SLAMCD2112 Viola Falb, Bernd Satzinger & Mark Holub – A Room for You

Recorded in a beautiful old farmhouse nestled in the mountains and rolling hills of Austria, the album moves between sparse soundscapes, hectic free jazz, and beautiful melodic moments, sometimes all within the same track. With ‘A Room for You’, a new trio is born – Viola Falb, Mark Holub and Bernd Satzinger – that will continue to explore the boundaries of where improvised music can take us.

The trio originally formed in 2017 and played their first concert in a recording studio in Vienna (with the audience watching from the control room) as part of the Jazzwerkstatt festival. Bernd Satzinger (bass) and Mark Holub (drums) first met when Mark first arrived in Vienna (2012) and always had plans to do something musically together. Satzinger suggested playing with Viola Falb (saxophone) and the trio was born. After the studio concert, the trio played further concerts around Austria, and when Falb mentioned the opportunity of recording in Schrattenberg the trio jumped at the opportunity and ‘A Room For You’ was born.

The recording process saw all 3 members bring some concepts for the improvisations as well as Holub bringing a few tunes. The essence of the recording is about 3 musicians who are working to form a group language through their various individualistic approaches.

Viola Falb: saxophone
Bernd Satzinger: bass
Mark Holub: drums

“The three together provide a truly exciting sound. They move with a continuous motion, bracketing abstractions and conceptions with extemporisation, and all in an air of high-dynamic multiformity. This is Viola Falb at her very best and very much ‘of the present’. There are many instances in this music which illustrate the persistence of the spirits of free jazz, contemporary jazz and classic, with some moments of folk in the blend too. It needs no classification – just enjoy.” – Ken Cheetham, Jazz Views

“I like that this trio doesn’t sound completely free or overly frenetic. They actually have a soft centre, calming down to a thoughtful contemplative simmer. Oddly enough, the short pieces are where they erupt while the long pieces are more restrained. Ms. Falb actually reminds me of Lee Konitz at times with a nice bittersweet tone that she likes to stretch out and bend slightly. All of the longer pieces seem to have some structure or strategy with the rhythm team playing some tight lines together while the sax adds selective punctuation. The short pieces are more like quick, quirky interludes for the longer, more thought out piece. Contrabassist Bernd Satzinger, stands out here, he is the glue that holds this together, whether bowing or plucking, he helps to focus the action or interaction by placing notes in just the right areas. Although it is rather rare for me, I put this disc on again as soon as it was over since I wanted to hear the way it worked so well the first time listening. A truly great find for a trio well worth wider recognition.” – Bruce Lee Gallanter, Downtown Music Gallery

“The longer pieces included a bluesy feel on the melancholy “Afterwards”, a happy bopper of “Rusty Roles” and a dreamy but darkly loose “Breakfast”. Falb gets a happy feel on the whimsical “Eye Poker” and Satzinger makes the strings bend on “You Can’t Unthink A Thought”. Intuitive with long shadows.” – George W. Harris, Jazz Weekly

All compositions by Falb / Holub / Satzinger except “Rusty Soles by Mark Holub
Recorded 12-13th September 2018 in Hotel Pupik, Styria, Austria by Oliver Brunbauer
Mixed and Mastered by Oliver Brunbauer at Feedback Studio, Vienna, Austria

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