Walter Lang - Trio Elf

Inspired by recent aesthetic achievements in electronical music, this is a new approach to the piano trio that could be called 'drum'n'bass'n'piano'. Translating well-known jazz and bossa tunes and even a Korean traditional into the formal language of club scene grooves and basslines, the three of TRIO ELF give a new quality to the most popular standard format in jazz. On the other hand, they also present two pieces by British 'Mozart of Techno', electronics art hero Aphex Twin (Richard D. James), in an electronics-inspired acoustic context. All three members of the trio add pieces of their own to this crossover trip going from the acoustic world to the electronic world and back again.

Best known for his tasteful playing and refined composing, pianist Walter Lang studied at Berklee College of Music and graduated from Amsterdam School of the Arts. He was a founding member of the Rick Hollander Quartet and has collaborated with such as Lee Konitz, James Moody and Chico Freeman. He has six leader albums to his credit and currently works with Japanese singer Aya Murodate. Bass player Sven Faller graduated from Mannes College of Music in New York and has worked on the US jazz scene for several years. Among his credits are collaborations with Jane Monheit, Jim Beard, Bobby Watson, Chico Freeman, Charlie Mariano and the New York Philharmonic Orchestra. Drummer Gerwin Eisenhauer has proved an expert in acoustic jazz as well as electronic music. After graduating from Drummers Collective in New York he worked with fellow drummer Robbie Ameen, the Frank Sinatra Tribute Big Band, fusion guitarist Torsten de Winkel and many more. A drum professor at several colleges in Germany, he also published a drum'n'bass workbook for drummers in 2005.

A new definition of the piano trio in the club music era, TRIO ELF's debut albums offers intelligent sounds and amazing structural ideas in a relaxed and listenable manner. Well-known jazz and bossa compositions by such as Thelonious Monk, Paul Desmond and Milton Nascimento have now started to groove with a relaxed and danceable flow.