Philipp Rüttgers Trio – Re: Satie, Picturing the Invisible

Contemporary jazz pianist delves into the world of Erik Satie, from the mysterious Gymnopédies to more eccentric compositions.

When you think of Erik Satie, you quickly think of melancholic, serene piano sounds, but the French composer also had a subtle sense of humor and an eccentric lifestyle. All these aspects are reflected in the new album by jazz pianist Philipp Rüttgers. He worked through Satie's complete oeuvre and collected fragments and motifs, which he reshaped. The abstract, enigmatic qualities of Satie remain present, but the music is unmistakably contemporary jazz, transparent and expressive.

Philipp's research went beyond the classical Gymnopédies and Gnossiennes to lesser-known works such as Les Fils des étoiles and Uspud. Satie's preference for restraint and reduction is clearly audible in Philipp's playing: more expression with fewer notes when the music demands it and layered complexity as the music unfolds. In this dynamic space, the interaction with drummer Sun-Mi Hong and bassist Omer Govreen gains remarkable depth. Every note, pause, and interaction is imbued with the invisible architecture of the music: the spaces between the motifs, the silent tensions, and the hidden harmonies.

Philipp Rüttgers piano, Omer Govreen double bass, Sun-Mi Hong drums