Home » Jazz Articles » Wolfgang Muthspiel

Jazz Articles about Wolfgang Muthspiel

About Wolfgang Muthspiel

Album Review

Wolfgang Muthspiel: Angular Blues

Read "Angular Blues" reviewed by Mark Sullivan

by Mark Sullivan
March 18, 2020

Austrian jazz guitarist Wolfgang Muthspiel's previous two ECM albums have been quintets: Where The River Goes (ECM, 2018) and Rising Grace (ECM, 2016). This trio date is a call back to his ECM leader debut, Driftwood (ECM, 2014), with Brian Blade returning on drums but Scott Colley replacing Larry Grenadier on double bass. The music is mostly Muthspiel originals, but this time the program also includes two standards. Muthspiel opens the set on classical guitar, which he stays ...

Album Review

Wolfgang Muthspiel: Angular Blues

Read "Angular Blues" reviewed by Dan Bilawsky

by Dan Bilawsky
March 11, 2020

Guitarist Wolfgang Muthspiel's fourth leader date for ECM Records--and his second trio outing for that storied imprint, following Driftwood (ECM Records, 2014)--is a marvel of ingenious interplay, musical sensitivity and absolute sincerity. Joining forces with drummer Brian Blade, a longtime band mate, and bassist Scott Colley, a playing partner from the '90s, Muthspiel delves into the deepest recesses of his mind and sound, delivering a program which is as absorbing as it is refreshing. Recorded in Tokyo after ...

Album Review

Wolfgang Muthspiel: Where The River Goes

Read "Where The River Goes" reviewed by Luigi Sforza

by Luigi Sforza
April 9, 2019

Per poter apprezzare When the River Goes, occorre saper vivere (potendo farlo) ad un ritmo lento. L'ultima esperienza discografica di Wolfgang Muthspiel non si presta ad un ascolto frugale, né tantomeno superficiale. Necessita di tempo e dedizione, neglige ogni forma di voracità fruitiva, ha bisogno di essere gustata nei minimi dettagli, nota per nota, accordo per accordo. Capace di comporre incantevoli suggestioni sonore, il bravo chitarrista austriaco riesce a guidare un gruppo di musicisti, tutti di notevole spessore, ...

Radio & Podcasts

Ken Fowser, Something Blue, Devin Gray and More

by Bob Osborne
February 14, 2019

A packed show with excellent new releases on Posi-tone from Ken Fowser and Something Blue, a focus on Devin Gray, recent work from Wolfgang Muthspiel plus archive cuts. Playlist Something Blue “Slick" from Maximum Enjoyment (Posi-tone) 00:00 Ken Fowser “Stand Clear of the Closing Doors" from Right On Time (Posi-tone) 06:36 Devin Gray “Prospect Park in the Dark" from Dirigo Rataplan (Skirl) 11:18 Nick Mazzarella Trio “Boarding Pass" from This Is Only a Test, Live at the ...

Album Review

Wolfgang Muthspiel: Where The River Goes

Read "Where The River Goes" reviewed by Mike Jurkovic

by Mike Jurkovic
November 7, 2018

The inventiveness that Austrian guitarist Wolfgang Muthspiel displayed on 2016's Rising Grace (ECM) is on display once more on Where The River Goes--again made with an American quartet, this time comprising pianist Brad Mehldau, trumpeter Ambrose Akinmusire, bassist Larry Grenadier and drummer Eric Harland (who replaces Rising Grace's Brian Blade). Where The River Goes is a less introspective disc than its predecessor, with more in the moment improv between the players. “Descendants" begins somberly with its billowing guitar ...

Album Review

Wolfgang Muthspiel: Where The River Goes

Read "Where The River Goes" reviewed by Matt Hooke

by Matt Hooke
November 5, 2018

A song titled “For Django" would usually feature a hard-swinging gypsy rhythm and rapid-fire guitar lines. Guitarist Wolfgang Muthspiel goes in the opposite direction, with a thoughtful mid-tempo piece that places pianist Brad Mehldau and trumpet player Ambrose Akinmusire in the starring role more than himself. “For Django," despite being the second track, sets the tone for much of Where the River Goes, Muthspiel's forty-first album. The musicians play off each other like a great soccer team, with ...

Album Review

Wolfgang Muthspiel: Where The River Goes

Read "Where The River Goes" reviewed by Mark Sullivan

by Mark Sullivan
October 24, 2018

Austrian guitarist Wolfgang Muthspiel returns with the same lyrical magic that characterized his previous quintet recording Rising Grace (ECM, 2016). That quintet--with trumpeter Ambrose Akinmusire, pianist Brad Mehldau and bassist Larry Grenadier--is altered only by the substitution of drummer Eric Harland for Brian Blade. Muthspiel begins the title tune unaccompanied on electric guitar, with Mehldau joining in on piano for a brief duet. Akinmusire's playing of the theme cues the rest of the band to join in. As ...