Viktor Bastian Stein

• 1 Tati 07:12
• 2 Hydrastis 07:40
• 3 Traces 05:50
• 4 It Seems 05:09
• 5 Off the Record 04:21
• 6 For Felician 06:16
• 7 Fantasia 03:25
• 8 Der Abschied 05:25
• Total Runtime 45:18

Info for Viktor

Viktor is the name of trumpeter Bastian Stein's second Pirouet CD. It breaks out and into a completely new soundscape. Forgoing a harmony instrument, Stein along with saxophonist Johannes Enders, bassist Phil Donkin, and drummer James Maddren conjure up fascinating sounds with enormous latitude – sounds that have an unusually personal touch.

'What a tone!' exclaims one critic, another extols his 'flawless style'. They all agree: Bastian Stein's first CD for the Pirouet label highlights the young trumpeter as an especially fresh, powerful voice in jazz. Now calling Cologne home, Stein was born in Heidelberg, Germany in 1983. He grew up in Vienna where he began studying trumpet at the age of 15. Later in Amsterdam he studied with the great jazz trumpeter Ack van Rooyen and refined his play in New York studying with Bo Nilsson. With such outstanding abilities, it makes sense that he plays with pianist Pablo Held, one of the major new forces in German jazz. Pablo is no longer present on 'Viktor', Stein's new CD. The new band is composed purposely without a chordal instrument; instead, two wind instruments, bass and drums – a composition that allows the musicians to play much more 'openly, with more variety'. The results: music with a lot of freedom of movement. Stein dedicates the CD to his son Viktor, and then gets to work. Standing next to Stein is Saxophonist Johannes Enders, a giant of a man with a big tone who has been a professor in Leipzig since 2008. On bass, Phil Donkins, on drums, James Maddren, two much-in-demand young Brits. The one is known for his play with saxophonist Marius Neset, the other for his work with pianist Gwilym Simcock. The CD concludes with a gracious bow to the composer Gustav Mahler. Bastian Stein's 'Viktor' – a very personal take on jazz that gazes over wide horizons.

Bastian Stein, trumpet
Johannes Enders, tenor saxophone
Phil Donkin, bass
James Maddren, drums

The colleagues that Bastian Stein has gathered around him come from different parts of the globe, but musically they are a good fit. Pianist Pablo Held was born in 1986 in North Rhine-Westphalia. He is strongly represented on Pirouet by the award-winning trio CD Music and the large ensemble recording Glow, which was lauded by the critics and the press. Stein first met Held at a workshop some ten years ago when Held was a young student. Stein once again became aware of Held through the pianist’s trio. Stein states that Pablo Held “brings the right amount of demanding abilities into the band. At the same time he is totally supportive.” Born in 1981 in Tirol, Matthias Pichler is Stein’s Austrian compatriot. He and Stein have often played together; “Matthias has great ears, and he tries to round out the moment.” Tobias Backhaus was born in 1984 in Darmstadt, Germany. Stein met him when he was on tour three years ago. Stein says, “For me, the best drummers are those that you don’t really notice at first, but on the second listening you realize that they have everything under control. That’s Tobias!”

Everyone in the quartet is interested in the overall sound, not some individual momentary glitter, but rather something the listener can immediately sense. These musicians develop a completely organic connection. Bastian Stein brings an elastic sense of storytelling into play: “When someone’s playing is totally awesome, but isn’t communicating, then the players who are accompanying him are imprisoned.” That is something no one in this quartet wants. They all want to be able to move freely and give each other the opportunity to play. Or, in the sense of Diegesis, they want to give free rein to their imagination with respect to the “narration”.

Bastian Stein — to borrow from his own metaphor — has not taken on any prisoners; instead, he has found musicians to converse with. Here are instrumental conversations in which each listener can project his or her own story. These are appealing, stimulating tales for the listener who enjoys captivating music and at the same time likes to keep a clear head.

Booklet for Viktor