Echoes of the Unknown - Jazz Thing Next Generation Vol. 113 David Giesel

• 1 Trial and Error 05:00
• 2 My Heart Is Dancing into the Universe 05:27
• 3 This Is for Jim 04:22
• 4 We Dream of the Road to Paradise 04:52
• 5 Moods 05:16
• 6 Day Dream 05:03
• 7 Echoes of the Unknown 06:02
• 8 Where Nothing Is Certain and That's Okay 05:35
• Total Runtime 41:37

Info for Echoes of the Unknown - Jazz Thing Next Generation Vol. 113

Echoes of the Unknown is the debut album by German drummer and composer David Giesel—a modern jazz statement built on trust, attentive interplay, and the courage to let music unfold in real time. Recorded live as a band in one room at Jazzcampus Studio Basel (Jan 9–10, 2026) and co-produced with mentor Paulo Almeida, the album treats uncertainty as fuel: play first, understand later—an approach that turns instinct into form and risk into clarity.

Leading an international quartet with Albin Ormegard (guitar), Moritz Langmaier (piano/keys) and Thomas Fuller (double bass), Giesel shapes a sound world where groove and modern harmony meet openness and space—drawing on contemporary jazz aesthetics while absorbing subtle rock/indie edges. Most pieces are Giesel originals, complemented by one composition each from Ormegard and Langmaier, reflecting the group’s shared voice. At the album’s center, “Moods” opens a reflective window that includes spoken word by Dae Bryant, anchoring the record’s human, hopeful core. The result is a vibrant, deeply personal snapshot: four musicians listening hard, moving as one, and inviting the listener into the mystery—where familiarity meets discovery.

David Giesel, drums
Albin Ormegard, guitar
Moritz Langmaier, piano
Thomas Fuller, double bass
Dae Bryant, vocals

David Giesel
is a German drummer, composer, and bandleader based in Basel, active in jazz, pop, and improvised music.

Originally from the Freiburg area, he completed his bachelor’s degree in 2023 at the Stuttgart University of Music and Performing Arts, studying with Eckhard Stromer, Fabian Arends, and Rainer Tempel. In 2021, he was awarded the Deutschlandstipendium for outstanding achievement. In 2026, he received a scholarship from the Kunststiftung Baden-Württemberg, and won the Next Generation Competition by Jazz thing & Double Moon, which led to the release of his debut album Echoes of the Unknown on Double Moon Records. He earned his Master’s degree in Performance and Music Education in 2025 at the renowned Jazzcampus Basel, where he studied with Jeff Ballard, Jorge Rossy, Larry Grenadier, Paulo Almeida, and received composition training from Guillermo Klein.

At the center of his artistic work is the David Giesel Quartet, which serves as his main creative platform and the primary vehicle for his compositional output, including the album Echoes of the Unknown (Double Moon Records). The quartet shapes a sound world where groove and modern harmony meet openness and space—drawing on contemporary jazz aesthetics while absorbing subtle rock/indie edges.

Alongside this, Giesel is a co-initiator of the collective Larceny, an ensemble project developed as a shared artistic platform with a collective approach to musical direction. While not functioning as a sole leader, he played a key role in initiating and shaping the group’s concept and artistic identity. Larceny won the Playground Competition at JazzOpen Stuttgart 2025, performing at the Altes Schloss Stuttgart as the opening act for Gregory Porter. The collective has released the EP Shapes (2022) and the album Crosscurrent (2023) on XJAZZ!MUSIC Berlin, and performed at the jazzahead! Clubnight 2024 in Bremen as part of the "Clubnight BW" showcase.

As a sideman, he has contributed to projects including the Lukas Wögler Quartett (Alba, Plastic Jazz) and the Simon Bremen Quartett (Reflections on Predictability, Unit Records). He is also a member of the Noah Diemer Trio, showcasing his versatility in modern small group settings.

Giesel has performed at major festivals such as JazzOpen Stuttgart, Jazzweek Regensburg, Freiburg Jazz Festival, Stuttgart Winterjazz, and the Lovebird Festival in Düsseldorf, and has toured extensively in Germany and abroad (including Denmark, Switzerland, Romania, and Finland). He has appeared alongside artists like Volker Engelbert, Fola Dada, Christoph Neuhaus, Arne Huber, Stefan Karl Schmid, Achim Kaufmann, and Philip Dizack.

He continues to develop his artistic voice through lessons and masterclasses with Jochen Rueckert, John Riley, Ari Hoenig, Gregory Hutchinson, Ofri Nehemya, James Maddren, Kweku Sumbry, and Kendrick Scott.

This album contains no booklet.