Wolfgang Muthspiel TOUCH feat. Linda May Han Oh & Lionel Loueke

For his latest project, Austrian guitarist Wolfgang Muthspiel has invited two outstanding musical personalities to work together with him: Linda May Han Oh, a bassist from Australia, and Lionel Loueke from Benin, Africa. Three different musical colors, three different continents, three different musicians who have been very influential players on their respective instruments, are joining forces in a concert programme that captivates us through its virtuosity and rhythmic power, while also opening up a wide space where these protagonists meet one another in an improvised trialogue.

The three musicians are known from their jazz contexts: Linda May Han Oh has been a long-time bassist in Pat Metheny‘s quartet, while also forging an excellent reputation for herself leading her own projects. Lionel Loueke is an essential member of Herbie Hancock‘s band, while also adding a new form of expression to the guitar in his own trio, as well as in solo projects. Wolfgang Muthspiel, whose past four releases were released on the ECM label, is exploring another facet of his work in this new project.

As different as they are from one another, what unites these three musicians is, among other things, the quality of the project’s tone, hence the title: the Touch. If musicians can be recognized by a single note, solely due to their sound, then they have indeed found their own voice. After an initial rehearsal and recording phase in May 2023, TOUCH will perform on Europe‘s concert stages for the first time in May/June 2025.