Fabienne Ambuehl Presents: THRIVE

Release date: 17th January 2025

Ubuntu Music

Thrive is the new album from the accomplished and versatile pianist and vocalist Fabienne Ambuehl, forthcoming on the progressive Ubuntu label. Ambuehl is a musician with a diverse range of world- class experience, known for her work with the Noga Ritter Band, Neele & the Soundvoyage and also as a soloist for Jazz Choir Freiburg. The Swiss born Londoner developed her art at Lucerne School of Music, later studying with the likes of Lauren Newton, Asaf Sirkis and Gwilym Simcock.

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Fabienne Ambuehl has assembled a dynamic ensemble of Matt Ridley on bass (The Antidote, The Darius Brubeck Quartet, Leon Foster Thomas, Tal Cohen) and John Scott on drums (Mulatu Astatke, GoGo Penguin, Kairos 4Tet, Sons Of Kemet XL), with special guests Tom Ollendorff and Ant Law both on guitar – all key players in international jazz with their own strong reputations throughout the scene. On first listen to the new album, the collective understanding between each artist is deeply apparent, allowing space for all to shine while gelling seamlessly as a unit. The synergy between each player when performing together is exciting to hear, setting the recording apart as a formidable session worthy of much attention.

The album charts an intriguing course, veering across wide emotional terrain from the sensitive to the ecstatic. As Ambuehl explains: “Thrive is the result of introspection, questions of belonging, moving country just before lockdown was announced and sometimes not knowing what place to call home. Many songs are inspired by nature, which I believe is a healing power.” The title track with words by D.H. Lawrence, describes “a small bird who will drop frozen dead from a bough, without ever having felt sorry for itself.”

‘Binocular’ captures the thrill of looking at something from a distance with a feeling of awe. ‘Nihil’ starts as pensive piano and bass duet, and turns into a bustling yet haunting quartet arrangement, again with the addition of Tom Ollendorff’s beautiful guitar sound. ‘River’ complements Emily Dickinson’s My River Runs To Thee, with a gently rolling motion and ‘New Ones’ featuring Ant Law, imagines possible alien life forms.

Ambuehl’s thoughtfully structured compositions have a striking energy, express painterly details and capture strong emotions. Her music conjures vivid images of places and landscapes. It is this that prompted the renowned German author, photographer and journalist Norbert Krampf to remark that: “Stripped-back minimalism and emotional depth, playfulness and maturity, and a profound jazz sensibility combined with a powerful romantic imagination, forge her unmistakable style.”

Fabienne Ambuehl herself remarks: “One of the great lessons I learned while writing this album, is to multitask less, in general. ‘Thrive’, is an invitation to be more present within the little moments in life, undistracted. Although the music is rooted in jazz, influenced by folk, and plays with the lyrical aspects of Romantic music, I hope that it can speak for itself.

Recorded At: Livingston Studios

Mixed By: Sonny Johns

Mastered By: Dave Darlington

Artwork: Maria Jarzyna

Fabienne Ambhuel: Piano and Voice

Matt Ridley: Double Bass

Jon Scott: Drums

Tom Ollendorff: Guitar

Ant Law: Guitar on ‘New Ones’

Fabienne Ambhuel website click here

Thank you to Rupert Burley from Dynamic Agency for sharing with us!