Christoph Stiefel
Inner Language Trio

The inner language of a musician is his musical vision, his musical identity – not only how he plays, but also how he hears music, what has room and is important in his personal music-cosmos The Christoph Stiefel Inner Language Trio moves today, 18 years after its initial formation, in its own divers and self-developed music-cosmos with its own compositions, between interesting minimalistic rhythm-structures, high energy jazz and grooves – with a rather calm, lyrical general mood. The inner musical language of the three band members augments questions, contrasts and simultaneously unites in the subtlelest way … Each of the tree exceptional musicians speaks his language without one dominating the other. Based on a middle-aged composition technique of isorhythms, develops a suspenseful, contemporary and dense weave of rhythmic and melodic superimpositions. The result is fascinating dense atmospheres and whirling grooves – nevertheless the heart of the music remains poetic in nature.

The isometric concept delivers the continuing rhythmic suspense, which the powerful bass of Thomas Lähns, in a fascinating way, anchors from the head to the ground, so that any headiness is excluded. The rhythmically demanding compositions are interpreted by Marcel Papaux sound-wise and dynamically with great nuance in the most diverse ways, so that an organic flowing transition from composition to improvisation occurs. This keeps the music lively and lets it constantly sound different. Christoph Stiefel on the piano with his very personal, expressive and virtuoso playing, gives the rhythms the power and the melodies a spiritual intensity that grips and moves the listener.

In this way, a music emerges, that is at once complex and simple, intellectual and emotional, abstract and sensual …

In 2007, the trio was chosen by the German magazine Stereoplay, as one of the future piano trio classics (together with Bobo Stenson, John Taylor, E.S.T. among others), by the German magazine Stereo as best piano trio in Switzerland and the last CD “7meilenStiefel” even reached position 25 in the German Jazz Charts … Release of the new CD in March 2008: “Christoph Stiefel Inner Language Trio”. The Swiss institute of culture, Pro Helvetia, has selected the trio for the next three years (2008 – 2010) as the recipient of its priority jazz support for some selected Swiss bands.

Press quotes:

“… The Isorhythms are highly fascinating … The three musicians always meet in tight grooving interaction and communication. The ideal vision for a piano trio as a dialogue between three equally represented partners here becomes reality – damn good piano trio!” (Jazzthetik)

«... Christoph Stiefel has made a tremendous impression and marked himself out as one of the most interesting voices on the contemporary jazz scene.» (www.allaboutjazz.com)