Schweizer/Wickihalder: Spring

Schweizer, Irene, Wickihalder, Jürg

INT 234

Unintentionally, spontaneously, amusingly, most Monkish," writes American Jazzcritik Art Lange about the music of Jürg Wickihalder and Irène Schweizer.
After years of cooperation and many duo-concerts Irène Schweizer and Jürg Wickihalder present the first duo-recording – with compositions of Wickihalder, Schweizer and two beautiful pieces of Thelonious Monk. Music with a strong jazz feeling. Firm rhythm and decisive statements.
Bert Noglik writes in the liner notes: "Irène Schweizer raves about the tone Wickihalder achieves on the soprano sax; he calls her "his favourite drummer on the piano" – a fine compliment to a pianist who has demonstrated her affinity with percussionists in a series of duo recordings with drummers.
The pieces Jürg Wickihalder has composed for the duo are perfect for Schweizer. He knows exactly what suits her when. The entire history of jazz plays a role: Lacy, Rollins and Coltrane, Monk, Dollar Brand, Horace Silver and Mal Waldron, even a few particles of Harlem Stride Piano – but all of it filtered, not as direct quotations; they have made it their own: Reflections. Irène Schweizer, who also plays piano in Jürg Wickihalder's European Quartet, is a very sympathetic partner for the saxophonist. Right from the start he had to earn his keep and prove himself; it was not about scoring points. The two have rehearsed together a lot. The fact that we don't always notice this is proof of their mastery. What we do notice is their immense trust in each other. While they hone their craft on Monk, it's always in the knowledge that the crucial spark does not light up in the notes but between them."

CD x 1

Intakt Records

9/22/14

7640120192341