In the vortex inside «DiePresse.com

Several years ago, the great producer and guitarist Daniel Lanois played in the Viennese scene. Local guitarist Wolfgang Muthspiel was also present. But not because of the famous Lanois, but because of his drummer Brian Blade, he said. A shame? No, the silent game of courage has touched a great engineering expert. In the end, he managed to win Blade, who played with Joni Mitchell and Bob Dylan as well as Chick Corea and Herbie Hanbad, for a collaboration. Since he started recording for the ECM label in 2014, his ability to play with the best jazz musicians has improved considerably. For "Where The River Goes", Muthspiel brought together the same troupe in the idyllic nest of southern France, Pernes-les-Fontaines, which has already refined its latest work, including pianist Brad Mehldau and trumpeter Ambrose Akinmusire. Mehldau once again wrote a composition for "Blueshead" brought: a post-bop jewel that sounds surprisingly earthy, all the more so as Akinmusire sends powerful trumpet signals. However, for long periods, Muthspiel dominates the philosophical approach to silence. From soft folk motifs to complex textures whose effect develops, the more you listen deliberately. A kind of soundpointillism that attracts many pieces, such as track number, in a dangerous vortex. On the last album, the troupe paid tribute to the then deceased trumpet player, Kenny Wheeler. She is now wearing her cap of gypsy guitarist Django Reinhardt. "At Zigeina mecht i" sang André Heller with so much enthusiasm that Muthspiel and his colleagues do not express their love, but in the manner of a musical sublime. Kammerspiels Akinmusires' lines sound here sometimes, heartbreaking, but ultimately long for euphoria,

Sachter groove. "One day, my prince was gone" cries obviously after Miles Davis of the early 1960s, while the dialogue between Akinmusire and Mehldau is sincere. Muthspiel takes a smart look and, in some places, like "Clearing", he is very groovy. very gently. This becomes completely introspective when Muthspiel, like the handsome "Buenos Aires", sends colleagues baked croissants and plays acoustic guitar. On November 15, he will be invited to the Wiener Konzerthaus, unfortunately not in the cast of this album. Frenchman Matthieu Michel on trumpet (ECM)