MICHAEL ARBENZ, FLORIAN ARBENZ, RON CARTER

THE ALPINE SESSION: ARBENZ VS ARBENZ MEETS RON CARTER

Gabriel Recording

Michael Arbenz, piano; Florian Arbenz, drums; Ron Carter, bass.

From the very first song, I settle in to enjoy this awesome trio.  Their CD arrived from Switzerland, where the legendary Ron Carter recorded with these twin brothers, Michael and Florian Arbenz in March of 2024. Michael is the pianist and Florian plays drums. They come from a very musical family.  Their mother was a cellist, and their dad was a pianist and director of the Music School in Basel, a city located in the Northwestern area of Switzerland.  It is commonly considered to be the capital of that region, very close to the Swiss, German and French borders.

Early influences on the twins were music by Django Reinhart, Keith Jarrett and a taste of Jimi Hendrix.  They also loved the early Miles Davis music, when Ron Carter played bass with him.

“Our mother was very interested in the music of foreign people, African music in particular. We listened to her records,” Michael explained in a recent interview with Hanspeter Künzler.

“Ever since I can remember, we had a room together as twins, made music together.  It was always part of life and of communication between us.  There were always lots of instruments.  We used them too, like toys. There were all sorts of things: accordions, balalaikas, banjos, we just picked them up and tried them out.  You can also put together drums from other things,” Florian Arbenz (the drummer) shared.

The brothers were given classical music lessons and were introduced by their parents and their family friends to the music of 1920s. That included albums by Louie Armstrong, the music of New Orleans, Benny Goodman, Fats Waller, Bill Evans and more through a record club that their parents subscribed to. There was always music playing in their home. As teens, the brothers also enjoyed Michael Jackson and Miles Davis. They formed a school band at aged sixteen. Shortly after, they met a classical bassist who loved and played jazz.  Together with the twins, he formed their first jazz trio. That was the group who recorded their debut album. Later, they toured with Greg Osby.

The brothers say they have always distanced themselves from traditionalists.

“When we heard Greg Osby in New York, we were very young.  We wrote him a letter and enclosed our CD,” Michael Arbenz said that’s how they became affiliated with the American saxophonist, composer, producer and educator.

Ron Carter has been another one of their most influential musical heroes. He joins the ranks of Dave Liebman, Marc Johnson, Kirk Lightsey and Bennie Maupin, who they greatly admire. The Miles Davis recordings that featured Carter were staples in their musical diet at the Arbenz home. All these years later, what a thrill to work with one of their idols!

The artistic beauty and creative freedom in this album had me play it three times in a row.  Enjoy!

Reviewed by Dee Dee McNeil

Buy Us a Cup of Coffee!

Join the movement in supporting Making a Scene, the premier independent resource for both emerging musicians and the dedicated fans who champion them.

We showcase this vibrant community that celebrates the raw talent and creative spirit driving the music industry forward. From insightful articles and in-depth interviews to exclusive content and insider tips, Making a Scene empowers artists to thrive and fans to discover their next favorite sound.

Together, let’s amplify the voices of independent musicians and forge unforgettable connections through the power of music

You can donate directly through Paypal!

Subscribe to Our Newsletter