Michael Arbenz: Piano
Thomas Lähns: Bass
Florian Arbenz: Drums
After successful visits to the club in 2014 and 2015, with Greg Osby and Dave Liebman respectively, Vein returns with a new programme of its own.
There certainly is no special need any more to mention the fact that today most jazz piano trios are deeply attached to musical (even though this fact is worth to never be taken for granted!)
And yet, even with the most subtle, most distinguished form of interplay there is always one in the trio who plays the part of the primus inter pares – the pianist, of course (usually and by definition leader of the group).
That’s exactly where pianist Michael Arbenz, drummer Florian Arbenz and bassist Thomas Lähns come up with their own idea of musical interplay. In fact, what they aim to achieve with their music – theirunderstandingof music – is nothing less than the greatest possible balance of their three voices – starting with the way they work out their own compositions and arrangements, and going right through to the soloistic parts, fully assigned to all three of them.
The result is a stupendous musical togetherness, packed with surprising melodic, rhythmic and dynamic turns, played with highest precision even in the most complex, distorted and twisted passages of their compositions, arrangements and solos.
Unless you have another CD by Vein, I reckon you’re unlikely to have anything else in your collection that’s quite like this…It grooves, it’s rubato, it’s subtle, it’s fun, it’s ruminative, it’s exultant; above all, it’s constantly surprising. It’s a treat. - London Jazz News
…And they sounded like extraordinary ones; playing with an intense and intricate togetherness few bands can match….In the end, it would be a waste to vote for Vein, or Osby; they’re much too talented musically to run the government. - Jazz Wise Magazine
The Album “VOTE for VEIN” opens with a track that is solid, bizarre, feisty and has a frenetic sense humour – so practically standard for VEIN…“Appearance and Speech” is one of the most exciting, dense and entertaining pieces of contemporary jazz literature. You will want to hear it over and over again…The belter “No We Can’t – Vote for Us Anyway!” is the ideal theme tune to the end of a sensually humorous, almost theatrical set. Piano trio jazz doesn’t get more surprising and unconventional than this – Vote for Vein! – Hans-Jürgen Schaal, Fidelity Magazin
This set captures the core group’s inspired fusion of traditional jazz-trio methods and wittily deconstructivist impulses…a focused and dynamically creative set. - The Guardian,
I have rarely heard jazz musicians of the younger generation play with such passion and drive!… very highly recommended!
Rocktimes, Wolfgang Giese
Nice work, get it! Incredibly creative piano trio. – Rolling Stone
Vein, a piano trio with a difference. These guys can play together (like on “Funky Monkey”) at a new level of straight-eight interaction… They don’t really sound like anybody, but do proceed (way) out of the Evans-Bley tradition. Anybody who wants something truly new in the piano trio format would do well to hear this one.
Grego Edwards, Cadence, NYC,