Encore: Alexandra Lehmler, Jörg Brinkmann, and Apollonio Maiello

What sets music apart in general—and jazz in particular—are those moments of surprise and wonder that arise from constellations—new and daring, chance or longed-for. These situational encounters don’t just refer to the musicians who come together in a rehearsal room or on stage, in a studio or in a club, and combine their individual skills. Rather, there is something else—something that is hard to grasp and even harder to describe. One might call this “magical” in an emphatic sense. For the ideas, flashes of inspiration, and affinities that arise only through collaboration and from the diverse experiences brought together suddenly begin to communicate. A band—especially in improvisational music—is unpredictable. Its dynamics cannot be foreseen, its energy cannot be anticipated.

Alexandra Lehmler had been dreaming for quite some time of playing in a specific, classically inspired ensemble. She has known the pianist Apollonio Maiello for ages; their paths have crossed time and again over the past fifteen years. He has filled in for her in various bands and been part of several notable projects—such as the Green Dolphin Orchestra.

In the case of cellist Jörg Brinkmann, things were a little different. Lehmler says she was fascinated by his trio work—for example, with Claudio Puntin and Johannes Fink, or Roman and Julian Wasserfuhr—“a memorable experience.” It took a while, however, for an opportunity to arise to work with him. That opportunity came last year through Enjoy Jazz , which made Lehmler’s dream collaboration with Maiello and Brinkmann a reality. “First, we were given the opportunity to do a residency at the Abbaye de Neumünster in Luxembourg. That’s what made the depth of the program possible in the first place. Because we were able to spend a week there working intensively—more or less day and night—on the pieces and our ensemble playing. That was something very special, and we benefited greatly from it.”

Anyone who saw the trio last year at the Alte Feuerwache in Mannheim knows exactly what we’re talking about. If you weren’t there, don’t worry. Perhaps because Alexandra Lehmler sensed that something extraordinary might happen that evening, she had handed the sound engineer a hard drive before the concert so he could record the performance. What a stroke of luck! Now, a year later, this live recording is being released under the title “Amber Sky” on the festival’s own label, Enjoy Jazz Records.

What comes across immediately upon first listen: a sense of familiarity and intimacy, warmth and sensitivity that arise from this constellation. Paradoxically, the compositions exude a spirit of stillness, though this somewhat belies the movement and vitality lurking beneath the surface: complex musical structures lie in wait there, and profound emotional layers come to the fore. While a melancholic undertone may prevail in these equally crafted pieces, it is repeatedly counterbalanced by melodic lightness. It is deeply impressive—and moving—to witness how the alto and soprano saxophones, piano, and cello entwine and complement one another; how motifs are spun out by the three instruments in their own distinctive yet unified ways; and how the performers transform the compositions—as graceful and precise as they are—into a bubbling improvisational energy. Sometimes the pieces unfold gently; then small gaps open up in which something unexpected can emerge. Lehmlers’ narrative, floating lines, Maiellos’ harmonically multifaceted playing, Brinkmanns’ multifaceted cello—one always has the feeling that one neither wants nor dares to miss a single note here.

Yes, it took a long time for this trio to come together. “But some things take a little time,” says Alexandra Lehmler, “like a good wine. That’s how our music feels, too.” It does indeed possess a great deal of maturity. “And to me, it radiates a great deal of calm. The last few years have been special years—years in which a lot has happened and which have had a profound effect on me.” In other words: They’ve also had an impact on Alexandra Lehmler’s music.