rodrigo amado the bridge
Rodrigo Amado tenor saxophone
Alexander von Schlippenbach piano
Ingebrigt Håker Flaten bass
Gerry Hemingway drums
In December 2023, Walter already welcomed master pianist Alexander von Schlippenbach, the German pianist who, together with a group of like-minded spirits, turned the European jazz scene upside down in the 1960s. Now, the 88-year-old pioneer returns to Walter, this time as part of saxophonist Rodrigo Amado's quartet.
Over the past twenty years, the Portuguese saxophonist has grown into one of the central figures of the international improvisation scene, through collaborations with kindred spirits such as Joe McPhee, Chris Corsano, Joëlle Léandre and Paal Nilssen-Love — all heavyweights who have also played at Walter. This time, he joins forces with von Schlippenbach, as well as bassist Ingebrigt Håker Flaten, who was part of Walter’s official opening in 2018 with The Bureau of Atomic Tourism. Completing the quartet is Gerry Hemingway, who made his mark in Anthony Braxton’s legendary quartet and developed a unique musical language on the drums.
The Bridge’s two albums — Beyond The Margins (2023) and Further Beyond (2025) — have been widely acclaimed, as have their exhilarating live performances. The Bridge is not only a direct homage to Sonny Rollins, but also a bridge between different languages, backgrounds and generations, brought together through improvisation driven by unstoppable energy and razor-sharp focus.
“(...) free music, and especially great, inspired music like that of The Bridge, is first and foremost about empathy and compassion, on stage, with the audience, and further beyond.” - Free Jazz Collective