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D?rner-Schwerdt-Sartorius: Jul Fuel

By Mark Corroto
February 3, 2025
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Jul Fuel unfolds more like a tale of three cities than a singular statement—especially when the tracks are experienced in album order. The release transitions from a solo piano performance to a piano-drum duet, a trio performance, and, finally, a slide trumpet solo. At its core, however, Jul Fuel revolves around German improviser

Axel Dorner

trumpet
b.1964

" data-original-title="" title="">Axel Dorner, even in moments when his horn is silent.

Pianist and label chief

Oliver Schwerdt

piano

" data-original-title="" title="">Oliver Schwerdt takes on dual roles here: as an innovative artist and a dedicated promoter of avant-garde music. Over the years, he has collaborated with and organized performances featuring an impressive roster of legends such as

Peter Brötzmann

woodwinds
1941 - 2023

" data-original-title="" title="">Peter Br?tzmann,

Akira Sakata

saxophone, alto
b.1945

" data-original-title="" title="">Akira Sakata,

Barry Guy

bass, acoustic
b.1947

" data-original-title="" title="">Barry Guy,

Gunter Sommer

b.1943

" data-original-title="" title="">Gunter Sommer,

Wadada Leo Smith

trumpet
b.1941

" data-original-title="" title="">Wadada Leo Smith and

Barre Phillips

bass
b.1934

" data-original-title="" title="">Barre Phillips. Schwerdt also champions a younger generation of talent, including

Christian Lillinger

drums
b.1984

" data-original-title="" title="">Christian Lillinger,

Antonio Borghini

bass
b.1977

" data-original-title="" title="">Antonio Borghini and, as showcased on this album,

Julian Sartorius

drums

" data-original-title="" title="">Julian Sartorius.

The album opens with "Jet Fuel," a solo piano piece in which Schwerdt channels a

Cecil Taylor

piano
1929 - 2018

" data-original-title="" title="">Cecil Taylor-inspired ferocity. As a performer, he demonstrates an acute ear for the dramatic, stretching both hands across the keyboard to create intricate, multi-layered textures. His playing engages both hemispheres of the brain: the left side, categorizing percussive rhythms into modular patterns, and the right, weaving disparate sounds into cohesive musical threads. The piece grows from moments of quiet introspection to a dense, tangled flurry of notes.

Following the solo, the album transitions to the duo track "Drain Delicacy," where Schwerdt partners with drummer Sartorius, renowned for his work with pianists

Colin Vallon

piano
b.1980

" data-original-title="" title="">Colin Vallon and

Sylvie Courvoisier

piano

" data-original-title="" title="">Sylvie Courvoisier. Together, they emphasize the percussive qualities of their instruments. Sartorius' deft brushwork pushes Schwerdt to explore unconventional techniques, transforming the piano into a percussive machine while interjecting bursts of thunderous left-hand chords.

These earlier tracks serve as a prelude to the album's centerpiece, "(Slip Fit) Fizz Blitz (Slit Kit)," where D?rner joins Schwerdt and Sartorius. In this trio setting, Schwerdt and Sartorius play in service to D?rner's slide, a cornerstone of his unique improvisational language on trumpet. D?rner, known for his versatility—whether interpreting

Thelonious Monk

piano
1917 - 1982

" data-original-title="" title="">Thelonious Monk's music with

Alexander von Schlippenbach

piano
b.1938

" data-original-title="" title="">Alexander von Schlippenbach, exploring off-kilter bebop with Die Entt?uschung, or crafting minimalist free improvisation—delivers an extraordinary palette of sounds. His trumpet produces everything from gargled tones and breathy whispers to explosive, animalistic roars. The 23-minute performance is a seamless interplay, with piano mirroring trumpet, trumpet echoing drums and each instrument contributing to a continuous, evolving musical dialogue.

The album concludes with D?rner's solo performance, "Briglift, Neprotukah und die braunfaune Schruhkatze von Kortopau." Here, he leaves no technique unexplored, employing circular breathing to move from faint whispers to a thunderous cacophony reminiscent of a jet engine.

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Track Listing

Jul Fuel; Drain Delicacy; (Slip Fit) Fizz Blitz (Slit Kit); Briglifi, Neprotukah und die braunfaune Schr��hkatze aus Kortopau.

Personnel

D?rner-Schwerdt-Sartorius

Axel Dorner

trumpet

Oliver Schwerdt

piano

Julian Sartorius

drums

Additional Instrumentation

Axel D?rner: slide trumpet; Oliver Schwerdt: percussion, little instruments; Julian Sartorius - cymbals, percussion.

Album information

Title: Jul Fuel | Year Released: 2024 | Record Label: Euphorium Records

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