The German-born, NYC-based, Berklee honors grad pianist Axel Schwintzer thrives on versatility, and the multi-national makeup of his band reflects that. A dual-sax/keyboards/guitar/bass/drums band playing jazz that veers from funky pop-jazz (“Second Guess”), to acoustic modern (“Caveat”) to sharp bebop (“Wishing Well”), where Casper Gyldensoe’s guitar chops is just one of many highlights by Axel’s talented group. The songs themselves are also a star attraction, as the leader managed to construct and arrange tunes that sound appealing and fresh at a surface level while keeping it busy and interesting with a lot of things going on harmonically underneath that surface. Schwintzer once studied under Russell Ferrante and cites the Yellowjackets as his primary influence, composition-wise. Thus, it’s safe to issue this axiom about Uncommon Sense: if you like the Yellowjackets, you’re going to like Axel’s Axiom, too.

~Victor Aaron, Something Else Reviews!

 

A staunch disciple of improvised music, pianist-composer Axel Schwintzer leads his sextet Axel's Axiom along a promenade of jazz-inspired motifs in his debut offering Uncommon Sense from Armored Records. Balancing the tracks between harboring melodic sensibilities and discordant hooks, Axel's Axiom showcases their ability to act independent of another as well as playing as a solid unit in harmony with one another.

~Susan Frances, Yahoo - Full Review…Click Here

 

Schwintzer asserts himself quite well with some of his best work on "Wishing Well," penned for and dedicated to his father, starting softly but developing into one of the bright highlights of the disc. Much like its title, the group finishes with the up-tempo fast-paced burner "Fast Track," closing Uncommon Sense with a bang and not a whimper, and successfully fashioning a profound musical statement that's hard to ignore.

~Edward Blanco, All About Jazz - Full Review…Click Here

 

That moment has come for German born, New Yorked based, pianist/composer Axel Schwintzer, and he has answered with an uncommonly dazzling debut CD: Axel's Axiom - "Uncommon Sense," that presents an air-tight rhythmic argument, cementing the basic truths that, not only does he have 'the right stuff,' but that, he's one hell of a pianist to listen to. His playing is stylish, but not flowery and cloyed. He has a light touch that always manages to find places to swing. His pianism subtly, earnestly, draws the listener into that area close to the emotional 'center' where every soloist lives or dies.

~CJ Bond, Jazz Muzic - Full Review…Click Here

 

Axel's Axiom: Uncommon Sense (2011, Armored): Axel is Schwintzer, b. in Köln, Germany, plays piano/keyb; studied at Berklee, wound up in New York. Group has two saxophones, guitar, bass, drums. Postbop, not fusion in any recognizable sense, although a certain rock-friendliness seems to be part of the idea. B+(*)

~Tom Hull, Jazzprospecting

 

With enough complexity to keep the interest of the jazz listener, "Caveat", "No Brainer", yet very accessible to any ear, "Tout Compte Fait", Schwintzer music has an international flavor also. The first track "Leaps and Bounds" is a jazz samba. "Vorfreude" and "Fast Track", also has a distinct Brazilian flavor.  The band goes into a more traditional swing in "Pretty Ugly" and "Wishing Well" while in "Second Guess" they venture into a more modern sound, kind of fusion with a tinged of smooth jazz.  All the members of the sextet have excellent moments throughout the album. Schwintzer improvisations are rich and detailed and always compounded of elegance and freshness. Nishiguchi gorgeous sound on tenor sax is only surpassed by his lyrically intense playing. Alex Terrier solos are equally intense yet poetic and refined. While Gyldensoe improvised with a perfect balance of surprise and coherence.

~Wilbert Sostre, Jazz Inside Magazine

 

This is a fine set composed, arranged and led by pianist Alex Schwintzer. The balance of tempos matches the moods of the session, a balance of spirited play and romance. Alex Terrier (as) and Aki Nishiguchi (ts) do a fine job with the melodies while guitarist Casper Gyldensoe and Schwintzer handle the rhythms and occasional leads. Evan Gregor (b) and Marko Djordjevic (d) anchor the beats. We especially enjoyed "Pretty Ugly", "Second Guess" and "Caveat".

~D. Oscar  Groomes,  O's Place Jazz Magazine

 

Axel Schwintzer does one thing we seem to be able to count on foreigners to do very well, keep the classic piano jazz trio sound alive and well as well as amplify upon the tradition and the vibe when called upon.  With a bunch of well-seasoned jazzbos at his side, this young import, who needs no Hamburger Helper added to his special sauce, collides the 50s, 60s and 70s into a seamless mash up that keeps you engaged from start to finish.  An auspicious debut that hopefully shows there’s more on the way.  Well done.

~Chris Spector, Midwest Record Recap Volume 35/Number 4

 

It is definitely worthy of attention. The group is led by pianist/keyboardist Axel Schwintzer and features some great musicianship helping out, including Marko Djordjevic on drums, Evan Gregor on bass, and Aki Nishiguchi on tenor sax. It’s just jazz that sounds good for the sake of sounding good “and sane."

~John Book, This is Books Music

 

Axel Schwintzer & crew (Casper Gyldensoe on guitar, Marko Djordjevic on drums, Evan Gregor on acoustic & electric bass, Alex Terrier on alto sax & Aki Nishiguchi on tenor) offer up 10 high-energy tunes that go the full range… from the superb sax work on the stunning opener, “Leaps & Bounds” to the jazz march atmosphere of “Pretty Ugly“, they play tunes that will remain at the top of your playlists, with great changes (especially on the rhythm side of things) that will totally enchant your ears.  The down & funky beats on “Second Guess” made it one of my favorite tracks (thus farly) in 2012.  It was the rhythmic cross-talk on the 6:43 “No Brainer” that made if my favorite track… no matter what your “style” of jazz listening, you’ll find something to love on this great CD.  I give it a MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED, with an “EQ” (energy quotient) rating of 4.98

~Rotcod Zzaj, Improvijazzation Nation