Munich-based DJ and producer, Christian Prommer, has been at the forefront of the jazz, techno and house scene for pretty damn long and is doing a stellar job. After a long stint in the electronic music scene with nu-jazz outfits, Fauna Flash and Truby Trio, Christian rediscovered his drumming roots and has since worked with a couple of professional musicians to perform and record epic house and techno tunes in jazz arrangements, releasing two albums – Drumlesson 1 and Drumlesson Zwei – just for the cause.

Drumlesson 1 was a fantastic album. What inspired you to remake house and techno tunes using live jazz instrumentation and arrangement?
I started off making music with drums but I left it in the ’90s and went on to program dance tracks. Then not too long ago, I decided to go back to my instrument and see what happens: that was after DJ-ing in Japan and playing ’60s jazz records next to Detroit techno. I noticed the arrangements of both genres were almost the same and there was synergy. It was that night that I also rediscovered “Strings Of Life” again and then I met this amazing piano player and everything just came together. The recording was done but left around for two years until the Jazzanova guys went crazy about it after I dropped the track at one DJ gig. A single was released for it and it did well. Then the rest happened…

You must be really happy now, to be able to go back to your musical roots of drumming.
I am really happy. Your mind progresses and you are a different player not because you practice more but because you look at music differently. Same with DJ-ing and remixing because I am still learning even after 15 years. That’s why I call it Drumlesson. I am still learning from the musicians that play with me and I am still a student in my field. The more you know, the less you know.

Read the rest of this interview in the June issue of JUICE, now available at these spots (and at all major book stores and news stands for $4).

www.myspace.com/christianprommer

Text: Wayne Lee
Image and interview courtesy of: Zouk

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