In a spontaneously assembled 2009 session at Zürich's DRS studio, trumpeter Russ Johnson, bassist Christian Weber, and drummer Dieter Ulrich sculpt a dynamic and intuitive trio performance, threading balladic lyricism with abstract tension in a deft interplay of trust, fragility, and risk that transforms improvisation into captivating and timeless art.
In Stock
Quantity in Basket: None
Log In to use our Wish List
Shipping Weight: 3.00 units
Sample The Album:
Russ Johnson-trumpet
Christian Weber-double bass
Dieter Ulrich-drums
Click an artist name above to see in-stock items for that artist.
UPC: 752156106029
Label: ezz-thetics by Hat Hut Records Ltd
Catalog ID: ezz-thetics 1060
Squidco Product Code: 36057
Format: CD
Condition: New
Released: 2025
Country: Switzerland
Packaging: Cardboard Gatefold
Recorded at DRS Radiostudio 2, Zürich, December 1, 2009 by Martin Pearson; Mixed by Alex Huber; Mastering by Michael Brändli, Hardstudios AG; Liner notes by Ruedi Amstutz; Cover photo by Mircea Sorin Albuțiu; graphic concept by fuhrer vienna; Produced by Christian Weber; Associate producer: Christian C. Dalucas; Executive producer: Werner X. Uehlinger.
"Art leaves something to the listener; that's what separates art from craft." Henry Threadgill
One could argue that it is entirely unimportant under what circumstances a record was created. One can view an album as a snapshot and simply enjoy the music regardless of its creation. Just like you read a book because the narrative captivates you or you watch a movie for the suspense. The context can always be ignored when the art speaks for itself. And without a doubt, this is the case with To Walk on Eggshells.
Without further ado, the listener is immersed in this sonic sculpture, which Russ Johnson, Christian Weber and Dieter Ulrich work on incessantly over 50 minutes with ease, skill and precision. Even if you don't know the relationship between the three musicians, you can not only sense it, but it is unmistakable from the very first note. Whether figurative or abstract, balladic or energetically charged free spaces: the interplay is captivating, even breathtaking at times. The mutual trust, coupled with finely woven surprising twists, leads to a spontaneously choreographed dance on the wire or - as the title suggests - to a Walk on Eggshells: always close to fragility and with the possibility of failure looming - only then can something new emerge, only then does music become art.
Despite the magnificent music speaking for itself, a few thoughts are permitted here, shedding additional light on this album. There is, for example, the way in which this recording came about. In 2009 Christian Weber was given the opportunity to use the Swiss radio studio for two days to record an album with trumpeter Nate Wooley and percussionist Paul Lytton (released under the title "Six Feet Under" on No Business Records). What Weber didn't know at the time was that Wooley and Lytton both had to leave after the first day due to other commitments. But what to do with the second day? Having a studio at your disposal is something very valuable for a musician, so letting the opportunity pass by would have been a waste. And that's why Weber organized a new trio with two familiar faces from his musical circle. He knew Russ Johnson from their work with Co Streiff, and Dieter Ulrich had always been one of his congenial partners from the Zurich jazz scene. All three share a common attitude that extends far beyond the musical realm. "To Walk on Eggshells" is the document of this second day in the studio, in its full length. Already from this perspective, the album can be listened to again, not just as a collection of nine compositions, but as a story in nine chapters - written by three individuals in a hastily convened session. Each brings their individual musical knowledge here while maintaining the highest attention to their fellow players. That from the very first second and over 50 minutes such a homogeneous and organic sonic architecture can be created is one of the reasons why we constantly fall under the spell of music.
Another aspect through which "To Walk on Eggshells" can be viewed is the time gap between the recording (2009) and the release (2024). If one adheres to the old insight that music only exists when it is heard, then this recording did not exist over the past 15 years. Friedrich Dürrenmatt described reality as a special case of the possible, which would mean that the trio Johnson/Weber/Ulrich was only one of the possible formations and that it has now become reality only with the release of To Walk on Eggshells. If one also considers Igor Stravinsky, who said that every newly created sound contains all previously created sounds; Stravinsky thus regards the sum of one's own experiences and the sum of musical history as a continuous addition, then "To Walk on Eggshells" is nothing more than an artifact from a long-gone era. After all, Johnson, Weber, and Ulrich have continued to evolve over the past 15 years, which can be easily verified through their numerous releases. And yet, the music of this album in 2024 seamlessly integrates into the discographies of the three musicians.
In an interview with Jürg Solothurnmann (Jazz'N'More, Issue 01/22), Christian Weber said: "No matter how I move along the timeline, my attention is focused on what is to come. At the same time, I always keep in mind what happened before, without analyzing. This way, I avoid the improvisation becoming arbitrary. Both arbitrary openness and narrow restriction, neither suits me." And therein lies the whole secret of this record and ultimately the definition of great art: it is the ability of a musician to have control over space and time. To juggle both with the existing and the newly conceived. The art, according to Dürrenmatt, of exploring all possibilities and allowing them to emerge as reality in ever-new variations. Declaring the timeline as one's playground and letting past, present, and future resonate simultaneously. Just like on To Walk on Eggshells."-Rudolf Amstutz, May 2024
Artist Biographies
• Show Bio for Russ Johnson "Trumpeter Russ Johnson is a recent Midwest transplant after spending 23 years as an important member of New York City's jazz community. He has 7 recordings as a leader or co-leader and performed on more than 75 recordings as a sideman. Russ has worked alongside many of the legendary figures in jazz including Lee Konitz, Steve Swallow, Bill Frisell, and Joe Lovano. In addition, he has recorded and/or performed with a long list of the most prominent musicians currently on the international jazz scene, including Myra Melford, Ken Vandermark, and Tony Malaby. Russ has performed in more than 40 countries across the globe. His groups have recently performed at the Chicago, Winter Jazz Fest (NYC) Hyde Park, (Chicago) and Bergamo, (Italy) jazz festivals. His most recent recordings, Meeting Point (Relay Recordings) and Still Out To Lunch! (Enja Records) received 4 1/2 & 4 stars respectively from Down Beat Magazine and appeared on many "Best Recordings of 2014/5" lists including Down Beat, the Chicago Tribune, Chicago Reader, NYC Jazz Record and Magnet magazine. Russ will be releasing a new recording by his "Headlands" Quartet in 2017. Russ is also active as an educator/clinician, having taught at colleges and universities across the U.S. and Europe. He currently serves as Director of Jazz Studies at the University of Wisconsin Parkside where he won the university wide "Stella Gray" Teaching Excellence award in 2016." ^ Hide Bio for Russ Johnson • Show Bio for Christian Weber Christian Weber: Doublebass, composition, electronics. Born in Zürich/Switzerland ^ Hide Bio for Christian Weber • Show Bio for Dieter Ulrich "Dieter Ulrich (12 October 1958 in Zurich) is a Swiss jazz and free improvisation musician (percussion, flugelhorn) and art historian. Ulrich had piano lessons from Irma Schaichet from 1965 to 1980. He learned also playing percussion by self study from 1972. He played at first in several bands with Harald Haerter. In 1988, he played with his own quintet in the Jazz Festival Zurich. He participated also in Daniel Mouthon's projects. He was a member of the trio AfroGarage with Christoph Baumann and Jacques Siron and appeared in many international festivals." ^ Hide Bio for Dieter Ulrich
5/5/2025
Have a better biography or biography source? Please Contact Us so that we can update this biography.
1990 discovery of the Doublebass
1993-96 studies at the University of Music and Dramatic Arts Graz
1995-98 studies at the Bruckner Conservatory Linz with Adelhard Roidinger
1998 studies with Ernst Weissensteiner, Vienna
2000-06 operative and artistic management of the WIM Zürich
2000- music for film & theater, soundinstallations
2001 grant from the city of Zürich; composition commissioned by ProHelvetia
2003 Zürich culture award (Werkjahr)
2004- extensive touring all over the world
2007-13 guest lecturer at the University of Berne
2013- lecturer at the University of Lucerne
regular appearances
Sudden Infant, ensemble für neue musik zürich, Christy Doran's Bunter Hund, Die Welttraumforscher
festivals
Druga Godba (Ljubliana), Jazzfestival Zagreb, Jazz Meeting TelAviv, Jazz-Meeting Jerusalem, Jazzfest Wiesen, Hörgänge Wien, Jazzfestival Schaffhausen, AMR Festival (Geneva), Ice On Fire (Kuwait), Festival de Jazz Grenoble, Jazzfest Wien, unerhört!, Ulrichsberger Kaleidophon, Uncool Poschiavo, Jazzfestival Mulhouse, Wien Modern, Moers Festival, LEM (Barcelona), Jazzherbst Konstanz, Taktlos, Vision Festival (NYC), FIMAV (Victoriaville), Konfrontationen Nickelsdorf, Umbrella Festvial Chicago, Jazzfestival Willisau, Jazzfestival Belgrade, Fri Resonans Trondheim...
toured in
Switzerland, Austria, Germany, England, Ireland, Poland, Israel, China, Taiwan, Belgium, Italy, Slovenia, Kuwait, Croatia, Czech Republic, The Netherlands, Serbia, Spain, Japan, Russia, USA, Canada...
works/worked with
Lina Allemano, Bruno Amstad, Tim Barnes, Johannes Bauer, Ludwig Bekic, Han Bennink, Claudia Ulla Binder, Jeb Bishop, Andres Bosshard, John Butcher, Antoine Chessex, Gene Coleman, Collegium Novum, Lol Coxhill, Chris Dahlgren, Tim Daisy, Jacques Demierre, Bertrand Denzler, Robert Dick, Roberto Domeniconi, Michel Doneda, Christy Doran, Paul Dunmall, Markus Eichenberger, Ellery Eskelin, Peter Evans, Kai Fagaschinski, Pierre Favre, Peter K Frey, Charles Gayle, Gegenklang, Michael Griener, Andy Guhl, Uli Gumpert, Boris Hauf, Franz Hautzinger, Stefan Heckel, Gerry Hemingway, Gerhard Herrmann, Charlotte Hug, Ben Jeger, Russ Johnson, Jason Kahn, Vera Kappeler, Mazen Kerbaj, Hans Koch, Ritsche Koch, Jonas Kocher, Tomas Korber, Peter Kowald, Jesse Kudler, Joachim Kühn, Oliver Lake, Joke Lanz, Urs Leimgruber, Tony Levin, Werner Lüdi, Paul Lytton, Rudi Mahall, Phil Minton, Norbert Möslang, Michael Moser, Jon Mueller, Günter Müller, Simon Nabatov, Lucas Niggli, Noid, Evan Parker, Dave Phillips, Simon Picard, Wolfgang Puschnig, Christian Reiner, Wolfgang Reisinger, Paul Rogers, Roger Rotor, Olaf Rupp, Jorge Sanchez-Chiong, Julian Sartorius, Eric Schaefer, Philip Schaufelberger, Matthias Schubert, Willem Schulz, Irène Schweizer, Christine Sehnaoui, Sharif Sehnaoui, Elliott Sharp, Martin Siewert, Markus Stauss, Steamboat Switzerland, Michael Jefry Stevens, Co Streiff, Michael Thieke, Dieter Ulrich, Tom Varner, Colin Vallon, Walter & Sabrina, Matthew Welch, Chris Wiesendanger, Bo Wiget, Michel Wintsch, Stephan Wittwer, Nils Wogram, Christian Wolfarth, Michael Wollny, Nate Wooley, Katsura Yamauchi, Raed Yassin, Otomo Yoshihide, Michael Zerang, Matthias Ziegler, Alfred Zimmerlin, Philip Zoubek...
5/5/2025
Have a better biography or biography source? Please Contact Us so that we can update this biography.
5/5/2025
Have a better biography or biography source? Please Contact Us so that we can update this biography.
Track Listing:
1. Lifted (m: Russ Johnson) 04:22
2. No Folk's Song (m: Dieter Ulrich) 05:26
3. Pointillistic (m: Russ Johnson) 04:58
4. For A.R. (m: Christian Weber) 06:56
5. To Walk On Eggshells (m: Dieter Ulrich) 05:46
6. Subject Matter? (m: Russ Johnson) 05:56
7. Hidden Upsides Of Contortion (m: Christian Weber) 04:50
8. Confession (m: Russ Johnson) 06:21
9. Exits Locked (m: Dieter Ulrich) 05:05
Hat Art
Improvised Music
Jazz
Free Improvisation
European Improvisation, Composition and Experimental Forms
Collective & Free Improvsation
Trio Recordings
New in Improvised Music
Recent Releases and Best Sellers
Search for other titles on the label:
ezz-thetics by Hat Hut Records Ltd.
 | Maneri, Joe / Tyson Rogers / Jacob Braverman In The Shadow, First Visit (ezz-thetics by Hat Hut Records Ltd) |
| Capturing a multidimensional dialogue through breathy microtones, atonal piano fragments, and ambiguous percussion, Joe Maneri on sax and clarinet, Tyson Rogers on piano, and Jacob Braverman on drums craft abstract improvisations exploring the delicate interplay of shadow and light, revealing emotional nuances and identity in richly layered, spontaneous constructions of impressive expressive intensity. | |
 | Levin, Daniel / Fala Mariam / Sei Miguel Panorama (ezz-thetics by Hat Hut Records Ltd) |
| Performing in the liminal space between free improv, jazz & chamber-oriented improvisation, the trio of American cellist Daniel Levin with long-time Portuguese collaborators Sei Miguel on pocket trumpet and Fala Mariam on alto trombone, come together for these authoritative recordings in Lisbon, captured in the studio and at a live performance of solos & duos at Galeria Ze dos Bois. | |
 | WHO Trio (Hemingway / Wintsch / Oester) Live At Jazz Festival Willisau 2023 First Visit Live (ezz-thetics by Hat Hut Records Ltd) |
| Reimagining familiar and more obscure works of Duke Ellington through the lense of contemporary improvisation, including "Mood Indigo", "Black and Tan Fantasy", "Self Portrait of the Bean", "Burmingham Breakdown", &c., from the powerful Who Trio of Michel Wintsch on piano, Banz Oester on double bass and Gerry Hemingway on drums, captured live at the 2023 Jazz Festival Willisau. | |
 | Hendriksen, Alex / Fabian Gisler / Paul Amereller Lotus Blossom (ezz-thetics by Hat Hut Records Ltd) |
| Unabashedly lyrical and focused on jazz tradition, the Swiss trio of Alex Hendriksen on tenor saxophone, Fabian Gisler on double bass and Paul Amereller on drums present an album of standards, including pieces by Tadd Dameron, Billy Strayhorn, Jerome Kern, Thelonious Monk and Benny Golson, warmly interpreted with extraordinary band interplay and individual soloing. | |
 | Johnson, Russ / Tim Daisy / Max Johnson Live at the Hungry Brain (Listen! Foundation (Fundacja Sluchaj!)) |
| A patiently evolving collective performance at Chicago's Hungry Brain from the trio of New Yorkers--trumpeter Russ Johnson and bassist Max Johnson--and Chicago drummer Tim Daisy, whose arsenal of percussive devices adds unexpected asides to the trio's confident free jazz explorations, Johnson adding lyrical lines as the band moves as one through two extended improvisations. | |
 | Stoffner, Florian / John Butcher / Chris Corsano Braids (ezz-thetics by Hat Hut Records Ltd) |
| With incredible skill and nuance, using extended and stunning technique, and through intent listening of nearly telepathic communication, the trio of Florian Stoffner on guitar, John Butcher on tenor & soprano saxophones and Chris Corsano on drums & half clarinet, perform seven subtle and detailed improvisations live at Le Singe, in Biel/Bienne, Switzerland in 2022. | |
 | Niggli, Lucas Sound of Serendipity Tentet Play! (Intakt) |
| Surprises abound with Lucas Niggli's approach to improvised composition, using 40 playing cards that his ten-piece ensemble interpret, drawing on inspired performers from improvised, experimental and contemporary classical music, their game performed over three rounds, allowing an incredibly diverse set of approaches to reveal themselves on each unique track. | |
 | Leipold, Samuel / Jurg Bucher / Luca Lo Bianco Ostro (ezz-thetics by Hat Hut Records Ltd) |
| Exploring the trio format of clarinetist Jimmy Giuffre and his groundbreaking drumless trio, clarinetist & saxophonist Jürg Bucher and guitarist Samuel Leipold, both members of the Swiss Jazz Orchestra, joined with double bassist Luca Lo Bianco to perform this set of Leipold compositions, alongside Giuffre's "Afternoon" and "Three Clarinet Pieces I" by Stravinsky. | |
 | Lucaciu, Simon Trio STRG + X (ezz-thetics by Hat Hut Records Ltd) |
| Referencing their influences as Punkt.Vrt.Plastik or the Kris Davis Trio, the uniquely voiced young piano trio of Simon Lucaciu on piano, Florian Muller on double bass and Lukas Heckers on drums formed in 2016 to compose and perform original work, inspired by Christopher Dell's possibilities of differentiation and unusual forms, receiving the Central German Jazz Prize in 2022. | |
 | Gallio / Girod / Ulrich Day & Bus (Creative Sources) |
| A play on the Percaso band name "Day & Taxi", the trio of Christoph Gallio on soprano & alto saxophones, Dominique Girod on double bass and Dieter Ulrich on drums & bugle recorded this extended improvisation, a combination of scrambling, determined expression and post-bop creative jazz, part of the series "Life At The Zoo" at Studio the Zoo in Berne, Switzerland. | |
 | Stirrup + 6 (Lonberg-Holdm / Macri / Rumback) The Avondale Addition (Cuneiform) |
| The Stirrup trio of cellist Fred Lonberg-Holm, Nick Macri (bass), and Charles Rumback (drums) is merged with improvisers from Lonberg-Holm's Lightbox Orchestra project--Keefe Jackson & Mars Williams on reeds, guitarist Peter Maunu, violist Jen Clare Paulson, trumpeter Russ Johnson & Zoots Houston on electronics -for this compelling structured performance at Elastic Arts. | |
 | Conference Call (Gebhard Ullmann / Michael Jefry Stevens / Joe Fonda / Dieter Ulrich) Prism (Not Two) |
| The tenth Conference Call album and the first with drummer Dieter Ulrich taking over for former drummers Matt Wilson, Han Bennink, George Schuller and Gerry Hemingway, the 20 years journey for this transatlantic band leading to this album captured in the studio in Central NY while on tour, performing 3 original compositions from Ullman, 2 from Fonda, and 2 from Stevens. | |
 | Thieke, Michael Unununium Nachtlieder (Mikroton Recordings) |
| A diverse and fascinating release from clarinetist Michael Thieke, also on zither and providing field recordings, with guitarist Martin Siewert, accordionist Luca Venitucci, and two bassists--Christian Weber & Derek Shirley, and two drummers--Steve Heather and Eric Schaefer. | |
 | Kahn / Millioud / Wiget / Weber sin asunto (Creative Sources) |
| Inspired by Albert Ayler's work for strings, Jason Kahn wrote this graphical score for amplified percussion, Vincent Millioud on violin, Bo Wiget on cello, and Christian Weber on contrabass. | |
 | International Nothing, The Mainstream (Ftarri) |
![Eskelin, Ellery Trio New York: About (or On), First Visit [2 CDs]](https://www.teuthida.com/productImages/misc4/36056.jpg)
![Nakayama, Tetsuya: Edo Wan [CASSETTE w/ DOWNLOAD]](https://www.teuthida.com/productImages/misc4/36105.jpg)
![Rolando, Tommaso / Andy Moor : Biscotti [CASSETTE w/ DOWNLOADS]](https://www.teuthida.com/productImages/misc4/36106.jpg)
![Lehman, Steve Trio + Mark Turner: The Music of Anthony Braxton [VINYL]](https://www.teuthida.com/productImages/misc4/35641.jpg)
![Segel, Jonathan / Chaos Butterfly: Hall of Mirrors [2 CDs]](https://www.teuthida.com/productImages/misc4/36026.jpg)
![Taylor, Cecil Quintet (w/ John Coltrane / Kenny Dorham / Chuck Israels / Louis Hayes): Stereo Drive + 2 Bonus Tracks (limited Edition) [VINYL]](https://www.teuthida.com/productImages/misc4/35811.jpg)
![Yiyuan, Liang / Li Daiguo: Sonic Talismans [VINYL]](https://www.teuthida.com/productImages/misc4/35957.jpg)
![111 (Michelle / Villamil): Live at Opus 40 [CASSETTE]](https://www.teuthida.com/productImages/misc4/35986.jpg)
![del Pino, Francisco / Charlotte Mundy: The Sea [CASSETTE]](https://www.teuthida.com/productImages/misc4/35987.jpg)
![Niblock, Phill / Anna Clementi / Thomas Stern: Zound Delta 2 [VINYL]](https://www.teuthida.com/productImages/misc4/34623.jpg)
![Myers, David Lee : Tin Drop Tear [BOOK w/ DOWNLOAD]](https://www.teuthida.com/productImages/misc4/36030.jpg)
![Ackerley / Prymek / Turner: All Hope With Sleeping Minds [CASSETTE]](https://www.teuthida.com/productImages/misc4/35950.jpg)
![Olencki, Weston : Pearls Ground Down To Powder [VINYL]](https://www.teuthida.com/productImages/misc4/35956.jpg)
![Myers, David Lee: Oculus [2CDs]](https://www.teuthida.com/productImages/misc4/35857.jpg)
![Laubrock, Ingrid: Purposing The Air [2 CDs]](https://www.teuthida.com/productImages/misc4/35639.jpg)
![Yoko, Ono / The Great Learning Orchestra: Selected Recordings From Grapefruit [2 CDs]](https://www.teuthida.com/productImages/misc4/35841.jpg)
![Zorn, John / JACK Quartet: The Complete String Quartets [2 CDs]](https://www.teuthida.com/productImages/misc4/35609.jpg)
![Lonsdale, Eden: Dawnings [2 CDs]](https://www.teuthida.com/productImages/misc4/35480.jpg)
![Sanna, Claudio: Compositori Sardi Contemporanei II [2 CDs]](https://www.teuthida.com/productImages/misc4/35317.jpg)
![Electric Bird Noise / Derek Roddy: 8-10-22 [CD EP]](https://www.teuthida.com/productImages/misc4/35970.jpg)
![Elephant9 : Mythical River [VINYL]](https://www.teuthida.com/productImages/misc4/34624.jpg)
![Elephant9 with Terje Rypdal: Catching Fire [VINYL 2 LPs]](https://www.teuthida.com/productImages/misc4/35355.jpg)
![Deerlady (Obomsawin, Mali / Magdalena Abrego): Greatest Hits [VINYL]](https://www.teuthida.com/productImages/misc4/34876.jpg)
![Surplus 1980: Illusion of Consistency [CD]](https://www.teuthida.com/productImages/misc4/35069.jpg)
![Staiano, Moe: Away Towards the Light [VINYL + DOWNLOAD]](https://www.teuthida.com/productImages/misc4/35037.jpg)
![Coley, Byron: Dating Tips for Touring Bands [VINYL]](https://www.teuthida.com/productImages/misc4/17906.jpg)
![Lost Kisses: My Life is Sad & Funny [DVD]](https://www.teuthida.com/productImages/misc4/lostKissesDVD.jpg)