Jazz Articles about Nils Kugelmann

About Nils Kugelmann

Album Review

Shuteen Erdenebaatar, Nils Kugelmann: Under The Same Stars

Read "Under The Same Stars" reviewed by Neil Duggan

by Neil Duggan
October 29, 2025

Mongolian-born pianist Shuteen Erdenebaatar and German multi-instrumentalist Nils Kugelmann both garnered considerable praise for their debut albums, which focused on group formats. Under The Same Stars finds them united in an intimate duo debut. The duo has been performing together for many years. In addition to upright bass, Kugelmann plays contra-alto clarinet. The combination of clarinet and piano creates an intriguing and highly effective soundscape. Drawing from jazz, cinematic and classical influences, their music features memorable melodies that ...

Album Review

Nils Kugelmann Trio: Life Score

Read "Life Score" reviewed by Neil Duggan

by Neil Duggan
May 23, 2025

Life Score is the second album from the Nils Kugelmann Trio, following on from Stormy Beauty (ACT Music, 2022). That album (reviewed here) gestated during the pandemic, so there was little chance to test the pieces before going into the studio. This time around the tunes have been arranged and refined over numerous live appearances. Kugelmann is a German bassist with a strong storytelling aspect to his music, as he explains: “For me, making the connection between music ...

Album Review

Shuteen Erdenebaatar: Rising Sun

Read "Rising Sun" reviewed by Mike Jurkovic

by Mike Jurkovic
November 19, 2023

It is most invigorating and affirming to stand witness to new talent. New givers of themselves despite the cold, gale-force headwinds that rise up against most, if not all, artistic endeavors. Fortunately, Rising Sun, the more than mature and compelling Motema Music debut of pianist/composer Shuteen Erdenebaatar and her award-winning quartet, is one of those statements. Let loose with three henchmen just as inquisitive and intent on making their stand: Erdenebaatar's second voice and foil Anton Mangold on-saxophones, ...

Album Review

Shuteen Erdenebaatar Quartet: Rising Sun

Read "Rising Sun" reviewed by Troy Dostert

by Troy Dostert
November 1, 2023

Rarely does one find a debut recording as confident and accomplished as pianist Shuteen Erdenebaatar's Rising Sun. With eight well-crafted compositions, and superb support from her young colleagues, all of whom have similarly bright futures ahead of them, Erdenebaatar successfully stakes her claim as one of the rising stars in post-bop jazz. Although she hails from Mongolia, Erdenebaatar has already won a pretty good haul of European jazz awards. This release will no doubt earn her some additional ...

Album Review

Shuteen Erdenebaatar Quartet: Rising Sun

Read "Rising Sun" reviewed by Neil Duggan

by Neil Duggan
October 30, 2023

When a debut album comes along with a cracking opening track, one can only hope that there are later tracks which can get near the same level. Fortunately, that proves to be the case with Rising Sun, the debut album from Mongolian pianist Shuteen Erdenebaatar and her quartet. With a father who spent 40 years as director of the National Mongolian Opera, it was natural for Erdenebaatar to be surrounded by the arts. She studied classical piano and composition in ...

Album Review

Nils Kugelmann: Stormy Beauty

Read "Stormy Beauty" reviewed by Mike Jurkovic

by Mike Jurkovic
June 5, 2023

Anyone can be excused for making the early assumption that the vibrant elegance of Stormy Beauty is the effort of a well-travelled, veteran bassist and his trio. It is not. But it sounds as if it is. Strikingly concise, persuasive and effective, the young German bassist and composer Nils Kugelmann's debut is an eye-opening and ear- pleasing listen from beginning to end, and then from the beginning to end again. With fellow young interpreters Luca Zambito on piano ...