More than 10 years of partnership between American trombonist, composer Steve Swell and German tenor saxophonist, bass clarinetist and composer Gebhard Ullmann after their successful first collaboration, The Ullmann/Swell Quartet featuring bassist Hill Greene and drum legend Barry Altschul continues now with a new version of the quartet featuring renowned Chicagoans, Michael Zerang, drums, percussion and Fred Lonberg-Holm, cello. This ensemble is appropriately named The Chicago Plan. The plan of course is to integrate the leaders’ fresh written material to inspire and be in the service of groundbreaking areas of improvisation that include world rhythms, universal textures and other worldly sound experiences.
All the accumulated experience of the members of The Chicago Plan forge a personal approach and vocabulary that is as natural as it is exhilarating. Their collective approach is loose and cool and is constantly full of life. That’s a good plan for any band whether the band is from Chicago or New York (Swell’s home), or Berlin (Ullmann’s home) or any other city in the world for that matter.

Tracks 1, 3, 5 and 6 by Gebhard Ullmann (GEMA), 2 and 4 by by Steve Swell (Steve Swell Music, BMI)

Recorded on September 22nd, 2015 at Kingsize Sound Labs, Chicago, IL, by John Abbey | Mixed by Walter Quintus | Mastered by Walter Quintus
Produced by Steve Swell and Gebhard Ullman | Executive production by Pedro Costa for Trem Azul | Design by Travassos