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Scopes: Scopes

By Roger Farbey
April 4, 2019
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Formed in 2018, Scopes comprises a group of musicians hailing from four different European countries, led by Austrian drummer Mathias Ruppnig and German bassist

Tom Berkmann

bass

" data-original-title="" title="">Tom Berkmann. Coincidentally, both leaders have collaborated with

Kurt Rosenwinkel

guitar
b.1970

" data-original-title="" title="">Kurt Rosenwinkel and

John Hollenbeck

drums
b.1968

" data-original-title="" title="">John Hollenbeck. Ruppnig studied or participated in workshops with big jazz names including

Kendrick Scott

drums
b.1980

" data-original-title="" title="">Kendrick Scott,

Peter Erskine

drums
b.1954

" data-original-title="" title="">Peter Erskine,

Jimmy Cobb

drums
1929 - 2020

" data-original-title="" title="">Jimmy Cobb,

John Abercrombie

guitar
1944 - 2017

" data-original-title="" title="">John Abercrombie,

Bob Brookmeyer

trombone
1929 - 2011

" data-original-title="" title="">Bob Brookmeyer,

Wolfgang Muthspiel

guitar
b.1965

" data-original-title="" title="">Wolfgang Muthspiel and

Adam Nussbaum

drums
b.1955

" data-original-title="" title="">Adam Nussbaum. Berkmann graduated from Manhattan School of Music in New York with a Master of Music degree, where he studied with

Jay Anderson

bass
b.1955

" data-original-title="" title="">Jay Anderson, Phil Markowitz and

Dave Liebman

saxophone
b.1946

" data-original-title="" title="">Dave Liebman.

The quartet is completed by French pianist

" data-original-title="" title="">Tony Tixier and Dutch alto saxophonist Ben Van Gelder. Tixier, currently living in New York, is rapidly gaining an international reputation. In 2009, he self-released Parallel Worlds and in 2012 opened for

Herbie Hancock

piano
b.1940

" data-original-title="" title="">Herbie Hancock at the Jazz En T��te Festival in Clermont-Ferrand, France. Tixier was also recently featured on

Seamus Blake

saxophone
b.1970

" data-original-title="" title="">Seamus Blake's Guardians Of The Heart Machine (Whirlwind, 2019). Van Gelder moved to New York when he was seventeen, studying with the likes of

Guillermo Klein

piano

" data-original-title="" title="">Guillermo Klein,

Jason Moran

piano
b.1975

" data-original-title="" title="">Jason Moran and

Lee Konitz

saxophone, alto
1927 - 2020

" data-original-title="" title="">Lee Konitz.

The album opener "Echo Of Their Own Prejudices" is arguably its most strident track by virtue of a midway departure from its initially piano-based approach to a spotlight for Tixier's engagingly lithe synthesizer. "Chamberlain" is a lyrical outing, with Tixier's sensitive piano leading the piece followed by Van Gelder delicately tracing the melody. "Aquaponies" benefits from an enchantingly memorable alto hook that mesmerically suffuses the whole number.

Starting with an insistent yet subtle bass and drum rhythm, the serpentine "Balance" is enhanced by Tixier's sprightly synth runs and Van Gelder's exuberant alto. The breezy "Alter Ego," underpinned by Berkmann's walking bass line, is an unequivocal foot-tapper. Even on the more pastoral numbers such as "Lakeview," Ruppnig's crisp drumming makes its presence keenly yet sympathetically felt, projecting a mood of electrifying animation throughout.

This is Scopes' eponymous debut album and its release coincides with a European tour. Judging by this excellent first album, the band could well have the makings of the epithet "international super group."

Learn more about our star rating system

Track Listing

Echo Of Their Own Prejudices; Chamberlain; Aquaponies; Balance; Whistle; Alter Ego; Lakeview; Nostalgia; Mode.

Personnel

Tom Berkmann and Mathias Ruppnig

Ben Van Gelder: alto saxophone; Tony Tixier: piano, synthesizer; Tom Berkmann: double bass; Mathias Ruppnig: drums.

Album information

Title: Scopes | Year Released: 2019 | Record Label: Whirlwind Recordings

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