Klemens Marktl - Klemens Marktl Trio Live in Austria (2021)

Truly a long time musical dream of mine came true when Sepp Grabmaier, a Jazz enthusiast from Austria and organizer of one of Austria's best known festivals called Snow Jazz Gastein, invited me to perform with pianist extraordinaire Dave Kikoski in a Trio setting as a grande finale at his Festival.

I have been following this piano veteran's career and discography since my early Jazz studies in the 90's and therefore I was prepared for the sound and music of Mr.Kikoski. Immediately my dear friend and great bassist Boris Kozlov from New York came to my mind to complete that exciting Trio. I have performed with Boris in New York as well as on tours in Europe with pianist John Di Martino and it was musical and social love from the first note.

Playing trio with Dave and Boris feels like total musical freedom from swinging standards, subtle ballads to most energetic originals with a modern touch. Yet you gotta be ready for surprises that may open new musical doors.

Trio is one of my favorite settings in Jazz and especially with these two Jazz giants I had the pleasure to experience total musical freedom and interaction within the Jazz idiom. With Boris Kozlov on my side I have truly a bassmaster that handles all styles of music while being super rhythmical, flexible and groovy
at the same time. We build the foundation and support for Kikoski's swinging lines and imaginative ideas to express in “OUR” trio!

We started our 15-day tour in Germany's three river town of Passau and ended in a small village near my hometown called Hüttenberg. The three of us had been playing together as a rhythm section in my sextet at my Smalls Jazz club engagement in New York but when we got together as a trio, I remember that we couldn't stop playing for couple of hours cause we took “off” from the beginning!

Throughout this tour around Austria Georg Croll, a real Jazz enthusiast from Salzburg, was following us for a couple of concerts and totally fell in love with our music! He decided spontaneous to record our LIVE performance at Rossstall Lambach and here is the proof documented on this recording!

Between the warm welcoming of the club personal and a very attentive audience somehow this concert turned out to bemagical and I am thankful formy dear friends Georg & Robert for their enthusiasmand recording us.

Thank you again Dave and Boris for making this musical moments magical and your energy and support on and off stage! Feeling bless...

— Klemens Marktl