Vincent Meissner Trio

Bild: Niklas WagenbrennerBild: Niklas Wagenbrenner

With Assembled Instincts, the Vincent Meissner Trio presents a new programme and an exciting side of their musical work, which has developed in particular through the intensive interaction in the trio. At the centre are pieces and miniatures that have been created from free improvisation. Over the years, the ensemble has developed a common musical language, shaped by instincts, trust and an exceptionally intuitive way of interacting. Raw, immediate and supported by a growing collective intuition, the concert on 29.12.2026 at the Blue Note Dresden captures this special moment in a unique way.

“A new hope for German jazz,” declared MDR Kultur, while Deutschlandfunk went further: “a band that will take off like a rocket.” The American magazine DownBeat heard “excitement and enthusiasm” in Vincent Meissner’s 2021 debut album “Bewegtes Feld”, produced by his mentor Michael Wollny. It all began in 2017, when Henri (born 2002) and Vincent (born 2000) met at music school in Dresden to jam and make music together. Two years later, in 2019, Josef (born 1998) joined the band. Henri and Vincent currently live and work in Leipzig, Josef in Paris. Their music seeks to convey impressions of the present beyond words and evoke emotional experiences that transcend the tangible moment—in a completely natural way. Alongside numerous awards, including the “Förderpreis der Deutschen Jazzunion” (2019), the “Mitteldeutscher Deutscher Jazzpreis” (2020), first prize at the “Junger Münchner Jazzpreis” (2021) and first prize at the “Internationaler Biberacher Jazzpreis” (2022), the band released their highly acclaimed second album “Wille” on the renowned ACT label. In recent years, the Vincent Meissner Trio has also played at major clubs, events and festivals across Europe, including Angrajazz in the Azores (2021), Jazzopen Stuttgart (2022), Getxo Jazzfest (2023) and Off-Beat Basel (2024). The American magazine Something Else! writes about “Wille”: “Following in the footsteps of the Esbjörn Svensson Trio and The Bad Plus, the Vincent Meissner Trio brings a youthful freshness to the established piano trio format. Clearly, this is an ensemble also in tune with more recent currents in contemporary music, such as Louis Cole. And the interplay between the three is remarkable.” As a logical continuation, their third album, “Eigengrau”, was released in July 2025, also on ACT.

“The more you discover, the more you find yourself returning to the beginning,” says pianist Vincent Meissner. The music on his third album, “Eigengrau”, is characterised by a deeply introspective outlook. And by deeply personal experiences and encounters. Together with his regular trio – bassist Josef Zeimetz and drummer Henri Reichmann – Vincent Meissner has developed his own musical language, inspired by artists such as The Bad Plus, Esbjörn Svensson, Vijay Iyer and his mentor Michael Wollny.
“Eigengrau describes the moment of darkness behind closed eyes,” explains Meissner. “But when you rub your eyes, you suddenly see patterns. Everyone sees something different – structures, objects, or perhaps nothing at all. It’s similar with our music – it conjures up its own images for everyone.” On stage, the trio is constantly on the move, often bursting with sheer energy. In the studio, Vincent Meissner, together with his fellow musicians and producer Andreas Brandis, seeks reduction and concentration – of melodies, textures and moods. For the album, the three zoom in closer; every note is an exploration, every track an interplay – finely honed and profound.
For all its depth and complexity, “Eigengrau” is an album of songs. Each of the nine tightly focused pieces opens up an emotional space—often in pastel colours, full of subtle shades and hypnotic allure.