Julia Hülsmann Oktett
Videos
About
Julia Hülsmann Octet – Songs for double trio and three voices
An exceptional concert project featuring an international cast of musicians and singers
Julia Hülsmann is one of the most highly regarded contemporary European jazz musicians and has a special affinity for the human voice.
The list of her vocal collaborators is extended and glamorous, featuring among others Rebekka Bakken, Roger Cicero and Theo Bleckmann. Germany’s Süddeutsche Zeitung calls Hülsmann a “sophisticated mind among German jazz pianists“, whose melodic style of playing betrays a natural familiarity with poetry and the human voice.
Featuring Norwegian Live Maria Roggen, Angolan Aline Frazão and ECHO JAZZ award-winning Michael Schiefel, she has put together a Band in a class of it’s own, surrounding the singers with fellow ECHO JAZZ award winners bassist Eva Kruse and drummer Eva Klesse, as well as two string players from the border areas of classical, jazz and pop music.
When all three voices come together they create an iridescent and fascinating sound. Each of them has contributed songs or lyrics that Julia Hülsmann then wrote music to. They have also created new versions of songs by Alanis Morissette, Ani Di Franco, Archive and Feist. The instrumentation is similarly exciting. On the one hand it features a classical trio of piano, violin and cello and on the other hand a jazz piano trio with drums and bass. The Mitteldeutsche Zeitung writes of this lineup: “(…) allowing the most beautiful cross references to occur. Violin and cello here, bass and drums there (…). The concept worked and energized the audience, also and especially thanks to the excellent band.”
Press
“One of the best jazz pianists in the country.”
– Deutschlandfunk Kultur, DE
“A fine spirit among the German jazz pianists.”
– Süddeutsche Zeitung, DE
“… so that the most beautiful cross connections emerge. Here cello and violin, there double bass and drums … The concept worked, spilling over powerfully to the audience, also and above all because of the excellent band.”
– Mitteldeutsche Zeitung, DE