Eurojazzist Randomizer #10: It’s Trumpet Time
Featuring Martin Eberle and Dave Adewumi, plus some festival recommendations
Over the past few weeks, together with my dear editors from Radio Belgrade – Ivana Neimarević and Ksenija Stevanović – I’ve been working on planning the new concert season at the renowned Studio 6 of Radio Belgrade. In fact, this work began toward the end of last year, when we held a meeting at the Austrian Cultural Forum in Belgrade and applied for funding for the 2026 season. On that occasion, we proposed inviting the Austrian HAEZZ Trio to perform in Belgrade, featuring saxophonist Štěpán Flagar, trumpeter Martin Eberle, and double bassist Tobias Vedovelli.
I saw them live in early 2024 at the 3 Tages Jazz festival in Saalfelden and thoroughly enjoyed their concert. When I later noticed their name on the NASOM list for the 2025/2026 cycle (New Austrian Sound of Music – a sponsorship program funded by the Austrian government), I knew there was a good chance we could secure the budget and bring them to Belgrade. That’s exactly what happened – a few weeks ago we received official approval, and we’ve scheduled their concert at Studio 6 for June 10.
I’ll certainly be writing about the HAEZZ a few more times as the concert approaches. For now, I’d like to focus on trumpeter Martin Eberle, who has been very much on my radar lately. In last week’s Randomizer, I wrote about András Dés’s album Decisions We Make, where Eberle is the trumpeter and contributes significantly to the overall quality with his sound. The same applies to HAEZZ, where the full range of his playing really comes into its own.
If I had to give a quick reference point for his musical approach, I’d call him a “European Dave Douglas.” This doesn’t necessarily mean that Eberle plays in the same style, but rather that he evokes a similar emotional response in me as Douglas does. What I appreciate about Eberle – as with Douglas – is that his playing is complex and diverse, yet never excessive. It’s engaging enough to draw my attention specifically to his lines, but always perfectly integrated into the broader musical context. There’s also a fine balance in his playing between the complexity of his trumpet lines and their emotional charge.
When I listen to Eberle, I can’t point to a single defining trait – no particular trick or signature phrase. Instead, what makes him exciting is his multi-layered approach, which allows him to remain compelling across different settings. This is especially true in more intimate ensembles like the HAEZZ Trio, where the trumpet sound has room to fully emerge. Here’s one highlight from 3 Tage Jazz that I recorded on my phone from the second row:
This week, another trumpeter caught my attention – Dave Adewumi, who released his debut album The Flame Beneath the Silence a few weeks ago. Although he’s a young musician, it’s fair to say he was well prepared for his recording debut. Among other things, he has already played with Jason Moran and Dave Douglas on their albums, and this year we’ll see him on tour with Mary Halvorson in her new band Canis Major.
So, he has already gained significant experience alongside some of the leading American musicians of today, and it’s no surprise that his debut features a top-tier lineup – none other than Joel Ross, Linda May Han Oh, and Marcus Gilmore. After a few listens, my impression is that Adewumi could have a similar impact on the scene as Ambrose Akinmusire did some fifteen years ago.
It’s that kind of talent – a captivating player who raises the intensity of the music simply through his presence. In this quartet, it feels like a particularly good choice to collaborate with Ross, whose warm tonal palette provides balance to the overall sound; adding more horns would likely have been too much. In any case, after a few listens, The Flame Beneath the Silence already feels like one of the most interesting jazz albums of the year, once everything is said and done.
Jazz Across Europe
Last year, Hans Falb – founder and director of the Konfrontationen festival in the small Austrian town of Nickelsdorf – passed away. The festival ran for 45 years and was one of the most exciting events dedicated to free jazz and improvised music in Europe. As is often the case when a festival is driven by the immense enthusiasm of a single individual, there was concern within the community about what would happen next. Would the festival continue at all? A few days ago, a social media announcement confirmed that there will at least be a program this year. I’m sure it will be outstanding, as always.
In the meantime, Jazz Cerkno has also announced its full program. I previously mentioned that Mary Halvorson will perform there with her band Canis Major (where we’ll also be able to catch the aforementioned Dave Adewumi); now Ingebrigt Håker Flaten has been announced as well, with his magnificent sextet (EXIT) KNARR, along with Cosmic Ear, whom I wrote about back in February and recently in my interview with Goran Kajfeš. There’s plenty more to look forward to, so if you’re free from May 22–24, here’s a strong recommendation.
One of the festival’s guests will also be Fred Frith, a guitar legend whose influence extends far beyond genre boundaries. I’m especially glad that Frith will also be coming to Belgrade this May for the Ring Ring festival, performing solo. His 2005 concert at the same festival is still remembered, and I believe this one will be just as exciting.
Previously on Eurojazzist:
