The finest modern jazz from the German capital!
What a pleasure to discover Nymmer - the latest project by Berlin-based composer duo Lisa Buchholz (trumpet) and Niko Zeidler (saxophone). Moving between electronic jazz, broken beat, and neo-soul, their music is built on a special kind of chemistry, shaped by years of playing together in various formations and studying at the Jazz Institute Berlin alongside the members of their rhythm section: Max Feig (guitar), Joschka Oßke (keys), Chris Sergeant (bass), and Steven Moser (drums).
Their debut single, "Odyssey", has been on my radar since its release last Friday, but I only just got the chance to sit down and give it the proper attention it deserves. And what a treat! The musicianship, interplay, and tight grooves are all fantastic, but what really got me were the more minimalist solo moments and how attentively the rest of the band responds, giving each other room to shine. First, we're treated to a soft, melodic, yet adventurous flugelhorn solo, before the saxophone swoops in with contrasting wit and a healthy dose of arrogance stealing the show.
"Odyssey" was actually released as a three-part single, complete with a Prolog and Epilog, so I'd recommend listening to it in full for the complete experience. The Prolog opens with slow, beautifully arranged horns and an atmosphere reminiscent of a dewy morning, gently leading us into the main piece. Then, the Epilog rounds off the journey with one final bang, like a distant, nostalgic memory slowly fading away, complete with a gorgeous piano solo and outro.
A top-tier musical discovery! I hope Nymmer bring us more music soon and we're wishing them the best of luck!
