Calvins Toboggan Woodlander

• 1 Auren 04:05
• 2 Toboggan 04:41
• 3 Avancement 03:48
• 4 Hieronymus 04:52
• 5 Nach am Schlaf 05:25
• 6 Bart 04:53
• 7 Fahrradfahren 03:41
• 8 Flash da Trash 03:47
• 9 Linie 04:59
• 10 Harmoniumlied 03:50
• 11 Auren (Reprise) 01:54
• Total Runtime 45:55

Info for Calvins Toboggan

Woodlander is the brainchild of Bern based swiss pianist Luzius Schuler. A unique trio existing of piano, trumpet and drums.

In the past unusual band setting are often related to newly discovered technical possibilities. Often there is a clear relationship between the decreasing number of instrumentalists and the increasing amount of loopstations, laptops and electrical outlets being used on stage.

Luzius Schuler strips down his Woodlander to the bare musical necessities. Acoustic and pure. Making this debut appear sincere and vulnerable. Calvins Toboggan is an album full of strong ideas, musicality and fantasy.

Toboggan the title track is an elegiac soundtrack through a landscape reminiscent of Thomas Mann’s Zauberberg. Romantic and resonant. Woodlander talks in a soft and confident voice. Schuler is managing the harmonic settings and restoring basslines with great virtuosity and zero cliche. Not fearing space. Mats Spillmann on trumpet carries the melodies with a slick tone and exemplary technique. Throughout the recording with a mature taste and comment. Developing the stories Schuler suggests in the opening heads.

Hieronymus is a dancing, oriental flavored blues. Steadily grooving and exploring all attributes of Schuler’s compositions. Drummer Jonas Ruther knows when to fall back and when to push. He is reluctant to get in the way of either Schuler or Spilmann. His transparent sound and uncomplicated playing emphasizes the intimate band setting.

The three move in a natural way and seem wired and fascinated by what they throw at each other. At times a little too much in control for lack of soul and risk taking.

Woodlander is a I have the room above her from Switzerland. Young, confident, straightforward and interesting. In the right mix between avant garde and access.

"Luzius Schuler strips down his Woodlander to the bare musical necessities. Accoustic and pure. Making this debut appear sincere and vulnerable. Calvins Toboggan is an album full of strong ideas, musicality and fantasy. Woodlander is a I have the room above her from Switzerland. Young, confident, straight forward and interesting. In the right mix between avant garde and access."

Mats Spillmann, trumpet
Jonas Ruther, drums
Luzius Schuler, piano

Woodlander
Die taufrische Band lässt die Musik mit eigenwilliger Romantik und bisweilen närrischem Draufgängertum aus den Reihen tanzen. Als Spielmacher drei versierte Improvisatoren. Sie bringen die Musik durch sanften Anstoss ins Kreiseln bis sie von sich aus rotiert. Die Balleteuse legt ihre Hand bald in die des einen bald in die des anderen, springt, torkelt, lehnt sich zurück, zirkelt dann überraschend in eine andere Richtungen weiter – hält inne und kommt schliesslich zur Ruhe. Die drei vertrauten Musiker verstehen sich in diesem Wechselspiel, einem verzahnenden Geflecht von Sounds, Grooves und Melodien. Konventionen werden ausgehoben um an die Klang-Möglichkeiten dieser reduzierten Besetzung zu gelangen. Mit den Kompositionen von Luzius Schuler, die von harmonischer Vielfalt und rhythmischer Vertracktheit zeugen, findet der Reigen einen choreographischen Konsens. Das Parkett bleibt dabei immer noch geräumig genug für ausschweifende Bögen und gross angelegte Walzer über unbekanntes Terrain.

This album contains no booklet.