SINN/ist is the debut album of the Viennese Valentin Duit Quartett, featuring young drummer-composer Duit (b. 1992, of Georg Graewe’s Sonic Fiction Orchestra and Vienna Improvisers Orchestra), vibes player Tobias Meissl (who is also a pianist), and Croatian double bass player Ivar Roban Križić (who researches musical cognition, AI, and technical and technological extensions of the double bass), all three played in Meisel Trio’s debut album (Mr. Resolved, Unit, 2024), plus sax player Robert Unterköfler (who hosts Duit in his Quintett, and of Christian Muthspiels Orjazztra Vienna). The album was recorded live at Amann Studios in Vienna in July 2024.

This Quartett acts as a collective exploratory ensemble, interpreting Duit’s complex compositions through collective and individual improvisations, in a manner that blurs the distinction between these supposedly contrasting practices. This ensemble also blurs the distinction between modern jazz, free improvised music, and contemporary music, and incorporates an array of extended percussive and bowing techniques.

SINN/ist offers five compositions, all by Duit, all are structured like a long suite that reaches its climax on the last «REM/nah», and all are reserved and economic, but employ a rich variety of colors and nuances. The dynamics of this ensemble are democratic, and all four musicians have the freedom to interpret the music; still, they maintain a delicate, deep-listening equilibrium. The Quartett patiently shapes and sculpts these serpentine compositions through clever, reserved, and mostly lyrical interplay and clever, spacious rhythmic choices, until they find their natural pulse. This kind of dynamics brings to mind Tim Berne’s compositional ideas, but Duit Quartett often opts for a less-is-more approach.

Eyal Hareuveni 

Valentin Duit (drums), Ivar Roban Križić (double bass), Robert Unterköfler (tenor saxophone, soprano saxophone), Tobias Meissl (vibraphone)