On the edge of the knife

Double bassist Gregor Aufmesser first stepped into the spotlight in 2014 with the seven-member formation Aufmessers Schneide as part of the JazzWerkstatt Wien. In the band's debut album, Orbs, the composer and bandleader engaged musically with the world of physics – which fits quite well with an ensemble full of pronounced individualists. Like particles, the musicians act independently but always in relation to one another. The compositions also support this contrast: they bridge the gap between classical-oriented counterpoint and sprawling jazz in the style of Charles Mingus, creating a constant interplay between intellect and emotion.

With quirky humor, Aufmesser examines the peculiarities of life, especially life in a certain small-minded Alpine republic. Aufmessers Schneide explores what can be encompassed within the term jazz, without losing sight of the band's strengths – the expressionism, the diverse musical personalities, and the soulful engagement with intellectual material. In Aufmessers Schneide, as in quantum physics, countless possibilities coexist simultaneously: one never knows what might crystallize next from the fog of probabilities.