Double bassist Stephan Crump, saxophonist Ingrid Laubrock and pianist Cory Smythe: the friendship between these three musicians from Brooklyn led to the organic improvisations on their album Planktonic Finales (Intakt Records, 2017). Since then, they form a trio in which their backgrounds in jazz and contemporary composed music come together.

A longtime member of the New York based International Contemporary Ensemble his first record Pluripotent was praised by pianist Jason Moran, who called it ‘hands down one of the best solo recordings I’ve ever heard.’  Alongside violinist Hillary Hahn, Smythe was the recipient of a Grammy award for the double-disc In 27 Pieces: the Hilary Hahn Encores. In recent years, Smythe has appeared on albums by, among others, Tyshawn Sorey and Nate Wooley.

Originally from Germany, Ingrid Laubrock made name in New York on soprano as well as tenor saxophone, receiving acclaim for both in the Downbeat Critics Polls. She previously performed at the BIMHUIS with her band Anti-House and in her trio with Kris Davis and Tom Rainey. She also collaborated with, among others, Anthony Braxton and Dave Douglas.

Stephan Crump is known as an innovative double bassist, for example in the bands of Vijay Iyer and Ches Smith. He also makes film music and has released many albums with his own compositions, in collaboration with well-known improvising musicians such as Mary Halvorson and Steve Lehman.

‘As one might expect from a trio of such talented improvisers, the composite sound is one of discovery and process. Formal structures emerge from within the acoustic shape-shifting, often in fresh and surprising ways. A thundering piano statement erupts from woody bass rumblings, and spare, ghostly soprano saxophone notes drift through the mist, generating the feeling of both inevitability and surprise’ (Downbeat).

Ingrid Laubrock tenorsax/sopranosax, Cory Smythe piano, Stephan Crump bass