Niklas Lukassen | Still Waters

Making a considerable splash

German upright bassist/fretless bass guitarist and singer Niklas Lukassen who’s well into his doctoral studies at London’s Royal Academy of Music was taught by John Zorn Masada icon Greg Cohen at the Jazz Institute in Berlin and later was mentored by the Second Great Miles Davis Quintet bassist Ron Carter at the Manhattan School of Music in New York.

The full album is out on Friday when Lukassen – who has also written its tunes – is also appearing at a top London jazz club, the Vortex.

In the meantime check the video above of ‘Metamorphosis,’ one of the Still Waters tracks.

Configured around a core quartet but even more expansive in complexion, the album was recorded at a studio called Soundfabrik in Berlin 4 years ago. No idea why it’s taken so long to come out.

The album has widely acclaimed prodigiously recorded Englishman Kit Downes (best heard on ‘Interlude’ and his deftly weighted modal comping on ‘Estuary’) on piano and Hammond organ.

Also factor in the persuasive tones of Dutch altoist Ben Van Gelder and pacey contributions of Italian drummer Francesco Ciniglio, known for his work with Wynton Marsalis.

Lukassen’s warm, exposed tones are heard best where he plays fretless bass guitar on ‘The Traveller’ where Wanja Slavin is Wayne Shorter like on soprano sax and on ‘Brother’ a tender ballad. ‘The Traveller’ is inspired by Weather Report’s magnificent 1974 album, the jazz-rock fusion classic – Mysterious Traveller.

Still Waters is issued on American guitarist Kurt Rosenwinkel’s label and he guests, improvising extensively on the piece ‘Palisade’ most ear catchingly.

German saxophonist Slavin joins Lukassen for Friday night’s Vortex date with the distinguished English pianist Ivo Neame and Downes’ Enemy bandmate and compatriot James Maddren completing the band for this upcoming show.

Slavin’s contribution may be relatively small. But it proves very effective. I heard him memorably in Bremen at Jazzahead with adventurous singer Lucia Cadotsch in a set up called LIUN + The Science Fiction Orchestra back in 2023.

If unfamiliar with him check out the video above.

I also found an even older version of ‘The Traveller’ that Slavin is on with Lukassen that dates back to 2021. It’s illuminating as a kind of ur text whose arc you can chart eventually to Still Waters.

Downes has also worked with Cadotsch on an excellent album called Aki that came out again in 2023 and on which Rosenwinkel also guested.

As for German singer Céline Rudolph she is significant on a throwback ballad called ‘Interlude’ while more blink and you’d miss him French trombonist Geoffroy De Masure crops up on ‘Palisade.’

Fresh and multi-faceted Still Waters has a different orbit entirely to anything else about at the moment. Travel these spaceways – yourself.