Stefan Karl Schmid & Lars Duppler // Hringferð (CD)

For Lars Duppler and Stefan Karl Schmid, the special appeal of their joint duo project lies not only in the familiar, ever-changing interplay. The confrontation and intensive exploration of their second home, Iceland, also guides their musical path and inspires new works and soundscapes. In the process, the two half-Icelanders Duppler and Schmid create their own intimate sound, which they now capture for the first time on the album "Hringferð". As a co-production with Deutschlandfunk Cologne, they recorded the album in its entirety in just three hours. This gives it a unique mood and captures the nuanced interplay of the two protagonists in a natural and spontaneous way. They span a picture-perfect arc from arrangements of traditional, Icelandic "rímur" to subtle original compositions framed by free improvisation.

Both Duppler and Schmid are Jazz award winners of the city of Cologne and busy members of the national scene. They lead their own projects (Schmid's Huhn, Lars Duppler unbound, SJO\CGN) and act as sought-after sidemen in various projects (Jens Düppe Quartett, Shannon Barnett Quartett, Reza Askari ROAR, among others).

Stefan Karl Schmid - tenor & soprano saxophones, clarinet
Lars Duppler - piano

Co-produced with Deutschlandfunk, Köln.
Recorded at LOFT, Köln by Christian Heck.

Supported by Initiative Musik gGmbH with project funds from the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and Media.

“In visually powerful arcs, there is room for poignant melodies, but also free improvisation. The congenial duo offers soulful dialogues at the highest level, to which one listens only too gladly.”— Christoph Giese, Virgin Jazz Face"

On their duo album "Hringferð", the two reassure themselves of their Icelandic roots and dive deep into a melodic and atmospheric sound saga, which is far from any frostiness. Sometimes magically, they complement each other in melodic leadership and virtuoso improvisation, warming the soul with substantial beauty." - Horst Peter Koll, Kölner Stadtanzeiger