BIX TIPP • Benjamin Lackner Quintet

The Benjamin Lackner Quintet unites five independent voices from the European jazz scene, with Maciej Obara and Mathias Eick as formative forces on the frontline.

Led by German pianist and composer Benjamin Lackner, the quintet is rooted in a strong melodic signature, finely nuanced ensemble interaction and a shared sensibility for space, timbre and narrative progression.
Trumpeter Mathias Eick, known for his distinctive tone and lyrical Nordic aesthetic, is one of the most influential voices in contemporary European jazz. A longtime artist on the ECM Records label, he lends clarity and emotional depth to the quintet's music. Alto saxophonist Maciej Obara, also an ECM recording artist, is widely known for his expressive intensity and sculptural approach to improvisation. A close companion of the late Tomasz Stańko, Obara brings both dramatic urgency and deep abstraction to the ensemble.

At the piano, Benjamin Lackner shapes the music through compositions that balance openness and structure and allow the wind parts to act as a cohesive, flowing frontline. The rhythm section with Paul Kleber on double bass and Matthieu Chazarenc on drums forms a flexible and highly sensitive foundation that supports both intimate lyrical moments and phases of collective expansion.

The quintet's sound is characterized by elegantly interwoven wind lines, expansive harmonies and a clear focus on ensemble chemistry rather than superficial virtuosity. The saxophone and trumpet often act as a single organism, moving between subtle fanfares, contemplative passages and open improvisation, while the piano gives the music clarity and direction.

While Lackner's recent ECM release Spindrift reflects a parallel chapter in his artistic development, the quintet with Maciej Obara and Mathias Eick stands as a live project in its own right-a project that focuses on bringing together strong individual voices to create a cohesive, deeply communicative group sound.

Line-up: Benjamin Lackner (p, comp); Mathias Eick (trp); Maciej Obara (asax); Paul Kleber (db); Matthieu Chazarenc (dr)