Tomas Sauter & Daniel Schläppi - Winter Tales (2026)

Since their stunning CD debut, Indian Summer (2006), Tomas Sauter and Daniel Schläppi have thrilled audiences at countless concerts. The album quickly sold out and went on to be reissued before the fabulous duo released the albums First Day In Spring (2011) and The Summer I Was Ten (2019), continuing their successful trajectory in a compelling manner.

Meanwhile, their fourth album, Winter Tales, has been released, showcasing the two superb musicians once again as inspired improvisers, displaying their distinctive and ingenious interplay honed over years. Sauter and Schläppi give free rein to their intuition. Their interaction reveals the implicit trust of two masters of their craft.

The music unfolds a panorama of musical themes and ideas. The spectrum ranges from chamber music ballads to swinging blues, from impressionistic flow to meticulously detailed miniatures, from folk-inspired soundscapes to modern sonic landscapes. The musical personalities of Sauter and Schläppi merge with captivating ease, allowing these masters of intricate detail to engage in musical dialogues beyond conventional listening expectations. Every album and every concert offers consummate duo artistry, worthy of widespread listening. A balm for the mind and soul.

After graduating with honors from the Lucerne School of Jazz, Tomas Sauter continued his studies at Purchase College in New York with jazz greats such as John Abercrombie and Hal Garper. His skill and profound musicality have led him to collaborate with luminaries like Chris Cheek, Tony Malaby, Ralph Alessi, Jorge Rossy, Markus Stockhausen, and Manu Katché. In addition to his numerous solo projects, he has been teaching jazz guitar at the Bern University of the Arts since 2004.

As a master student of Rufus Reid, Daniel Schläppi has developed his own distinctive style. His unique career path has led him not only to record several duo albums with Marc Copland and tour regularly with him, but also to perform with international stars such as Art Farmer, Eric Alexander, Jorge Rossy, Ray Anderson, and Dré Pallemaerts. Furthermore, he has established an excellent reputation as a bandleader and producer through diverse collaborations. Over the years, he has released several highly acclaimed albums with musicians such as Colin Vallon and Nils Wogram.