David Helbock & Julia Hofer Faces Of Night

Pianist David Helbock and bassist/cellist Julia Hofer have a lot in common. Both are playful, curious and like to experiment. And both think perfectionistically. It's a musical combination that works out. "I was looking for a new counterpart for a small line-up," says David Helbock, "because my last project 'Austrian Syndicate' is a matter of the heart, but also very complex, with a large band and many keyboards. Together with ACT boss and producer Andreas Brandis, the idea of an acoustic duo reduced to the emotional essence was finally born – a format in which musical communication works more directly than in any other line-up. And I quickly came up with Julia Hofer. What appealed to me most about her was the versatility – and the wealth of opportunities that result from it. Already in the first rehearsal I was immediately fascinated by her energy. You can tell she enjoys the music from the first note she plays, and that motivated me enormously and is also very contagious."
Bassist and cellist Julia Hofer goes her artistic way in reverse order than usual. As a rule, musicians learn their craft, become known and then start giving lessons. After her bachelor's degree in Vienna and while she was still doing her master's degree at the Popakademie Mannheim, Julia Hofer had already clicked millions of times teaching videos for the online music retailer Thomann. She also teaches in Klagenfurt and is part of the team of the Vereinigte Bühnen in Vienna. Julia Hofer is a fast-starter on the Austrian scene, scion of a musical family, classically trained as a cellist, but stylistically comprehensive. She not only poetically bows cello, but also grooves with energy-based nonchalance through the pop, funk and fusion repertoire from Earth, Wind & Fire and Jamiroquai to the Yellowjackets. The special thing about it: Julia Hofer does not stick to the sheet of music. She prefers to listen carefully, transcribes herself and comes particularly close to the originals by sometimes changing something appropriately.
No wonder that David Helbock is enthusiastic about his new duo partner. After all, the pianist and composer from Vorarlberg is himself extremely versatile. With the Trio Random Control, he has established his reputation as a border crosser with humorous virtuoso skills on the instrument. Projects such as his "Playing John Williams" (2019) or "Austrian Syndicate" (2023), on the other hand, anchor him in chamber music solo piano as well as in neo-fusion with jazz-rock force. David Helbock is one of the most versatile musicians in the Austrian music world. And he loves duos such as "Playground" (2022), which has taken him to European club and festival stages together with singer Camille Bertault.
"Faces Of Night" with Julia Hofer, spans the stylistic arc even further. The album's repertoire includes songs by Prince as well as Thelonious Monk's "'Round Midnight", the cello-coloured version of Georges I. Gurdjieff's "Woman's Dance", a soul-funky interpretation of Eddie Harris' "Freedom Jazz Dance" or the surprising adaptation of motifs from Robert Schumann's "Piano Concerto in A minor". "We also tried out effects at the beginningRT, but that became less and less. In the meantime, it is an almost acoustic album except for the electric bass. And we really rehearsed and tried out a lot. A beautiful process".
A few guests joined them, the ballad-like lyrical trumpeter Lorenz Raab, with whom David Helbock has been playing for two decades, and the singer Veronika Harcsa, also a long-time acquaintance, who improvises at "Freedom Jazz Dance" and gives Monk's "Round Midnight" Hungarian lyrics. "And I've wanted to do something with Mahan Mirarab for a long time. He plays a guitar with two necks, one of them fretless, which in turn suits Gurdjieff very well," says David Helbock of the second participant on "Faces Of Night", with whom he has not worked before.
And so finally a very communicative and musically wildly energetic team came together in the studio together with producer Andreas Brandis. In the centre, Julia Hofer acts with great openness and precision and, as a counterpart, David Helbock, who is driven in an inspired way. The guests expand the basis and take the music beyond this constellation with new colors. "In the end, it all fits well with the title 'Faces Of Night'. For me, the night is a borderline space where opposites are possible and complement each other." The Faces of the Night open the gates for a new duo, which launches into the music world with their debut album full of enthusiasm and energy.

Selections:

Side A
1. Woman's Dance - Version 1
2. Dancing To Another Space
3. Dark Soul
4. Purple Rain
5. Night Dances
6. Song Of A Dream
Side B
1. Freedom Jazz Dance
2. Clara's Romance
3. Theme From Piano Concerto In A Minor
4. Sexy M.F.
5. 'Round Midnight
6. Woman's Dance - Version 2