Jens Kommnick: Stringed

Stockfisch Records

Once upon a time… - fairy tales often begin with these familiar and beloved words. But only fairy tales? It can’t be a coincidence that Jens Kommnick opens his new solo album “Stringed” with the piece “Es war einmal (Once Upon a Time)”. He says “It’s at least 10 years since this piece almost accidentally came into being! To my ears it sets the foundations to the opening of an atmospheric fairy tale.” The composition is more than that: it’s a magical prelude to a very special album…

In the lovingly designed booklet there’s also the touching story of a little boy, who receives a songbook from his mother as a birthday present, so that he can learn to play the guitar. The boy musters the courage to write a letter to the author of the book and asks for an autograph. “For Jens” writes the author, Reinhard Mey, on the card, “not having any idea that this would mark the beginning of a beautiful friendship.” The boy was Jens Kommnick; he later became friends with Reinhard Mey, who wrote the introduction in the booklet, recalling with his warm-hearted words this story from many years ago. In a touching gesture, Jens Kommnick has included a cover of Reinhard Mey’s song “Lass nun ruhig los das Ruder” on this album.

On his way to becoming one of the most remarkable and popular guitarists and instrumentalists of this country, Jens Kommnick developed his own unique and unmistakable style on the guitar – a style between “celtic fingerstyle guitar”, classical, jazz and folk. The new album “Stringed” –surprisingly only his fourth album– marks a special point in the impressive musical journey of the 56 year-old guitarist.