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WHO Trio (Hemingway / Wintsch / Oester): Zoo [2 CDS] (Auricle)

Percussionist Gerry Hemingway's Who Trio with Michel Wintsch on piano and synth, and Banz Oester on double bass and lamp, in an outstanding 2 CD release contrasting their work in acoustic improvisation with "electric" improv, albeit an unusual take on the latter.
 

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Sample The Album:





product information:

Personnel:



Gerry Hemingway-drums

Michel Wintsch-piano, synthesizer

Baenz Oester-bass


Click an artist name above to see in-stock items for that artist.




UPC: 700261410708

Label: Auricle
Catalog ID: AUR 14 + 15
Squidco Product Code: 19724

Format: 2 CDs
Condition: New
Released: 2014
Country: USA
Packaging: Cardboard Gatefold
Recorded in various locations on various dates

Descriptions, Reviews, &c.

"One CD is all acoustic material, the second CD is 'electric' material.

The trio of Michel Wintsch (Geneva, Switzerland), Baenz Oester (Berne, Switzerland) and Gerry Hemingway (from NYC now living in Luzern Switzerland) began touring and recording together in 1998. Earliar, Wintsch and Hemingway first worked together in 1995 when they recorded together with cellist Martin Shuetz for Unit Records.

Chris Parker of BBC music writes "...the compositions are wholly absorbing, rousingly unpredictable, cleverly structured pieces that elicit performances of extraordinary subtlety and delicacy yet scrupiously controlled power" and Andy Hamilton of Jazz Review observes that "The result is always intriguing and often compelling, displaying a clear compositional intelligence...".

As the trio has developed it's sound and conception, a compelling evolution has developed from the diverse compositional and improvisational sensibilities of all three members. What has grown from those sensibilities is an openness, a willingness to listen and dig deeply into the uncharted terrain of open improvisation. The WHO trio are now clearly three musicians whose refined listening yields an uncommon musical sensitivity, an unspoken agreement that the collective creation is priority over individual contributions, and an honesty and immediacy that engage every audience in every context.

In the course of their touring together as a trio and occassionally with larger ensemble settings, they have developed what in music is often enigmatic, a sound as a group. This sound has many characteristics, among them, a transparency that allows the more delicate and subtle details to be perceivable to every listener. They have also achieved a more elastic sensibility with rhythm that lends a fluency, tension and excitement to their powerful rhythmic interaction.

Each time they have convened for another project or tour a new quality has developed in the trio's expressive repertoire. In one instance Michel introduced a number of classic French "chansons" into the program and with this developed a deeper elemental resonance to their music as a whole. On another occasion, some of which is documented on "Sharing the Thirst", the trio deepened it's feeling for powerful grooves of every conceivable kind. It is not ununsual to hear this conventional jazz instrumentation rock like Massive Attack, cook like Fela, swing like Count Basie, and bump & grind like Buddy Guy.

All three players are very physical with their instruments and although the recordings are a good indication of what to expect, there is much more to look foward to when experiencing this trio in concert. Words though belie the sheer enjoyment this trio have brought and continue to bring to audiences worldwide."-Gerry Hemingway website


Artist Biographies

"Gerry Hemingway has led a number of quartet and quintets since the mid 1980's. In addition he has been a member of a wide array of long standing collaborative groups including Brew with Reggie Workman and Miya Masaoka, the GRH trio with Georg Graewe and Ernst Reijseger, the WHO trio with Michel Wintsch and Bänz Oester, as well as numerous duo projects with Thomas Lehn, John Butcher, Ellery Eskelin, Marilyn Crispell, and others. Mr. Hemingway is a Guggenheim fellow and has received numerous commissions for chamber and orchestral works as well as being noted for his innovative and multifaceted work as a solo performer which began in 1974. He was a member of the Anthony Braxton Quartet between 1983 and 1994 and is also well known for his collaborations with some of the world's most outstanding improvisers and composers including Evan Parker, Cecil Taylor, Mark Dresser, Anthony Davis, Derek Bailey, Leo Smith and many others. He currently lives in Switzerland having joined the faculty of the Hochschule Luzern in 2009."

-Gerry Hemingway Website (http://www.gerryhemingway.com)
7/1/2025

Have a better biography or biography source? Please Contact Us so that we can update this biography.

"Pianist and composer Michel Wintsch's unflagging inspiration springs from a rich and varied musical background. Linking jazz tradition with the raw power of "progressive" rock, freewheeling improvisation with the rigors of orchestral composition, virtuoso playing with digital editing and mixing techniques, he takes an approach that is both syncretic and poetic. A way of composing that leaves plenty of creative space to fellow musicians, yet establishes a style that is his alone. He has been touring regularly with the WHO trio, among others, for the past 10 years on a worldwide scale. He has published many records and played with many musicians (Fred Frith, Han Bennink, Michel Doneda etc). He has worked as a composer for cinema (Alain Tanner), theatre and ballet as well as many other musical projects."

-Michel Wintsch Website (https://www.michelwintsch.com/page.php?p=bio)
7/1/2025

Have a better biography or biography source? Please Contact Us so that we can update this biography.


Track Listing:



CD1 Electric



1. Egg Mixer 11:25

2. Lamp Bowl 25:30

3. Kettle Opener 17:20

CD2 Acoustic



1. Chilabreela 9:03

2. Raccitus 13:37

3. Demmpa 4:24

4. Whylateakki 2:08

5. Rembellarun 4:18

6. Sloeperr 12:12

7. Breneen 4:42

Related Categories of Interest:


Improvised Music
Free Improvisation
NY Downtown & Jazz/Improv
European Improv, Free Jazz & Related
Electro-Acoustic
Electro-Acoustic Improv
Staff Picks & Recommended Items
Trio Recordings
Piano Trio (Piano Bass Drums)

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Auricle.


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