Vera

With Herd, pianist Vera Kappeler and percussionist Peter Conradin Zumthor present on Intakt Records their long-awaited second duo album after their acclaimed 2014 debut Babylon-Suite. Kappeler/Zumthor is an exceptionally innovative duo. They are bubbling over with ideas, yet take their time to develop new programs, working with the utmost care. They are oriented towards international innovation in the crossover area of jazz and new music and have a huge artistic potential, which the two of them exploit brilliantly on Herd. Their common sound cosmos surprises with playfulness and a peculiarity that reaches into the bizarre. With exceptional musical and technical skills, they have, over the years developed their very own musical language and are masters at telling stories with their music. Author Reto Hänny writes in the literary liner notes "What else is there to say except that I like this music and to repeat it endlessly; it sings, it sings, again and again, touching, stirring, heartbreakingly beautiful."

This album showcases a stellar line-up of artists–Clarinet Meets Guitar (Silviu Ciulei and Jeff Brooks), Rene Izquierdo, Xavier Jara, Kithara Duo (Olga Amelkina-Vera and Fernand Vera), Owen Moriarty, Matt Palmer, and Weimar Guitar Quartet (Stephanie Jones, Karmen Stendler, Hanna Link, Jakob Schmidt)—performing select works by composer Olga Amelkina-Vera.