VEIN Trio - OUR ROOTS (2022) [Hi-Res]

Across more than a decade of touring and recording, Swiss jazz trio VEIN has established a reputation for both stylistic diversity and technical virtuosity.

Whilst the influence of European chamber music has always been evident, their new album Our Roots (25th March) revisits their extensive classical experience in much more detail, giving a range of symphonic pieces their trademark jazz overhaul.

A reimagining of Beethoven’s 5th Symphony or a Mozart’s aria from The Magic Flute, sit alongside pieces which use Stravinsky’s “Firebird”, Mussorgsky’s “Pictures at an Exhibition” and Hans Werner Henze’s double bass concerto as a starting point.

The thread that pulls them all together? These pieces have all had a lasting impact on their personal musical journeys.

Perhaps the role of Thomas Lähns on bass sums it up best; with orchestral-standard sight-reading and ability to play with the bow, he gives VEIN an unusual degree of balance and musical equality. Michael Arbenz underlines the quotes from classical music with unexpected chords while Florian Arbenz puts them in a context with groove and rhythm.

With “OUR ROOTS”, the trio adds another album to a series inspired by classical music which includes ‘The Chamber Music Effect’ (2016), ‘VEIN plays RAVEL’ (2018) and ‘SYMPHONIC BOP’ (2019).

It deals with the lifeblood of both the jazz tradition (performing standard repertoire) and the classical one (interpreting compositions), showcasing why VEIN is one of the most stylistically diverse and adaptable ensembles on the scene.

Ultimately, something unexpected is always around the corner.