Ephemer - Jazz Thing Next Generation, Vol. 115 - CD

Ephemer takes it's title from the Greek word for something that lasts only a short time: fleeting, transient and impermanent. It is a fitting image for the music of bassist, composer and bandleader Vroni Frisch, whose quartet thrives on the tension between carefully shaped compositions and moments that can exist only once.With Gregor Schor on reeds, Manuel Seng on piano and Rhodes, Tobias Frohnhofer on drums and Frisch on six-string electric bass, the VRONI FRISCH BAND moves freely between contemporary jazz, lyrical chamber-like passages, cinematic colours and powerful grooves. Frisch's writing leaves room for contrast: music can be smooth and delicate one moment, rough and untamed the next. At the centre are strong melodies, rich harmonies and intricate rhythms, while improvisation gives each piece the freedom to take an unexpected turn.Across nine original compositions, Ephemer captures that balance of structure and openness. Tracks such as 'Why,' 'Stream,' 'Lugano,' 'Drab' and the expansive 'Megalodon' reveal a band equally comfortable with subtle interplay and grand gestures. The result is music that feels composed without becoming fixed: constantly shifting, developing and responding in the moment.For Frisch, whose work spans jazz, improvised music, art-pop and large ensemble composition, the quartet has become a focused space in which to bring together these different musical experiences.