Equilibrium Benedikt Jahnel Trio

• 1 Gently Understood 05:01
• 2 Sacred Silence 07:11
• 3 Moorland & Hill Land 13:52
• 4 Wrangel 09:01
• 5 Augmented 04:41
• 6 Hidden Beauty 04:19
• 7 Equilibrium 09:39
• Total Runtime 53:44

Info for Equilibrium

'Equilibrium“ is the ECM debut of a German/ American/ Spanish trio, which through frequent touring has grown into a remarkably tight and stylistically unique unit in recent years. Fuelled by the tension created through the contrasting styles of pianist Benedikt Jahnel (whose approach is characterised by an unusual interest in rhythmic subdivisions) and drummer Howard (who, in Jahnels words, “treats and perceives rhythmic phrases as melodical lines without fixed micro units”), and with bass player Antonio Miguel often the musical mediator, the group’s sound draws subtly from classical influences as well as contemporary concepts of groove. Leader Jahnel, also known as a member of Cyminology, has sharpened his profile playing with the Metropol Orchestra, Phil Woods, Johannes Enders, Charlie Mariano, Wolfgang Muthspiel, Dave Liebman and John Abercrombie. Produced by Manfred Eicher at Radio Televisione Svizzera in Lugano the seven tracks on “Equilibrium”, all Jahnel originals/compositions, strike a unique and delicate balance between composed parts and improvisation or group improvisation.

Leader Benny Jahnel, also known as a member of Cyminology, has sharpened his profile playing with the Metropol Orchestra, Phil Woods, Johannes Enders, Charlie Mariano, Wolfgang Muthspiel, Dave Liebman and John Abercrombie. Jahnel and Drummer Owen Howard first met when Howard taught as a guest professor at Berlin’s Universität der Künste. Later, when Jahnel spent two years in New York in 2005/2006, his artistic relationship with Brooklyn based Howard intensified. Also in New York Antonio Miguel, who at the time finished his studies with John Patitucci, completed the group.

Produced by Manfred Eicher at Radio Televisione Svizzera in Lugano the seven tracks on “Equilibrium”, all Jahnel originals/compositions, strike a unique and delicate balance between composed parts and improvisation or group improvisation. The album’s title refers to certain analogies, Jahnel, who in his “second life” works as a researcher in mathematics at Ruhr University in Bochum, Germany, found in his artistic and in his scientific work, analogies related to questions of balance. Jahnel, though generally reluctant to draw direct comparisons between both fields, hints at “those microscopic phenomena, appearing randomly or better: intuitively between the musicians in a group – those many little things that make a band unique.“ On his own playing on „Equilibrium“ Jahnel says: “I love to perceive a so-called ‘solo’ also as a group effort. The piano shouldn’t play its lines over an accompaniment in a traditional jazz fashion. Instead I prefer improvised sections to be developed by the whole group together – as in the opening track ‘Gently Understood’. It is nice when a solo stretches over two or more sections and when it remains unclear to the listener, whether it is really a solo.”

While naturally certain parts on “Equilibrium” build up on achievements from their first album, 2008s “Modular Concepts” on Material Records (in fact in the track “Moorland Hill Land” an ostinato phrase played by Jahnel is consciously developed from a piece on “Modular Concepts”), the new tracks profit from time the trio spent on the road, and also from the recording circumstances: “Everything was perfect”, says Jahnel, “the instruments, the room. Also very important to me was Manfred Eicher’s inner ear and his vision of sound.” The trio had entered the studio with a number of compositions that were quite thoroughly structured, but Jahnel also brought along “a few small sketchy pieces with more emphasis on sound and improvisation, because I knew that the room in Lugano would exert a certain influence too and I wanted to let that happen. I think these pieces were important to make the album a well-rounded affair.“

Benedikt Jahnel, piano
Antonio Miguel, double bass
Owen Howard, drums

Recorded July 2011
Auditorio Radiotelevisione svizzera, Lugano
Engineer: Stefano Amerio
Produced by Manfred Eicher

The band features some of the most interesting and distinguished musicans of the contemporary jazz scene in New York. Both of them are successful bandleaders and sideman, who have proved their brillance on numerous concerts and records.

The friendship between Benedikt and drummer Owen Howard reaches back many years. By that time Howard was working as a guest professor at the University of Fine Arts in Berlin and Benedikt was his student. Owens unique sound and his magical approach to time is a revelation to every musician that has the honor to play with him and also to every listener.

Antonio Miguel from Spain has succeeded in creating a great reputation as an accompanist and as a soloist in New York although he lived there for only three years. His sound shows the perfect balance between a lyrical touch and a hard grooving senteniousness. His relation to Benedikt grew through many jamsession with mutual friends especially during his brief attendance of the CityCollege New York.

Booklet for Equilibrium