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Following a widely praised sequence of quartet albums on ECM, German pianist and composer Julia Hülsmann opens a new chapter with While I Was Away, introducing a newly formed octet that significantly broadens her musical palette. The ensemble brings together the intimacy of a classical trio (violin, cello, piano), the rhythmic grounding of a jazz piano trio, and three distinctive vocalists, resulting in a fluid and highly expressive group sound.
The album moves freely between song, chamber music, and improvisation, setting Hülsmann’s original compositions alongside a personal interpretation of Ani DiFranco’s “Up Up…” and a Brazilian song by Zélia Fonseca. Lyrics by poets such as Emily Dickinson, Margaret Atwood, and E.E. Cummings add literary depth, while shifting textures evoke Brazilian dance, musical theatre, and moments of dense collective improvisation. While I Was Away presents a luminous and fearless ensemble statement, reaffirming Hülsmann’s place as one of contemporary jazz’s most thoughtful composers.
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