First Encounter is the first project of a German-American Jazz/Funk friendship which, with its vision, should be a model for transatlantic teamwork.

Craig Handy (born in 1962), who is one of the best saxophonists of his generation (countless recordings with Betty Carter, the Mingus Big Band, Wynton Marsalis, Herbie Hancock) has been a rare visitor to Europe in the last decade. And that is gladly about to change. BAM invited him to perform several well-attended and acclaimed concerts and
the now finally available production First Encounter. BAM stands for keyboard wizard Matthias Bublath, sousaphone master Freddy Andrej and, of course, Guido May. The young guitarist Maxi Nachtmann, who plays incredibly well for his age and gives rise to high hopes, was added at short notice. Matthias Bublath has recorded some very fine trio albums and shines as a modern jazz pianist in a league with current exceptional musicians such as Sullivan Fortner, Lawrence Fields, Christian Sands and Aaron Diehl. We experience him here as a Hammond organ expert, but if you listen to his own funk-oriented CDs, which also feature trumpeter Takuya Kuroda, you are amazed at how confidently he can switch between genresFirst Encounter is the first successful project of a new German-American friendship which, with its universal musical vision, should be a model for creative transatlantic teamwork, which currently seems to be increasingly falling by the wayside in everyday political life.

Track Listing

Ain't It Funky Now
Chicken Soup
Faatuchine
N.Y. 2nd Hip
Too Much
Ready 'n' Able
PW's
Funky Side Up

Additional Details

Label: RHYTHMNFLOW Records

Genre: Jazz

Language: English

Run Time: 40:36 mins

Region: 0

Release Date: 10/10/25

UPC: 4270004887624

DownBeat November 2025 Featured Selections

Bam & Craig Handy - Bam Meets Craig Handy: First Encounter (LP)

Bam & Craig Handy - Bam Meets Craig Handy: First Encounter (CD)

Wycliffe Gordon - Holiday Fun (CD)

James Suggs - For All We Know (CD)