For more than a decade, Schmid's Huhn have occupied a fascinating corner of contemporary jazz, one where they’ve consistently not let boundaries ever dictate their sound. On their fourth and newest album, Hindemith Abstractions, the German quartet delivers a work that’s outstanding, transforming the legacy of composer Paul Hindemith into something entirely their own. Across ten compositions and a concise 41-minute runtime, the group crafted a listening experience that rewards close attention while staying effortlessly enjoyable.

Rather than treating Hindemith's work as material to be faithfully reproduced, Schmid's Huhn approached as raw creative fuel to make something unique to them. They took his direction and complete dissected it, examined from every angle, and rebuilt into fresh forms that brought a ton of modern energy. Between these four musicians who have spent more than 13 years together, they certifiably crushed it!

Their chemistry might just be the record's greatest strength. Tenor saxophonist and clarinetist Stefan Karl Schmid and alto saxophonist and clarinetist Leonhard Huhn operate with a legitimate intuition, weaving around one another with an air of spontaneity that feels almost telepathic. In our opinion, it’s the definition of “cool”. Meanwhile, bassist Stefan Schönegg provides both the foundation and the momentum, anchoring the music while subtly giving all the grooves. Their drummer Fabian Arends is beyond essential as well, bringing plenty of color, texture, and rhythm to each track. It’s beyond difficult to pick a “favorite”, but “Part 3: Vamp” was huge!

Truly though from beginning to end, it's an album that had the ability to command your full attention revealing its tiny new details with every listen. It’s got the versatility to enjoy while relaxing, maybe doing something active, but really at any point to spark some creativity in your life. The music possesses such a flow. You can be active in listening or have it on to set the mood too.

The instrumentation throughout is outstanding, that should go without saying. Every musician arrives fully engaged, contributing these performances that feel are technically masterful and so so expressive. No note feels wasted, and no interaction feels accidental. Even at its most complex, the album maintains a sense of cohesion that lets you know you’re listening to a record rather than a smattering of singles.

This era of jazz is continuing to expand beyond traditional boundaries and Hindemith Abstractions stands as a shining example of how to bring it into the modern day while also sounding like you’re having fun. Schmid's Huhn have outdone themselves and we’re already excited for whatever the next project brings. For now, go ahead and click those links below to listen in, follow along, and of course to stay tuned for more.

Listen to “Hindemith Abstractions”

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Schmid's Huhn's Hindemith Abstractions is Jazz at its most inventive