Philipp Rüttgers Trio - RE: SATIE – Picturing the Invisible (CD)

More than a tribute: The Philipp Rüttgers Trio continues the story of Erik Satie's music in the language of contemporary jazz. Intimate, mysterious, and sonically superb.

At the dawn of the 20th century, Erik Satie consistently forged his own path. Instead of pathos and excess, the French outsider sought the essential: ethereal melodies, clear lines, and a healthy dose of irony. An anecdote illustrates just how unconventional he was: he founded his own church and remained its sole member. His piano miniatures have lost none of their magic to this day.

Philipp Rüttgers, pianist and composer who has made Amsterdam his adopted home, dedicates his second trio album to this solitary figure. His source material was the complete Satie edition. Page by page, he searched for striking ideas, extracted them from their original context, and wove them into new compositions. Alongside classics like the Gymnopédies and Gnossiennes, almost forgotten works such as "Le Fils des étoiles" and "Uspud" also find their place. Those expecting mere reinterpretations of Satie's pieces will be surprised: what emerges here is original jazz, in which Satie's signature style shines through again and again.

The trio functions as a true unit. Omer Govreen on double bass and Sun-Mi Hong on drums listen attentively, create space, and add accents where it matters. Delicate, almost ethereal passages alternate with lively, rhythmically gripping moments. The drums work with the finest details, while the piano repeatedly adds short, sparkling touches. Often, it is precisely what is left unplayed that leaves the strongest impression: a pause, a lingering note.

Sonically, the album sets new standards: The recording was made in DSD at Sound Liaison in Hilversum, a studio with an excellent reputation among hi-fi enthusiasts. Josephson C700 microphones in the center of the ensemble, supported by additional individual microphones, create a spacious, airy soundstage in which every instrument sounds tangible.

The right choice for jazz listeners, classical music lovers with open ears and anyone who wants to really push their system to its limits.