Album release “Blurp 2” (Jazzwerkstatt Records)

The third album by the ensemble “Aufmessers Schneide” captivates in the usual manner with its consistently surprising cross-genre compositions and the uncompromising interplay of the musicians.

Bandleader Gregor Aufmesser drew inspiration from a wide variety of sources. Whether it's the cosmic megastructures of the so-called “Orcs” (Odd Radio Circles), which serve as the template for a polyrhythmic trombone feature, or the little demons that rob sleeping people of their souls at night—the so-called Tokoloshes from South African Zulu and Xhosa mysticism, which in the central work “Dance of the Tokoloshes,” taking listeners on a Bernsteinesque journey into the abyss of primal human fears. Other compositions, on the other hand, simply sound like the album title: Blurp.

Despite the recurring, unwavering stylistic breaks, the vibe of the album remains deeply rooted in the jazz genre. Colorful brass sections alternate with powerful unison passages, sometimes groovy, sometimes driving, and even alpine. The musicians never shy away from humorous excursions into other acoustic worlds and demonstrate their joy of playing and seemingly endless creativity with incredible virtuosity, but above all with musicality, sometimes solo, sometimes collectively. (Press release)