Kaum Quartet

Hayden Chisholm – alto saxophone
Frank Gratkowski – alto saxophone
Seán Óg – alto saxophone
Christian Weidner – alto saxophone

The Kaum Quartet evolved out of a workshop series on Mount Pilion, Greece where all of the members first met. We were driven by a desire to seek out new possibilities for a Saxophone Ensemble outside of the traditional model. Extended techniques such as multiphonics, microtones, and new concepts of group improvisation were some of the initial starting points. As all of the members are soloists in their own right, the structures and compositions are formed and decided by the group, each bringing his own concept of sound and form to the music.

The saxophone has undergone huge developments in the last century. Kaum Quartet incorporates many of these extensions which took place in the solo saxophone repertoire and transplants then to an ensemble model. By using these extended techniques, applying stringent compositional structures and then offsetting them with improvised textures, we are able to move into a new world of sound for the saxophone.

For the Irish premiere concert of the Kaum Quartet, we choose the music of Hildegard von Bingen as a foundation for some of the new works. The melodies of this 12th century visionary are transformed in very different ways - sometimes a fragment from her work is set under our microscope and examined in detail, other times a whole chorale is contrasted against a backdrop of air and reed sounds.

The Saxophonists:

Hayden Chisholm is internationally well-known in the jazz and crossover music scenes. Originating from New Zealand where he won the prestigious Young Achievers Award, he studied music in Germany with a DAAD scholarship, and later in India and Japan. He is a founder and producer of the live music label Plushmusic and has toured extensively with the group root70. He has created the music for several of Rebecca Horn's recent installations and has recently founded the Moontower Foundation for art and music together with this seminal artist. www.softspeakers.com, www.haydenchisholm.net

Frank Gratkowski has been active at the forefront of European improvised music for over 20 years. He studied with luminaries such as Steve Lacy, Charlie Mariano and Sal Nistico and has released over 20 CDs as a leader. In constant demand as a soloist, composer and educator Frank Gratkowski has worked with many of today's figures in contemporary jazz including Michael Moore, Kenny Wheeler, Han Bennink, Mal Waldron, Peter Broetzman, Mark Feldman and Simon Nabatov. www.gratkowski.com

Seán Óg is a performer, composer and bandleader playing a range of woodwind instruments as well as invented instruments and electronics. Óg's music sits somewhere between free improvisation, avant-garde composition, and contemporary jazz. A much in demand player on the Irish scene, he leads his award winning group Trihornophone along with free improvisation trio CLOG. His work has been released in America, Norway, Belgium, France, Ireland and Finland. He was awarded Best Young Irish Artist 2008 by The Cork Jazz Festival. www.sean-og.com

Christian Weidner is a stalwart of Berlin's vibrant new music scene. Christian studied under Charlie Mariano, John Ruocco, Jeff Clayton and Kenny Werner and won the first prize in Germany's prestigious „Jugend Jazzt“ competition three years consecutively. Both in Berlin and on the international stage Christian performs with Antonis Anissegos, Chris Dahlgren, John Schröder, Dejan Terzic, Nils Wogram, Frank Möbus and Jim Black. www.christianweidner.de