Vienna, World

Following his critically exclaimed Travel Guide on ECM (one of Downbeat's Best Albums of 2014), Wolfgang Muthspiel's trio album Driftwood with Brian Blade and Larry Grenadier was also quite well received - making John Kelman's (AAJ) Best Releases of 2014. Wolfgang Muthspiel returns with Vienna, World - an eclectic, global affair. Where some albums are recorded in a few days, Vienna, World was preceded by a world tour over several weeks in which he traveled to Sweden, Brazil, Argentina, New York and finally ended in Vienna. There are five different ensembles on Vienna, World, ranging from a folky duo with the American singer Becca Stevens (“And Then”) to an almost orchestral tango-inspired piece “The Dancer" which was performed by an Argentinian six-member band in Buenos Aires. The common thread throughout is Wolfgang Muthspiel’s voice, guitar and his wonderful songs.