Christoph Stiefel Inner Language Trio

Christoph Stiefel : piano
Arne Huber : bass
Kevin Chesham : drums

1 Isorhythm # 4

2 Inner Language

9 In And Out Of Order

The new CD "Inner Language Trio live!" will be internationally released in October 2012 by the British Jazz Label Basho Records.

"Highly independent chamber music, which turns out to be great art," "... belongs to the most exciting jazz piano has to offer at the time," "grandiose – world-class audio experience!" ... These and similar phrases circulate the music press at the moment, when Christoph Stiefel and his Inner Language Trio are reviewed.

Many years Christoph Stiefel has been dealing intensively with displacement and superposition of rhythmic patterns, inspired by a compositional technique from the Middle Ages, Isorhythms, which he manifested in his own trio since 1990. In the new line up he is supported by two equally talented musicians of a younger generation: Arne Huber on bass and Kevin Chesham on drums.

The Inner Language Trio moves between precision and unleash in a modern jazz piano trio sound that produces irresistible rhythmic energy. A music unfolds, that is both complex and simple, intellectually and emotionally, abstract and sensual.

Excerpts from the liner notes:

Recorded in three cities (Saalfelden, Amburg and Munchen), Inner Language Trio Live also features bass player Thomas Lahns and drummers Lionel Friedli and Kevin Chesham. Not only providing a summary of eight years of work with the trio, the album also shows how the live environment can inspire musicians to an even higher level of intensity and expression. 'It can be really hard to let go when the red light in the studio is on', Stiefel says. On this collection, 'there is rhythmic complexity but also soul and sensitivity. There is also quite a portion of wildness'. A sensitive touch and tendency towards reflection characterises most of Stiefel’s work here, most notably on the haunting title track, whilst the latter quality is very much in evidence on the tempestuous and exciting Olympus Mons.

Stiefel admits that 'there is a danger that concepts can become more important than the music and I am aware of that'. Fortunately, this crucial awareness, which only comes with considerable experience and intuition, leads him to create striking melodies and affecting harmonic sequences for which his impressively intricate rhythms serve either as support or contrast. The angular groove of Isorhythm #2.2 sits comfortably alongside the eloquent lyricism of New Waltz For Nina or the textural explorations of Eliane.

Stiefel is also a fluid and articulate improviser and the performances on Inner Language Trio Live display a remarkable level of group interaction and empathy. .. the music here is a thrilling, exuberant and purposeful demonstration of his abundant talents.

Dan Paton, London January 2012