Tobias Delius – tenor saxophone, clarinet
Jasper Stadhouders – guitar
Antonio Borghini – double bass
Christian Marien – drums
The Christian Marien Quartet presents the music from their new album ‚Beyond the Fingertips‘. It is a direct-to-disc production, without editing or post-production, carved into the lacquer in a single, unrepeatable take. Completely in the here and now. The quartet’s concerts are the same. Full of risk-taking and playful wit, the musicians open up a space where everything is allowed to be true – even mistakes and imperfections. They move in a field of tension between structure and freedom, abstraction and swing, chaos and calm. Christian Marien has assembled a group of fantastic musicians in his quartet: Antonio Borghini has played with Tristan Honsinger in the band ‘Hook, Line & Sinker’, with Hamid Drake, Alexander von Schlippenbach and many others, as well as with his band ‘Banquet of Consequences’ and the collective ensemble ‘Die Hochstapler’. Jasper Stadhouders is one of Europe’s most widely travelled improvisers, has shared the stage with Ken Vandermark, Dave Rempis, Jaap Blonk and many others, and is also involved in his own projects such as ‘Cactus Truck’ and ‘PolyBand’. And then there is the multi-award-winning Tobias Delius, member of the ICP Orchestra, who has played in Sean Bergin’s MOB, with Louis Moholo-Moholo, Han Bennink and many others, and of course in his own bands, the ‚Tobias Delius Quartet‘, ‚Booklet‘, ‚I Hear A Smell‘ and ‚Mullet‘. Their skill also lies in letting go and trusting the moment. The music then emerges in a place that cannot be held on to – beyond the fingertips.
New Album!
Christian Marien Quartett: Beyond the Fingertips
‘In other words, this release is a must-hear; the joy of these guys playing together is palpable in every note, every turn, and every single moment, and they demonstrate a deep understanding of their jazz history, incorporating it seamlessly into their performance. Hot stuff !!!!’
Mark Daelmans-Sikkel, Vital Weekly, Number 1500 (final issue), 27 September 2025
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‘This is not a record for passive listening or background comfort. It asks for attention, patience, and a tolerance for imperfection – qualities increasingly rare, and therefore precious. In return, it offers something honest: music as an irreversible act, carved into lacquer and time, reminding us that the most alive moments are often the ones we can’t quite hold onto.’
Vito Camarretta, Chain D.L.K., 22 December 2025
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‚The band is at once loose and rigorous, inhabiting the leader’s catchy, buoyant tunes, and the judicious space allotted for improvisation is expertly deployed, flowing with the natural logic a real working band achieves, …’
Peter Margasak, nowhere street, 15 December 2025
‘Composed passages glide smoothly into free improvisation – and then, with almost somnambulistic certainty, back into the fixed form.
The quartet’s playing is so perfectly balanced that ‘Beyond the Fingertips’ could be recorded live.’
Tobias Lehmkuhl, FAZ, 8 December 2025
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‘Running the gamut from in-the-pocket swing to anarchic freedom, Marien’s band can do it all, at times reminiscent of the pan-idiomatic tendencies of Michael Moore, Ernst Reijseger and Han Bennink in the Clusone Trio.
…, the quality of the music on offer makes for an engaging listening experience, with plenty of surprises which reward repeated encounters.’
Troy Dostert, AllAboutJazz, 8 December 2025
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„Pure sound alchemy!“
christophwagnermusic.blogspot.com, Scheibengericht Nr. 54, 10. Januar 2026
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‘More important, however, is the consistency in the trusting, organic harmony that prompted them to risk and realise a direct-to-disc recording at Emil Berliner Studios in Berlin. “Love All. Play!” That’s it, first and only take, pure and unadorned.’
Rigobert Dittmann, Bad Alchemy 130, 2025
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‘Perhaps it’s the presence of Delius or Marien’s Han Bennink-influenced drumming that gives this recording an ICP Orchestra feel as the quartet seamlessly transitions between various moods — serene to frenetic, joyful to meditative, swing to abstract and various shapes — the full quartet, trios and duos. …
It is a joy to hear how four musicians can create such an array of colors and patterns as they explore an ever-changing combination of melodies, rhythms and harmonies to create a mesmerizing music that will keep you listening with every twist and turn along the way.’
Abe Goldstien, papademusredux.com, 7 December 2025
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‘In the second track, there is a wonderful passage in which Delius first coos in the irresistibly seductive, vibrato-saturated Hawkins/Webster mode before suddenly bursting into a high-pitched squeal as if there were no tomorrow. But he soon regains his composure, because on this album no mood lasts longer than it takes to welcome it. This is lively music for all those who particularly appreciate jazz when it occasionally takes surprising detours into rarely explored territory. But it is also for those who are happy when, in the midst of the free interplay of forces, reliable thematic landmarks appear from time to time.’
Reinhold Unger, Jazz Podium, 12/2025 / 01/2026
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‘This is not a record for passive listening or background comfort. It asks for attention, patience, and a tolerance for imperfection – qualities increasingly rare, and therefore precious. In return, it offers something honest: music as an irreversible act, carved into lacquer and time, reminding us that the most alive moments are often the ones we can’t quite hold onto.’
Vito Camarretta, Chain D.L.K., 22 December 2025
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‘A lot is packed into these 33 minutes, stylistic diversity that has nothing to do with postmodern arbitrariness. There’s swing, sometimes a little rock, and now and then some free jazz squeaks. Despite all the diversity, the band’s unique sound and personality remain unmistakable. A joy: the vinyl is highly recommended.’
Christoph Haunschmid, freiStil, 15 December 2025
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„Ça joue, ça se cabre et cela prend du bon temps sans prétention, mais avec un talent vraiment collectif et un esprit un tant soit peu délirant.”
‘They play, they romp around and they have unpretentious fun, but with genuine collective talent and a slightly crazy spirit.’
Jean-Michel Van Schouwburg, orynx-improvandsounds.blogspot.com, 26 November 2025
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„Jeśli mamy ochotę na rasowy jazz ze zgrabnie zarysowanymi tematami i wytrawnymi improwizacjami splątanymi soczystymi, swingującymi synkopami, to kwartet Mariena zaspokaja te potrzeby w stopniu zdecydowanie ponadnormatywnym.”
‘If we’re in the mood for real jazz with clearly defined themes and sophisticated improvisations interwoven with juicy, swinging syncopations, then Marien’s quartet fulfils these needs to an extent that goes far beyond the norm.’
Andrzej Nowac, spontaneousmusictribune.blogspot.com, 2 January 2026
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‘Tension builds up and discharges; chaos is part of this exciting, temporary production.’
Ferdinand Dupuis-Panther, Jazzhalo, 6 December 2025
„This is a quartet that doesn’t just play together; they breathe together.”
Lynn René Bayley, The Art Music Lounge, 29 January 2024
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„The album is delightful in its casual range, straddling abstraction and swing with infectious craftsmanship, and getting to hear these guys stretch out on such simpatico material is a total pleasure.”
Peter Margasak, Blog: Nowhere Street, 8 April 2024
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„Tenor saxophonist/clarinetist Toby Delius contributes lighthearted vigour and quizzical restraint; guitarist Jasper Stadhouders is equally persuasive ballasting the music with heavy electric noise and atomising it with splintered note particles. Marien and bassist Antonio Borghini switch between rhythms and metre-free colouration with easy empathy. More, please!”
Bill Meyer, The Wire, August 2024
„In conclusion, „How Long Is Now“ is a triumph of modern jazz. It’s an album that defies easy categorization, much like the quartet itself. It’s playful, profound, chaotic, and serene all at once. …
The Christian Marien Quartett has created something truly special here—an album that captures the essence of living in the moment, of finding joy in the unexpected, and of asking the eternal question: how long is now?”
Vito Camarretta, CHAIN D.L.K., 6 August 2024
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„Drummer Christian Marien represents the kind of omnivorous musical sensibility that is so valuable in an age in which conventional musical categories seem increasingly irrelevant. …
Although some listeners might find its wide stylistic breadth disconcerting, the unfettered creativity that abounds on How Long is Now is evident. Marien is a highly inventive drummer, and this album gives him an ideal opportunity to display the many facets of his muse.”
Troy Dostert, All About Jazz, 23 April 2024
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„Strong players, outstanding tunes and telepathic interaction between the musicians definitely puts this release on my top records for 2024.”
Abe Goldstein, Papatamus Redux Blog, 11 May 2024
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„For the Christian Marien Quartett, “now” means not just living in the current moment, but thriving and getting full enjoyment from it. It means zigging when others might zag, making sounds that are uncommon but feel right and most importantly, having fun together.”
S. Victor Aaron, Something Else! 18 April 2024
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„It’s remarkable how these four manage to sound like one. It all sounds natural and easy, although they sometimes play highly complex music. … Fifty minutes of excellent music, improvised music of the highest order. Get this one: there’s much to enjoy on this release.”
Mark Daelmans-Sikkel, Vital Weekly, Number 1429, Week 12, 2024
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„Musik, die einen so an das Jetzt fesselt, dass es einen alles andere und sogar die Zeit vergessen lässt. Ausgetüftelt und aufgekratzt und so kurios groovy wie Chaplins Brötchentanz…”
Rigobert Dittmann, Bad Alchemy 123, 2024
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„Zo switcht het Christian Marien Quartett tussen abstractie en herkenbaarheid en dat maakt dit debuutalbum tot een fascinerend, avontuurlijk geheel.”
Herman te Loo, Jazzflits Nummer 415, 11 Maart 2024
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„Das Christian Marien Quartett spielt mit Kompass, aber ohne Diktat.”
Robert Mießner, TAZ, 27 March 2024
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„Quartet jazz très contemporain dynamique ultra-diversifié et très cohérent mené par le batteur Christian Marien connu pour son duo d’improvisation libre avec le tromboniste Matthias Müller Superimpose. …
Super quartette hyper cohérent prêt à par-dessus le quel brille la guitare incisive de Stadhouders, un sérieux client au style polymorphe. …
Je vais arrêter là la description pour attirer l’attention sur la profonde originalité de ce quartet, au répertoire idéalement conçu pour être déconstruit et subverti avec une conviction remarquable. Chaque instrumentiste tire son épingle du jeu. …
Félicitations, les gars. Vous m’avez convaincus !!”
Jean-Michel Van Schouwburg, orynx-improvandsounds.blogspot.com, 7 April 2024
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„Mariens Quartett ist eine weitere gelungene Berliner Mischung von erfahrenen und offenen Musikern, wie sie in dieser Dichte wohl nur die Hauptstadt bietet. Hier muss nichts bewiesen werden, alle bleiben gelassen und wissen was sie tun: so lenkt nichts von der Musik ab – und es bestehen gute Chancen, dass, wie angestrebt, Zuhörer und Musiker dabei im Jetzt versinken.”
Michael Bossong, Jazz Podium, 4-5 2024
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„Im intuitiven Zusammenspiel mit Tobias Delius (Saxofon), Jasper Stadhouders (Gitarre, Mandoline) und Antonio Borghini (Bass) entwirft er aus dem Stegreif eine zeitgenössisch-urbane Jazzmusik, die gleichermaßen zärtlich verspielt wie lautstark ekstatisch klingt – und betörend mitzubekommen, wie sich dabei die Klänge immer wieder zu eng hängenden, massigen Tontrauben verdichten.”
Martin Laurentius, JazzThing, April/May 2024
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„Er peitscht die Band unaufhaltsam voran und gibt seinen Kompagnons die Freiheit zu spielen, was immer sie wollen – Hauptsache, die Richtung stimmt. Und die weist immer nach vorn. Die Musik ist enorm energiegeladen und fokussiert.”
Wolf Kampmann, JazzThing, April/May 2024
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„Mariens Quartett spielt mit den komponierten, notierten Elementen, changiert zwischen rhythmisierten und rhythmisch freien Zuständen, agiert dabei immer zielgerichtet, feingliedrig, komplex. Jetzt und jetzt und jetzt.”
Hans-Jürgen Schaal, Jazzthetik, May/June 2024
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„Die Besetzung des Vierers garantiert eine exzellente Umsetzung der Nummern ebenso wie fesche Improvisationen. Tobias Delius (reeds), Jasper Stadhouders (g), Antonio Borghini (b) und Marien an den Fellen und Becken performen kompakt und geschlossen, als würden sie seit Jahren nichts anderes tun, als in dieser Formation zu musizieren. … Ein hervorragender Tonträger.”
Christoph Haunschmid, freiStil, July/August 2024
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„De mooi bedachte titel van het album referert aan het open karakter van muziek die haar betekenis ontleent aan het moment van schepping. Het is impro, al is veel van tevoren vastgelegd. Het ensemblegeluid vormt één warmbloedig, kloppend geheel als waren de musici organen van één lichaam.”
Ken Vos, Jazzism #3 2024
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„Es ist alles dabei, was man von einem modernen Jazz-Quartett erwartet: Kenntnis der Tradition, Virtuosität, Sinn für Melodien, die Fähigkeit, in freie Gefilde abzudriften und rechtzeitig wieder zurückzukehren. Komplexe Kompositionen, die nicht verkopft wirken, Swing und Groove und sowieso viel Gefühl. …
Am Ende ist es Christian Marien selbst, der mit seiner völlig uneitlen Souveränität an den Drums dem Album „How long is now“ (MarMade Records) jenes gewisse Etwas verleiht, das es aus der Masse der Quartett-Veröffentlichungen heraushebt. Man könnte es Coolness nennen.”
Tobias Lehmkuhl, FAZ, 12 August 2024
concerts
2026
01.03. Brilliant Corners Festival / Belfast (UK-Northern Ireland)
25.03. Fat Jazz / Hamburg
26.03. Black Box / Münster
27.03. Freejazzfestival / Saarbrücken
16.04. Innenhofkultur / Klagenfurt (Austria) tbc
17.04. Jazzit / Salzburg (Austria)
18.04. Divadlo 29 / Pardubice (Czech Republik)
21.04. Diocesan Museum, Székesfehérvár (Hungary)
22.04. Opus Jazz Club (at BMC) / Budapest (Hungary)
23.04. Saxstall / Pohrsdorf
20.09. Jazzexzess at House of Music / Berlin
04.12. Förderverein Jazz im Gewölbekeller des Jazzinstituts / Darmstadt
2025
16.12. Kühlspot Social Club: Record Release „Beyond the Fingertips“ / Berlin
20.10. Palac Akropolis / Prague (Czechia)
25.07. Konfrontationen, Jazzgalerie / Nickelsdorf (Austria)
13.06. Kulturforum / Villach (Austria)
19.02. Jazz-Fabrik at Theater Foyer / Rüsselsheim
11.02. Blow Out / Oslo (Norway)
2024
23.11. MuKu / St. Johann (Austria)
22.11. Offene Ohren / Munich
14.04. Jazzkeller 69 at Industriesalon Schöneweide / Berlin
13.04. Parzelle / Dortmund
12.04. Güterschuppen / Westerstede
11.04. Jazzclub / Krefeld
23.03. Cafe Museum / Passau
22.03. Stockwerk / Graz (Austria)
21.03. Porgy & Bess / Vienna (Austria)
2023
03.11. Jazz Studio / Nürnberg
27.08. Waldzimmer / Lübeck
26.08. Zomerjazzfietstour / Groningen (Netherlands)
29.06. Jazz im Musikinstrumentenmuseum / Berlin
19.06. Jazz in der Kammer / Magdeburg
03.06. BAU4 / Altbüron (Switzerland)
02.06. Manufaktur / Schorndorf
2022
22.10. Jazzclub Villingen im Jazzkeller / Villingen
21.10. Förderverein Jazz im Gewölbekeller des Jazzinstituts / Darmstadt
06.08. Jazz am Kaisersteg / Berlin
10.06. Bunker Ulmenwall / Bielefeld
10.01. Premierenkonzert beim Jazzkeller 69 im Kühlspot Social Club / Berlin
photos: Oliver Potratz (1,2,5), Chris Heenan (3), Cristina Marx/PHOTOMUSIX (4), Ludwig Sik (6)
contact / booking:
Christian Marien
+49-160-7891335
christianmarien(at)gmx.de