Matthias Muche
Matthias Muches BONECRUSHER Ensemble
Matthias Muches BONECRUSHER - 10 trombones & percussion - plays music that ranges from sound-sculpture noise drones to walls-of-Jericho-collapsing blasts to delicate webs of air and tone, resonating overtones with layered articulations. Pushing the acoustic properties of the instrument and the physicality of the players to their limits and beyond, the musicians put their archaic contraption through the bone mill, pulverizing it, sublimating it, and breathing new life into it.
Trombones : Anke Lucks, Adrian Prost, Carlotta Armbruster, Daniel Riegler, Maria Trautmann, Matthias Muche, Matthias Müller, Matthias Schuller, Maximilian Wehner, Moritz Anthes, Moritz Wesp, Till Künkler, Yoshiki Matsuura
Percussion: Rie Watanabe & Etienne Nillesen
Media Art: Eva Jeske
Emily Pothast about the CD Release at THE WIRE: “Like Vinko Globokar and Stuart Dempster before him, German composer-trombonist Matthias Muche explores this often-overlooked instrument’s potential to extend the sonic possibilities of the human body…an immersive journey through a labyrinth of rushing air, swelling drones, tinkling bells and gong. At times, this composition moves like Tibetan ritual music; at other times it feels reminiscent of Xenakis, sculpting time into shapes that twist and glimmer along a virtual horizon. A powerful recording that combines depth and levity to masterful ends.”
YouTube Playlist BONECRUSHER
Presskit - Matthias Muches BONECRUSHER - (photo, audio-files, logos)
The Slide Area - trombonist Matthias Muche expands the instrument’s possibilities with the visceral Bonecrusher ensemble…The visceral quality of Muche's playing arises from physical involvement with the instrument that extends to the vibrational and molecular level. - THE WIRE 455, J. Cowley
BONECRUSHER was founded in 2020 by Matthias Muche and continues his artistic series with innovative music that explores new paths, deepening the sonic richness and expressive power of the instruments.
Matthias Muche is a Cologne-based trombonist and composer who represents a generation of composer-performers for whom the boundaries between jazz, improvisation, and contemporary music are increasingly dissolving. As a composer and virtuoso improviser, he draws from the rich heritage of 20th- and 21st-century avant-garde movements. His interdisciplinary work spans music, theater, dance, and video art, leading him to perform in over 50 countries. After studying music in Amsterdam, Rotterdam, and Cologne, he completed a postgraduate degree at the Academy of Media Arts Cologne and founded the Frischzelle Festival for Intermedia Performance and Contemporary Art e.V.
In his performances, Muche employs a wide range of experimental playing techniques: integrating speech and soundscapes into the trombone, spatial sound modulation through external sound funnels, interactive computer graphics for synesthetic perception, and the raw power of the unaltered instrument.
In 2021, Matthias Muche was awarded the WDR Jazz Prize in the Improvisation category. The jury’s statement highlighted: "Matthias Muche is a researcher, a virtuoso improviser who persistently works to unlock new sonic spaces and reflect on his instrumental abilities from ever-changing perspectives. A trombonist who continuously explores the potential of his instrument through new encounters with fellow musicians—be it in the intimate setting of a duo or the monumental soundscapes of BONECRUSHER. Muche has mastered the art of staging the trombone while simultaneously unfolding his own musical intuition at the highest level of innovation. Through virtuosic playing and an impressive physical stage presence, he transcends the boundaries of conventional jazz performance and embarks on sonic expeditions beyond well-trodden paths.” - Tinka Koch WDR 3
BONECRUSHER premiered in 2020 at Kunststation Sankt Peter in Cologne. In 2021, the performance was released as a CD by the renowned Austrian music label COL LEGNO and was nominated for the German Record Critics’ Award in January 2022.
https://linktr.ee/matthiasmuche
At selected venues, BONECRUSHER collaborates with visual artist Eva Jeske, creating subtle audiovisual productions with a minimalist interplay of light and shadow.
Eva Jeske (*1990) is a visual artist and philosopher (M.A.) based in Cologne. Her work focuses on abstract, expressive painting, graphics, and installation, ranging from dynamic, rhythmically complex structures to minimalist compositions. Deeply influenced by music, her paintings serve as a medium for collaboration with musicians and composers, exploring, analyzing, and redefining the boundaries between painting and sound. Her philosophical research centers on epistemology and aesthetics. Jeske’s work has been exhibited across Europe and the United States.
www.evajeske.com
Anke Lucks (*1974) is a trombonist and composer based in Berlin. With her trio Insomnia Brass Band (featuring A. Schlichting on baritone saxophone and C. Marien on drums), she regularly tours jazz clubs and festivals. She is also internationally active with her project Die Ursonate (with Potsa Lotsa and Thomas Krüger), for which she composed the music. In addition, she performs with various ensembles, including Shmaltz, New Generation of Sister & Brotherhood (Baby Sommer), and Bonecrusher (M. Muche).
www.ankelucks.de
Adrian Prost (*1989) is a freelance trombonist based in Essen, moving fluidly between jazz and free improvisation. A member of the European avant-garde jazz collective The Dorf, he performs across the continent. With the brass band Rabatz!, he explores open composition and improvisation concepts, while his experimental trombone quartet The Unwetter blends noise, improvisation, and dynamic-expressive elements of ambient, choral, and minimal music.
Carlotta Armbruster (*2004) is a rising trombonist based in Cologne. She currently studies under Prof. Shannon Barnett at HfMT Cologne and is a member of the German National Jazz Orchestra. In May 2023, she was part of the Euroradio Jazz Orchestra of the European Broadcasting Union. As a soloist, she actively performs with her award-winning duo PLEXUS.
carlottaarmbruster.wordpress.com
Daniel Riegler is a freelance trombonist, composer, and dramaturge specializing in 20th- and 21st-century music. He is the founder of Studio Dan and co-founder of JazzWerkstatt Wien. He has collaborated with artists and ensembles such as George Lewis, Vinko Globokar, Elliott Sharp, Michel Doneda, Klangforum Wien, NDR Bigband, and SWR, as well as with experimental projects like Elektro Guzzi, Koenigleopold, and Dorian Concept.
riegler.weblog.mur.at
Etienne Nillesen is a Cologne-based percussionist, performer, and improviser. His exploration of the snare drum pushes the boundaries of its tonal and harmonic possibilities through innovative techniques and a meticulous approach to sound. His work reimagines the snare drum as a complete sonic entity, transforming it from a percussive instrument into a rich source of melodic and harmonic material. His innovative approach has gained him international recognition.
etiennenillesen.com
Maria Trautmann (*1990) is a jazz trombonist, improviser, and director. After studying jazz trombone at Folkwang University of the Arts in Essen and theater directing at Toneelacademie Maastricht, she founded the band Wir hatten was mit Björn and HILDE. As a longtime member of The Dorf, she received the WDR Jazz Award 2020. She works across disciplines as a musician, director, and performer.
www.maria-trautmann.de
Matthias Müller has been a key figure in Berlin’s improvisation scene since 2004, collaborating with renowned musicians such as John Edwards, Mark Sanders, George Lewis, Johannes Bauer, and Jeb Bishop. He is a member of the Splitter Orchester, Berlin’s leading Echtzeitmusik ensemble, and was part of the German-French Jazz Ensemble under Albert Mangelsdorff. Alongside his work in improvised and contemporary music, he composes for theater and dance. His projects have led to over 50 album releases, including on his own label MaMüMusic.
matthiasmueller.net
Matthias Schuller is a freelance musician based in Cologne. He performs in various projects, including the experimental duo hofmeisterschuller with pianist Jonathan Hofmeister, the contemporary music collective electronic ID, and large ensembles such as Fuchsthone Orchestra, Vagrancy Ensemble and the folk-pop group Sophie’s World Music.
www.matthiasschuller.com
Maximilian Wehner (*1984) is a trombonist and composer with a passion for jazz, improvisation, and groove-oriented music. A member of the jazz/kraut/noise collective The Dorf and the jazz-punk septet Botticelli Baby, he tours extensively throughout Europe. His smaller formations, such as Random Idiots (experimental electro-groove), The Unwetter, and wehnermehner, explore new sonic landscapes and innovative improvisational approaches.
Moritz Anthes is a trombonist, composer, and arranger based in Essen. He began his journey in jazz in 2008 and has since developed a distinct artistic voice. His solo debut Von einem der viele was released in late 2021. He is also an active member of Jan Klare’s large improvisation orchestra The Dorf.
umlandrecords.bandcamp.com
Moritz Wesp (*1990) is a Cologne-based musician and composer who incorporates self-built analog-electronic sound generators and digital synthesis into his trombone performances. His primary focus is on his work with the collective NOW MY LIFE IS SWEET LIKE CINNAMON, while remaining an active part of Cologne’s jazz and improvisation scene.
moritzwesp.com
Rie Watanabe is a Japanese percussionist specializing in contemporary and improvised music. She is based in Cologne, where she also leads the projects TRAVEL MUSICA and Honda Yuya Archive, dedicated to preserving and revitalizing the work of Japanese composer Yuya Honda. Since 2021, she has directed the ensemble DEHIO.
riewatanabe.net
Till Künkler studied in Cologne, Frankfurt, and New York. He is a versatile musician, regularly performing with groups such as the Andromeda Mega Express Orchestra, Omniversal Earkestra, and Ensemble Modern. He has worked with Dave Taylor & NY Trombone Consort, Roscoe Mitchell, Toshinori Kondo, and Klangforum Wien, and has toured in the USA, Mali, Brazil, and across Europe. His artistic focus lies in bridging contemporary music, jazz, and free improvisation.
ensemblegarage.de
Yoshiki Matsuura (*1991) was born in Miyazaki, Japan. He studied trombone at Musashino Music University in Tokyo and later at the Hochschule für Musik und Tanz Köln, where he completed master’s degrees in trombone and contemporary music interpretation. Currently, he is active in contemporary music, music theater, and orchestral projects and performs with Ensemble I Transiti, Ensemble DEHIO, and Travel Musica.
Insta_Yoshiki.M
BONECRUSHER is funded by: Ministry of Culture and Science of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia and Kunststiftung NRW
Trombones : Anke Lucks, Adrian Prost, Carlotta Armbruster, Daniel Riegler, Maria Trautmann, Matthias Muche, Matthias Müller, Matthias Schuller, Maximilian Wehner, Moritz Anthes, Moritz Wesp, Till Künkler, Yoshiki Matsuura
Percussion: Rie Watanabe & Etienne Nillesen
Media Art: Eva Jeske
Emily Pothast about the CD Release at THE WIRE: “Like Vinko Globokar and Stuart Dempster before him, German composer-trombonist Matthias Muche explores this often-overlooked instrument’s potential to extend the sonic possibilities of the human body…an immersive journey through a labyrinth of rushing air, swelling drones, tinkling bells and gong. At times, this composition moves like Tibetan ritual music; at other times it feels reminiscent of Xenakis, sculpting time into shapes that twist and glimmer along a virtual horizon. A powerful recording that combines depth and levity to masterful ends.”
YouTube Playlist BONECRUSHER
Presskit - Matthias Muches BONECRUSHER - (photo, audio-files, logos)
The Slide Area - trombonist Matthias Muche expands the instrument’s possibilities with the visceral Bonecrusher ensemble…The visceral quality of Muche's playing arises from physical involvement with the instrument that extends to the vibrational and molecular level. - THE WIRE 455, J. Cowley
BONECRUSHER was founded in 2020 by Matthias Muche and continues his artistic series with innovative music that explores new paths, deepening the sonic richness and expressive power of the instruments.
Matthias Muche is a Cologne-based trombonist and composer who represents a generation of composer-performers for whom the boundaries between jazz, improvisation, and contemporary music are increasingly dissolving. As a composer and virtuoso improviser, he draws from the rich heritage of 20th- and 21st-century avant-garde movements. His interdisciplinary work spans music, theater, dance, and video art, leading him to perform in over 50 countries. After studying music in Amsterdam, Rotterdam, and Cologne, he completed a postgraduate degree at the Academy of Media Arts Cologne and founded the Frischzelle Festival for Intermedia Performance and Contemporary Art e.V.
In his performances, Muche employs a wide range of experimental playing techniques: integrating speech and soundscapes into the trombone, spatial sound modulation through external sound funnels, interactive computer graphics for synesthetic perception, and the raw power of the unaltered instrument.
In 2021, Matthias Muche was awarded the WDR Jazz Prize in the Improvisation category. The jury’s statement highlighted: "Matthias Muche is a researcher, a virtuoso improviser who persistently works to unlock new sonic spaces and reflect on his instrumental abilities from ever-changing perspectives. A trombonist who continuously explores the potential of his instrument through new encounters with fellow musicians—be it in the intimate setting of a duo or the monumental soundscapes of BONECRUSHER. Muche has mastered the art of staging the trombone while simultaneously unfolding his own musical intuition at the highest level of innovation. Through virtuosic playing and an impressive physical stage presence, he transcends the boundaries of conventional jazz performance and embarks on sonic expeditions beyond well-trodden paths.” - Tinka Koch WDR 3
BONECRUSHER premiered in 2020 at Kunststation Sankt Peter in Cologne. In 2021, the performance was released as a CD by the renowned Austrian music label COL LEGNO and was nominated for the German Record Critics’ Award in January 2022.
https://linktr.ee/matthiasmuche
At selected venues, BONECRUSHER collaborates with visual artist Eva Jeske, creating subtle audiovisual productions with a minimalist interplay of light and shadow.
Eva Jeske (*1990) is a visual artist and philosopher (M.A.) based in Cologne. Her work focuses on abstract, expressive painting, graphics, and installation, ranging from dynamic, rhythmically complex structures to minimalist compositions. Deeply influenced by music, her paintings serve as a medium for collaboration with musicians and composers, exploring, analyzing, and redefining the boundaries between painting and sound. Her philosophical research centers on epistemology and aesthetics. Jeske’s work has been exhibited across Europe and the United States.
www.evajeske.com
Anke Lucks (*1974) is a trombonist and composer based in Berlin. With her trio Insomnia Brass Band (featuring A. Schlichting on baritone saxophone and C. Marien on drums), she regularly tours jazz clubs and festivals. She is also internationally active with her project Die Ursonate (with Potsa Lotsa and Thomas Krüger), for which she composed the music. In addition, she performs with various ensembles, including Shmaltz, New Generation of Sister & Brotherhood (Baby Sommer), and Bonecrusher (M. Muche).
www.ankelucks.de
Adrian Prost (*1989) is a freelance trombonist based in Essen, moving fluidly between jazz and free improvisation. A member of the European avant-garde jazz collective The Dorf, he performs across the continent. With the brass band Rabatz!, he explores open composition and improvisation concepts, while his experimental trombone quartet The Unwetter blends noise, improvisation, and dynamic-expressive elements of ambient, choral, and minimal music.
Carlotta Armbruster (*2004) is a rising trombonist based in Cologne. She currently studies under Prof. Shannon Barnett at HfMT Cologne and is a member of the German National Jazz Orchestra. In May 2023, she was part of the Euroradio Jazz Orchestra of the European Broadcasting Union. As a soloist, she actively performs with her award-winning duo PLEXUS.
carlottaarmbruster.wordpress.com
Daniel Riegler is a freelance trombonist, composer, and dramaturge specializing in 20th- and 21st-century music. He is the founder of Studio Dan and co-founder of JazzWerkstatt Wien. He has collaborated with artists and ensembles such as George Lewis, Vinko Globokar, Elliott Sharp, Michel Doneda, Klangforum Wien, NDR Bigband, and SWR, as well as with experimental projects like Elektro Guzzi, Koenigleopold, and Dorian Concept.
riegler.weblog.mur.at
Etienne Nillesen is a Cologne-based percussionist, performer, and improviser. His exploration of the snare drum pushes the boundaries of its tonal and harmonic possibilities through innovative techniques and a meticulous approach to sound. His work reimagines the snare drum as a complete sonic entity, transforming it from a percussive instrument into a rich source of melodic and harmonic material. His innovative approach has gained him international recognition.
etiennenillesen.com
Maria Trautmann (*1990) is a jazz trombonist, improviser, and director. After studying jazz trombone at Folkwang University of the Arts in Essen and theater directing at Toneelacademie Maastricht, she founded the band Wir hatten was mit Björn and HILDE. As a longtime member of The Dorf, she received the WDR Jazz Award 2020. She works across disciplines as a musician, director, and performer.
www.maria-trautmann.de
Matthias Müller has been a key figure in Berlin’s improvisation scene since 2004, collaborating with renowned musicians such as John Edwards, Mark Sanders, George Lewis, Johannes Bauer, and Jeb Bishop. He is a member of the Splitter Orchester, Berlin’s leading Echtzeitmusik ensemble, and was part of the German-French Jazz Ensemble under Albert Mangelsdorff. Alongside his work in improvised and contemporary music, he composes for theater and dance. His projects have led to over 50 album releases, including on his own label MaMüMusic.
matthiasmueller.net
Matthias Schuller is a freelance musician based in Cologne. He performs in various projects, including the experimental duo hofmeisterschuller with pianist Jonathan Hofmeister, the contemporary music collective electronic ID, and large ensembles such as Fuchsthone Orchestra, Vagrancy Ensemble and the folk-pop group Sophie’s World Music.
www.matthiasschuller.com
Maximilian Wehner (*1984) is a trombonist and composer with a passion for jazz, improvisation, and groove-oriented music. A member of the jazz/kraut/noise collective The Dorf and the jazz-punk septet Botticelli Baby, he tours extensively throughout Europe. His smaller formations, such as Random Idiots (experimental electro-groove), The Unwetter, and wehnermehner, explore new sonic landscapes and innovative improvisational approaches.
Moritz Anthes is a trombonist, composer, and arranger based in Essen. He began his journey in jazz in 2008 and has since developed a distinct artistic voice. His solo debut Von einem der viele was released in late 2021. He is also an active member of Jan Klare’s large improvisation orchestra The Dorf.
umlandrecords.bandcamp.com
Moritz Wesp (*1990) is a Cologne-based musician and composer who incorporates self-built analog-electronic sound generators and digital synthesis into his trombone performances. His primary focus is on his work with the collective NOW MY LIFE IS SWEET LIKE CINNAMON, while remaining an active part of Cologne’s jazz and improvisation scene.
moritzwesp.com
Rie Watanabe is a Japanese percussionist specializing in contemporary and improvised music. She is based in Cologne, where she also leads the projects TRAVEL MUSICA and Honda Yuya Archive, dedicated to preserving and revitalizing the work of Japanese composer Yuya Honda. Since 2021, she has directed the ensemble DEHIO.
riewatanabe.net
Till Künkler studied in Cologne, Frankfurt, and New York. He is a versatile musician, regularly performing with groups such as the Andromeda Mega Express Orchestra, Omniversal Earkestra, and Ensemble Modern. He has worked with Dave Taylor & NY Trombone Consort, Roscoe Mitchell, Toshinori Kondo, and Klangforum Wien, and has toured in the USA, Mali, Brazil, and across Europe. His artistic focus lies in bridging contemporary music, jazz, and free improvisation.
ensemblegarage.de
Yoshiki Matsuura (*1991) was born in Miyazaki, Japan. He studied trombone at Musashino Music University in Tokyo and later at the Hochschule für Musik und Tanz Köln, where he completed master’s degrees in trombone and contemporary music interpretation. Currently, he is active in contemporary music, music theater, and orchestral projects and performs with Ensemble I Transiti, Ensemble DEHIO, and Travel Musica.
Insta_Yoshiki.M
BONECRUSHER is funded by: Ministry of Culture and Science of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia and Kunststiftung NRW