Nov 25 2014
Recommended: Reto Suhner & Fabian M. Mueller – “Schattenspiel”
An enchanting duo collaboration between saxophonist Reto Suhner and pianist Fabian M. Mueller. Schattenspiel possesses a level of virtuosity to where improvised statements appear to be strategically coordinated, and where the free flow of ideas can sustain a composed, coherent dialog. It’s why this album can be supremely engaging and yet so damn sublime.
Some tracks, like album-opener “Labyrinth of Time,” hint at serenity, but twitter with life just enough to upset the state of tranquility. There’s also the gorgeous melody of “Arcanum,” ephemeral and mysterious as a curl of smoke and “Crux,” which sees Suhner singing a simple song to the accompaniment of Mueller’s ominous tone.
Motion plays a big role in many of the album tracks. What begins as a peaceful state will suddenly ignite with an impassioned volatility, and what opens with sharp, decisive actions might conclude with a long, flowing glide. “Le Coq” is a tiny frenzy that ends with a peaceful sigh, “Blaze a Trail” darts about with a determined insistence, and “Cascade,” starts as a tangle of unconnected threads and ends as a lovely confluence of melody.
The album ends with “Das Schattenspiel,” a sublime tune that shifts gears throughout, and illustrates that the essential quality of Schattenspiel‘s conversations is revealed in the words, not the tones.
Just plain beautiful.
Your album personnel: Reto Suhner (soprano & alto saxes) and Fabian M. Mueller (piano).
Released on Between The Lines Records.
Jazz from the Zürich, Switzerland scene.
Available at: Amazon
Some other stuff you should probably know:
Pianist Mueller is also a member of Augur Ensemble, whose 2013 release The Daily Unknown falls into similar territory as Schattenspiel. Beautiful music that is both heartbreaking and cerebral.
Read my recommendation here –> LINK
Feb 10 2020
Now up: January’s Best Jazz on Bandcamp recommendations
And here we go. Okay, so before entering the homestretch of the #Bird2019 Best of 2019 countdown, lets take a brief interlude and put the spotlight on some excellent recordings that made their mark in the first month of the new year. Just now, my latest Best Jazz on Bandcamp recommendations posted on The Bandcamp Daily. This monthly installment covers albums for January 2020. There’s ten primary recommendations in total, plus some bonus recommendations, to boot. The new year is off to a great start, so don’t go thinking that all of your budget is going to be obliterated by my Best of 2019 list. You’re just getting started on a whole new year of great music.
On that note, let’s begin.
Follow this LINK to read those recommendations and listen to music from each album.
Check out past recommendations by running through my contributor archives.
Have fun going through the list!
Cheers.
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By davesumner • Jazz Recommendations - 2020 releases • 0 • Tags: Antoine Berjeaut, Auand Records, Brian Shankar Adler, Chant Records, Dan Rosenboom, Discos ICM, Ears and Eyes Records, Fabian M. Mueller, Gearbox Records, I See Colors, International Anthem, Jeff Parker, John Tchicai, Kaspar von Grünigen, Luke Norris, Makaya McCraven, Marcos Basso Grupo, Mike Baggetta, Minus Zero Records, Muriel Grossmann, Oyvind Hegg-Lunde, Samuele Strufaldi, Self-Produced, The Westerlies, Tommaso Rosati