most famous band logo of all time!
Hallo, ich bin Maya.
