Line-up:
Laurie Rich - Piano
Tobias Bech - Trumpet
Seth Sjörström - Bass Guitar
Dominik Witte - Drums
Irma Neumüller - Voice
About
Bigger Picture is a collective of musicians deriving from Berlin, centred around the compositions of members Tobias Bech (Denmark) and Laurie Rich (UK). The duo met in Berlin in March 2024 and quickly began playing and writing music together. Through a shared love of free-improvisational, ambient, modern jazz, classical and folk music from around the world, they were able to quickly develop a common musical language that clearly appears in their compositions. Inspired by their experiences of the Berlin scene, the two young musicians began to aim for an approach to free improvisation with a delicate and considered touch.
Soon into this process, they set themselves the goal of recording an album before the end of the year and booked a day session in Berlin's legendary Hansa Studios with Swedish engineer Nanni Johansson, where they recorded a total of 11 tracks. On the record, the renowned Swedish vocalist Irma Neumüller is heard on 6 of the titles - a creative decision that was inspired by a shared love for Kenny Wheeler, John Taylor and Norma Winstone's 'Azimuth' project.
Later that year, the duo began to explore their music in a larger capacity by introducing Swedish bassist Seth Sjöström and later German drummer Dominik Witte. Together they created the quartet “Bigger Picture” and played a series of concerts in Berlin before Laurie had to travel back to the UK in July 2024. The group are excited to play the music in the UK for the first time in the Winter of 2025 with dates across South Wales (featuring BBC Young Jazz Musician of the Year 2024 Ursula Harrison on bass and Patrick Barrett-Donlon on drums) and England (with the original lineup) culminating in a new album recording and concert at the Vortex Jazz Club in London.
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