Welcome to Ulrich Gumpert’s world – a world of hidden beauties, small treasures and bizarre inventions. What makes this world go round and holds it together is a rhythmical drive, interrupted every now and again by short pausing, briefly melting into tonal or noise-like sound, then rolling on as if it was never to stop ... In 2005 Gumpert formed a quartet with Berlin based Ben Abarbanel-Wolff (born in Washington). After recording one album together (Intakt CD 127) they slowly went separate ways. Bassist Jan Roder and drummer Michael Griener stayed on, a quartet with Ken Vandermark came together – their agendas would not match. With Jürg Wickihalder it was to succeed. A New One. Berg Noglik writes in the liner notes: „Gumpert’s quartet. The floating elegance of Steve Lacy, the brilliant perplexing logic of Monk, the earthiness and depth of Mingus, the liberties of Ornette, the sublimity and anthemic quality of Coltrane – all of it adds in here. And it is lifted, in the best sense of the word. They make progress in bringing the swing back to free jazz.“

Cover art: Mona Höke
Graphic design: Jonas Schoder
Liner notes: Bert Noglik
Photo: Sandro Bettinaglio

Recorded September 27, 28, 2014, at Hard Studios Winterthur, Switzerland by Martin Pearson for Radio SRF and Intakt Records. Mixed by Marco Birkner, Michael Griener and Jan Roder Berlin. Mastered by Martin Pearson and Jur̈g Wickihalder, Zur̈ich.