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Christoph Stiefel: Press voices
>>> Press photos ABC Jazz: 'Big Ship', Christoph StiefelA recent release from Swiss pianist and composer Christoph Stiefel and his 'Inner Language Trio'. Out of the 15 albums Christoph Stiefel has recorded over the past 25 years, seven of them have been trio albums. "Big Ship" is his latest trio project, and this time, he brings along with him young Swiss upstarts Arne Huber on bass and Kevin Chesham on drums. The trio set about exploring the 'Isorhythmic' technique, which is a compositional style that Stiefel has been exploring for a number of years. The concept was derrived from 13th and 14th Century early music, and, whilst being a technique also employed by 20th century classical composers, Stiefel is one of a few who have approached it with a jazz mindset, thus "Big Ship" makes for rather intersting listening. Interplay is key for this ensemble, and the trio set about building on Stiefel's left hand riffs, alongside Huber's grounding bass notes. all.about.jazz: BRUCE LINDSAY Nov. 20, 2012 Isorhythms and Circus ClownsIt's the end of a lengthy but enjoyable telephone interview with Christoph Stiefel and things are drawing to a close. Then the pianist asks if he can add one more comment: "This is my year. This is a really happening year for me: it's incredible. I've developed my style solo and with my Inner Language Trio for eight, maybe 10 years. I've always had plans to incorporate my ideas into other projects: with a dancer, a bigger band and a singer. All of these ideas came through this year. I dueted with singer Lisette Spinnler [Bima Sakti (Traumton Indigo, 2012)], developed a new project with Japanese dancer Hideto Heshiki called Tale Of A Honeybee, which came out so well. And the Isorhythms Orchestra is taking shape. So this year is really happening." The Inner Language Trio has also released an album in 2012: Live! (Basho Records) is one of the year's most exciting releases, full of energy and imagination. It's great to hear a musician as talented as Stiefel speaking so enthusiastically about the fruition of his ideas, dreams and projects. It's especially pleasing because Stiefel, now 51 years old, has been a composer and musician for some time: this is no over-optimistic new graduate speaking. His early career was spent in a variety of bands, including that of harpist Andreas Vollenweider, with whom he recorded six albums during the '80s. His total discography runs to over 50 albums, including solo projects and recordings as a bandleader. Bands such as the Christoph Stiefel Trio, the Christoph Stiefel Quartet and the Inner Language Trio have included such musical luminaries as bassist Michel Benita, saxophonist Charlie Mariano and drummer Peter Erskine. It's an impressive musical résumé, yet he's still experimenting, still exploring new ground. Born and educated in Switzerland, where he still lives, Stiefel has spent most of his career working in Europe, especially Germany, Holland and his Swiss homeland. Thanks to a serendipitous meeting with a British record label executive that looks set to change as Stiefel now has the support to enable him to expand his reach to the UK and, in 2013, to North America. IsorhythmsThe name of Stiefel's latest ensemble, the Isorhythms Orchestra, gives an indication of something that has held his interest for the last few years-the concept of isorhythms, a musical technique that dates back to the 13th century. There are plenty of definitions of this concept around, but Stiefel's happy to explain his own personal take on it. "It's always difficult, without sounding too complicated,
but there are two basic ideas: first, the rhythmic sequence, second, the
melodic content. In isorhythms the melodic content doesn't have to follow
the rhythmic sequence. So, for example, a rhythmic sequence may be a pattern
of five and the melodic sequence could be six or seven. So the two overlap.
The simplest example for me is when you have a rhythmic sequence of quarter
notes-one, two, three, four-and the melodic part that is one, two, three:
then everybody hears a waltz. The melody gives the illusion of a waltz,
so that's what everyone hears. So the isorhythmic approach emerged in Stiefel's music without him being aware of the concept. "That's right. I just had the idea. That tune became the title track of the first album by the Christoph Stiefel Trio, Sweet Paradox (Jazzline Records, 1997)." Although he found isorhythms almost by accident, the approach is not one that lends itself to easy assimilation by musicians. Stiefel can't simply turn up for a gig and join a local set of backing musicians. "No, it would be impossible. The difficult thing is to hear, play and think in these two realities. The listener can switch between the two but as a player you have to feel and play both at the same time. If you find the most talented and experienced players, like Peter Erskine, give them time to look at the tunes then it would be fine-I hope. But it's trickier than you might think." It's a style that requires a real understanding between musicians. "Yes. Then you start to feel free with it. If someone doesn't feel that freedom, then it sounds like he's really concentrating. When he's confident, free, then the feeling is 'wow!' That's my goal." Jazzwise Magazine (UK): **** The trio infuses the set with an infectious, often funky adrenalinerush of momentum...Just as contemporyry piano trio fatigue seemed to be setting in, Stiefel comes along to raise the bar again. The Guardian (UK): **** Rhythmic Revolutionary - Christoph Stiefel is a rhythmically adventurous performer fascinated by the interplay of grooves. Slow episodes have a gentleness that reveal Stiefel's nuanced touch is equal to his up-tempo fluency. The Jazz Man (UK): A very impressive album overall and one that deserves to raise Stiefel's profile in the UK. "Live!" is eminently accessible and full of striking melodies and strong rhythmic ideas. The Jazz Breakfast(UK): The band can be lyrical and rhapsodic as evidenced by Waltz For Nina, although at other times - the first four minutes of Olympus Mons, for example - it can sound like three men trying to exhaust each other in a physical work-out. Overall, this is a very strong performance with all the right highs and lows, surges and retreats, in the sequence of pieces. www.allaboutjazz.com(USA): The new Cd of the Inner Language Trio (Basho Records) is one of the year's most exciting releases, full of energy and imagination... 04/01/2014 Stephen Graham, Marlbank **** 01/03/2014 Selwyn Harris, Jazzwise **** 01/04/2014 Ian Mann, Jazzman **** 06/03/2014 Bruce Lindsay, All About Jazz 27/02/2014 Euan Dixon, Jazz Views 15/02/2014 Adrian Pallant, AP Album Reviews |
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Christoph
Stiefel
