​Niklas Lukassen's international quartet with saxophonist Ben van Gelder, pianist Kit Downes and drummer Francesco Ciniglio, unites protagonists of the jazz scenes of Amsterdam, London, Paris and Berlin. Still Waters Run Deep, Niklas Lukassen's band leader debut release (due for release on Kurt Rosenwinkel's Heartcore Records), surfaces a many-layered artistic voice with a distinctive, radiant musical vision. On the album he merges his talents as a composer, bassist and also as a vocalist on one track. Enriched by musical contributions from guitarist Kurt Rosenwinkel, vocalist Céline Rudolph, saxophonist Wanja Slavin & trombonist Geoffroy De Masure, his album reveals further striking musical layers. The creation of Still Waters Run Deep, resembles an improvisational synergy, which like water, flows through river forks into unexpected directions, at times producing pounding waves of collective, raw energy. 

"My doctoral studies (PhD) at the Royal Academy of Music in  London are dedicated to the research of reciprocal effects of bass doubling. As an improviser I pursue a creative transfer of knowledge from upright bass to bass guitar and vice-versa to develop, as much as possible, a coherent instrumental voice that shares the same artistic DNA on both instruments in a stepless approach.  My explorations on both instruments facilitate a form of innovation that doesn’t necessarily require re-invention from the ground up.

Musical novelty is rather achieved through breaking out of conventional context to broaden the tonal spectrum and perceived stylistic limitations of either bass instrument."

ECHO listens and reflects - ECHO travels and transforms - ECHO gives weight to a whisper whilst charging into far off places, like thunder. 

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With Echo, Niklas Lukassen showcases his passion for lyrics and songwriting, while also staying true to his nature as an improviser. With each piece inhabiting a unique character, the music presents itself as a result of both self reflection and empathic extrospection. It embraces vulnerability through a spectrum of emotions, colourfully brought to life in collective synergy. Echo’s exciting instrumentation includes Immy Churchill on vocals, Jonny Mansfield on vibraphone, Ananda Brandao on drums and Niklas Lukassen on a unique hybrid instrument, the bass cello. Together they tell musical stories in a dialogue of collective creative interplay.

ECHO delivers tense narratives, with surprising twists that stimulate imagination. The landscapes painted through words and sounds stay with the listener as a vivid echoing memory.

The newly formed trio around bassist & band leader Niklas Lukassen also features pianist Gwilym Simcock and drummer James Maddren. Together they explore untrodden musical paths with Niklas on the bass cello, a unique and novel instrument.