There is something decidedly cool about the vibraphone even though it’s not the type of instrument you hang out with or stick under your arm like Chet Baker or Lester Bowie. Yet over two albums, Pascal Schumacher and his Quartet have given the vibe a new burst of interest. They combine cool school competency with a patina of blues, which is all the more surprising as they come from tiny Luxembourg. Schumacher has recorded with Australia’s Kristen Cornwell and picked up a handful of awards. The albums “Change of the Moon” and “Personal Legend” have both been played a lot at the Music Wire office. Lyrical, stylish and yet still cool, this is jazz we could vote for.
Schumacher will be appearing with and without his quartet in January. An important date will be January 22, when they appear at the Majestic Hotel in Cannes for the prestigious Midem music fair.

Click through for his concert dates.

19/01 Jazz in Theater Mechelen (B)

Kristen Cornwell Quintet
Kristen Cornwell vocals
Christophe Devisscher bass
Frederic Leroux guitar
Jonas Burgwinkel drums
Pascal Schumacher vibes

21/01 CCR Neumünster Luxembourg (L)
Marc Demuth Quintet
Maxime Bender sax
Pascal Mohy piano
Marc Demuth bass
Yves Peeters drums
Pascal Schumacher vibes

22/01 MIDEM - Cannes (F) Hotel Majestic

Pascal Schumacher Quartet
Jef Neve piano
www.midem.com Christophe Devisscher bass
Jens Duppe drums
Pascal Schumacher vibes

23/01 Conservatoire Luxembourg Luxembourg (L)

Tati - A Work in Progress
Marc Demuth bass
ACTAR Guy Frisch drums
Laura Schroeder conception
Pascal Schumacher vibes

26/01 CCR Neumünster Luxembourg (L)

Pascal Schumacher Quartet
Jef Neve piano
Concert de midi Christophe Devisscher bass
Jens Duppe drums
Pascal Schumacher vibes

26/01 L’Adagio Thionville (F)
Pascal Schumacher Quartet
Jef Neve piano
www.concertandco.com Christophe Devisscher bass
8.30 pm Jens Duppe drums
Pascal Schumacher vibes

27/01 Centre Culturel Greiveldange (L)
Big Band Opus and guests
Serge Bausch leader
Pascal Schumacher vibes

29/01 ? D’Siinchen vu Letzebuerg (L)

Nadine Kauffmann narrator, sax
Christophe Devisscher bass
Pascal Schumacher vibes

31/01 ? D’Siinchen vu Letzebuerg (L)

Nadine Kauffmann narrator, sax
Christophe Devisscher bass
Pascal Schumacher vibes

Listen to Pascal Schumacher Quartet on Last.fm