The shimmering evening air of the Alhambra, the reverent tranquility of the centuries-old Irish monastery of Glendalough, the sounds of his great idols. Young guitarist Denis Schmitz combines all of this on his second solo album, Nuances, where, contrary to the spirit of today's times, he gives the delicate, musical sounds of his 6- and 7-string instruments space to unfold.
In addition to works by famous jazz greats such as Pat Metheny and Ralph Towner, his new album also features his own compositions for the first time, in which he demonstrates not only his technically brilliant playing but also his compositional craft. Especially in his title track, "Nuances," he traces the fine line between euphony and twilight, between relentless monotony and irascible temperament—perhaps even between genius and madness. For it is often only these "nuances" that can keep such a composition balanced on a knife-edge.
The real highlight of the album, however, are the “Seven Short Pieces” by the Austrian jazz guitarist and composer Wolfgang Muthspiel, which he gave him especially for the first recording and which will surely become an integral part of the repertoire in a few years.
Page A
01 Sacred Place
02 Glendalough
03 James
04 Albaicín
05 To Mick
Side B
06 shades
07 Seven Short Pieces (Opening)
08 Seven Short Pieces (Triplet Droplet)
09 Seven Short Pieces (Locrian Star)
10 Seven Short Pieces (Aeolian Fall)
11 Seven Short Pieces (Canon)
12 Seven Short Pieces (Open View)
13 Seven Short Pieces (6/8 For Zsófia)
