History

The Roots

„Music as a living experimental field — where not only different musical styles but also diverse personalities and cultures meet.“
This has always been Udo Redlich’s guiding principle — in his early years as co-founder of Neuschwanstein, through many musical milestones, and today, especially with Talking Earth Trust.

 

The Journey

From 1972 to 1975, Redlich developed, with unbridled creativity in the group Neuschwanstein, a style that went far beyond the label “classical rock.” The band’s core lineup — Thomas Neuroth (keyboards), Klaus Mayer (flute, synth), Theo Busch (viola), Udo Redlich (guitar), Werner Knäpel (bass), and Volker Klein (drums) — quickly gained regional popularity with only a few concerts.

From 1975 to 1978, he undertook formative studies in classical guitar with Michael Koch and Werner Lendle at the Music Conservatory in Saarbrücken, and in musicology at the University of Saarland. At the same time, he gained important experience in smaller ensembles: a folk-rock duo with Theo Busch (guitar/viola), rock-jazz duos (guitar/guitar) with Eberhard Flöter and later David Leffler (formerly US Air Force Band), as well as musical experiments with Peter Kiefer (bass) and Peter Kihm (guitar, formerly Puma) or Patrice and Jean-Luc Ristic (guitar, bass, drums) from the Lorraine group Licorne.
Delicate studio work, including for the LP of the German-Canadian folk-rock duo Rontheo (Theo Busch/viola, Ron DiTomaso/guitar and vocals), provided key impulses for the further development of his personal style.

The Crossroads

Switching to the study of psychology and training as a meditation teacher (TM) also opened new musical horizons for Redlich. In the early 1980s, under the motto “…hurrah – we’re hippies again”, he formed the jazz-infused rock band Rick Domino and the Hit Kids with guitarist Gerhard König (ex-Farewell), Reini Becker (bass, later BliesBlues Band), Michael Klein (drums, later Double You), and Werner Klein (vocals).

In 1991, he recorded his widely acclaimed composition Pampelmusensuite for classical guitar on CD, which was positively reviewed in specialist music journals (Musikblatt 3/93; Gitarre und Laute 1/94; Pavillon 12/92, Tabou 12/92; Saarbrücker Zeitung 26.9.92/14.1.93). Pampelmusensuite was his way of addressing life’s challenges musically and psychologically. The solo album Pampelmusensuite by Udo Redlich is available on iTunes and Amazon.

Talking Earth Trust

Talking Earth Trust (TET) emerged in 1995, not as a coping strategy, but from a love of musical diversity. It quickly developed into an intercultural, open-ended symphonic band of global citizens. The musicians represent a wide array of musical traditions from all corners of the globe: Kurdish saz, Argentine flutes, Nigerian, Persian, and German singing, classical guitar, rock drums, jazz saxophone, and much more.

Amid all the color and folklore, TET has always preserved the musical identity of each member, creating a unique sound that goes beyond ethno-pop while conveying a powerful message: together, yet each in their own way, united by respect for one another and a shared love of music — the universal language understood everywhere, be it pop, rock, jazz, blues, folklore, or classical.

To date, over three dozen musicians have performed with TET in various lineups. This creates not only a unique “aural fingerprint” for each piece but also a distinct sound with every lineup. The same composition never sounds the same twice. Redlich’s guitar serves as the foundation, inviting open encounters with both other cultures and one’s own musical heritage.

All compositions are original, and the musicians continually explore the surprising moments that arise in rehearsals or on stage — a new solo, a slight change in rhythm. TET reinvents its music in the best sense, without dissolving into a group of individualistic soloists. The pieces are designed with appealing melodic arcs and colorful textures, and naturally, they are danceable, propelled by rhythms that continually inspire the musicians.
The driving force behind the Trust is undeniably Udo Redlich, who ensures the musicians stay connected and engaged. Even when he brings them en masse into the studio, the results are transformative.

The Musicians Then and Now

The 1997 CD Sensible Regions featured many well-known Saarland musicians supporting Udo Redlich’s guitar:

  • Joaquina Siquice-Rawe (vocals), former prima ballerina of the Mozambican State Ballet, leads her groups Mananga and Titombi performing African dance and folklore.

  • Kevin Alamba (vocals, percussion) is known in Saarland and Nigeria with his groups Art of Gerfros and Dynamix.

  • Dede Mazietele (vocals, bass, percussion) specializes in African music and dance from his home country Zaire with bands Tout Choc Musica and Les Bantous.

  • Susanne Thewes (vocals, flute) performs with the police music corps and in numerous show bands like Chain of Fools and Sir Henry’s.

  • Djamshid Keikavussi (vocals, ney) brings Persian folklore and classical music.

  • Deniz Renkligül (saz) performs Kurdish and Turkish folklore in various ensembles.

  • Franco Jaquès (vocals, guitar) plays Argentine and South American folklore and pop music in Duo Latino and Duo Milonga.

  • Hector Zamora (bass, Mexico) is an experienced musician and arranger of Latin American music, both as a soloist and in groups like TrioSol and Tumbao.

  • Sergio Parra (flute, sax, Chile) is a multi-instrumentalist active in ensembles like Duo Ambiente.

  • Oliver Strauch (drums) is one of the region’s most versatile and renowned jazz drummers, performing with jazz greats like Bobby Shew and Lee Konitz.

  • Leo Ortega (percussion, Argentina) plays a range of traditional Latin American rhythm instruments in Iguacu, Cadé a Grana, and Campana.

  • Majid Afrakhteh (percussion) engages in Persian music and Samba, among other projects.

 

Talking Earth Trust Live

TET has performed multiple times at the Saarbrücken Old Town Festival (1997, 2002, 2005), twice at the Gustav Regler Literature Prize ceremonies in Merzig (2005, 2008), in collaboration with the Saarland State Theatre, the University of Saarland, various Saarland adult education centers, for a live radio broadcast on Saarland by Deutschlandradio Berlin (1997), at the presentation of the BUND environmental share (1997), and since 2001 has accompanied many readings by Saarland-born writer Martin Conrath. Other highlights include the Patton Foundation summer festival (July 9, 2011) and the Saarland Art Prize award ceremony (2018).

Here you can find our albums