He is young and plays the piano very well. On Saturday evening, the Frenchman Thomas Enhco, born in 1988, made a guest appearance in the almost sold-out Middle Brucknerhaus Hall and gave an acclaimed solo evening.
Enhco has both a classical and a jazz education, so he builds bridges between the genres. This is basically nothing new, as early as the 1950s this species gained attention under the term “Third Stream” with representatives such as Gunther Schuller, Stan Kenton or John Carisi. Enhco relates above all to Bruckner, quoting from the late symphonies and improvising with astonishing ease and elegance. One hears the well-known theme from the scherzo of the 7th, is happy to recognize it, and the improvisation ends up with Mozart and Beethoven.
Enhco leads through the evening, gives explanations in a charming conversational tone, and explains his intentions. This helps to solve some musical mysteries. There is also a “real” jazz piece, Dizzy Gillespie’s “Con Alma”, a classic with a slight Latin touch. Whether one can call the Bruckner adaptations jazz is questionable. Admittedly, the improvisation immanent to the genre comes into its own – his comment typical of this, “Let’s start with Bruckner and let’s see where it leads us…” – but the phrasing and musical style are hardly jazz-affine, which doesn’t matter. In any case, Enhco shone with enthusiasm and undeniable skill.
Source: Nachrichten
