Tobias Meier / Dalia Donadio / Berni Doessegger - A Linear Thought (WIDE EAR RECORDS 2018)

"A Linear Thought" came about over a period of two years, in several stages and between many breaks, during which the work could rest. To graphic and contentual sketches of composition, there came a solitary voice, which eventually became word. "A Linear Thought" tells of intimacy and universality, of the voice as a primal personal organ for communication and emotion, and of the voice as an instrument common to all people.

1. A 03:19

2. B 03:18

Tobias Meier - composition

Dalia Donadio - voice

Berni Doessegger - words

Recorded 2016 in Basel and Berlin

Mixed by Alex Huber

Mastered by Hannes Kumke

Graphic Design by Studio Eusebio

(c) & (p) 2017 Tobias Meier

Wide Ear Records, WER034

Released on 7inch Vinyl, 45rpm

COLD VOODOO - AB+ (WIDE EAR RECORDS 2018)

For many years Tobias Meier and Silvan Jeger have been collaborating in various projects. As Cold Voodoo they explore the tension of physical presence and exhaustion on one hand and of an external perspective and serenity on the other hand. This contradiction is already implied in the group’s name and emphasised in their newly released record AB+. The album points soberly to the two sidedness of the medium and moreover the red plastic of the cassette and the title of the record, that can be read as blood type, alludes to a certain „blood-kitsch“. This comparision is developed in the cover art of the digital release, where the Ls and Os of the group’s name on the back of the cassette generate a mesmerizing array of ones and zeros, picturing the dense, shimmering netting, wich the two musicians open up on this record.

1. A+ 16:03

2. B+ 14:22

Tobias Meier alto saxophone

Silvan Jeger bass

Recorded 2017 in Basel (CH)

Mix : Silvan Jeger

Master : Hannes Kumke

Graphic Design : Tobias Meier

iety - hope you were covered up (WIDE EAR RECORDS 2018)

In society, worlds collide. Composition on improvisation - Sterility on emotion - Uncontrolled energy sallies on celebrating the details. The fusion creates an independent sound with strong gravitation. Each individual fills the space that it deserves or enjoys the tension of the void, and the sprinkling of the sun brings speed and clarity. Probably not, but it sure would be cool.

1. 9433 02:21

2. hope you were covered up 04:44

3. kick etüde 03:38

4. ophelia 05:23

5. waterfall glancing in a morning sunrise 03:31

6. plakat yves 04:42

7. dada (dap) 03:47

8. petrol 08:50

Elio Amberg tenor sax

Laura Schenk piano

Amadeus Fries drums

Big Bold Back Bone - Emerge (WIDE EAR RECORDS 2018)

Big Bold Back Bone’s newest release - the third recording (Wide Ear Records - WER028) is titled "Emerge" and is the musical twin of the recently released CD / LP "In Search Of The Emerging Species" (Shhpuma Records - SHH032).

The recording was made during the same studio session in Lisbon. In contrast to the slow, almost eerily concentrated sound stream epic with the 42-minute piece "Immerge" on "In Search Of The Emerging Species", "Emerge" looks like an antiepos. Seven pieces between 3 - 8 minutes covers the disc. Self-contained improvisations presented in an aesthetically impressive Big Bold Back Bone language.

A consequence of the fact that the musicians of the band Marco von Orelli, Luis Lopes, Travassos and Sheldon Suter, worked together for almost 10 years and maintain a continuous exchange.

In contrast to the twin, this music seems less radical, but more catchy, but without losing any sense of urgency, as if Big Bold Back Bond Bones deliberately left seven fork-paths on "Immerge" unheeded, in search of ... in "Emerge" to investigate in a fascinating way!

1. Silent Stream 06:26

2. Sealust 06:50

3. Tidings 07:03

4. Facing Extinction 07:55

5. Tentaculita 03:16

6. Mergulhador 06:42

7. Ground Found 05:21

Marco von Orelli - Trumpet, Slide Trumpet

Luis Lopes - Electric Guitar and Objects

Travassos - Electronics

Sheldon Suter - Prepared Drums

Matthias Tschopp Quartet - Untitltled (WIDE EAR RECORDS 2018)

My first contact with the art of Jean-Michel Basquiat was at an exhibition of the Fondation Beyeler in Riehen, Switzerland. It was overwhelming - powerful, expressive, rich in colours and drama, full of serial and aleatoric components, motives, improvisation, and numerous references to Bebop and Hip Hop.

It took me almost a year to translate Basquiat's work Untitled into music. I applied the twenty-six letters of the alphabet to the tonal range of the baritone saxophone, in order to generate melodies out of the countless words I found in the picture. I composed musical fragments on selected elements of the painting, collected information about Howard Hughes, bought Charlie Parker records and an old tape recorder, tried to find the original soundtrack of the comic hero Human Torch and looked for ways to integrate genius and madness, life and death in a piece of music.

The result is Untitled Part I, a suite of musical events that can last nineteen to ninety minutes; recorded live at Shedhalle Zug in March 2017. More info...

1. Untitled Part I - Eroica 05:36

2. Untitled Part I - Nothing To Be Gained Here 06:02

3. Untitled Part I - Receiver 04:10

4. Untitled Part I - Billie's Ear Wax 05:28

5. Untitled Part I - Codine vs. Morphine 01:57

6. Untitled Part I - Howard Hughes 07:00

7. Untitled Part I - Sky 03:10

8. Untitled Part I - Black Teeth 04:11

9. Untitled Part I - Brown Head 01:19

10. Untitled Part I - Words 01:07

11. Untitled Part I - The Human Torch 06:03

12. Untitled Part II - Mark Rothko 03:59

13. Untitled Part II - Jackson Pollock 03:51

14. Untitled Part II - Friedensreich Hundertwasser 04:16

15. Untitled Part II - Rolf Winnewisser 06:29

Matthias Tschopp baritone sax

Yves Theiler piano

Raffaele Bossard bass

Alex Huber drums

Mock Grandeur - 2 (WIDE EAR RECORDS 2017)

The Quartet Mock Grandeur with Benjamin Weidekamp and Christian Weidner on alto sax and Tobias Backhaus on drums plays sort of a conceptual music, with different combinations of the quartet but also some tunes featuring the whole group. An engaging music, soaked with Berlin Jazz Style attitude. READ MORE...

1. TS 02:07

2. #4 03:47

3. #21 03:19

4. BS 02:04

5. BCS 03:07

6. #17 02:14

7. CB 02:02

8. TC 02:20

9. CS 02:10

10. S 01:03

11. BC 02:09

12. STC 03:02

13. B 01:11

14. BCST 04:04

15. #20 03:26

16. #2 02:49

17. T 01:04

18. CBT 03:09

19. BST 03:05

20. C 00:51

21. #6 01:48

22. TSCB 02:04

23. #21-1 01:11

24. #7 01:08

25. BT 04:09

Sascha Henkel guitar/composition

Benjamin Weidekamp alto

Christian Weidner alto

Tobias Backhaus drums