Roland Kovac New Set: Pioneers of German Jazz Fusion

Roland Kovac New Set was an innovative German jazz ensemble led by composer and pianist Roland Kovac, active from the late 1960s into the 1970s. Hailing from Munich, the group achieved critical acclaim for their sophisticated blend of modal jazz, funk, and avant-garde composition, leaving a lasting mark on the European jazz scene.

Early career

Roland Kovac, born in 1927 in Zagreb, had already established a formidable career as a jazz pianist, arranger, and composer for film and television before forming the New Set. The ensemble was officially assembled in 1969, drawing from Munich's vibrant pool of session musicians to realize Kovac's ambitious, genre-defying musical visions.

Breakthrough

The group's breakthrough arrived with their 1970 self-titled debut album, Roland Kovac New Set, released on the prestigious German MPS (Musik Produktion Schwarzwald) label. This album, recorded at the legendary MPS studio in Villingen, immediately established their reputation for complex, cinematic jazz that appealed to both traditional listeners and the burgeoning progressive rock audience.

Key tracks

Try A Little Better — This driving, brass-heavy opener from their debut album perfectly encapsulates the group's powerful fusion of soul-jazz and intricate arrangement.

Sadness — A haunting, melancholic piece showcasing Kovac's talent for evocative melody and the ensemble's dynamic control, from whisper-quiet passages to explosive crescendos.

My Kind Of Sunshine — A standout track that blends upbeat funk rhythms with sophisticated horn charts, illustrating the accessible yet complex nature of their sound.

Baptismal — This composition highlights the group's more experimental, avant-garde side, featuring unconventional structures and exploratory soloing.

The ensemble followed their debut with several more albums for MPS, including 1971's Listen To The Sunrise and 1972's Roland Kovac New Set 3. These works further refined their signature style, incorporating elements of rock, Eastern European folk, and free jazz while maintaining a cohesive and compelling sound. Kovac's masterful arrangements and the stellar musicianship of his rotating "New Set" members, including trumpeter Ack van Rooyen and saxophonist Ferdinand Povel, were consistently praised.

Similar artists from the same fertile period of German jazz and fusion include Klaus Doldinger whose group Passport also expertly bridged jazz and rock. Volker Kriegel shared a similar inventive approach to guitar-led European fusion. United Jazz Rock Ensemble paralleled the New Set's focus on composed, large-ensemble jazz-rock. Wolfgang Dauner was another key figure in the German scene, exploring comparable avant-garde and electronic jazz territories.

The music of Roland Kovac New Set remains a staple on specialist jazz FM stations and online radio streams dedicated to classic fusion and progressive music. Their albums are frequently featured in curated programs exploring the depth of 1970s European jazz, resonating with listeners seeking both musical complexity and rhythmic vitality.

You can explore the innovative sounds of Roland Kovac New Set on dedicated jazz and fusion radio stations featured on our platform. Tune in via onairium.com to discover their influential catalog and hear how this German ensemble helped shape the sound of European jazz fusion.