Pascal Schumacher 2014 Luxembourg Jazz Meeting. Photo credit: Ralf Dombrowski

German writer/ photographer Ralf Dombrowski is just back from the annual Luxembourg Jazz Meeting with photos and a quick pick of his highlights. He writes: 

The artist who caught the attention above all at the Luxembourg Jazz Meeting was Pascal Schumacher, (photo above) the leading vibraphonist throughout Europe at the moment.

Francesco Tristano 2014 Luxembourg Jazz Meeting. Photo credit: Ralf Dombrowski

Schumacher was at the festival a pair of extremely strong projects – a quartet, and also a trio with Francesco Tristano (photo above) and Bachar Khalife.

Marly Marques, PaulFox (background 2014 Luxembourg Jazz Meeting. Photo credit: Ralf Dombrowski

A number of musicians appeared in different contexts, such as saxophonist Maxime Bender, drummer Paul Fox (pictured above with Luxembourg/Portuguese singer Marly Marques) and pianist/drummer Jérome Klein.

2014 Luxembourg Jazz Meeting.Photo credit: Ralf Dombrowski

There was an outstandingly subtle quartet with pianist Michel Reis, playing with Niels Klein, Robert Landfermann, Jonas Burgwinkel). Also worthy  of a mention are the  are the trio of Pit Dahm.

Mark Sanders 2014 Luxembourg Jazz Meeting. Photo credit: Ralf Dombrowski

Also on the bill were the interesting and well-matched trio of the Luxembourg-born saxophonist Roby Glod with Andy Champion and Mark Sanders (photo above). Three like-minded very individual players seem to have found each other. Champion was powerful and possessed, following his own imperatives, while Sanders gave a very coercive pulse, constantly in close, attentive communication with the others, and Glod’s free-flowing saxophone playing definitely held the listener’s interest.

Grzegorz Karnas, Annemie Osborne 2014 Luxembourg Jazz Meeting. Photo credit: Ralf Dombrowski

Also a highlight was the jocular Polish vocal acrobat Grzegorz Karnas, in a trio with Jérome Klein and the cellist Annemie Osborne (photo above).