Two very different albums from Urs Leimgruber

In 2021, Urs Leimgruber was diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, a serious chronic illness of the lungs, which causes ever-worsening shortness of breath and is ultimately fatal. A lung transplant offered the only possible way of avoiding this outcome, and, in March 2025, he underwent this complicated and dangerous operation. It was a success, and now another human's respiratory organs are enabling him to breathe and to express himself as a musician again. Two and a half months after his surgery, Leimgruber was back on stage at the Schaffhausen jazz festival, where he appeared with his friend and colleague of many years, Christy Doran. Another measure of the operation's success is that the two albums below were recorded on September 7th and November 12th 2025 respectively.

Urs Leimgruber, Bobby Burri, Fritz Hauser, Tizia Zimmerman, Christy Doran
Lucerne
Creative Works Records
2026

Recorded live on September 7th 2025, at the Marianischer Saal Lucern, across four tracks, ranging in duration from nine minutes and forty-two seconds up to thirty five minutes and fifty seconds—a total of fifty minutes sixteen seconds—Leimgruber and his four chosen bandmates give an object lesson in collective improvisation, listening, reacting and responding to one another. With Leimgruber's association with Burri going back to 1983, that with Christy Doran to 1984 and with Fritz Hauser back to 1992, it is not a surprise that the five players sound comfortable together. It is totally fitting that the album sleeve credits "all music by the musicians," crediting all five without singling anyone out.

Urs Leimgruber
Room 423
Creative Works Records
2026

In several ways, Room 423 differs radically from Lucerine, yet is just as enticing and listenable. Firstly, Leimgruber is the only musician heard here, and is credited with all of the music on the album. The sections of his fourteen-part composition range in length from the 56 seconds of the closing part 14, up to the almost 10 minutes of part six. There is great variety between the tracks as Leimgruber displays his awesome talent, including his ability to reach four octaves on his soprano saxophone. The composition came into being during the summer and autumn of 2025. He has not revealed the significance of the title "Room 423" but says that he conceived of it as a whole, not unlike the way in which an architect designs a complex building. He wrote some parts out down to the tiniest, last detail, whereas with others, he just made a note of individual tonal movements or rhythms. The word gradually developed and took shape, until he knew that it was ready.

Tracks and Personnel

Lucerne

Tracks: #1 ; #2 ; #3 ; #4.

Personnel: Urs Leimgruber: soprano saxophone ; Bobbi Burri: double bass, devices ; Fritz Hauser: drums, percussion; Tizia Zimmerman: accordeon; Christy Doran: e-guitar, devices.

Room 423

Tracks: #1, #2, #3, #4,#5, #6, #7, #8, #9, #10, #11, #12, #13, #14.

Personnel: Urs Leimgruber: soprano saxophone.

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