Jazz Articles about Gebhard Ullmann

Gebhard Ullmann: Variations on a Master Plan

by Kurt Gottschalk
December 22, 2003

It’s probably obvious to say that German saxophonist Gebhard Ullmann’s master plan is to keep jazz alive, but it’s hard not to draw such a conclusion from his new quartet record. The title seems an obvious take on the classic Pharoah Sanders piece and the music within follows Ullmann’s history of working the tradition like a lump of clay, stretching and molding it but retaining the essential material. Ullmann’s bands are generally split between New York and European ...

Ullmann/Stevens/Fonda/Bennink: Variations on a Master Plan

by Frank Rubolino
August 25, 2003

Gebhard Ullmann, Michael Jefry Stevens, and Joe Fonda, who have had close association in recent years working in the band Conference Call with drummer Matt Wilson, performed in 2001 at a Munich club with drummer Han Bennink. The event turned into a synergistic meeting of the minds. Ullmann appears to be in a pensive mood for this set, released as Variations on a Master Plan. He opens with a soulful bass clarinet flight through Stevens’ melancholy “Quiet,” which establishes a ...

Meet Saxhophonist/Clarinetist Gebhard Ullmann

by Glenn Astarita
February 8, 2003

Submitted by Glenn Astarta on behalf of Vittorio Lo Conte for AAJ:Italy.

All About Jazz: Regarding your CD Kreuzberg Park East - Will you keep developing your musical ideas with this group in the future?

Gebhard Ullmann: The CD Kreuzberg Park East was an advancement of my composition concept for quartet (two horns and piano-less rhythm section). While I composed all the music for the first CD Basement Research in Berlin, everything on Kreuzberg Park East are new compositions and ...

Gebhard Ullmann featuring Carlos Bica: Essencia

by Glenn Astarita
September 1, 2001

Saxophonist/clarinetist Gebhard Ullmann’s latest venture is based upon his musical associates’ compositional backgrounds and styles, as the trio renders a potpourri of highs, lows, peaks and valleys throughout this altogether attractive production. With “Sombras E Nevoeiro/A Luz Da Sombra,” the artist’s introspectively stated bass clarinet lines are contrasted by Jens Thomas’ ever so delicate plucking of his acoustic piano strings and subliminally executed lower register voicings. Thus, simple in appearance, yet subtly complex under the hood as the band seamlessly ...

Gebhard Ullmann: Kreuzberg Park East

by Glenn Astarita
February 1, 2000

Kreuzberg Park East represents German-based saxophonist/composer Gebhard Ullmann’s second collaboration with American jazz notables – saxophonist Ellery Eskelin, drummer Phil Haynes and bassist Drew Gress.

Following up his fine outing with “The Clarinet Trio” on the “Leo Lab” release titled, Oct.1’98 Ullman extends his alliance and dual saxophone attack with Ellery Eskelin on this engaging exhibition featuring Ullmann’s fertile if not wily compositional skills and laudable technical proficiencies. The opener, “Blaues Lied” boasts a moderate swing motif atop Gress’ prominent ...