Joachim Staudt & Axel Kühn - Duo Mosaik (2022)

The saxophonist Joachim Staudt, who lives in Tübingen, was by no means idle despite the corona-related temporary withdrawal from live performances. Most recently, he entered the Böblinger Sommer am See stage last September with Jazztime pianist Tilman Jäger. They presented a Stevie Wonder program on the parking deck of the Congress Hall. Staudt then retreated into his own four walls to devote himself to composing; and finally we went to the studio. With his long-time companion Axel Kühn, a double bass player and winner of the state jazz prize, he dared to create a maximum sound experience with minimal use of instruments.

"A mosaic consists of many individual parts of different shapes and colors, which together form a total work of art," says the press release. In fact, the listening journey leads through a wide variety of styles that never contradict one another, but complement each other perfectly. Staudt's occasional use of a Shrutibox always provides a polyphonic and meditative background. The Shrutibox is an Indian musical instrument that uses bellows and reeds to create the drone tones for improvised melody lines. This is particularly evident in "Hills and Trees" and "Sunset", where Staudt's bass clarinet and Kühn's melodic double-bass play transport you into wide musical landscapes as if on a light summer breeze. "Mood Solitude" is once again a reference to Staudt's love of melody and playful handling of harmonies. "This Is The Way" is apparently the way to South American realms. In any case, this samba-like number gets your feet pumping even though it's only presented by bass and saxophone. An extremely grooving double bass does the rest. "Desert Song" and also parts of the three-part "Suite Mosaic" reveal the affinity of the two musicians to oriental rhythms and harmonics.