JULIA HÜLSMANN TRIO - Sooner And Later
ECM 5723858
Julia Hülsmann (piano); Marc Muellbauer (double bass); Heinrich Köbberling (drums)
Recorded September 2016
If working on the assumption that less is more, the latest offering from German pianist, Julia Hülsmann certainly succeeds. All eleven tracks play to a conclusion in under six minutes, and the whole album is heard in under fifty minutes. Time, for the listener that is well spent, wholly satisfying and being left replete yet wanting more.
Sooner And Later develops the work of the trio from previous ECM sets, End of a Summer (2008) and Imprint (2011), and also incorporates lessons learned from the the quartet recording In Full View(2013) and the quintet album A Clear Midnight – Kurt Weill and America featuring singer Theo Bleckmann (2015).; along with new sonic territories opened up by visits to Peru, Central Asia and China.
One of the joys in the music is hearing how the trio work together as a single entity, yet paradoxically are able to make their contributions clearly heard as individual voices within the ensemble. This is most starkly evident when listening to the role of bassist, Marc Muellbauer, and in a blind fold test you could be forgiven for thinking that this is recording led by a bass player such is the freedom within the writing and group sound that Hülsmann affords Muellbauer.
As is their wont all members of the trio submit compositions and rather than diluting the flow of the music, the writing style that each bring help define rather blur the overall group sound and identity. Yes, each band member will approach the role of composer from their own individual perspective but the resulting music works for the common good. It is therefore inevitable that drummer, Heinrich Köbberling, will start from a rhythmic point of view but quickly develop in to very subtle and inviting melodic compositions in much the same way way as the leaders own tune evolve organically from a starting motif. This particular methodology is clearly heard in the gently lyrical opening piece by Hülsmann, 'From Afar' and the cleverly worked 'Thatpujai' that is an anagram of Jutta Hip and its theme that is a compilation of phrases from the late pianists solos.
Bassist, Meullbaur contributes themes that are more harmonically complex ('The Poet' and 'Offen') and yet retain a direct and simply stated lyricism that hide the foundation and building blocks to reveal the beauty of the finished architecture. Such is the unity of purpose at work here that 'All I Need' by UK rock group, Radiohead, the re-harmonized 'Biz Joluktuk', a tune the band heard in performance from a 12 year old violinist in Kyrgyzstan.
That the trio have travelled extensively and spent much time working together as a unit, is readily apparent. Each time Hülsmann take the group into the studio the resulting music is becoming more adventuress, further refined whilst also retaining the familiarity established through previous recordings... a continuation of the journey that is far from complete, and one that I have enjoyed taking with the painist and her colleagues.
Reviewed by Nick Lea
ECM 5723858
Julia Hülsmann (piano); Marc Muellbauer (double bass); Heinrich Köbberling (drums)
Recorded September 2016
If working on the assumption that less is more, the latest offering from German pianist, Julia Hülsmann certainly succeeds. All eleven tracks play to a conclusion in under six minutes, and the whole album is heard in under fifty minutes. Time, for the listener that is well spent, wholly satisfying and being left replete yet wanting more.
Sooner And Later develops the work of the trio from previous ECM sets, End of a Summer (2008) and Imprint (2011), and also incorporates lessons learned from the the quartet recording In Full View(2013) and the quintet album A Clear Midnight – Kurt Weill and America featuring singer Theo Bleckmann (2015).; along with new sonic territories opened up by visits to Peru, Central Asia and China.
One of the joys in the music is hearing how the trio work together as a single entity, yet paradoxically are able to make their contributions clearly heard as individual voices within the ensemble. This is most starkly evident when listening to the role of bassist, Marc Muellbauer, and in a blind fold test you could be forgiven for thinking that this is recording led by a bass player such is the freedom within the writing and group sound that Hülsmann affords Muellbauer.
As is their wont all members of the trio submit compositions and rather than diluting the flow of the music, the writing style that each bring help define rather blur the overall group sound and identity. Yes, each band member will approach the role of composer from their own individual perspective but the resulting music works for the common good. It is therefore inevitable that drummer, Heinrich Köbberling, will start from a rhythmic point of view but quickly develop in to very subtle and inviting melodic compositions in much the same way way as the leaders own tune evolve organically from a starting motif. This particular methodology is clearly heard in the gently lyrical opening piece by Hülsmann, 'From Afar' and the cleverly worked 'Thatpujai' that is an anagram of Jutta Hip and its theme that is a compilation of phrases from the late pianists solos.
Bassist, Meullbaur contributes themes that are more harmonically complex ('The Poet' and 'Offen') and yet retain a direct and simply stated lyricism that hide the foundation and building blocks to reveal the beauty of the finished architecture. Such is the unity of purpose at work here that 'All I Need' by UK rock group, Radiohead, the re-harmonized 'Biz Joluktuk', a tune the band heard in performance from a 12 year old violinist in Kyrgyzstan.
That the trio have travelled extensively and spent much time working together as a unit, is readily apparent. Each time Hülsmann take the group into the studio the resulting music is becoming more adventuress, further refined whilst also retaining the familiarity established through previous recordings... a continuation of the journey that is far from complete, and one that I have enjoyed taking with the painist and her colleagues.
Reviewed by Nick Lea
