<h3>"This band pursues the idea of a utopia". - Julius Windisch, bandleader, immerweiter</h3> <p>Standing still has never been an option for Berlin bandleader, composer and jazz pianist Julius Windisch: "For me, the process of making music should always continuously evolve and never stagnate." After having lived in Berne, Amsterdam and Copenhagen, Windisch is happy to finally having found a place where he feels comfortable artistically: Berlin. In its own pace is the output from his current working band, after Windisch has already recorded three albums with trio and quartet formations.</p> <p>Both the album title and the name of the formation are to be understood programmatically: carried on by a strong community spirit, which convinces on the recording and live through virtuosity, intensity and complexity. All the musicians in the ensemble are committed to an organic growth process, fair feedback rules and a constructive approach to their own strengths and weaknesses. The effort demanded by Windisch's diverse and difficult-toplay repertoire and the mutual unconditional trust in each other lead to creative flights of fancy in which no individual is the focus but rather the overall sound: "We have grown very much together as a band. We always reflect on what we liked and didn't like. In the same way, we are forced to give our absolute best every time and listen very carefully to each other. this feels fulfilling and brave, which is what I love about my work." - Julius Windisch</p> <p>Windisch's work as a bandleader, composer and pianist is political: topics such as antidiscrimination, climate justice, and the dismantling of hierarchies drive his creative work, which is directly expressed in the attitude with which he composes his pieces: "As a musician, unfortunately, I have no choice but to vote every now and then and otherwise write music that expresses my emotions. Many of the pieces express this great urgency to act politically." - Julius Windisch</p> <p>The album's five core pieces are recorded in quartet formation, including the piece Ode, which creates a melancholy mood with its cantabile melody. In this piece, Windisch reflects on the resignation and bewilderment he feels when the necessary action to solve our global crises fails to be taken. At the same time, in pieces like Schweben (Levitating), he expresses his desire to create a latency for himself in which calmness is possible despite feelings of panic and powerlessness.</p> <p>On four tracks the band is joined by violinist Maria Reich - for example on Coming to a conclusion. In this track, a decision-making process is musically reflected by means of various rhythms until an audible conclusion is reached. For the first time on the album Windisch also sings: I feel like I know you is an intimate monologue that encourages the listener to face the critical process of self-reflection "always further" (immer weiter in german) so that self-awareness and inner growth become possible. Thus, the track has the function of a condensed overall statement of the album.</p> Immerweiter are Julius Windisch (piano, synth, composition) Pascal Klewer (trumpet), Sofia Eftychidou (bass) & Marius Wankel (drums).