Philipp Rüttgers Trio - RE: SATIE Picturing the Invisible

Philipp Rüttgers - piano
Omer Govreen - double bass
Sun-Mi Hong - drums

Total runtime: 48:28

| Pure DSD256 recording | Pure DSD256 Master |

Re: Satie,  Picturing the Invisible

If you think of Erik Satie, keep the characteristic melancholy, enrich it with serenity and a subtle touch of humor, and place it in the context of a contemporary jazz piano trio, you begin to sense what this album is about: a quest to picture the invisible in Satie's music.

For his second trio album, German-born pianist and composer Philipp Rüttgers dives deep into the world of this most eccentric of French composers. Working through the complete volume of Satie's works (Éditions Salabert), he gathered fragments and motifs. He carefully reordered and reshaped them, the way you might build a new story from existing words. The abstract and enigmatic qualities of Satie remain present, yet the music breathes naturally within a modern piano trio language. Subtle traces of today's jazz vocabulary may surface, yet the voice is unmistakably Philipp's own.

His exploration led beyond the well-known Gymnopédies and Gnossiennes to lesser-known works such as Les Fils des étoiles and Uspud, written during Satie's Rosicrucian period, before he fell out with the order and founded his own religion, the Église Métropolitaine d'Art de Jésus Conducteur, of which he was famously the sole member.

Satie's preference for restraint and reduction echoes clearly in Philipp's playing: more expression through fewer notes when the music calls for it, and layered complexity when it unfolds. In that dynamic space, the interplay with drummer Sun-Mi Hong and bassist Omer Govreen gains remarkable depth. The trio listens closely, shapes balance organically, and allows transparency to become expressive strength.

Every note, pause, and interplay is charged with the obscure architecture of the music: the quiet tensions, the hidden harmonies, the spaces between motifs. The Trio uses that space to picture the invisible that makes the mysteriousness of Satie feel original and thrilling.

The Recording

Sound Liaison recorded the trio together in the same room, without headphones, allowing the musicians to interact as they would in a concert, finding their own natural balance without the need for compression or artificial separation. The album was recorded straight to DSD, preserving the full dynamic range, tonal clarity, and subtlety of the performance. The beautiful acoustics of Studio 2 on the Heuvellaan (Hilversum, the Netherlands) glue the sound together, while careful placement of both the central Josephson C700s and the spot microphones creates a sound field that feels intimate yet spacious, a clear, almost visual representation of three musicians sharing a stage.

"There is no such thing as an empty space or an empty time. There is always something to see, something to hear. In fact, try as we may to make a silence, we cannot."
- John Cage

The musicians

Philipp Rüttgers is an established and award-winning voice in the European jazz scene, known for his imaginative piano work, compositional depth, and innovative approach to modern jazz. His accolades include the prestigious North Sea Jazz Composition Assignment, and he is widely recognized for blending rhythmic drive with adventurous musical exploration.

Sun-Mi Hong is one of the leading voices of her generation on the European jazz scene. Known for her boundless creativity and strong musical personality, she has received major recognitions, including an Edison Award and the SENA Dutch Jazz Competition prize.

Omer Govreen is a highly sought-after double bassist, composer, and bandleader based in Amsterdam, active in the improvised jazz scene with projects such as the Omer Govreen Quartet and Garden Crack. His playing is marked by flexibility, warmth, and expressive depth.

Original Recording Format

• Recorded in: DSD256
• Mastered to: DSD256 via high-end analog chain
• All other formats: Derived directly from the original master

Recording Details

• Recording date: February 4&5, 2026
• Recording location: Studio 2, Heuvellaan Hilversum
• Recording, mixing, and mastering: Frans de Rond
• Producers: Peter Bjørnild & Philipp Rüttgers
• Executive producer: John Weijers (Zennez Records)
• Cover design: Frans de Rond
  
• Photography trio: Putri Julia Kristi
• Studio photography: Felipe Pipi

High-End Audio Equipment Used

• Microphones:
  Main: Josephson C700S
  Piano: AEA 88R
  Bass: Josephson C700A
  Drums overhead: Josephson C617
  Bassdrum: Josephson C715
• Speakers: Linkwitz LX521.4 & TAD Compact Evolution
  
• Power Amplifier: Moon 760A
• AD/DA converter: Merging Horus
• Mastering Headphones: Hifiman HE1000se, Sennheiser HD800S
• Cables & Power Conditioners: AudioQuest
• Network Switch: SOtM
  

Available Now – Exclusive High-Resolution Download

Re: Satie Picturing the Invisible is available on Sound Liaison in ultra-high-resolution audio formats.

Discover the subtle brilliance of Europe’s finest acoustic jazz musicians.

Catalog Number: SL-1085A