Elevation - Concertos for Harmonica and Piano

Elevation explores the search for new sonic possibilities. At it's core is the conviction that the diatonic harmonica possesses far more expressive capabilities than are often attributed to it. It is precisely it's direct connection to the player that makes it an instrument capable of navigating a wide variety of musical worlds. A formative companion on this journey of discovery was Howard Levy. Working with him opened up classical music as a new field for the diatonic harmonica. His Concerto for Diatonic Harmonica and Orchestra remains one of the few significant concert works for this instrument and became an important source of inspiration. The long-standing collaboration between Benyamin Nuss and Konstantin Reinfeld arose from the same curiosity. Over many years, the two musicians developed a shared musical language that bridges classical, jazz, improvisation, and crossover. This deepened musical rapport gave rise to the desire to expand the sound of their duo with the colors of an orchestra. With Elevation, this idea became a reality. The new works by Wolf Kerschek and Benyamin Nuss take up the duo's characteristic sound and transport it into a larger orchestral space. In this way, the album combines the familiar with the new and opens up new perspectives for the harmonica. Elevation was recorded in February 2023 with the Detmold Chamber Orchestra at the Kulturstiftung Marienmünster. The title represents a path on which curiosity, openness, and artistic development give rise to new musical horizons.