Not Far From Here introduces award-winning pianist Julia Hulsmann’s new group in which her long-time working trio with Marc Muellbauer and Heinrich Kobberling (together now for 17 years) is expanded to a quartet with the addition of Berlin-based saxophonist Uli Kempendorff.

In Kempendorff’s playing “both suppleness and unruliness are in ample supply”, Jazzthetik has noted, and he brings a fresh energy to the H lsmann group concept. Each member of the quartet brings in original compositions, with Julia herself contributing five pieces for the album. Repertoire is augmented by a timely cover of “This Is Not America”, David Bowie’s 1980s hit single (co-composed by Bowie, Pat Metheny and Lyle Mays), which appears here in a quartet version and a solo piano variation.

The album, recorded at Studios La Buissonne in the South of France in March 2019, is issued as the Hulsmann Quartet embarks on an extensive European tour. Dates include ECM50 events at the London Jazz Festival and Le Flagey, Brussels.