It is not only the great success of Nathan Evans' re-release of The Wellerman" on social media that is responsible for the great popularity of sea shanties and naval songs. Such songs create a unique mood, a touch of adventure and wanderlust for the big, wide world. Hardly anyone can elude it and with "Vahid Matejko's Sea Shanty Play-Alongs" there are now the most beautiful sea shanties and naval songs skillfully arranged as an instrumental play-along series for recorder, flute, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet (opt. baritone T.C.), trombone (opt. baritone B.C.), violin, and accordion (piano).
The varied arrangements have a wide stylistic range and offer echoes from rock, Latin, funk, big band to orchestral and Caribbean influences. Thus, each song has its own musical and instrumental appeal, to which the parts and/or solos specially composed by arranger Vahid Matejko also contribute. The original polyphonic choral vocals are replaced by polyphonic instrumental backings.
Each of the ten titles was recorded live by excellent professional musicians and is available in two different versions: -- a demo-track which features a live flute performance by one of the most sought-after studio and live soloists in the German music scene, two-time Grammy-award winner and former lead flute, saxophone and clarinet player for the WDR-broadcast big band Heiner Wiberny and
-- a minus-one mix for you to play-along."