New Old Luten Trio: Trident Juncture

In 2023, the New Old Luten Trio album on Euphorium Records featured, albeit posthumously, the legendary Ernst-Ludwig Petrowsky who was Germany's answer to the avant-garde saxophone. Known affectionately as Luten Petrowsky, his reeds here join forces with Elan Pauer on piano and Christian Lillinger's drumming wizardry. This near hour-long extravaganza, recorded back in 2016, at Leipzig's naTo, is not just music; it is a spirited rendezvous of improvisation—a testament to a decade of the trio's synergy. Hence, a musical homage to Petrowsky, a titan of free jazz in Soviet-era East Germany, whose saxophone was not just an instrument but a revolution in wind.

Picture this album as a jazz odyssey, where the past fist-bumps the future, and the very essence of musical norms evaporates before listeners' ears. The New Old Luten Trio does not just invite listeners to listen; they pull listeners into a whirlwind tour of sonic landscapes, making them co-conspirators in their quest to push boundaries.

At the heart of this adventure lies "Trident Juncture," a 56-minute epic which is as much a high-speed chase as it is a deep dive into the psyche of a city. Petrowsky's sax zigs and zags like a seasoned street racer, with Pauer's piano and Lillinger's drums crafting a backdrop so vivid, one would swear they were dodging pedestrians in a neon-lit metropolis. It is an exhilarating ride: one minute tearing down the autobahn of improvisation, and the next floating in a reflective, introspective lull. Imagine a musical Frankenstein, stitched together from one hundred different vignettes, each more captivating than the last.

Then, just when listeners think they have caught their breath, along comes ..."and a Cutie for Good Bye," a 2 ½ minute encore which is a showcase of virtuosity and emotional depth. Pauer's fingers dance across the keys, while Petrowsky's sax sings a swansong which is both powerful and poignant.

This album is not just a collection of tracks; it is a narrative, a musical eulogy to Petrowsky's storied career, and a beacon of innovation in the realm of free jazz. The New Old Luten Trio is not just playing music; they are weaving a tapestry of sound which tells a story bigger than themselves, marking a deep-rooted chapter in the history of free jazz.