Ilmonique

Over the past years, Kalle and I have had the opportunity to work on original duo music without much external pressure and ultimately we recorded this program in September 2022. I have always enjoyed listening to and exploring ensemble music where multiple instruments can provide harmonic information. This certainly requires attentive listening on different levels - in terms of pitch, chords, register, rhythm and texture. The duo combination of piano and acoustic guitar explores these possibilities and challenges. The analogy of a 'meta-instrument' seems particularly apt for this combination, which showcases two instruments with very different properties, yet which allow many texture-overlapping properties. Ideally their sounds flow into each other, with one functioning as an extension of the other. The pieces I have selected for this duo are inspired by songs, but also display some modern compositional tendencies. It is as if Joni Mitchell, Henry Threadgill and Elliott Carter decided to move to the same area - at least for a short stay - to work on an interactive project. Achim Kaufmann This is our first duo recording and it took almost two years to develop the music. Fortunately we were in no hurry and let the music grow organically. Our decision to use the acoustic guitar made the project unique for me. This project brought me back to my teenage years, when I was overwhelmed by the 'acoustic work' of Ralph Towner, Jimmy Page and others. Eventually I found a way to integrate this into my music with Achim. For this project I had to 'tame' the acoustic guitar anew. The music is a collective meditation on influences ranging from Miles Davis to Morton Feldman to Robert Johnson, but of course they are all original compositions by Achim and me. I think this music shows completely new sides of our great musical journey. Kalle Kalima