Karl Ratzer – Happy Floating
I don't know, which one of the many Karl Ratzers there are, I love most. Is it the fabulous composer, the outstanding arranger, the 'groovin' musician, the ambitious band leader or the incredible guitar-virtuoso (just listen to ALFIE and you know, what I'm talking about)?
I think, it's the sum of all his brillant skills, that makes him the huge and solid rock in the middle of an ocean of musical monotony. I'm glad to call him a friend.
He will be yours too, after having listened to this CD, believe me' - Happy Floating'!
(Frank Hoffmann)

Mary Ann - I guess only a fool would dare trying to copy Big Ray but this song just lays right to play and sing.
Cooking At The Continental was written for horns but we voiced it for three guitars. A fingerbreaker but it works. I play the first and Thommy the second guitar solo.
Sweet Lorraine - an adventure that the great Sal Nistico inspired me to go on.
Jazz Tune describes the mood and harmonic chord structure in which I like to improvise.
Happy Floating were the last words that the great organ player Khalid Larry Young said to me in New York. A year later he passed. To express my respect and gratitude for the inspiration he left, I use it as the title for this record.
I Love You - surely an attempt to get closer to the listener but also my first try in horn writing.
Boplicity - for five guitars - demonstrates the density that can be reached in this setting.
Alfie - a tribute to Burt for great songwriting, selected for my guitar solo.
(Karl Ratzer)

Personnel:
Karl Ratzer (g, voc, arr, Id), Andy Haderer (tp, fhl), Klaus Dickbauer (as), Martin Fuss (ts), Johannes Strasser (b), Mario Gonzi (dr, perc), Claus Spechtl (g), Franz Scharf (g), Andreas Kraussbock (g), Bobby Dodge (tb), Thomas Zech (g), Roberto Di Gioia (keyb), Joris Dudli (dr), Ulli Langthaler (b).
Recorded at Sound studio Hans Klement, Vienna.
Tracklisting:
1. Mary Ann (Ray Charles) (3:53)
Karl Ratzer, Andy Haderer, Klaus Dickbauer, Martin Fuss, Bobby Dodge, Roberto Di Gioia, Joris Dudli, Mario Gonzi
2. Cookin' At The Continental (Horace Silver) (5:57)
Karl Ratzer, Andreas Kraussbock, Thomas Zech. Andy Haderer, Ulli Langthaler, Klaus Dickbauer, Mario Gonzi
3. Sweet Lorraine (Burwell & Parish) (2:36)
Karl Ratzer, Johannes Strasser, Mario Gonzi
4. Jazz Tune (Karl Ratzer) (8:35)
Karl Ratzer, Andy Haderer, Klaus Dickbauer, Martin Fuss, Bobby Dodge, Johannes Strasser, Mario Gonzi
5. Happy Floating (Karl Ratzer) (8:46)
Karl Ratzer, Andy Haderer, Klaus Dickbauer, Martin Fuss, Bobby Dodge, Johannes Strasser, Mario Gonzi
6. I Love You (Cole Porter) (3:53)
Karl Ratzer, Andy Haderer, Klaus Dickbauer, Martin Fuss, Bobby Dodge, Johannes Strasser, Mario Gonzi
7. Boplicity (Ernie Henry) (2:56)
Karl Ratzer, Franz Scharf, Claus Spechtl, Andreas KraussOck, Thomas Zech, Ulli Langthaler, Mario Gonzi
8. Alfie (Burt Bacharach) (3:27)
Karl Ratzer
All Arrangements by Karl Ratzer, except 'Boplicity' by Franz Scharf.