Debut - Jazz Thing Next Generation, Vol. 112 Alexander Rueß

• 1 Vogelbalz 03:45
• 2 Wild Mountain Thyme 04:21
• 3 Sangen Fra Havet 05:47
• 4 Für Opa 04:30
• 5 Interlude 03:01
• 6 No Surprises 03:50
• 7 Cornflower 02:21
• 8 Church Street Blues 04:05
• 9 China Calling 05:29
• 10 Sadness Is the Gladdest Way to Feel 05:17
• Total Runtime 42:26

Info for Debut - Jazz Thing Next Generation, Vol. 112

This album is a collection of musical portraits — intimate sketches shaped by memory, place, and human connection. It reflects the soundscape of Alexander Rueß’ upbringing near the Baltic Sea, the people who accompanied him along the way, and the impressions gathered through travel and encounter.

At its core, the music is deeply personal. Für Opa is dedicated to Rueß’ grandfather, who never played an instrument yet supported his musical journey unconditionally, driving him to countless lessons and proudly claiming responsibility for his grandson’s talent. Sangen Fra Havet is an homage to the Baltic Sea and the Danish coastline, whose quiet vastness and shifting moods echo throughout the record. Cornflower draws inspiration from the vivid blue flower that grew at the edges of rural fields — a favorite of Rueß’ maternal grandfather — symbolizing memory, landscape, and rootedness.

The album balances composition and spontaneity. Interlude, the only fully improvised piece, captures the natural interplay between guitar, double bass, and drums, allowing the music’s energy to unfold organically in the moment. Throughout the record, lyrical melodies meet open forms, creating space for both narrative clarity and collective expression.

Recorded in Berlin with longtime collaborators Luca Curcio and Sebastian Merk, the trio’s sound is defined by trust, subtle interaction, and shared musical intuition. A special highlight is the appearance of trombonist Nils Landgren on Für Opa, whose music was a formative influence on Rueß’ childhood and whose presence adds a distinctive warmth and depth to the album.

Ultimately, this record is a dedication — to family, mentors, friends, and places that shape who we become. It is an expression of gratitude and belonging, rendered through sound.

Alexander Rueß, guitar
Nils Landgren, trombone
Luca Curcio, double bass
Sebastian Merk, drums

Alexander Rueß
is a Berlin-based guitarist and composer. He grew up in Ostholstein, close to the Baltic Sea. In his childhood home he was introduced to a wide range of musical styles. Rueß studied at the JazzInstitut Berlin, the Rhythmic Music Conservatory in Copenhagen, and the Music Conservatory in Weimar, graduating with a Master of Music. Concert tours have taken him throughout Europe, as well as Japan, China, Canada and the United States. Since 2020, he is the guitarist in Atrin Madani’s band and appears on the debut album Where Are We Now, which was nominated for the German Jazz Award in 2024. He has also toured with the quartet of GRAMMYwinning singer Nicole Zuraitis Rueß was a member of the BundesJazzOrchester (BuJazzO) from 2018 to 2020 and received the Lübeck Jazz Prize in 2019. In the electro-acoustic project MANKO, he plays with Otis Sandsjö, Asger Nissen, Philipp Gropper, Robert Lucaciu and Florian Lauer. Furthermore, he has collaborated with artists such as Oliver Steidle, Jocelyn B. Smith and Nils Landgren. Together with Luca Curcio on double bass and Sebastian Merk on drums he formed the Alexander Rueß Trio in 2023.

This album contains no booklet.