Ben Van Gelder (as) Kit Downes (p) Francesco Ciniglio (dr)
feat. Kurt Rosenwinkel (guit) Wanja Slavin (as,ss) Céline Rudolph (voc) Geoffroy De Masure (trb)
"Niklas Lukassen’s debut album Still Waters is a strong offering. I am proud to be a part of this clear vision and glistening sound. It’s a pleasure to hear some of the new generation of great musicians playing their best. Give it a listen and you’re sure to fall into these still waters, that run deep." - Kurt Rosenwinkel
Still Waters surfaces a many-layered artistic voice with a distinctive musical vision. Niklas Lukassen's highly anticipated band leader debut release on Kurt Rosenwinkel's Heartcore Records, is a radiant display of his combined talents as a bassist, composer and also a vocalist on one track (Luna).
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​His internationally renowned quartet with saxophonist Ben van Gelder, pianist Kit Downes and drummer Francesco Ciniglio, fuses captivating individualists of the jazz scenes of Amsterdam, London, Paris and Berlin into one symbiotic musical organism. With natural improvisational flow, this unit's interplay runs like water through sonic river forks into unexpected directions. Unafraid of intentional, suspenseful collision, it produces pounding waves of raw energy. Enriched by artistic contributions from guitarist Kurt Rosenwinkel, saxophonist Wanja Slavin, vocalist Céline Rudolph & trombonist Geoffroy De Masure, they musically explore the unimagined depths that underlie supposedly still waters.
With the release of Still Waters, Niklas Lukassen’s debut as a bandleader is already receiving remarkable critical recognition. Described by Jazzwise as a “versatile bass virtuoso” and a “future jazz bass star,” Lukassen steps forward today with a record that is ready to make an impact. In the words of Marlbank, Still Waters is “an extremely impressive debut, that has a different orbit entirely to anything else about at the moment.” UK Vibe concludes: “A fantastic and self-assured record,
‘Still Waters’ will go down as a milestone release within his catalogue while his quest will undoubtedly continue.” Meanwhile, Berlin’sElla Radio predicts that “seething below the surface, Still Waters may be among 2026’s most exciting releases.”
​​Fr. 20.02.
Th. 26.02.
FR. 27.02.
SA. 28.02.
So. 01.03.
Fr. 01.05.
SAT. 02.05.
Tue. 05.05.
Mo. 28.09.
Wed. 30.09.
Th. 01.10.
Fr. 02.10.
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Vortex Jazzclub​
LOFT
Insel
A-Trane Jazzclub
A-Trane Jazzclub
Jazzschmiede
Zig Zag Jazzclub​
Eastside Jazzclub
NQ Jazz​
PIZZA EXPRESS
Sound Cellar (TBC)
Scott's Jazzclub
London​
Cologne
Wuppertal
Berlin
Berlin
Düsseldorf
Berlin​
London
Manchester
London
Poole
Belfast
