Nils Wülker: Zuversicht

Zuversicht is album number 15 from German trumpeter Nils Wülker. The album title probably needs explanation, though that proves difficult as the word combines numerous ideas that lack a direct English equivalent, making a clean translation impossible. The concept is close to experiencing hope so strongly that we trust in the future, despite all doubts.

Notably, this is Wülker's first acoustic jazz quartet since he released his debut, High Spirits (Sony Classical, 2002). In the intervening years, his focus has been on a number of other projects involving duo, electronic and orchestral formats. His quartet is certainly of the highest caliber with pianist Aaron Parks, double bassist Linda May Han Oh and drummer Gregory Hutchinson. Having never played together before, they met properly for the first time in Berlin's revered Hansa Studios and had three and a half days to record the entire album.

Wülker, who studied at the Hanns Eisler School of Music in Berlin, is one of Germany's best-known jazz artists. He is no stranger to chart success, having topped the national jazz charts many times and even crossed over to make the top 15 across all genres.

Wülker composed the 11 tracks that make up the album. With an outstanding studio at his command, he resists the temptation to over-gloss the recording with effects, instead focusing on communicating his clear and precise trumpet tones and allowing space for contributions from his colleagues.

The engaging album opener "All Hands On Deck" sets the tone with the trumpet melody drifting over Parks' piano pulses before becoming more energetic and adding a touch of drama to build a cinematic feel. Wülker's playing carries a quiet intensity; there is nothing harsh in his tones as he builds a triumphant theme in "As Young As Your Faith." The track is enhanced by fine solos from Oh and Parks.

While the album prioritizes the development of themes and melodic textures, there is still plenty of improvisation to be found. The short "It's Okay" is pure improvisation. Wülker pushes his trumpet further toward its limits on "This Moment's Rhythm," and "FOMO Fighter" sees Parks and Hutchinson find moments for individual expression. Oh's solo is excellent alongside the group interplay on the gentle "Second Nature." Wülker moves to flugelhorn for this, and the piece proves to be one of the album's highlights. Elsewhere, things get funky on "Forces At Work," and Wülker's gentle flugelhorn gives the ballads "Time Will Tell" and "Alpenglow" a reflective feel.

As Wülker says: "I don't expect music to bring about direct, measurable change, but I do believe in putting something positive into the world. Something that resonates, manifests somewhere, and becomes meaningful." He has certainly produced an intimate and heartfelt release constructed around melodic compositions and thoughtful interplay that gives the album considerable cross-genre appeal. The quartet plays with assurance, offering many absorbing harmonic moves; more from this quartet would be very welcome.

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