“Stripped-back minimalism and emotional depth, playfulness and maturity, and a profound jazz sensibility combined with a powerful romantic imagination, forge her unmistakable style.”

Norbert Krampf

Fabienne Ambuehl is a pianist, singer and composer born in Switzerland and based in London.
Her new album “Thrive” was released on 17 January 2025 on the progressive label Ubuntu Music.
The band successfully showcased the album at a sold-out show at the Vortex Jazz Club in London. “Thrive” has received very positive reviews from the international jazz press including four stars in Jazzwise Magazine and various radio play in the UK, including BBCRadio 3 Jazz Record Requests, ‘Round Midnight and Night Tracks. The single “New Ones” was featured track and on the JazzFM C playlist for several weeks. Thrive was presented on Deutschlandfunkkultur and ARD Jazz - Das Magazin and was selected album of the week on both prestomusic and the German Rondo Magazin für Klassik und Jazz.

It features a dynamic ensemble of musicians – Matt Ridley on bass (The Antidote, The Darius Brubeck Quartet, Leon Foster Thomas, Tal Cohen) and Tom Scott on drums (Mulatu Astatke, GoGo Penguin, Kairos 4Tet, Sons of Kemet XL), with special guest guitarists Tom Ollendorff and Ant Law – all of whom are key players on the international jazz scene. Thrive has already received very positive press in Europe and the UK.

Her music is inspired by her surroundings, from the sounds and silence of the forest, where she finds a deep connection with nature, to the rhythms and soundscapes of the big city. Ambuehls melodic ideas and detailed arrangements are rooted in jazz and showcase her dancing piano while always leaving space for her band to shine.

Her first album, ‘Glitterwoods’ (Traumton Records 2015), with Yuri Goloubev on bass and Asaf Sirkis on drums, was well received in the European jazz press and listed by ukvibe.com as an album of the year.      

As well as performing with her trio and solo, Fabienne has worked with the Noga Ritter band and toured Senegal in a residency supported by Arts Council England. With Neele & the Soundvoyage she released an EP and the album ‘Visions’ (QFTF Berlin 2018), touring in Switzerland and Germany. She was the soloist for Jazz Choir Freiburg at the Eurovision Song Contest for Choirs in Riga, Latvia (2017), and she toured Germany and Austria with them.

Fabienne studied classical piano as a child, switching her attention to jazz after hearing a neighbour playing the blues, and at fourteen she recorded her first CD with a big band. She completed a Master of Arts in Music at Lucerne University of Applied Sciences, further developing her singing at the Complete Vocal Institute in Copenhagen.

Fabienne is a winner of Friedl Wald Stiftung Price and Förderpreis of Kanton Zug.

T H R I V E
is the result of introspection and questions of belonging, also contemplating humanity’s place within the natural world. Beside her own lyrics, Ambuehl used a poem for “My River” by Emily Dickinson and for the title track, set the words of a poem by D. H. Lawrence to music. ‘Thrive’ combines Ambuehl’s jazz roots with a folk tinge, resulting in instrumental and vocal songs full of compelling rhythm and emotion.

“Quite simply fab” Marlbank

“Ambuehl’s vocals are crystal clear, distinct and refreshingly free of jazz clichés.” Neil Duggan, AllAboutJazz

”This is different, innovative music full of freedom, breath and relaxation… thematic interweaving which does not shy away from uninhibited improvisation. We are thrilled! “ Jacek Brun, jazz-fun.de

”With Thrive Ambuehl poses somewhat of a triple threat as a fine pianist, wonderful singer and a composer of note. “
Nick Lea, Jazzviews

G L I T T E R W O O D S
is the sound from Swiss forest walks, swims in mountain streams and contrasting strolls through foreign cities. Influenced by early Brad Mehldau as well as Romantic music, the album matches Ambuehl’s own attitude towards life and tells of her love for small things. 
With Yuri Goloubev on bass and Asaf Sirkis on drums, ‘Glitterwoods’ confidently melts the beauty of breezy harmonies with lyrical depth.

"… a splendid debut recording that indicates great expectations for the future."  
Greg Drygala, Hificritic

“… radiating, clear melodies between considered reduction and emotional depth… “
Ulfert Gorman, Jazzpodium

“Glitterwoods”, with its radiant melodies, rhythmically gripping passages and imaginative motifs, is a masterpiece. “
Reiner Kobe, Jazz ’n’ More