Origin Artist

BOX is a Zurich based group that was founded in 1999 by pianist Claudia Ulla Binder. Dieter Ulrich and Christian Weber play together in many projects that cover a great variety of styles. Christian Weber is at home as well in the experimental electronic field as in contemporary music and jazz. While for Ulrich BOX may be the most sound orientated group he plays in, for Binder it is the "jazziest" context she has chosen. She has focused on the sounds that can be produced inside the piano for a long time and is extensively using them in her video project and her compositions. BOX is an opportunity to work with rhythm in her own way. She is not being accompanied but challenged by a rhythm section that is deeply involved in an open but clearly rhythmical approach to improvised music. The three of them are equally dedicated to an improvised music that reflects structure at the same time as it is constructing it. This sounds much more intellectual than it is, as all three combine passion, emotion and intellect easily. The Title "Ten Variations on an unknown Theme" refers to the fact that every piece on the CD shows this ability to communicate about music while creating it in a different way.

Claudia Ulla Binder - piano

Studied in Berlin Musicology and Psychology till 1983, Masters Degree in Psychology. Early eighties performances of John Cage's Songbooks with German composer Dieter Schnebel. 1983-86 studies piano with US jazz pianist Walter Norris in Berlin. Since 1986 in Switzerland where she is well known as an original voice of the avant-garde music scene. 1996-2001 studies classical music with Erna Ronca and Eva Serman. Member of the WIM, Werkstatt fur Improvisierte Musik, Zurich. She has worked with John Butcher, Phil Durrant, John Russell, George Lewis, Tom Varner, and Vinny Golia among many others. Binder has received many grants and scholarships for her work from Swiss Cities and Foundations.

Dieter Ulrich - Drums

Born in 1958; living in Zurich. Studied piano with Irma Schaichet (1965-1980) and picked up the drums in 1972. First steps in the Rock and Jazz field as co-leader of various groups with guitarist Harald Haerter, the most successful being "Douce Ambiance."

From 1983 until his death in 1995, Ulrich teamed with Urs Blchlinger. He toured and/or recorded as a sideman or leader with Omri Ziegele, Bob Mover Trio/Quartett, Kurt Gramiger, Glenn Ferris, Luten Petrowsky, Tom Varner, Dave Taylor, Amb�- Nathanael Su Trio, Trevor Watts, Lindsay L. Cooper, Christoph Gallio, Christoph Baumann, Jacques Siron, Urs Voerkel, Alfred Zimmerlin, Co Streiff, Claudia U. Binder, Jurg Solothurnmann, Vinny Golia, and own groups.

Christian Weber - double bass, composition, substructural noises

Studied in Austria with Adelhard Roidinger, Wayne Darling and Ernst Weissensteiner. He received various grants by the city of Zurich and the Pro Helvetia. Is touring extensively all over the world. He lives and works in Zurich and Berlin and has been involved in concerts and collaborations with Peter Kowald, Otomo Yoshihide, Ir�ne Schweizer, Charles Gayle, Lol Coxhill, Gunter Muller, Norbert Moslang, Jason Kahn, Robert Dick, Elliot Sharp, Alfred Zimmerlin, Joachim Kuhn, Werner Ludi, Gene Coleman, Stephan Wittwer, Lucas Niggli, Nils Wogram, Willem Schulz, Andres Bosshard, Boris Hauf, Tom Varner, Roger Rotor, Fredy Studer, Michael Griener, Michael Thieke, Antoine Chessex, Gilles Aubry, Dave Phillips, Norbert Pfammatter, Johannes Bauer, Richard Koch, Ludwig Bekic, Jacques Demierre, Olaf Rupp, Martin Schutz, Phil Minton, Jorge Sanchez-Chiong, Charlotte Hug, Kai Fagaschinski, and more...

RECORDINGS FEATURING BOX

BOX

Ten Variations On An Unknown Theme

Origin 82451

Electric Squeezebox Orchestra

Cheap Rent

OA2 Records 22120