Eight concerts are spread over four days and bring sounds from the songbook Arrangements by the Italian Anna Lauvergnac, the lyrical harp sounds of Monika Stadler to the cool Latin sound of Emiliano Sampaio Brazilian Unit. The focus this weekend was on the saxophone with its diverse possibilities of expression.
On the opening day, Vincent Herring and drummer Joris Dudli – a Swiss with a teaching position at Bruckner University – delivered a highlight. Their quintet Soul Chemistry shows freshness and soul, fast bebop and fiery funk. On the second saxophone, the young Japanese Erena Terakubo, one of Herring’s students, touches the master plays music at eye level. You can understand his charming comment that she is so good that he can’t teach her anything anymore. As an encore, the two talk eloquently on the topic of “Somewhere over the Rainbow”.
In the local quintet Worry Later, tenor saxophonist Thomas Kugi can inspire with elegance and warmth. The pieces mostly come from the pianist Oliver Kent or the bassist Uli Langthaler, fine numbers that refer to the jazz of the 40s and 50s. “Worry Later” was also called that Bebop icon Thelonious Monk one of his pieces, the band name seems to say it too. Trumpeter Daniel Nösig formulates confidently, Kugi’s sax is warming, Langthaler’s bass is profound and full-bodied. A band of professors who deliver their messages precisely to enthusiastic people.
At Free Tenores there are three tenor saxophones. For his 70s, Harry Sokal is treating himself to a tour with musicians of the next generation. Bernhard Wiesinger and Ondrej Štverácek play the other two horns. After a slow start, the band comes into great form. In unison the three sound like one, when soloing they develop individuality and idiosyncrasy. Very casual.
