Trio Elf

Quite amazing what astonishing musical colours and sound effects an ensemble of three reed instruments can achieve. To be heard on the new album with Swiss music legend Heinz Holliger. The title »Les Roseaux Chantants», the »singing reeds», refers to the double reed through which the oboe and cor anglais (and also the bassoon) are blown to set the air vibrating and produce sounds. Works by Ludwig van Beethoven, the Swiss composer Rudolph Ganz (1877-1972), Anton Wranitzky and Heinz Holliger. A fascinating sound and musical experience.

Berlin might well be considered widely as the creative hub of the German jazz scene, but in the deep south of the country there is another city where talented and promising musicians are finding new pathways in jazz. Among these, for example, are the Jazzrausch Bigband, vocalist Alma Naidu and guitarist Philipp Schiepek. They all hail from Munich. Bassist Nils Kugelmann, born in 1996, is another new talent from the Bavarian capital. His ACT debut "Stormy Beauty" makes it clear why, already at a young age, he is considered among the top German bass-players.

“An insightful and versatile guitarist.” (All About Jazz). “He has found a sound that is his own - and it is always imbued with both beauty and excitement” (Süddeutsche Zeitung). The responses to Munich-based guitarist Philipp Schiepek’s 2019 debut album marked him out as a musician of real sensitivity and one to watch.

Enja Records presents Ballads 5 - Take Five. Dizzy Gillespie, John Scofield, Coleman Hawkins, Dusko Goykovich, Ferenc Snétberger, Céline Rudolph and others.

The Swiss oboist, composer and conductor Heinz Holliger is without doubt one of the "grand old men" of the European classical music scene. Now in his 83rd year, the busy all-round musician is still bursting with verve, curiosity and the desire to make music. His latest album is called "Les Roseaux Chantants" ("The Singing Reed Flutes"), an allusion to the double reed with which the notes on the oboe and the cor anglais are made to sound. Works were chosen that were composed for the unusual combination of two oboes plus English horn. A tonally attractive combination, as the works by Beethoven, Wranitzky, the Swiss composer Rudolph Ganz and, last but not least, Heinz Holliger himself, impressively demonstrate.

This eight-disc set includes odes and theater pieces; and Gardiner's performances are more than excellent. He synthesizes the spare delicacy and ceremonial grandeur of Purcell's music in performances that are very satisfying.