Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Urs Leimgruber: AIR Vol. 2

Urs Leimgruber: AIR Vol. 2

By John Eyles
September 26, 2024
View read count

Released a year after the four-disc album AIR Vol. 1 (Creative Works Records, 2023) comes the three-disc AIR Vol. 2, which has a similar layout to the earlier release. Each disc of the four-disc album featured Swiss saxophonist

Urs Leimgruber

saxophone, soprano
b.1952

" data-original-title="" title="">Urs Leimgruber in a duo with a different player: American drummer

Gerry Hemingway

drums
b.1955

" data-original-title="" title="">Gerry Hemingway, Swiss pianist Hans Peter Pfammatter, Swiss amplified spinet player

Jacques Demierre

piano

" data-original-title="" title="">Jacques Demierre, German synthesiser player

Thomas Lehn

synthesizer

" data-original-title="" title="">Thomas Lehn. Each disc of the three-disc follow-up does the same: French double bassist

Joëlle Léandre

bass
b.1951

" data-original-title="" title="">Jo?lle L��andre, German clavinet player

Magda Mayas

piano
b.1979

" data-original-title="" title="">Magda Mayas, Swiss vocalist and singing saw player

Dorothea Schurch

vocals

" data-original-title="" title="">Dorothea Schurch. Whether intentionally or not, on AIR Vol. 1 each of the four musicians who played with Leimgruber was male, whereas on AIR Vol. 2 all three are female. The two albums have similar spartan artwork and track titles, which seem intended to make them regarded as parts of an (ongoing?) project.

AIR Vol. 1 was recorded live at The Space, in Lucerne, in 2022-3, and AIR Vol. 2 was also recorded live at that venue, in February, March and June 2023. Each disc features Leimgruber in a duo with one other player, even though all three could comfortably have fitted onto two discs; the seven tracks on the L��andre disc run for 43:35, the six Mayas tracks for 49:42 and the five Sch��rch tracks for 36:37, a total of 2 hours and 9 minutes. The intention is clear—to showcase one duo per disc rather than mixing them up together.

To the credit of all concerned, each of the three duos is an amalgam of equals rather than being Leimgruber plus an accompanist. So, instead of accompanying on bass, L��andre improvises as energetically and inventively as the saxophonist, perfectly complementing his playing throughout and taking centre stage as often as he does. In similar vein, Mayas—playing the electric clavinet rather than piano—is the equal of Leimgruber throughout their disc together, leading or soloing as often as he does, so that they sound like a well-established duo. Completing the album in fine style, Sch��rch's combination of voice and bowed singing saw is dramatically theatrical, particularly when she is joined by Leimgruber in a similar fashion. Throughout its duration, this album grabs one's attention and is entertaining from start to finish. Roll on Vol. 3, please.

Learn more about our star rating system

Track Listing

#1; #2 ; #3 ; #4 ; #5 ; #6 ; #7 ; #1 ; #2 ; #3 ; #4 ; #5 ; #6 ; #1 ; #2 ; #3 ; #4 ; #5.

Personnel

Urs Leimgruber

saxophone, soprano

Jo?lle L��andre

bass

Magda Mayas

piano

Dorothea Schurch

vocals

Additional Instrumentation

Magda Mayas: clavinet; Dorothea Schurch: singing saw.

Album information

Title: AIR Vol. 2 | Year Released: 2024 | Record Label: Creative Works Records

PREVIOUS / NEXT

Riley Mulherkar is in pursuit of a f...
< Previous

The Architecture Of Jazz
Next >

Support All About Jazz

All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who make it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

Go Ad Free!

To maintain our platform while developing new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity, we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for as little as $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination vastly improves your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.