Eike Wulfmeier Trio - Small Bags Big Suits (2023)

Pianist and composer Eike Wulfmeier, Lizzy Scharnofske (drums, synth) and Michael Gudenkauf (bass, synth) play seven pieces on the new album "Small Bags, Big Suits". Individual pieces are enriched by guests, so Nils Brederlow can be heard on "Rondell" with flute and voice. Klaus Heidenreich and Robert Hedemann complement "Let the wild tones" with trombone sounds.
The compositions are largely by Eike Wulfmeier, while the fourth track on the album "About the Importance of Confidence" was penned by Michael Gudenkauf.

The album opens with the title track, in which piano and drums are initially the focus of their interaction, then other sound nuances appear in a quiet passage, only to then develop differently again.
The album offers a tonal variety that is sometimes fast-paced, but sometimes also dreamy, as with "Rondell". The dynamic play of the trio, each of which sets accents with its own instrument, has created an album that forms a unit precisely through the differences in the pieces.
From a quiet, almost romantic melody to fast-paced improvisations, this album has a lot to offer in its 42 minutes of playing time and shows the familiar interplay of a perfectly coordinated trio.