With Continuum – Jazz Cats of Tomorrow Vol. 4, Austrian pianist and composer Thomas Quendler marks a significant milestone in his artistic development. Recorded as the winner of the Ö1 Jazz Scholarship 2025, the album is a coproduction of Radio Ö1 / ORF, Quinton Records and the JAM Music Lab Private University Vienna, documenting a defining moment in the career of one of Austria's most promising young jazz musicians.

For this recording, Quendler expands his long-standing piano trio into the quintet Motion, bringing together an outstanding ensemble of musicians: Jakob Gönitzer on bass, Andreas Reisenhofer on drums, Max Glanz on tenor saxophone, and Johannes Mandl on guitar. Together, the five musicians create a sound that is both intimate and expansive—deeply rooted in interaction, trust, and collective expression. Their music is atmospheric and exploratory, balancing lyrical sensitivity with rhythmic intensity and fearless improvisation.

The title Continuum reflects Quendler's personal and artistic philosophy. For him, the word describes an uninterrupted process of growth—a constant cycle of learning, questioning, searching, and rediscovering. Rather than viewing development as a destination, he embraces it as an ongoing journey, one that shapes both the musician and the person. The compositions on the album emerged over an extended period and capture a wide emotional spectrum.

Delicate, transparent moments stand alongside passages of restless energy and momentum. Quendler is particularly fascinated by states of transition, where musical ideas emerge, evolve, and dissolve again. His music invites listeners into a space where emotions remain open-ended, honest, and often beautifully contradictory.

Expanding the trio with guitar and tenor saxophone opens up an enriched sonic palette, allowing these nuances to unfold with remarkable depth. Alongside Quendler's original compositions, Continuum also features carefully selected jazz standards that have accompanied him throughout his musical journey. Rather than serving as repertoire alone, these pieces have become part of his own musical continuum—living works that evolve with every performance: Oliver Nelson's Stolen Moments receives an inventive and energetic reimagining, revealing unexpected perspectives while preserving the composition's timeless character. Kenny Barron's Voyage showcases the ensemble's exceptional cohesion through its intricate, serpentine lines and culminates in a confident, soaring piano solo from Quendler that captures both technical brilliance and emotional clarity.

As acclaimed jazz journalist Jeff Levenson writes in the album notes, Continuum documents a true coming-of-age moment. It stands as evidence not only of Thomas Quendler's artistic maturity, but also of the strength of Austria's jazz education and the successful collaboration between Radio Ö1, the JAM Music Lab Private University Vienna and Quinton Records. With Continuum, Thomas Quendler presents an album that is thoughtful yet adventurous, intimate yet expansive. It is a musical statement about movement, transformation, and continuity—an invitation to experience jazz as something living, evolving, and profoundly human.

About Thomas Quendler Motion

Continuum is inseparable from the musicians who brought it to life. More than a recording project, Thomas Quendler Motion represents an ensemble built on years of shared musical experiences, mutual trust, and close friendship. At its core is the long-standing trio of Thomas Quendler, double bassist Jakob Gönitzer, and drummer Andreas Reisenhofer, whose collective sound has developed through years of performing together. For Continuum, the group expands into a quintet with guitarist Johannes Mandl and tenor saxophonist Maximilian Glanz, opening new sonic possibilities while preserving the intuitive interplay that defines the ensemble. Having collaborated in numerous projects over the years, the five musicians have developed a shared musical language rooted in openness, attentive listening, and a deep understanding of one another. This strong personal connection allows the music to unfold with remarkable freedom and authenticity, balancing individual expression with collective purpose. Each member contributes a distinctive artistic voice, yet it is their interaction that shapes the identity of Thomas Quendler Motion. The result is an organic, dynamic ensemble sound—one that extends far beyond the sum of its individual parts and forms the emotional and creative foundation of Continuum.

About the Jazz Scholarship

Radio Ö1, the public culture radio channel of ORF (Austrian Broadcasting Corporation), JAM MUSIC LAB Private University Vienna and Quinton Records are supporting the young and promising generation of Austrian jazz musicians in their quest for more visibility and audibility. The Ö1 Jazzstipendium (Ö1 Jazz Scholarship) is intended to give one of their representatives an important impulse for a perhaps even international career. Every year, the Ö1 Jazzstipendium supports an outstanding young artist in contemporary jazz and offers a full scholarship at the JAM MUSIC LAB Private University.