25th November 2014: “Amazing”, “Awesome”, “Fascinating”, “Sheer Class” – John Escreet’s ‘Sabotage and Celebration’ reviewed across Germany, Austria and Switzerland

Since moving to New York in 2006, John Escreet has had a powerful impact, and has emerged as one of the most creative and original pianists on the music scene there. He is highly revered amongst his peers for his creativity, openness and for his own original music.
Sabotage and Celebration is Escreets’ fifth solo album (and first WWR release).  The album glistens from start to finish with the endless imagination and unrelenting vision of a truly singular voice in modern music, and is aptly supported by an A-list of the world’s preeminent creative musicians who all contribute inspired performances at the peak of their powers.
The album covers an incredible amount of musical ground. A string section is prominently featured as a result of his recent re-fascination with orchestral music; listen in as he seamlessly incorporates it into the context of a conventional quintet. And that’s not all- brass, guitars and vocals are also layered into the proceedings in surprising ways, creating music of a larger scale.
Any attempt to pigeonhole the music on the album would be futile, as Escreet’s compositional palette is as wide open as his piano virtuosity, completely without boundaries, and this new recording boasts such  ambitious production and scope, that it excitedly reaffirms with each listen that musical possibility is truly infinite.

Sabotage and Celebration continues to garner rave reviews from Germany, Austria and Switzerland. See what the European press has to say;

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“Sabotage and Celebration comes from a highly productive individual of a mere 30 years whose imbibed and internalized an enormous mass of music. With his vision as it is at this point in his young career, one really does not know what is yet to come.”
CD Aktuell

“Fascinating… the album grooves and busts with enthusiasm and bold compositional ideas. Escreet offers a great mix of complexity and feeling.”
Hörspiegel-Meinung

“A very great album indeed, a must for every fan of modern music.”
Musik an Sich

“Escreet is one of the world’s dynamic and original artists… the new album shines from the first note until the last second by the endless expression and the indomitable vision of a truly unique voice in the modern music world.”
Rhein Magazine

“[Escreet is] one of the most dynamic and original musicians of his generation.”
Sound & Image

“From track to track, the listener can not at all imagine where the music takes them.”
Jazz City (DE)

“What Escreet reveals on his firth album is sheer class.”
Saarbrücker Zeitung

“Awesome… [Escreet’s] restless innovation is addictive.”
Sol (DE)

“Orchestral arches, sprawling solos, free jazz escapades and subtle interaction, all under one roof.”
Jazz ’n’ More

“In each song Escreet displays extraordinary ideas with innovative improvisations.”
Fono Forum