I Am Three

Silke Eberhard alto sax / Nikolaus Neuser trumpet / Christian Marien drums
This is pretty wild stuff!
Lynn René Bayley, The Art Music Lounge, 2024
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I Am Three come from deep within Mingus' oeuvre, which they transformed into a contemporary, bold and idiosyncratic version on their first two records. On this third album, they now tell their own stories. Mingus' spirit still hovers over everything and the band's idiom remains unadulteratedly wild and experimental, full of groove and close-knit interaction, but the compositions now come from the pens of the three band members, who are equal on all levels of the project. "In Other Words": It's going to be exciting!

I Am Three kommen tief aus dem Inneren des Mingussche Werks, das sie auf ihren ersten beiden Platten in eine zeitgemäße, mutige und eigenwillige Version verwandelten. Mit ihrem neuesten Programm „In Other Words" erzählen sie nun ihre eigenen Geschichten. Mingus' Geist schwebt noch über allem und das erspielte Bandidiom bleibt ungetrübt wild und experimentierfreudig, voller Groove und engverzahnter Interaktion, aber die Kompositionen stammen nun aus den Federn der drei auf allen Ebenen des Projekts gleichberechtigen Bandmitglieder. "In Other Words": Es wird aufregend!

Image credit: Dovile Sermokas

Mingus Mingus Mingus

„In other words: I am three“. This is how Mingus‘ autobiography begins. The collaborative project I Am Three of Berlin based musicians Silke Eberhard (altosax), Nikolaus Neuser (trumpet) and Christian Marien (drums) plays the music of Charles Mingus. They demonstrate that it is still possible to make a fresh statement and to interprete the music in a highly contemporary way. In the best traditions of Mingus, they take chances, they are extremely playful and they are faithful to Mingus‘ spirit. Their debut album Mingus Mingus Mingus (Leo Records 752) was extremely well received and included in several best lists.

„Best Albums of 2016“, DownBeat Magazine, NYC (1/2017)

„Best of 2016“, The New York City Jazz Record, NYC (1/2017) in two categories:  „albums of the year“ and „tributes“

„Best Releases of 2016“, Troy Dostert – All About Jazz, NYC (12/2016)

“Jazz. Os melhores Discos de 2016” Observador, Portugal, José Carlos Fernandez (12/2016)

„Recommended new release“ , The New York City Jazz Record (10/2016)

 “Mingus looms all too large in progressive jazz of the last century to ever be forgotten. He’s too enigmatic a figure to replicate. To varying degrees, such diverse figures as Jean Derome, Joni Mitchell and Hal Willner – not to mention the standing Mingus Big Band and Mingus Orchestra – have attempted to fit into his shoes. This German double-horn trio stands up with the best of them.” DownBeat Magazin, NYC, (Kurt Gottschalk) ★ ★ ★ ★  (9/2016)

“Of the many ways in which this record honors Mingus, it’s really its spirit of inventiveness that stands out the most. A terrific accomplishment, and a strong contender for one of 2016’s best releases.”  All about Jazz, NYC, (Troy Dostert) ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ (9/2016)

 „Direkter und schonungsloser kann man die Intensität der Mingus‘schen Themen wohl kaum ins Heute verpflanzen.“ Jazzthetik (März/April 2017, Stefan Pieper)

  „The ultimate Mingus Minus One that doesn’t miss the One!“ Jazz weekly (11/2016, George W. Harris)

 „A brilliant album.“ jazzviews (12/2016, Ken Cheetham) 

In Other Words

“Recomended New Release” New York City Jazz Record, April 2024

„This is pretty wild stuff!” Lynn René Bayley, The Art Music Lounge, 2024

“Feinnerviges Kollektivspiel, die klangliche, auch teilweise noisige Ausweitung der Instrumente und ein fulminantes handwerklich – technisches Können charakterisieren dieses Ensemble.” Udo Andris, Jazzpodium, 2024

„Es gibt Stunden, die mich mit deutschem Humor versöhnen. Ein dreifach Hoch auf den gewitzten Jazz, der das bewirkt.”  Rigobert Dittmann, Bad Alchemy 122, Januar 2024 

“Musiziert wird aus alllen Rohren (…) auf allerhöchstem Niveau.” Wolf Kampmann, Jazzthing, April/Mai 2024

“Fueled by three players with an abundance of skill and creativity, In Other Words leaves nothing wanting in its choice to move beyond Mingus, and it is certainly worthy of repeated encounters.“ Troy Dostert, All about Jazz, Mai 2024