GULFH of Berlin - GULFH of Berlin (October 15, 2021 ESP - Disk')

Gschlössl, Ullmann, Leipnitz, and Fink improvise as composers would do. From scratch they create a holistic sound sculpture – each time unique and unpredictable – always with a formal approach. Haves was invited to create with them using analogue electronics. In the moment and without overdubbing he becomes the fifth element in GULFH of Berlin.

“Few improvising artists can boast the stream of creative ideas that seem to bubble from Gebhard Ullmann. Ullmann focuses on the fundamentals of improvised jazz: melody, sound, syncopation and technical excellence, but what makes his writing and playing so successful is his seemingly neverending innovative nature: without grasping for neoteric straws, Ullmann's performances are grounded in the past but plunge forward deliberately toward modernity. Ullmann leaves the strong mark of a disciplined sculptor of sound, who speaks his own compelling language.” — Steve Loewy, Cadence

1. Nether

2. K3

3. Joja Romp

4. GG

5. Tellus

6. Serenade

7. Prisoner's Dilemma

8. Mann aus dem Himmel

9. 5 Elements

10. Jeton

Gebhard Ullmann - tenor saxophone, bass clarinet

Gerhard Gschlössl - trombone, sousaphone

Johannes Fink - double bass, cello

Jan Leipnitz - drums, objects

Michael Haves - live sound processing

Recorded March, 6th 2018 at Low Swing Studio, Berlin.

Engineer: Guy Sternberg.

Mixed and mastered 2019 by Michael Haves at The Cop Shop, Berlin.

PREORDER

Das Kondensat - 2 (September 3, 2021 WhyPlayJazz)

Chapter two of an amazing story. The music seethes with dense, sharply focused energy. Lush bass lines, intense drums, explosive saxophone play – three German masters of improvised music fuse acoustic instruments with digitally generated sounds. All of this is done live without overdubs. equally integrated into their live concept. Together it creates an unprecedented mix of man and machine.

1. 3031 A.D. Variable 01:42

2. Pendulum 05:36

3. Impromptu #5 06:57

4. I Was Born in Cleveland, Ohio (Part 1) 04:38

5. P (n+1) 05:57

6. Bass Revenge 04:45

7. Certain Patterns in The Field 05:03

8. Lazer ’73 04:48

9. 3031 A.D. Stasis 04:47

10. I Was Born in Cleveland, Ohio (Part 2) 03:48

11. Étoile Schnuppe 06:19

12. 2 (Album Teaser) 05:30

Gebhard Ullmann (soprano and tenor saxophones, looper, sampler)

Oliver Potratz (electric basses, analog effects, bass synthesizer)

Eric Schaefer (drums, modular synthesizer)

Recorded June 16-19, 2020, mixed and mastered October 30/31, 2020 by Guy Sternberg at Low Swing Tonstudio, Berlin.

Produced by Das Kondensat for WhyPlayJazz.

Cover photo by Oliver Potratz.

Band photo by Dovile Sermokas.

Design and artwork by Michael Schultz.

Oliver Potratz plays Markbass amps.

Recorded with the kind support of the Senatskanzlei für Kulturelle Angelegenheiten Berlin.

PREORDER

Swell / Ullmann / Fred Lonberg-Holm / Zerang - The Chicago Plan (CLEAN FEED RECORDS 2016)

The Chicago Plan is Gebhard Ullmann (DE) – tenor saxophone, bass clarinet, octaver; Steve Swell (USA) – trombone; Fred Lonberg-Holm (USA) – cello, electronics; Michael Zerang (USA) – drums, percussion | Label: Clean Feed Records, 2016

Celebrating over ten years of collaborating together, Berlin saxophonist/composer, Gebhard Ullmann and NYC trombonist/composer Steve Swell join two of Chicago's finest improvising musicians; Fred Lonberg-Holm, cello/electronics and percussionist Michael Zerang for this new configuration. Building on the strength and ideals of those three cities the quartet creates enough fireworks to light up the night sky with their brilliant sound imagery. The Chicago Plan thoroughly breaks new ground for what Jazz and New Music ensembles' approach to what creative music should be.

"Here now was jazz energy. Here was meticulous virtuosity. Here was wild, driving rhythm and horns in a front-line part. Stopping on a dime, returning to the previous mood. Finding a way to end. The ebb and flow of formal composition and instantaneous improvisation is what makes this approach to music making so exciting" — Lazaro Vega, Jazz Director, Blue Lake Radio

1. Variations on a Master Plan, Pt 3. 6:02

2. Composite #10  18:45

3. Variations on a Master Plan, Pt 2 6:40

4. Rule #1 Make Sure You Can Play Your Own Tune 8:37

5. Déjà Vu 7:45

6. For Henry 7:46

Steve Swell  trombone

Gebhard Ullmann  tenor saxophone, bass clarinet

Fred Lonberg-Holm  cello, electronics

Michael Zerang  drums

Tracks 1, 3, 5 and 6 by Gebhard Ullmann (GEMA), 2 and 4 by by Steve Swell (Steve Swell Music, BMI)

Recorded on September 22nd, 2015 at Kingsize Sound Labs, Chicago, IL, by John Abbey | Mixed by Walter Quintus | Mastered by Walter Quintus

Produced by Steve Swell and Gebhard Ullman | Executive production by Pedro Costa for Trem Azul | Design by Travassos