Story of Mankind a Requiem (CD)

Frederikke Vedel – vocal

Randy Brecker – trumpet 

Henrik Dam Thomsen - cello  

Benjamin Koppel – altosax, additional vibraphone, gongs and percussion

Søren Møller – piano, organ and fender rhodes 

Johnny Åman – acoustic bass 

Ferenc Nemeth – drums and percussion 

STORY OF MANKIND is a piece that depicts the cruelty of man through an interpretation in music of human feelings. Pictures of the trenches in Ukraine look frighteningly the same as pictures of the trenches of World War I. And thus, the story repeats itself. Again.  

French poet Apollinaire is by many looked upon as not only of the great poets of the early 20th century but also a groundbreaker for surrealism. And with his words as well as with lyrics from two great Danish poets of today, Tomas ”TT” Krag and Morten Søndergaard, Benjamin Koppel wanted to examine how the absurd surreality of war and destruction remain in the center of human actions.  

Master photographer Jan Grarup has travelled through Ukraine since the beginning of the war. And his pictures will say more than a thousand words. And they have brought Koppel’s attention even closer to the horrific absurdity and devastating loss of both human lives and resources, that is the result of any war.  

Story of Mankind is a requiem. A mass for the dead. But it is also a celebration of the living. Of life. Of all that man as a species has accomplished, of all the love that the human heart is able to offer. If we only remember to do so. And remember our story. Featuring a stellar cast of top musicians, this piece of music interprets the sadness and terror of war. Any war. Which at any given moment seems to be such an important part of the story of mankind