Philipp Schiepek - Versuch zu Träumen (2024)

In Germany, guitarist Philipp Schiepek (b.1994) is widely considered one of the finest musicians of his generation, with a training in both jazz and classical guitar. His many awards including BMW Young Jazz Artist in 2020. There is a gorgeous, quiet album “Cathedral” by him in a duo with pianist Walter Lang on ACT from 2021, made all the more poignant by Lang’s death at the age of just sixty, only six months after its release.

The guitarist, from Dinkelsbühl in Franconia, is developing an individual sonic language with a focus on both the performance of his compositions and his interpretation of music for guitar. His new recording “Versuch zu Träumen” is a further development of his musical vision. Schiepek has included two of his long time musical collaborators in Henning Sieverts (bass) and Bastian Jütte (drums). He is bound to be back on one of the bigger labels before long – he has also recorded for ENJA – but in something of a departure, the new one is on the Wooden Waggon Records label, produced by his sister Rebecca, who is also the dedicatee of one of the track’s. It is the label’s very first CD.

The theme of dreaming runs through the album. “Versuch zu Träumen” means ‘attempt to dream’ although the German word Versuch also has the sense of an experiment, trial or sketch. The theme references the idea that dreams are a window to our deepest thoughts and that dreamscapes are tied to the seeds of creativity.

“Versuch zu Träumen” 1, 2 and 3 frame the opening and closing of the album. 1 is very much an introduction with just the guitar playing a series of tumbling arpeggios, 2 develops the theme with a two note repetition overlain by strummed chords. 3 brings together a lead line coupled with the arpeggios but this time made more urgent by the use of percussion to bring the music to a climax and conclusion.

Philipp Schiepek - Guitar
Henning Sieverts - Bass
Bastian Jütte - Drums

Tracklist:
1.01 - Philipp Schiepek - Versuch zu Träumen I (1:18)
1.02 - Philipp Schiepek - The One (3:28)
1.03 - Philipp Schiepek - Rebecca (3:09)
1.04 - Philipp Schiepek - I Have Dreamed (3:28)
1.05 - Philipp Schiepek - Darn That Dream (6:38)
1.06 - Philipp Schiepek - Unsagbar (3:30)
1.07 - Philipp Schiepek - Versuch zu Träumen II (4:29)
1.08 - Philipp Schiepek - Versuch zu Träumen III (5:16)