Kris Davis and Wolfgang Muthspiel are beginning a new duo collaboration. Drawing on newly composed material as well as fresh interpretations of existing music, the project promises to be compelling on multiple levels. Coming from distinctly different aesthetic backgrounds, they nonetheless share key influences and a deep mutual respect for each other’s work. Central to the duo is a shared commitment to both rigorous composition and genuine, in-the-moment improvisation—allowing structure and spontaneity to coexist in a constantly evolving musical dialogue.

Kris Davis is a New York–based pianist, composer, and bandleader whose work moves fluidly between composition and free improvisation. Widely recognized for her distinctive harmonic language and rhythmic precision, she has led numerous acclaimed projects and collaborated with many leading figures in contemporary jazz and experimental music. Davis is also deeply involved in artist-led initiatives and has been influential as a curator and advocate for creative music.

Wolfgang Muthspiel is an Austrian guitarist and composer whose career spans modern jazz, classical music, and experimental forms. A former member of the Vienna Art Orchestra and longtime ECM recording artist, he is known for his refined sound, lyrical sensibility, and structurally sophisticated compositions. Muthspiel’s work consistently explores the balance between written material and open improvisation, often drawing on influences from chamber music as much as jazz.