Aerial

The English adjective aerial, according to the Encyclopedia Britannica, describes something that can move through the air.

Aerial, the duo project of saxophonist Alexandra Lehmler and vibraphonist Franck Tortiller, embodies the boundless nature of the element of air, evoking the medium in which their music flows. The interconnection of the vibraphone’s ethereal sounds with the melodies of the saxophone seems to defy gravity, evoking leaps, spirals, and acrobatics. The concept of interplay, as defined by Bill Evans, is omnipresent here. Listening, exchanging, taking risks – everything that defines jazz today is at the heart of this duo’s music.

Alexandra Lehmler is one of the most influential figures in the young German jazz scene. Born in 1979 in Bad Ems an der Lahn, she began playing the saxophone at the age of 13 and quickly gained recognition by winning numerous awards and distinctions. After high school, she studied in Mannheim, Stuttgart, and Paris before founding her own quartet. A unique and expressive musician, she is committed to maintaining a clearsighted perspective on the musical world.

Franck Tortiller, born into a family of winemakers and amateur musicians, grew up in Burgundy, France. He first studied classical percussion at the Dijon Conservatory and later at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique (CNSM) in Paris before specializing in jazz. Recognized as both a soloist and a composer/arranger, he possesses a keen sense of orchestral color, which has made him a key figure in large ensembles. As a member of the Vienna Art Orchestra and former director of the Orchestre National de Jazz, he has become a regular guest on Europe’s leading jazz stages.

Nine years ago, as part of a Franco-German quintet, Alexandra Lehmler and Franck Tortiller, two musicians who had traveled extensively, crossed paths – their musical connection instantly evident. The encounter between the saxophonist and vibraphonist had a distinctive charm: two kindred spirits, yet at the same time so different. As a duo, Lehmler and Tortiller foreground the aerial, light, floating, and translucent nature of their music, echoing the title of their album. From above, with a bird’s-eye view, they let their imagination wander through the vast skies of musical possibilities, from jazz standards to lullabies and classical arias.

Aerial, the duo of musical alter egos, surprises and captivates audiences with a performance truly « in the air » of our times.

Composition :

Alexandra Lehmler - saxophone

Franck Tortiller - vibraphone

Organizers: neimënster