In the organizer's words:

Pianist David Helbock and bassist/cellist Julia Hofer have a lot in common. Both are playful, curious and like to experiment. And both are perfectionists. That's a musical combination that works. "I was looking for a new counterpart for a small line-up," explains David Helbock, "because my last project 'Austrian Syndicate' is a labor of love, but also very elaborate, with a big band and lots of keyboards. Together with ACT boss and producer Andreas Brandis, I finally came up with the idea of an acoustic duo reduced to its emotional essence - a format in which musical communication works more directly than in any other line-up. And I quickly came across Julia Hofer. What appealed to me most about her was her versatility - and the wealth of possibilities that this opens up. I was immediately fascinated by her energy from the very first rehearsal. You can tell she enjoys music from the very first note she plays, and that motivated me enormously and is also very infectious."

Bassist and cellist Julia Hofer follows her artistic path in reverse order to the usual way. As a rule, musicians learn their craft, become well-known and then start giving lessons. After her bachelor's degree in Vienna and during her master's degree at the Popakademie Mannheim, Julia Hofer already had millions of clicks on her teaching videos for the online music retailer Thomann. She also teaches in Klagenfurt and is a member of the Vereinigte Bühnen Wien team. Julia Hofer is a fast starter on the Austrian scene, scion of a musical family, classically trained as a cellist, but stylistically broadly positioned. She not only plays the cello poetically, but also grooves with energy-based nonchalance through the pop, funk and fusion repertoire from Earth, Wind [&] Fire and Jamiroquai to the Yellowjackets. The special thing about it: Julia Hofer doesn't stick to the sheet music. She prefers to listen carefully, transcribes herself and comes particularly close to the originals, sometimes changing things to suit.

No wonder David Helbock is delighted with his new duo partner. After all, the pianist and composer from Vorarlberg is extremely versatile himself. With the trio Random Control, he has established his reputation as a border crosser with humorously virtuoso skills on the instrument. Projects such as his "Playing John Williams" (2019) or "Austrian Syndicate" (2023) in turn anchor him in chamber music solo piano as well as in neo-fusion with jazz-rock power. David Helbock is one of the most versatile musicians in the Austrian music world. And he loves duos such as "Playground" (2022), which has taken him to European club and festival stages together with singer Camille Bertault.

"Faces Of Night" with Julia Hofer stretches the stylistic arc even further. The album's repertoire includes songs by Prince as well as Thelonious Monk's "'Round Midnight", the cello-colored version of Georges I. Gurdjieff's "Woman's Dance", a soul-funky interpretation of Eddie Harris' "Freedom Jazz Dance" or the surprising adaptation of motifs from Robert Schumann's "Piano Concerto in A minor". "We also tried out effects at the beginning, but that became less and less. It's now an almost acoustic album, apart from the electric bass. And we really rehearsed and tried out a lot. A beautiful process."

The international press is also enthusiastic about the album:

"You will buy this record - it's a double whammy."
The TIMES / best jazz albums of 2025

"One of the best new albums in a long time. [...] The diversity of sources - from Prince to Schumann, Eddie Harris and Monk to Gurdjieff/de Hartmann - provides proof that the jazz genre in general, and these musicians in particular, have few limitations."
Jazzwise / GB

"Sounds to meet the night, playful, curious and experimental."
3sat Kulturzeit / DE-AT-CH

"The many faces of the night, dancing and lost in dreams. In a condensed, intense narrative, a field of tension arises from sensitive reinterpretations from the great songbook of jazz, such as Eddie Harris' "Freedom Jazz Dance" or Monk's "Round Midnight", but also classical works - in addition to Gurdjieff, Schumann and songs by Prince."
Jazz thing / EN