Dr. Fritz - I'm The Piano Man

Styles : Piano Blues

Released : 2000

Lable : Rose Valley Records

01 - I´m The Piano Man

02 - Trouble´s For Free

03 - No Dime

04 - She Says No

05 - Suddenly
06 - Fancy Clothes
07 - Your Smile
08 - She Is My Lady
09 - You´re Gone
10 - Blow Wind Blow
11 - Nobody Loves Me (But The Taxman)
12 - The Girl Behind The Bar

13 - He Plays Guitar

14 - On The Sunny Side Of The Street

In his job he makes interviews with famous rockstars like Rod Stewart or Lou Reed. But on the weekend he slips into the persona of "Dr. Fritz", sits down at the piano and plays the blues. "I'm The Piano Man" , his second album, is real good fun. So much fun that Bill Wyman, former Bassplayer of the Rolling Stones, wrote the liner notes: "Great Music! To have a good time - that's what this album is all about."

In April 2000, Fritz Werner Haver met Bill Wyman in his house in London. While listening to some CDs from Wyman's record collection they discovered that they both love old jazz and blues music. "Dr. Fritz is a powerful singer and piano player, rooted deeply in the blues", says Wyman now. In the title song and in rocking numbers like "He plays Guitar" you can hear the influence from the Rolling Stones and the Rhythm Kings as well. Songs like "Trouble For Free" and "Nobody Loves Me (But The Taxman)" refer to artists like Bob Dylan and ZZ Top and have a strong element of parody. Other tracks are played in the tradition of New Orleans jazz.

Blues doesn't have to be sad. When Dr. Fritz tells his blues stories there's always a twinkle in his eyes. When he complains that nobody loves him but the taxman, that his "baby" disagrees with whatever he suggests or that you have to pay for everything in life - except trouble! - even if you're white you can have the blues. Although Dr. Fritz learned a lot from his friend, the legendary blues piano player Champion Jack Dupree.
Fritz Werner Haver, born in 1951 in Bielefeld, studied English and American literature in Hamburg and Marburg and got his PHD working about Bob Dylan's lyrics. In 1972 he played in public for the first time - in Hamburg. or the first time - in Hamburg's famous pub "Tante Hermine". He got free drinks and tips. After that he played in samll places all over Germany often accompanied by the guitar players Olaf "O.G." Giebe and Christoph Gathmann who also play on the new album. Just like Gerd & Ritchie Bracht ("Die Zwillinge") on bass and saxophone, Sanne Koheil (Saxophone) and Tine Wendt and Julica Bracht (the "girls behind the bar"...). "A joyfully groovin' band" - as Bill Wyman puts it.