Jakob Bänsch - All The Others (2025) [Hi-Res]

With his second album, 'All The Others', the award-winning German trumpeter and composer Jakob Bansch cements his status as one of the most promising musicians of the young jazz generation. Building on the success of his critically acclaimed debut 'Opening', the artist from Pforzheim, Southern Germany presents himself as even more mature and versatile on his sophomore release. 'All The Others' blends influences from classical music, jazz, and film scores into a musical work that tells personal stories and resonates deeply.

Bansch's approach to this album is remarkable: "I wanted to musically portray characters and themes that have personally inspired me - whether from literature, films, and series, or from the real world," he explains. Alongside his impressive trumpet playing, it is above all the narrative depth of his compositions that defines the album. Highlights include the epic opener "Ouverture", inspired by classical composers such as Maurice Ravel and Olivier Messiaen, as well as the rhythmically driving "Mephisto", which showcases Bansch's extraordinary technique and his penchant for complex structures. The album features nods to Avatar: The Last Airbender, Ahsoka Tano - the Jedi Knight from Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Maeve from the series Sex Education. The music reaches a particularly poignant depth in pieces like "Vasudeva", a homage to Hermann Hesse's Siddhartha, where Bansch conveys warmth and tranquility through the gentle tones of his flugelhorn.

His working band - pianist Niklas Roever, bassist Jakob Obleser, and drummer Leo Asal - returns for this album, displaying an almost telepathic musical chemistry. The ensemble is further enriched by Latvian guitarist Ella Zirina and vocalist Zuza Jasinska, who add additional sonic nuances to the work. A standout moment is Roever's composition "Kauai'o'o", which musically processes the tragic story of an extinct bird, powerfully highlighting the importance of conservation.

With 'All The Others', Jakob Bansch delivers a remarkable second album that demonstrates his artistic growth. It is not only a continuation of his journey but also a bold step into new musical dimensions - a work that takes its listeners on an emotionally moving journey.