Wolfgang Muthspiel Chamber Trio

The Chamber Trio's declared goal is to create an interactive, polyphonic musical network that embraces the intimacy and transparency of chamber music formations and yet does not have to compromise on rhythmic power and playfulness. All three musicians share a strong sense of sound culture, which allows them to elicit numerous different timbres from their instrument. They are also great improvisers, united by the joy of creating music in the moment. This means that there is always a certain degree of risk when making music and makes every concert a unique snapshot. As in all jazz ensembles, the key to success is the balance between the improvised spontaneity of the musicians and long-lasting, formative musical structures.

The guitarist WOLFGANG MUTHSPIEL (*1965) lives in Vienna and is considered one of the most influential guitarists of his generation. After classical training on the violin, he discovered his love for the guitar at the age of 15. The interest in his own and improvised music ultimately leads to jazz. After studying with Mick Goodrick at the New England Conservatory and later at the Berklee College of Music in Boston, he toured with the Gary Burton Quintet for two years and earned an excellent reputation in the jazz scene. From the mid-1990s he lives and works in the jazz capital of New York. During this time, together with Rebekka Bakken, he ventured into the world of pop music while pursuing the electronics project Muthspiel/Muthspiel with his brother. He acts as a sought-after sideman for Trilok Gurtu, Dhafer Youssef, Youssou N'Dour, Maria Joao, Dave Liebman, Peter Erskine, Paul Motian, Bob Berg, Gary Peacock, Don Alias, Larry Grenadier, John Patitucci, Dieter Ilg, das Vienna Art Orchestra and many others. In 2000 he founded the “Material Records” label, which has released numerous recordings by artists of international stature to date. After the European tour with his new quartet (2008) and the duo project “Friendly Travelers” in collaboration with drummer Brian Blade (2008), Wolfgang Muthspiel increasingly devotes himself to the trio “MGT” (Muthspiel – Grigoryan – Towner), which, after several concert tours, released a highly acclaimed debut album with “From A Dream”. He also composes for various ensembles such as the Klangforum Wien and, in the Haydn year of 2009, also a commissioned work for the Esterházy Foundation. He produces recordings by young musicians and, from 2004, led the guitar class at the Basel FHNW University of Music. In 2017, Muthspiel founded the “Focus Year” program at the Basel Jazz Campus and has been the artistic director of this year of in-depth study, which is unique in the world. In June 2012 the recording of the project “Vienna Naked” will be released, a song program that Muthspiel composed for guitar and voice. Muthspiel made his debut with “MGT” in 2013 with the album “Travel Guide” on the renowned Munich label ECM. His debut as a bandleader with ECM followed in 2014. The trio recording “Driftwood” with Brian Blade and Larry Grenadier triggered extensive media response and in 2014 Muthspiel received his own cycle at the Vienna Konzerthaus. Another vocal recording followed in 2015 with the Vienna World project, during which he performed and recorded with eighteen musicians in Rio de Janeiro, Buenos Aires, New York, Sweden and Vienna. “Rising Grace” will be released on ECM Records in fall 2016. This quintet recording with Brad Mehldau, Ambrose Akinmusire, Brian Blade and Larry Grenadier graces many best lists of 2016, is rated five out of five stars by Downbeat Magazine and gives the Wolfgang Muthspiel Quintet numerous sold-out concerts worldwide.

Program and cast

Wolfgang Muthspiel: guitar
Mario Rom: trumpet
Colin Vallon: piano