Spring (Irène Schweizer and Jürg Wickihalder album) explained

Spring
Type:live
Artist:Irène Schweizer and Jürg Wickihalder
Cover:Schweizer_Wickihalder_Spring.jpg
Released:2014
Recorded:February 6 and 7, 2014
Venue:Loft Köln, Köln, Germany
Genre:Jazz, free improvisation
Length:52:38
Label:Intakt
CD 234
Producer:Intakt Records, Patrik Landolt

Spring is a live album of duets by pianist Irène Schweizer and saxophonist Jürg Wickihalder. It was recorded on February 6 and 7, 2014, at Loft Köln in Köln, Germany, and was released later that year by Intakt Records. The album features two compositions by Thelonious Monk, one by Schweizer, five by Wickihalder, three free improvisations, and, as a closer, Leonello Casucci's "Just a Gigolo".[1] [2] [3] [4]

Reception

In a review for All About Jazz, John Sharpe wrote: "the overwhelming impression is of two sympathetic partners having a ball... Schweizer lays down a playful rhythmic framework calling on older tropes such as ragtime and barrelhouse at times, which lends a cartoon air to proceedings. Wickihalder matches her every inch of the way, deploying a wide range of expressive tonal effects, but fully integrated into the flow rather than as technique for its own sake."

Marcus O'Dair of Jazzwise called the album "superb," and stated: "The sense is of musicians with nothing to prove... working together to create bracing and beautiful chamber jazz."

Point of Departures Michael Rosenstein described the album as "a strong one all around," noting the influence of both Monk and Steve Lacy on the music, and commenting: "this duo provides the ultimate homage by drawing on Lacy and Monk's vocabulary to create a personal sound all their own."[5]

Writing for Cadence, Bernie Koenig noted that "the interplay between the two is excellent," and stated that Schweizer's playing is "two handed but melodic, and she is always harmonically inventive."[6]

Track listing

  1. "Red Light Crossing Friends" (Wickihalder) – 6:12
  2. "Rag Irène" (Schweizer) – 4:39
  3. "Köln" (Wickihalder) – 6:40
  4. "Green" (Wickihalder/Schweizer) – 3:08
  5. "Last Jump" (Wickihalder) – 6:53
  6. "The Road" (Wickihalder/Schweizer) – 3:25
  7. "White" (Wickihalder) – 6:18
  8. "Ugly Beauty" (Thelonious Monk) – 3:17
  9. "6243D" (Wickihalder) – 2:03
  10. "Trinkle Tinkle" (Thelonious Monk) – 2:45
  11. "Blue" (Wickihalder/Schweizer) – 5:18
  12. "Just a Gigolo" (Leonello Casucci) – 2:30

Personnel

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Irène Schweizer / Jurg Wickihalder: Spring . AllMusic . May 1, 2023.
  2. Web site: Irène Schweizer - Spring . Jazz Music Archives . May 1, 2023.
  3. Web site: Schweizer - Wickihalder: Spring . Intakt Records . May 1, 2023.
  4. Web site: Irène Schweizer discography . JazzLists . May 1, 2023.
  5. Web site: Moment's Notice: Reviews of Recent Recordings . Michael . Rosenstein . Point of Departure . May 1, 2023.
  6. Koenig . Bernie . April 2015 . CD Review: New Release . Cadence . 41 . 2 . 149 .