CRASH CRUISE

Nils Wogram - trombone, melodica, voice; Philip Schaufelberger - guitar; Lucas Niggli - drums, percussion; Beat Hofstetter - soprano- and tenorsax; Sascha Armbruster - alto-, soprano- and tenorsax; Andrea Formenti - tenor- and sopranosax; Beat Kappeler - bariton- and sopranosax.
Performing with virtuosity, an intriguing variety of sounds, a blend of composed structures and improvisation, all of this happens by combining two outstanding jazz-formations: Lucas Niggli Zoom and the Basler saxophone quartet ARTE Quartett are going on a Crash Cruise.

Intakt Records  2007

Performing with virtuosity, an intriguing variety of sounds, a blend of composed structures and improvisation, all of this happens by combining two outstanding jazz-formations: Lucas Niggli Zoom and the Basler saxophone quartet ARTE Quartett are going on a Crash Cruise.
A musical Joint-Venture directed by drummer Lucas Niggli.
Lucas Niggli is known for his ability to pair compositions, improvisations and different styles with his own musical ideas – and so creating complex and multifaceted music, but always keeping within his own recognisable style. The repertoire of ARTE Quartett, a formation which was founded in 1995, reaches from Arvo Pärt, Phil Glass and Steve Reich to Fred Frith and Pierre Favre. The quartet consists of four classically trained saxophone players: Beat Hofstetter, Sascha Armbruster, Andrea Formenti and Beat Kappeler. Their commitment lies with ‘Neue Musik’ and boundary-breaking stylistic cooperations and they mainly perform compositions, which were specially designed and arranged for Arte Quartett. And now they are working with Lucas Niggli and his trio.
«The sound of it moves me,» writes Tim Berne in the Liner notes of the CD Crash Cruise:

"To me, the best music -- the best art, period -- evokes or, rather, provokes ideas, not idioms. The goal is to transcend mere style -- style just being the clothes, not the man inside. This isn't easy to do, though; in fact, it's hard enough to be rare. That's why "Crash Cruise" is such a vital document. Lucas Niggli's ZOOM and the ARTE Quartett have created an artifact that is provocative and expressive, a constant flow of highly developed ideas that not only grab you but pull you in. The composition, structure and improvisation blend in a way that's seamless; there are complex written sections and radical improvisations, but the virtuosity of the players enables them to move organically from one to the other and back again, leaving the listener with the impression of something living and real.
Lucas Niggli is a composer of invention and emotion. Listen to his slow-rolling "Reflex," chamber music of depth where the counterpoint moves like dark clouds across a darker sky. He's also a drummer with his own shape-shifting sound (time becoming color in "Tornica"). And in this joint venture with his ZOOM trio and the ARTE Quartett, Lucas obviously pushed the players to their limits in the best sense, both with his material and in the wide ensemble dynamic. Philipp Schaufelberg plays guitar like a composer, every note placed to communicate -- listen to his snaking, satisfying lines in "Saft" and "Stau." Nils Wogram just kills everywhere here, sounding more than ever like a trombone player with a new view of how to make his instrument speak; he can play lyrically, too, as with his long solo on "Basa Buzz." I've worked with the ARTE of Basel on three commissions, each a pleasure, and they played on my record "The Sevens." The group is impeccable here, performing with beautiful textures (just listen to the keening, chant-like Evan Parker homage, "One for Evan") and the sort of virtuosity that makes the most challenging composition seem natural.

Throughout "Crash Cruise," the ideas, colors and energy teem, while the groove is loose. The record reflects an attitude that is serious and playful at the same time, like all the best art does. As a composer/improviser myself, I appreciate the amount of creative commitment that goes into writing, performing and recording music like this. The sound of it moves me.

Tim Berne
Brooklyn, July 2007