Brüninghaus is probably best known outside Germany for his sympathetic keyboard settings for Jan Garbarek, if not his collaborations with Volker Kreigel’s Spectrum and bassist Eberhard Weber’s Colours.

This release, his debut under his own name, is part of the Luminescence series that, among other things, focusses welcome attention on classics from the ECM vaults that have perhaps undeservedly become overlooked with the passage of time. Brüninghaus is a most interesting keyboard player in that he is able to combine the putative opposites of thinking in broad, sweeping soundscapes and minimalism. He also brings his European sensibly to the fore in largely avoiding the bebop paradigm, instead building his line through minimalistic textures and patterns.

All these characteristics are brought to the fore on Freigeweht, also the name of his band he formed with Kenny Wheeler and Jon Christensen, whose contribution to this album ensures its timeless appeal. Hoff, on oboe and cor anglaise, uses their haunting tonal qualities to profound effect with key interventions wholly appropriate to the music. Wheeler, who at this time brought his talent to a number of ECM albums, shines throughout, especially ‘Spielraum.’ Jon Christensen displays his stylistic adaptability to the extent that the absence of a bass does not detract from the overall sweep of Brünighaus’ compositions. In fact, in some places the repetitive effect of maximum minimalism creates its own rhythmic momentum that doesn’t leave much for a bass to do anyway. This is well-conceived music whose depth can be plumbed again and again.