triosence: giulia – thoroughly inspired and optimistic jazz trio sound paintings
On their new album giulia (release date: 04.02. on Sony Masterworks), the jazz trio triosence featuring pianist Bernhard Schüler evokes the beauty of life in eleven colourful pieces that could hardly be more diverse, optimistic and virtuosic.
With their unmistakable style, which the musicians call “songjazz”, the trio convinces and inspires both the audience and the press in this country and all over the world. “Wonderfully catchy music! You don’t have to be an expert to recognise the beauty of triosence’s melodies.” “A highlight that gets under your skin!” and “Exemplary musical trinity” are just some of the press comments celebrating the trio on an international level.
The music of triosence is characterised not only by the equality of the instruments, but above all by the strength of its melodies. A catchiness that never comes across as banal or even simple-minded, but rather allows the listener to dive into the depths of the music through its clear structure and beauty, giving them plenty of room for emotions, thoughts, even dreams. Coupled with the stylistic range of jazz, fusion, folk, pop and world music, this convinces not only die-hard jazz connoisseurs, but also those who are discovering jazz for themselves anew.
On their new album giulia are 3 songs with the talented trompeter Paolo Fresu. Paolo Fresu is winner of a wide array of awards, professor and director of various Italian and international institutions. He has performed around the world with the most important names of Afro-American music over the past 30 years and has participated in over 350 recordings.
triosence are going on tour starting spring 2022. They are now also bookable with featuring Guest Paolo Fresu!
About triosence:
The band project of pianist Bernhard Schüler has existed since 1999, has gone through several line-ups and looks back on nine album releases. Musically and by name, triosence (word creation, derived from trio-essence) refers to the approach of equality of instruments, modelled on the US pianist Bill Evans. Schüler studied at the “Hochschule für Musik” in Cologne, won numerous national and international competitions and was nominated for the German Record Critics’ Prize, among others. In the meantime he lives again in his native town Kassel.
About Paolo Fresu:
Winner of a wide array of awards, professor, and director of various Italian and international institutions, Paolo Fresu has performed around the world with the most important names of Afro-American music over the past 30 years.
He has participated in over 350 recordings, some as a leader, others as a sideman, and still other projects mixing ethnic, jazz, world music, contemporary, and ancient music.
Mr. Fresu is artistic director of the Berchidda Festival Time In Jazz and – as teacher – leaded for 25 years the Jazz Seminars in Nuoro (Sardinia).
He is also involved in the production of numerous multimedia projects, cooperating with actors, dancers, painters, sculptors, and poets, as well as writing music for film, documentary, video, ballet, and theater pieces.
Mr. Fresu lives between Paris, Bologna and Sardinia. His unique trumpet sound is recognized as one of the most distinctive in the contemporary jazz scene.
He was honored with the important honoris causa degree in Social Psychology at Università Bicocca of Milano, Italy and the historical “Sigillo di Ateneo” by Urbino University.
triosence: giulia – thoroughly inspired and optimistic jazz trio sound paintings
On their new album giulia (release date: 04.02. on Sony Masterworks), the jazz trio triosence around pianist Bernhard Schüler evokes the beauty of life in eleven colourful pieces that could hardly be more diverse, optimistic and virtuosic. Special guest trumpeter Paolo Fresu also contributes to the album’s sonic diversity.
An inspiring sense of “dolce vita” pervades the album, which the German-Cuban trio of Bernhard Schüler (piano), Omar Rodriguez Calvo (bass) and Tobias Schulte (drums) recorded in the picturesque Italian region of Friuli Venezia in June 2021. giulia is a musical liberation after the enforced break of the past months, full of confidence and lightness. The emphatic opposite of a time of fear, uncertainty and lethargy and at the same time a homage to the attitude to life of this picturesque Italian region, which until 2001 was still called “Friuli Venezia Giulia”.
The emotional images set to music by mastermind Bernhard Schüler conjure up the happy, carefree moments of life – the physical closeness of a loved one, a trip to Tuscany or watching squirrels transform the garden at home into a madhouse. “The whole thing has a positive sense of optimism that reflects none of the dreariness of the past year. And that’s a good thing,” says Schüler. This is also reflected in the music: giulia combines diverse jazz styles, tempos and moods. Pieces like Odd Times or Little Big Steps seem nostalgic and dreamy. Others, like Armando’s Farewell or the title track, have something boundlessly optimistic – while Squirrel’s Rock and Ambiguity seem downright rocky. Two tracks on the album (Quiet Sense and Your Nearness) are new arrangements of familiar triosence pieces. First and foremost is Quiet Sense from 2001, which now shines with Latin vibes. “It’s got a whole new intro and a completely different groove,” says Schüler, “with percussion, a bossa nova solo and an outro that really goes samba. So the theme is the same, but the approach is completely different. I’m very happy with it.” Bernhard Schüler feels similarly about his two tribute pieces: One for pianist Chick Corea (Armando’s Farewell), the other for his idol Bill Evans, to whom he dedicates Needless To Say. On the latter, his admiration for the influential modern jazz pianist shines through in every note: “I studied him like crazy. I would say he has the biggest influence on me.”
Bernhard Schüler also has the greatest respect for his guest on giulia – the legendary Italian jazz trumpeter Paolo Fresu, who plays on three pieces at once and has a decisive influence on them: “He is one of my favourite musicians,” says Schüler. “I had contacted him before, but unfortunately it never worked out. Then last year he replied to me that he wouldn’t actually enter into any collaborations, but that he found the style and vibe of triosence so great that he would make an exception. I was extremely pleased and inspired by that.”
Recorded by renowned engineer and producer Stefano Amerio, giulia was recorded in the summer of 2021 at his Artesuono Recording Studios in Udine. A place that Schüler raves about as much as the entire Friuli Venezia region. Bernhard Schüler’s compositions are also inspired by the region’s flair of harmony, warmth and confidence, and he creates shimmering sound paintings with his music, which he sometimes calls “song jazz”: “We are interested in singable melodies with song-like structures. This focus on melody and songs is what distinguishes us from other jazz trios”.
triosence will embark on an extensive concert tour in February 2022.
