"Substrate" is a collaborative album by Brooklyn-based saxophonist and multi-instrumentalist Caleb Wheeler Curtis and Swiss pianist Laurent Nicoud. The two musicians first met in New York in 2018 and began performing together, focusing on improvisation and original compositions. The album comprises five pieces by Nicoud, five by Curtis, and two joint improvisations. Recorded in a single afternoon session during their January 2020 tour in Germany and Switzerland, the opening and closing tracks are entirely improvised, while the remaining pieces showcase a diverse collection from both composers. The music seamlessly blends American and European traditions, taking listeners on a unique journey with each track.
After a COVID length delay, Curtis and Nicoud reunited for a tour in Switzerland in 2024 that was documented in a concert film performance at Klavierwerkstatt in Liestal, as seen in the video below.
on Substrate with Laurent Nicoud
"The effort is very organic, noticeably unforced and keenly expressive."
"The ingenuity, narrative, and ever-new melodies that tell a story catch the ear. A great album!"
