Nils Wülker - Just Here, Just Now (2012) Hi Res

In life it's like music: some people think that in the past everything would have been better. Others say the best is yet to come. It works in both cases and the same for everyone: Only here, only now. "Every moment is of infinite value, for it is the representative of a whole eternity," it says in a Goethe aphorism. When Nils Wülker calls his beautiful seventh album "Just Here, Just Now", it has less to do with philosophy and nothing at all with esotericism.

The trumpeter and composer, who sees himself as an instrumental "songwriter" and "storyteller", understands the principle of the moment quite concretely. "My music is about clarity and a simplicity that's straightforward," says the 34-year-old. "I call it 'soul', not in the sense of the musical style, but rather as a kind of" soulful truthfulness "- and my musicians and I have made it our goal to turn this" soul "into music in every moment and into each one This quality is found in both the composed and the improvised parts, which hardly differ in their melodic quality. The ongoing inspiration of the moment and the power of the melody are central themes of Wülker's music and perhaps one of the secrets of his extraordinary success: no other jazz musician of his generation has managed to go his own way so consistently, no one else still plays exclusively and with such great response to critics and audience only own compositions - with his own band or even, as in the last year increased, in a duo with the guitarist Arne Jansen or as a leader and composer of the high-caliber "Jazz Baltica Ensemble" last summer. It is remarkable how consistent that Nils Wülker has also been releasing his music for seven years on his own label EAR TREAT. If this election hamburger, who is also an ambitious climber in his spare time, does something right then. "When climbing and on stage, I let myself in for the moment," says Nils Wülker. "Of course, you prepare yourself and think about the next overhang or the following piece - but above all, you will experience what you are doing wide awake." As a trained climbing instructor, he gives his enthusiasm for the mountain world on guided tours through alpine rock faces to others continue.

It is no contradiction that this instrumental storyteller has carefully prepared, arranged, planned and worked out the ten instrumental compositions of his new album before recording them in just three days at the VOX sound studio near Hamburg with his newly cast band: with the leader on trumpet and flugelhorn, Arne Jansen on guitars, Lars Duppler on the piano, Edward Maclean on double bass and Benny Greb on drums.

It's a new, organically grown and perhaps also mature sound, which moves through these very different snapshots and helps to complete them in this context to a great story - from joyful to melancholic, the relaxed opener "Lakeside", the album with Wülker's warm flugelhorn sound opens up, over lighthearted anthems like "Goodbye Sorrow" or "September Skies" to "High and Rising", this dramaturgically thrilling ascent to ever more euphoric heights, to the swinging swinging "Itchy Feet" or "Farewell" , a wonderfully emotional and exciting farewell song. The atmospheric music leaves Nils Wülker's voice on the instrument a lot of room to tell clear stories. But their interpretations are up to each listener. "That's a great strength of instrumental music," says Nils Wülker. "Of course, I know why I've written a specific piece and connect very clear things with a melody. But I would never contradict a listener who, for example, feels a composition that has more positive connotations for me than touching. Or the other way around. After all, I do not just do the music for myself, but above all so that it is heard. "Nils Wülker may be one of the great melodicators of contemporary jazz, one in which the poet is a melodic writer, an arranger and, above all, a striking sound discovered on trumpet and flugelhorn.

"Bringing Nils Wülker close to far more well-known stars like Chet Baker and Miles Davis will only do justice to his music. (...) An independent jazz musician who certainly does not need to shy away from international comparison. (...) Pure cinema for the ears.