Christian Wolfarth percussion

Michel Wintsch - e-piano, synthesizers
Christian Weber - bass
Christian Wolfarth - percussion

"...Wintsch has plenty of human partners as well, whether those in his long-running trio with percussionist Gerry Hemingway and bassist Bänz Oester, or his collaborators in the trio WWW: bassist Christian Weber and drummer Christian Wolfarth. That latter trio has been on a tear of late, moving easily between acoustic and electronic instruments. On its recent album Thieves Left That Behind (Veto), Wintsch stick's exclusively to electric piano and synthesizer, forging a rich new direction. Both Weber and Wolfarth have worked extensively in experimental circles, exploring electro-acoustic improv, yet in this context, they churn out muscular but elastic grooves and ratted landscapes, that offer the keyboardist great leeway. The trio improvises everything. "We practice very regularly improvising." Wintsch said. "We record and then we listen together. It's part of the process. And during the listening, we talk; we sort out what we like or don't like, confronting our views and deciding what works for our mutual taste and exigency..."

Peter Margasak, (DownBeat, January 2016)
 

"Herbie Hancock has talked about how, when Miles Davis first asked him to play an electric piano, he sniffly considered it to be little more than a toy. He soon found out that toys can be a lot of fun - and Michel Wintsch sounds like he's having a really good time here playing electric piano and various synths against Christian Weber's double bass and Christian Wolfarth's drums. Wet, plosive dabs play peek-a-boo with the twang of the bass and pitter-patter of brushes. Old fashioned ring modulated keys oscillate fruitily over a thick arco drone. Sun Ra's Rocksichord even makes an appearance in a more conventional ballad setting. Think of it as a highly adventurous 21st century update on the possibilites of electric jazz. When Wolfarth slips into rim-clicking forward motion it's a nod right back to In A Silent Way and the birth of it all."

Daniel Spicer (The Wire 380, October 2015) 

"This Swiss trio operates already several years. Hatology, Monotype and Leo records released earlyer works. For their latest one they could do business with Christopf Erb of Veto Records. On two days in february this year they recorded their new set in a studio in Geneva. We hear Michel Wintsch play synthesizers and electric piano, Christian Weber bass and Christian Wolfarth drums. As this new recording proves the chemistry between these three musicians still works very well. Intriguing, interactive well-shaped improvisations. There is strange, indefinable peace and balance inside this music where a lot is happening. All three players are fully engaged in their mysterious meetings. Especially through the synths played by Wintsch the improvisations have a fascinating sound spectrum. Sometimes there is a groove or a rhythm-based pattern. To be changed for very abstract improvisations, or melodic phrases occur. The playing is very together and focused. These musicians know each other very well and built some very engaging and unconventional structures. Fascinating stuff !"

Dolf Mulder (Vital Weekly 1000, September 2015)