Reis / Demuth / Wiltgen – Freedom Trail (Releasedate: 19.06.2026)

Reis / Demuth / Wiltgen – Freedom Trail (Releasedate: 19.06.2026)

Posted on 19. Mai 2026 by Qrious Music

 

Reis – Demuth – Wiltgen   “Freedom Trail”

ABOUT THE ALBUM

Together with CAM JAZZ, REIS DEMUTH WILTGEN announces Freedom Trail, an ambitious new project created in collaboration with the Luxembourg Philharmonic.

At the heart of this release is the large-scale reimagining of the trio’s original repertoire for symphony orchestra. Their music – known for its lyrical depth, rhythmic sophistication and strong narrative character – is expanded into a rich orchestral sound through newly crafted arrangements by pianist Michel Reis and seven-time Grammy Award-winning composer and conductor Vince Mendoza. With the trio at its core, joined by the Luxembourg Philharmonic, this recording is a landmark in the journey of Reis Demuth Wiltgen, bringing together their intimate trio sound with the expansive palette of the symphony orchestra. The result is a work that moves fluidly between intimacy and cinematic scale, while remaining rooted in the trio’s distinctive musical identity.

Featured on three tracks is internationally acclaimed saxophonist Joshua Redman, adding another compelling layer to the project. Redman first encountered the trio in 2014 at Festival Charlie Free in France, where he immediately connected with their music. Over the years, he has performed several of their compositions with his own bands, and the musicians have collaborated on stage on multiple occasions, including a European tour as a quartet in 2018. The present recording grew out of a live performance in Luxembourg that brought together the trio, Vince Mendoza, Joshua Redman and the Luxembourg Philharmonic performing the trio’s music in orchestral arrangements. Many times postponed due to the pandemic, the project was finally recorded in July 2022. Freedom Trail will be released worldwide on vinyl and CD on June 19, 2026 by CAM JAZZ.

 

ABOUT THE TRIO

Pianist Michel Reis, bassist Marc Demuth and drummer Paul Wiltgen are three of Luxembourgs most prominent jazz musicians. They formed the REIS DEMUTH WILTGEN Trio in 1998 while still in high school and performed on a regular basis in and around Luxembourg for a couple of years. The trio reunited in 2011 eager to share their experiences and new music. Their self-titled first album was released on Laborie Jazz to widespread critical acclaim. Since the release, the band has toured extensively throughout the world and has appeared at major international jazz festivals in Europe, Asia, North and South America and Western Africa. The band’s sophomore album “Places In Between” was recorded in New York City and released on Double Moon Records in 2016. The trio is now signed to the Italian label CAM JAZZ for whom they have recorded two albums: “Once In A Blue Moon” (2018) and their latest release “SLY”.

 

 

RELEASE SCHEDULE

15.05.2026 – Single #1 – CROSS COUNTRY / Album announcement / Open pre-order

05.06.2026 – Single #2 – NEVER SEEN AGAIN

19.06.2026 – Release Day – Focus Track: FREEDOM TRAIL

 

Track List                                                                            

FREEDOM TRAIL                         9:30 – featuring Joshua Redman – (comp. M.REIS/arr. V.MENDOZA)

NEVER SEEN AGAIN                   5:09 – (comp. M.REIS/arr. V.MENDOZA)

CROSS COUNTRY                        9:49 – featuring Joshua Redman – (comp. M.REIS/arr. V.MENDOZA)

CATHERINE’S SONG                  5:00 – featuring Joshua Redman – (comp./arr. M.REIS)

VIRAL                                             5:52 – (comp. P.WILTGEN/arr. M.REIS)

HOME IS NEARBY                       3:54 – (comp. P.WILTGEN/arr. M.REIS)

DANTE                                            6:07 – (comp. M.DEMUTH/arr. V.MENDOZA)

WHERE THE HEART BEATS    6:17 – (comp./arr. M.REIS)

 

 

Line-Up

Luxembourg Philharmonic

Vince Mendoza – conductor

Michel Reis – piano

Marc Demuth – bass

Paul Wiltgen – drums

feat. Joshua Redman – saxophone

 

 

All tracks © KEPACH Music S.r.l. except tracks #3, 8 Edition Double Moon

? 2026 KEPACH Music S.r.l. Under License by CAM CINE TV MUSIC, Inc.

Produced by REIS DEMUTH WILTGEN  |  Executive Producer: Ermanno Basso | Co-Producer: Brian Seeger

Recorded in July 2022 at Philharmonie Luxembourg by Tijmen Zinkhaan & Werner Pensaert |

Assistant Engineer: Marko Schneider

Mixed in Huizen, Netherlands in July 2025 by Tijmen Zinkhaan

Mastering: Nathan James at Vault Mastering Studios, Phoenix, Arizona, USA

Cover photo © Marlene Soares