Julia Hülsmann Trio live in Karlsruhe 2011

Julia Hülsmann - Piano
Marc Muellbauer - Bass
Heinrich Köbberling - Drums
recorded live at Jazzclub Karlsruhe, March 31, 2011

Grand Canyon (Hülsmann)
Juni (Hülsmann)
A Light Left On (Hülsmann)
Who's Next (Hülsmann)
Kauf Dir einen bunten Luftballon (Hülsmann)
Zahlen bitte! (Köbberling)

On the second ECM disc from the popular Berlin-based Julia Hülsmann Trio, the leader’s themes stand out in stark relief, as if stamped or printed into the surrounding improvisation. “Imprint” offers highly communicative jazz in which melody, clearly-etched melody, is paramount. Hülsmann is a gifted jazz-composer and there are surprises amongst her pieces here, including a powerfully-swinging Thelonious Monk tribute entitled “Who’s Next”. Bassist Muellbauer and drummer Köbberling also contribute intriguing tunes of their own, and this year’s offbeat cover version is a lilting Austrian Schlager tune from the 1940s, “Kauf dir einen bunten Luftballon”.