In his latest project, Austrian guitarist Wolfgang Muthspiel invites two outstanding musical personalities to work together: Linda May Han Oh, bassist from Australia, and Lionel Loueke from Benin, Africa. Three different musical colors, three continents, three players who are formative on their instruments unite in a concert program that captivates on the one hand with virtuosity and rhythmic power, and on the other hand opens up a wide space in which the protagonists meet in an improvised trialogue.

The three musicians are known from jazz contexts: Linda May Han Oh played bass in Pat Metheny's quartet for many years and has earned an excellent reputation as the leader of her own projects. Lionel Loueke, on the other hand, is a key member of Herbie Hancock's band and has added his own unique expression to the guitar in his own trio and solo projects. Wolfgang Muthspiel, whose past four releases have appeared on the ECM label, explores another facet of his work in this new project.

What the three musicians have in common, as different as they are, is, among other things, the quality of tone that gives the project its title: the touch. When musicians can be recognized by a single note, based solely on their sound, then they have found their own voice. After an initial rehearsal and recording phase in May 2023, TOUCH will be heard on Europe's concert stages for the first time in Spring 2025.