Originally from Germany, pianist Philipp Rüttgers has been active on the Dutch jazz scene for over 15 years. Rüttgers is known for his lyrical piano playing and unbridled appetite for adventure. His modern take on jazz music previously led to him drawing inspiration from art rock, metal, folk music and impressionism. Nor did he shy away from electronic devices. But on his new album Etudes Of Shapes And Forms, he plays with his first acoustic trio with drummer Sun-Mi Hong and bassist Thomas Pol. In addition to masterpieces by Ligeti, Schoenberg and Debussy, among others, Rüttgers was inspired by improvising pianists such as Craig Taborn and Kris Davis. But also by visual artists such as Escher and Rüttgers’ late father Ralph Klaus, aka Tom Fleischhauer, whose work is featured on the album cover. At the festival, the Philipp Rütggers Trio presents a whole palette of emotions, from joy and excitement to relief.
