|: Modern Contemporary Avantgarde Jazz

A-Trane Presents Roland Satterwhite Special:
RSQ
«Highlighting The Different Facets»
Feat: Tal Arditi-Makar Novikov-Ivars Arutyunyan-Olivia Trummer

In a special Two-Night-Series at the A-Trane, Roland Satterwhite, together with Tal Arditi and Ivars Arutyunyan present two distinct musical worlds, each highlighting a different facet of their long-standing collaboration, unified by Satterwhite’s singular voice as a composer, lyricist, and improviser. Audiences are warmly invited to experience both nights.

RSQ is a jazz quartet founded in 2025 by Roland Satterwhite presenting new original compositions that combine the harmonic and rhythmic diversity of modern jazz with melodic and dynamic writing specifically conceived for the violin. Influenced by modern jazz giants such as Wayne Shorter, Keith Jarrett, and Kurt Rosenwinkel, as well as diverse violin traditions from eastern Europe and the Americas, the music seeks a place for the violin squarely within a contemporary jazz context—without treating it as a substitute for another horn. The compositions emphasize space, contrast, and dynamism, allowing the instrument’s full dynamic range and expressive character to emerge through both quiet intimacy and intensity. For this performance at A-trane, Roland will be joined by the excellent and highly internationally sought-after musicians Tal Arditi (guitar) and Ivars Arutyunans (drums), both of whom he plays and tours with in the rock trio Tolyqyn.  Makar Novikov will join the trio to make a full quartet on KontraBass, and special guest Olivia Trummer will be featured on piano. Expect to be dazzled by virtuosic and highly sensitive playing.

Roland Satterwhite is a Canadian-born American violinist, violist, singer, and composer based in Berlin since 2008. He has built an international career performing across jazz, world, and contemporary music. He is a featured artist with the Moka Efti Orchestra, known from the Babylon Berlin series, and the founder of the Berlin-based trio Tolyqyn, whose genre-crossing music blends jazz, rock, and global influences and has received critical acclaim. As a freelance musician, he has collaborated with artists such as Kurt Rosenwinkel, Jorge Pardo (Paco de Lucia), Pedrito Martinez, Marta Gomez, Quique Sinesi, and Oren Bloedow (Elysian Fields) among others.

Tal Arditi is a Berlin-based, Israeli-born guitarist and singer/songwriter. Since his arrival in Berlin, Tal has established himself as a celebrated guitarist and musical heavyweight both in the local Berlin music scene and internationally. He has collaborated with numerous international artists, including Ganna Gryniva and Karajan Academy of the Berlin Philharmonic, and After catching the eye of longtime Rolling Stones collaborator Tim Rice, was invited to perform two full shows with members of the legendary band. Tal also has had significant success as a singer and songwriter in his own right. He has toured internationally with Black Sea Dahu and Steph Strings, and received invitations from Los Angeles, and Sydney Festival. Tal’s album “Love Myself” is set for release on May 29, 2026 with Swiss label Mouthwatering Records.

Ivars Arutyunyan is a musician and drummer from Latvia known for his musical, dynamic and energetic approach. He started out his musical journey as a classical pianist and percussionist and later on moved to a career as a drummer. He has collaborated with prominent figures such as Greg Osby, Seamus Blake, Logan Richardson, Carsten Dahl, Jerry Bergonzi, Anders Jormin, Latvian Radio Choir and indie artist Shipsea, Matīss Čudars among others.  He has also composed music for film and engaged in a variety of crossover art projects that merge music with theater and dance, and received several prestigious awards, including the Grand Music Award of Latvia in 2023 for Concert of the Year, the National Movie Award of Latvia in 2024 for Composer of the Year, and the Jazz Record of the Year in Latvia in 2024 and 2019. Arutyunyan is currently based in Berlin.

Makar Novikov is one of Russia’s most renowned jazz double bassists. An experienced accompanist and virtuoso soloist, he has performed with artists such as Jimmy Cobb, Clark Terry, Jimmy Heath, Antonio Faraò, and James Spaulding. Stranded in Italy with only a suitcase during the outbreak of war in 2022, he decided to leave his homeland and start a new life in the heart of Europe. This change of scenery, with all its challenges, also served as a moment of profound self-reflection, allowing him to redefine himself and his goals. The desire for his own project, through which he could present his compositions for the first time, grew stronger.

German pianist, singer, and composer Olivia Trummer is considered one of the most interesting jazz musicians of her generation. With her keyboards and voice, she forges new connections between genres, for which she has received numerous awards. Her years of study in New York City and her close ties to classical music have always served as sources of inspiration. She performs on stages worldwide, both as a bandleader of her own projects and as a member of Kurt Rosenwinkel’s „Caipi“ band. Jazzwise Magazine (UK) writes: „Trummer’s music evokes the same sense of joyousness and wonder as that of her contemporary, Esperanza Spalding.“ Peter Quinn / jazzwise magazine.

Roland Satterwhite – Violin, Viola, Vocal
Tal Arditi – Guitar/Vocal
Makar Novikov – Bass
Ivars Arutyunyan – Drums
Guest: Olivia Trummer – Piano/Rhodes/Vocal
Violine Geige Roland Satterwhite Foto©Iveta Rysava Photography
Olivia-Trumme Foto©Dovile-Sermokas