Jazz Articles about Gebhard Ullmann

Gebhard Ullmann: New Basement Research

by Troy Collins
October 25, 2007

A key presence on the European jazz scene with nearly forty albums to his credit, German multi-reedist Gebhard Ullman turns fifty this year. In celebration, Ullmann has reformed his critically acclaimed Basement Research ensemble with all new members. New Basement Research, their studio debut, is an effective summation of Ullmann's talents as an improviser and composer.

Initially formed in 1995, Basement Research featured the talents of tenor saxophonist Ellery Eskelin, bassist Drew Gress and drummer Phil Haynes. The ...

Gebhard Ullmann: Vancouver Concert - Ta Lam Zehn

by Budd Kopman
October 14, 2007

What a joy it is to listen to and be engulfed by Vancouver Concert - Ta Lam Zehn! Setting aside the music's roots in the stunning Ta Lam (99 Records, 1993) or the group's roots in Ta Lam Acht from Moritat (99 Records, 1994), this live recording's group energy, spark and good humor make it an outstanding achievement. This was a truly amazing performance by a group that is sharp as a tack, playing music that sweeps the audience away. ...

Gebhard Ullmann: Oct. 1, '98 - The Clarinet Trio

by Budd Kopman
October 13, 2007

Saying that Oct. 1, '98 is Moritat (99 Records, 1994) meets Trad Corrosion (Nabel, 1997) would not be too far wrong. Nineteen miniatures are fit into fifty-four minutes like the latter album, but using only pure reed sounds like the former. Mixing pure improvisation, a truly wonderful version of “Tea for Two" and new and old compositions of bass clarinetist Gebhard Ullmann, this release has something for everyone. Clarinetist Jürgen Kupke is part of the Moritat Ta ...

Gebhard Ullmann: Trad Corrosion

by Budd Kopman
October 12, 2007

With nineteen tracks taking up but forty-eight minutes, the tracks that make up Trad Corrosion place a premium on subtlety, conciseness and low volume. Together with bandmates drummer Phil Haynes, who first appeared with Ullmann on Basement Research (Soul Note,1995) and long-time collaborator guitartist Andreas Willers, multi-instrumentalist Gebhard Ullmann has created a work that looks both forward and backward. Since Ta Lam (99 Records, 1993), Ullmann had been concentrating on his own music, so playing Willers' compositions ...

Gebhard Ullmann: Basement Research

by Budd Kopman
October 10, 2007

On Basement Research, Berlin-based Gebhard Ullmann combines his unique brand of composition with the pre-existing American trio of saxophonist Ellery Eskelin, bassist Drew Gress and drummer Phil Haynes. The recording is remarkable in that there is no sense whatsoever of Ullmann being grafted on to an admittedly close trio. While it is true that Eskelin and company are playing Ullmann's compositions, the degree of meshing of the quartet is amazing. This version of the quartet is the ...

Gebhard Ullmann: Moritat

by Budd Kopman
October 4, 2007

The outstanding Moritat represents the physical embodiment of everything that multi-reedman Gebhard Ullmann had learned during the creation of the miraculous Ta Lam (99 Records, 1993). The earlier recording was created using overdubbing and, except for the occasional use of accordionist Hans Hassler, Ullmann's conception was realized by himself alone. Enlisting the talents of six other reed players plus Hassler, and calling the group Ta Lam Acht, Ullmann could now write and arrange for people who could ...

Gebhard Ullmann: Ta Lam

by Budd Kopman
October 3, 2007

Tá Lam is one of the highest achievements in composition and recording in the last forty years. Beyond description or label, this music exists out of time, as a monument to the creative impulse in man. Gebhard Ullmann has created a work that is breathtaking in its beauty, and awe-inspiring in its performance. Music such as this, whether it is considered jazz or not, just does not happen that often. To listen to it is to be ...