I really love the piano trio,” says Aki Takase, with a passion that mirrors her playing. “But not the old idea, where the pianist is king, and the bassist and the drummer are just sidemen. We are equal.”
Indeed, all three musicians are in focus in the trio AUGE: bassist Christian Weber and drummer Michael Griener are among the most original virtuosos of their instruments. On Intakt they have presented brilliant albums with the New York Saxophoneophonist Ellery Eskelyn. Christian Weber recorded albums with Co Streiff and Oliver Lake. Michael Griener is a member of the band Die Enttäuschung and Monks Casino with Alexander von Schlippenbach. Over the course of nearly four decades pianist Aki Takase has provided fresh impetus with different musicians such as reedists David Murray and Rudi Mahall or fellow pianist (and husband) Alexander von Schlippenbach.
The Berlin-based Chicago journalist Peter Margasak writes about the recording: “The music on the debut album from the collective trio AUGE is wide-open, operating from an unobstructed vista where everything seems possible ... Free improvisation rarely sounds so cogent, rippling with an adroit command of rhythm and harmony that erases the line between design and spontaneity.”

Cover photo: Valentin Rothmaler
Graphic design: Paul Bieri
Liner notes: Peter Margasak
Photo: Stefanie Marcus

Recorded February 18, 19, 2019, by Markus Mittermeyer at Traumton Studios, Mixed and mastered by Will-y Klangdach and Christian Weber. Cover art: Harald Naegeli, 2018, Berlin. Produced by Michael Griener, Christian Weber, Aki Takase and Intakt Records, Patrik Landolt, Anja Illmaier, Florian Keller. Published by Intakt Records