The creative willfulness is immediately apparent. Just like the playful spirit. A photograph of four athletes, visibly marked by a match, in trilogue with the group’s name and the album title: Stefan Schöler Trio – “Psalm B”. A strange, seemingly peculiar combination. Stefan Schöler is aware of this. He accepts the unpredictable nature of the effect. The photograph, taken in 1966 on the sidelines of a Gaelic football match in Dublin, Ireland, by the world-renowned photographer Evelyn Hofer, had a magnetic pull on him. He discovered it in a Hofer exhibition at the Museum Kurhaus in his hometown of Kleve in the far west of Germany. Subsequently, he did everything in his power to obtain permission to use it. The question of ‘why?’ dissolves satisfyingly in his keen explanation. The pianist and composer follows his intuition unconditionally while also closely reflecting on his decisions. In this case, he quickly arrives at a “profoundly human” element that speaks to him in the image. This, in turn, corresponds to Hofer’s intention to capture naturalness. How does the album title fit that? Schöler doesn’t construct any intellectual bridges. For him, the term ‘psalm’ has become a kind of key to a spiritual context in his work over the years, initially stemming from a specific religious connection. He opened this up a few years ago. Even in the expression of these athletes, he senses some of that. That’s sufficient. And it might just ignite the curiosity and openness for the sonic content of this album, Schöler’s fourth, in receptive listeners.

The introduction to the opening title track sets the tone. In Schöler’s highly personal touch, one hears and feels precisely the human element that moves him. His playing is delicate yet possesses an effortless clarity. This almost songlike, narrative melodic expression recurs throughout the pieces, even in complexity. His close connection with bassist Lukas Keller and drummer Simon Bräumer, both of whom also played on the previous album “Folklore,” results in an unbroken flow. The pianist’s leading voice is built on an open, flexible interplay – the leader is also an attentive team player. Motifs from he world of sports are also hidden in the titles of some compositions: “Ronny & Francesko” (bobsledding) and “Bob Chigarillo” (bodybuilding), loosely based on real-life figures. Schöler draws inspiration from both, exploring themes of culture and world politics. A sense of self-will that nourishes imagination and philosophical reflection. A connection to nature, a sense of sublimity, a longing for peace (even if only in one’s own neighborhood), the lingering effects of a past relationship – no matter how profound: Stefan Schöler is audibly searching for positivity, for hope. This is unmistakably present in this album like it is in the previous one. Many of us, he is convinced, have our own personal psalms. Just like the athletes on the cover. He follows his own