German, Berlin-based power trio of alto and baritone sax player Ignaz Schick (who is also a turntablist, sound and visual artist, and the head of Zarek label), guitarist Christian Kühn (of Kuhn Fu), and drummer Joe Hertenstein has been playing together now for a few years (often with bassist Vinicius Cajado), but Live at Terzo Mondo is its debut album, recorded at the Mediterranean restaurant with live music, Terzo Mondo, in Berlin in July 2024.

The trio plays two extended sets of free jazz meets free improvisation, the first, fiery piece was titled «Shameful» and the second, playful piece, included with the encore, was called «Shameless». But there was nothing to be ashamed of. The music was powerful, fresh, and passionate, suggesting a trio of experienced improvisers in top form and collective, risk-taking dynamics.

Schick’s free-associative but commanding sax playing is abundant with ideas, some eccentric ones; Kühn’s loose, distorted electric guitar lines push to more extreme, thorny, and metallic terrains; and Hertenstein’s muscular drumming sounds as if he were all over the drum set all the time, never subscribing to common rhythmic patterns. This trio used to call its music Free Punk Jazz Goulash, and, indeed, the music was organic and hot, spicy with some subversive but most tasty ingredients, and served in steamy temperatures. It certainly intensified the foodie experience at Terzo Mondo.

Eyal Hareuveni

Ignaz Schick (alto saxophone, baritone saxophone), Christian Kühn (electric guitar), Joe Hertenstein (drums)