Vincent Meissner - Eigengrau (Album of the month 07-08/25)

There has been no shortage of hymns of praise and homage in recent years when it comes to the Leipzig pianist Vincent Meissner in the relevant media. There was talk of a "new hope of German jazz" (MDR Kultur) and of a "band that will take off like a rocket" (Deutschlandfunk).

The 25-year-old musician has released two albums to date. "Eigengrau" is now the third, which was once again created in collaboration with his two long-time fellow musicians Josef Zeimetz (bass) and Henri Reichmann (drums). And even if one tries to maintain a certain degree of objectivity in the gesture of journalistic distance, it is difficult not to join in the thunderous chorus of praise. After all, like its two predecessors, Meissner's new work is packed with countless ideas, finesse, unforeseen twists and turns and stylistic breaks. 

The fact that he succeeds in transforming all these components into songs that are as consistent as they are inspiring in pieces such as "Supernumb", "Be Yellow" or "Seperator" is just the obligatory icing on the cake.

Luca Glenzer