zenit: straight ahead

Edition Hawara present a reissue of Zenit's Straight Ahead, originally released in 1986. Zenit is a jazz ensemble from Krems in Lower Austria, founded in 1976 by Hannes Treiber and Willi Langer. Their music was celebrated locally, but to reduce them to their local fame would be a shame: after all, their first two LPs, Stimmungswechsel (Change of Moods) (1982) and Früchte (Fruits) (1983), quickly gained them a much wider audience of discerning listeners. Arguably, however, Zenit's third and final LP, Straight Ahead, is the most special of their records. It initially came out in 1986 on the producer's label Spray Records, and is today one of the hardest-to-find Austrian jazz records. Its centerpiece is the infectious slow-motion disco piece "Waiting", with vocals by American jazz singer Linda Sharrock. Effortlessly bringing together pop, soul, and new age vibes, this is a record that is as unique as it is difficult to date. Does it sound like from it's the '80s? Maybe. But it could also be from the future.