Jazz gig of the week: Michael Wollny's [em], various venues

Over four albums for hip German label ACT, German pianist Michael Wollny, bassist Eva Kruse and drummer Eric Schaefer have forged a reputation for thrilling live shows that few can match for velocity or lyricism.

Wollny is a master of melodic invention, moving from suspended ambience to all-out rhythmic attack with the forces of [em] around him – Krause's supple bass and Schaefer's restless improvisation.

The trio explore the unexpected, fusing European jazz, punk energy, art music, the Classical tradition, and the collision of chance events in one maelstrom. Drawing on explorations of Mahler, Schubert and Kraftwerk, plus original works, these gigs promise to be the mothers of all invention.

Band on the Wall, Manchester (0161 834 1786; bandonthewall.org) Mon; Vortex Jazz, London N16 (020 7254 4097; vortexjazz.co.uk) Tue; Adrian Boult Hall, Birmingham Conservatoire (0121 331 5901; conservatoire.bcu.ac.uk) Wed; North Devon Theatres, Barnstaple (01271 324242; northdevontheatres.org.uk) Thur

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