The sound is fascinating and difficult to grasp. There are pressured, confusing, multi-layered and sometimes atmospheric elements. There are edges and corners alongside almost unperceivable open transitions. The sound images shift and flow into each other or sublime. New constellations seem to develop consistently. Piano and guitar form broad sounds which transition into filigree solo outbursts within seconds. The saxophone seems calm and sonorous in one second and then explosively rapturous the next, similar to Coltrane’s playing. The rhythm group forms a stable foundation on the one hand, and shapes the playing in surprising ways on the other. Saxophonist Christoph Irniger’s band is called Pilgrim – a Swiss quintet hat has been through different schools and some of its members have played with musicians like Nasheet Waits, Chris Potter, Nils Wogram and Ohad Talmor. In an interview Irniger referenced one of his inspirations: Miles Davis’ second quintet that deals with the material incredibly freely. Spontaneity is Pilgrim’s secret, which can wonderfully be heard on “Big Wheel” (2016), their last record released on Intakt Records. And, of course, in fantastic live concerts too.
