Next!

  Jürg Solothurnmann saxes, voice
  Beat Unternährer trombone
  Christian Hartmann contrabass
  Dieter Ulrich drums

Since the mid-80s Jürg Solothurnmann and Dieter Ulrich have played together with Urs Blöchlinger and then with the Agasul Orchester. Next was founded in 2005 including two musicians from Lucerne - the bass player Christian Hartmann and the trombonist Beat Unternährer who easily is one of the most daring improvisers in Switzerland.

The concept of the quartet is rather a philosophy or a question.
Around 1990 the Agasul Orchester started with playing themes by Solothurnmann but then found ways how to make appear spontaneous improvisations like precomposed - and composed material like momentaneous inventions. There are lots of references to the traditions of jazz but what really counts is what comes next.
Virtuosity and full risk are characteristic features but the members listen closely and try to invent musical dramas and build suite-like events with the attitude of instant orchestration.